How often do you eat?

Dear TMB,

I'm 9+ months post-op and I was wondering how often I should be eating.  I've been eating every 3 hours or so; however, I heard that the further out we are we should/can extend that time to 4 hours.

Any input on this would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Lisa D. Mtz.

I usually eat on this schedule:

breakfast - 5:30-7 a.m. - depending on whether I eat at home or at work

snack - 10 a.m. - small - maybe a pudding cup

lunch - 11:45 a.m.

snack - 4 p.m. - this is usually small - a cracker or a piece of cheese while my grandkids have a snack after daycare

dinner - 6:30 p.m.

Personally, I eat often......probably every few hours.  I don't eat big meals, but I snack on nuts, fruit, cheese......all day long.  It works for me.  If I go too long with out eating something I get a little *****y. 

When I'm at home, it's not a big deal.  But, the last time we went on vacation my husband got a little irritated with me.  He said I'm like travelling with a toddler.  I eat every few hours & have to have my nap.  lol

Barbara

I tend to get hypoglycemic if I go for too long between "meals" so my schedule is usually as follows:

6:30 am - Protein shake
8:30 am - 1/2 of breakfast
10:30 am - 1/2 of breakfast
12:30 pm - lunch
2:30 or 3pm - snack
5:00 pm - snack
6:30 or 7pm - dinner
9:30 pm - snack

Debbi

My Nut says 3 meals and 2 snacks, but I have to eat more often than that.  I would rather eat too many times a day than eat a meal that is too big and stretches out my pouch.  My nut says 1 to 1 1/2 cups for a meal, but I would rather eat two 1/2 cup meals.  If you are loosing wieght, your labs look good, and you aren't eating too much at once, I don't see a problem with eating every 3 hours.  You just want to make sure you aren't grazing all day.  But every three hours isn't close to grazing that I can see.

I eat 3 meals a day plus 2-3 snacks

Breakfast
Lunch
Afternoon Snack (maybe 2)
Dinner
Bedtime Snack

I ate 6 small meals a day in college and did not have a weight problem and I think it is a healthier way to eat.

My hungriest time was always between lunch and dinner in the afternoon.  Still is, so sometimes I have 2 snacks but I make sure they are protein snacks.  My bedtime snack tends to be "carib-ier"

Lisa
I eat ALL day long - my blood sugar crashes and I get *****y (like a lot of others) when not fed on a reg basis- I eat about every 2 hours - however NOT full meals - examples of "meals" for me

protien shake
3 in pancake with 1 egg n sf sryup
cheese stick and half apple
1 reg taco
cup of air popped pocorn and sm serving of nuts
1 inch peice of polish saug wtih slice of cheese and bread
1 egg roll
1/2-3/4 cup homemade nsa ice cream
1/2 cup hamberger helpler with lots of veggies, extra meat and cheese (about 3 noodles in my whole bowl)
4-5 mini nutter butter cookies (ok not a great choice LOL)
second 1/2 cup seving of hamberger helper

now that is 11 times I ate yesterday - I was up from 4:30 till 10:30 s0 18 hours - I REALLY try hard to have small portions - I have been maintaining for 2 yrs like this (including a pg n 2 cross contry moves) I work out as much as I can and am nursing - so when I my daughter weans i will probly drop one or two meals or make them shakes OR add more work out tome

hope this helps
btw my surg says after 6 months 3 meals NO snacks - whatever, he does not have to live with me

Lisa,

I've become hypoglycemic (not uncommon from what I understand), so I eat every 3 hours or so.  A normal day looks like this for me:

B - Oatmeal
S - Banana
L - varies, but high protein with veggies, low to no processed carbs
S - another fruit or carb if craving
S - pre-workout, protein shake
D - high protein with veggies

My workday starts at 6:30, so my breakfast is around 8:30 or so, snack around 10:30, lunch 11-12'ish after work snack around 2 or 3, pre-workout 5, dinner about 7-7:30, bed at 9.

I get off track on the weekends, but that's how my normal, daily routine runs.

Total calories between 1,300 - 1,400 for workout days and lower for non-workout.  I try to stay no lower than 1,200 calories.   Carbs and Protein is pretty even and varies between 80-120 each.

Thanks everybody.....

Lisa D. Mtz.