RNY Vets: 3 meals a day or 3 plus 2 snacks? Which is better?

Patrice
(PatriceMarieV1 on...

on 7/27/15 8:50 pm
RNY on 03/11/15

I am eating 5 times a day. Would I be better to white knuckle it in between meals and try to only eat 3 times a day? Any pros/cons for either method? BTW - I am not one of those people who is never hungry. My physical hunger returned after about 2 months and I feel like I need the snacks or I have a hard time concentrating at work. My morning snack is normally a small serving of cheese and nuts or a light & fit yogurt. Afternoon snack is a premier protein shake.

            

lynnc99
on 7/27/15 9:01 pm

You'll likely get a lot of opinions on this. Some doctors are very specific about what they want their patients to do. 

Mine was good with the 3 meals/2 snacks. And while some will say that "hunger is not an emergency" - I'll tell you the honest truth. To me, hunger IS an emergency. I hate being hungry. I get anxious - seriously! - when I'm hungry, and I'm not typically an anxious sort. 

In the long run, the trick is to keep the meals small enough that you don't end up consuming way too many calories, and keeping the snacks in the "healthy" food choice range. But yeah, I eat about every 3 hours. 

meanjelly
on 7/27/15 10:13 pm

I eat 5 to six a day.  I just split break. lunch, and dinner in half and spread them out every 3 hours or so

RNY 6/26/15       HW360      SW290      GW200

    
The Salty Hag
on 7/27/15 11:18 pm
RNY on 05/20/13

Another vote for 3 meals/2 snacks a day. My first "meal" is typically a protein shake followed by coffee ( mmmm coffee ) ....then I move on to yogurt for my first snack. I can't do solid food first thing in the morning. ( I think a lot of us are like that ) 

I end up eating about every 3 hours as well...with lots of water or tea in between. Like Lynn said, keep portions smaller if you go with eating 5 times a day. 

I also find eating smaller meals/snacks more often keeps my blood sugar more level. I was never diabetic or even pre-diabetic, but started having low blood sugar problems in the morning right at two years out. 

 

I woke up in between a memory and a dream...

Tom Petty

Doingrightin2015
on 7/28/15 2:14 am
RNY on 03/10/15

My group says 3 meals and 2 snacks a day. Being honest most days I can't do that. If I have extremely slow days I might find that I do a total of 4. I still laugh when I think about 3 Meals and 2 snacks...most are all snacks....lol (3 snacks and 2 snacks) The days I do have snacks I make sure that my meals are not on the higher end of calories....I guess that is just me.

Doingitright2015

HW in life 282 HW265 at start SW 244 CW170

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capogirl
on 7/28/15 5:50 am

I get that.  My meals are now smaller than my pre-surgery snacks.  My group also does 3 meals/2 snacks; but there are days I can't do that much.

 
  

Grim_Traveller
on 7/28/15 6:02 am
RNY on 08/21/12

For weight, or weight loss, what matters is the sum of how much you eat in a day. If eating 5 or 6 times as opposed to 3 means you eat more, you will weigh more. 1200 calories divided by 3 or divided by 6 is the same.

The further out you are from surgery, the more likely that you will need to keep your blood sugar stable by eating more than three meals. Those who eat only three meals report more problems with low blood sugar in between.

6'3" tall, male.

Highest weight was 475. RNY on 08/21/12. Current weight: 198.

M1 -24; M2 -21; M3 -19; M4 -21; M5 -13; M6 -21; M7 -10; M8 -16; M9 -10; M10 -8; M11 -6; M12 -5.

mute
on 7/28/15 8:13 am
RNY on 03/23/15

I'm far from a vet but I agree with Grim. It would seem to me that the sum of what you eat is what matters the most. 

I eat 4 times a day - the amounts vary depending on how hungry I am but the total calories/carbs/protein is what I'm concerned with every day.

Melinda

HW: 377 SW: 362 CW:131

TOTAL LOSS: 249 pounds

selhard
on 7/27/15 11:15 pm, edited 7/28/15 4:47 am - MN
RNY on 11/26/12

My instructions were to eat every three waking hours to keep blood sugars steady.  This seems to make the terms "hungry" and "full"   void terms I am happy to give up for a healthier life.      (Edit:  okay, change "happy to give up" to "willing to give up")  (Edited again:  oops, just noticed you want vets to answer but read it's not cool to delete replies)  

gbsinsatx
on 7/28/15 7:46 am - San Antonio, TX

Please see my profile page if interested. I detail my experience with RNY there.

Age at RNY: 55, Height: 5'4", Consultation Weight: 331 lbs-12/1/2009, RNY Surgery Weight: 281 lbs-3/22/2010, Goal Weight Reached: 141 lbs-6/23/2011, Lowest Weight: 126 lbs-12/11/2011

Current Age: 61, Current Weight: 161 lbs-5/20/2016Total Weight Loss Maintained: 170 lbs  

                                      

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