3 meals a day only or snacks?

So my doctor wants me to only eat 3 meals a day. Does anyone else only eat that much. He said no snacks.

I was always taught it needs to be 4-5 small meals/snacks to keep your metabolism working.

Ive decided my doctor is sort of worthless because he doesn't even want me to count calories. Which I'm going to do.

Someone please help me. I'm lost. I just want to start loosing weight.

My surgeon also recommends only 3 meals per day but I do not follow this.

I find that if I only eat three meals I am starving by meal time and eat too quickly and have issues. 

In the morning my band is tighter and I am not as hungery so I don't usually have a snack between breakfast and lunch but in the afternoon I usually have some fruit or cheese and then again after supper around 8ish I have another small snack.

Do you also calorie restrict?

I used to just eat 3 meals a day... when my Surgeons and I saw my weight plateau and I had not reached goal yet, we talked to the nutritionist on their staff and she said I had to bump up my calories and add snacks so I did and I found the weight loss went up again. Changing up your routine makes your metabolism confused, hence burning more when it did not expect to be burning!

Good luck and take care!
Jan

My surgeon's guidelines say that I can have 3 meals and 2 snacks per day, but I use the term "meal" very loosely. For example, I can't usually eat much in the morning, so my meal is a protein shake or yogurt. My portions are so small that I don't think they're what a person without a band would consider a "meal." But I agree with the poster above, that there is no way I could eat only three times per day.

Almost very single time I've had a stuck episode, it is because I am starving and eating too fast. If I let myself get too hungry, my self control and band rules go right out the window. So yes, I would estimate that I do eat about 4 - 5 times a day, depending on my schedule. You just have to be careful not to let frequent, smaller meals turn into constant, day-long grazing.

I was also told not to count calories for several months after surgery. Your first priority should always be getting enough protein. THAT you should be counting.

I eat 6 times a day, not because it speeds up my metabolism (which is false, BTW) but because it's most convenient for me. I like to eat before I get insanely hungry. I say do what works for you. Meal timing has no effect on weightloss whatsoever.

I think the confusion is often due to the definition of "snacks".

Many think of snacks as things like chips, ice cream, cupcakes, etc.

Snacks for a bandster (and maybe other WLS's.. but I don't know enough about the other surgeries, so I will limit it to bandsters) should be low calorie and high protein.

I only snack if I get hungry between meal times AND if drinking water  or other very low calorie fluids (10 cal / 16 oz) isn't reducing the hunger.

Things like a small apple & a ww string cheese.  a small package of jerky (but high in sodium, so this is a rare one), small low-sugar yogurt (carbmaster [kroger brand] is very good), wasa crisp & light with laughing cow cheese.

Almost time for lunch here.. turkey taco meatloaf and maybe some salad with sunburst tomatoes.  :)

The three meals a day is about all I can do. I don't think I could eat anymore than that. But I drink on my protein drink all day too.

my surgeon suggest the 3 meal a day plan as well - but only for stationary patients.

if your active - it's just not reasonable.

i eat about 5-6 small meals per day depending on how much i'm moving about.
it's all relative & playing around to find what works for you is my suggestion.