Question:
Question about grazing???

I am curious as to what actually determines if one is grazing. I usually eat 4-6 times a day. I'm 7.5 mo. out with a loss so far of 112 lbs. I take in between 800-1000 cal. per day, between 25-45 carbs, and 30-50 g of fat and 80-100g of protein. I know I'm doing something right. However, I read so much about grazing and to me that means eating all day long, just nibbling here and there. It seems like though, when you eat 4-6 meals a day that all you're doing is eating. I know for me, eating the small meals is better because my energy stays up more (which my energy is not that great to begin with but that's another story). I know I've heard Michelle the "Vitalady" speak on this and if you read this could you please elaborate on the subject for me. You seem very knowledgable. I would also love to hear anyone else's opinions also. Thanks so much in advance for clearing this up for me.    — Robin V. (posted on May 6, 2003)

May 6, 2003
What you're doing is not grazing. You'll get some debate on whether you should be eating 4-6 small meals a day or just 3. I think it is really an individual thing. If eating 4-6 small meals a day keeps your energy up and you're losing well, why change. It's obviously working well for you. I think you're right about grazing. It's a kind of constant eating, something I am familiar with since that was definitely my pattern as a pre-op. I'm almost a year out and still struggle with that sometimes.
   — garw

May 6, 2003
Robin, I know it's hard to differentiate between grazing and just eating your normal meals, but smaller and more often. I pretty much do what you do the more frequent, smaller meals and that has gotten me to my goal weight of 130! I feel like I am eating all the time though as well, but it really comes out to be about every 2 hours. I think grazing is more like eating a little bit constantly, like every half hour or hour. Eating every 2 hours may seem like alot to some, but I have an ulcer which keeps me from spreading my meals out too far. I think you're doing great-keep it up! Goodluck to you!
   — Lezlie Y.

May 6, 2003
I think that there is also a mind set that goes along with grazing. It is the same one that got me fat in the first place. You know, after you eat you get up and decide a little while later that you are not full any more and a couple more little bites won't hurt. It is how I ate entire coffee cakes in a day. One piece at a time so that I would not really notice it. That is what I call grazing. I too eat 4-6 small meals a day now and as long as I keep track of what I am eating (no trying to kid myself) and I meet the nutritional goals that I set for myself then all is well. I actually eat pretty close to exactly what you eat and the loss has been steady so I just have to trust that. If it stops working then I will reevaluate mny plan. I figure if it ain't broke don't fix it!
   — Carol S.

May 6, 2003
Hi there! To me, grazing is not what you are doing -- eating several healthy meals per day and making responsible choices as to what you want to include in those meals. I define grazing as eating just to eat, not for nutrition or hunger, but just because the food is there. Like eating out of boredom while you are watching TV, with the mindset of "oh there's ice cream in the freezer" then eating it, then "hey I've got chips in the cupboard" and eating those, etc, without any thought to what or how much you are taking in. Have you ever opened the cupboard or the refrigerator door and stood there for a few minutes looking at everything and trying to decide what to eat, and then thinking to yourself "why am I standing here, I'm not even hungry!"? That is grazing!
   — beeda

May 6, 2003
Good responses. I would also include as grazing taking more than 15 minutes to eat your meals (1/2 hour if your a new post-op). I've read of some that take an hour to eat their meals. I could do some wicked grazing in an hour! You sound just fine. Many of us eat 4-6 meals a day. For me, its 3 main meals and at least 3 snacks a day, which could translate to 3 medium and 3 small meals, but all of them take no longer than 10 minutes to eat.
   — Cindy R.

May 6, 2003
I'd say the same as everyone else. Grazing is continuous eating. Making a meal last longer than 10-20 minutes; leaving the box or pkg open & just grabbing a handful of "it" whenever you walk by; leaving your meal sit & picking at it over an hour or more. The multi-tiny meals have a definite start & end. For me, I get the plate (if I'm having to eat on the run or sitting here) and I eat that and when it's done, I put the plate away. It was usually 2 hours between meals for me, early on. Sounds to me like you're doing the many small meals. Like Cindy, I do 4 meals, or 4 snacks or 2 + 2, or 3+1 or 1+3, or whatever. 4 "feedings", depending on where I am. Spending lots of time in the hospital lately with a sick dad, so I'm becoming a vending machine connoisseur, unfortunately.
   — vitalady