Question:
Could I hear from those who eat 6-8 mini meals a day?

I have been considering switching to the 6-8 mini meals format. I am 11 months out, and I would like to try this. Could any of you be so kind as to tell me what you have, or an example of what you eat in a day? This would help me so much. My doctor wants his patients to eat 3 times a day with nothing in between; however, all data seems to point towards multi small meals help to keep the metabolism running high. I don't mind the 3 meals a day, but, I was thinking I would like to try something different. Thanks to you all!    — [Anonymous] (posted on February 17, 2002)

February 17, 2002
I eat an egg or 2 and a half to whole slice of toast on the morning. At 10 AM I have a piece of cheese and a cracker or 2 sometimes a half of an apple with cheese. Lunch whatever and about 2:30 or 3 I have a small container of low fat cottage cheese or small sugarfree yogurt sometimes with a few pretzels or small piece of fruit. I like cottage cheese with sugarfree jello also. Then dinner and at night I have popcorn or fatfree pretzels. I work so I have to carry foods that are easily stored and eaten. My portions were greatly reduced at 11 mo post. I am almost 2 years post so this is what I eat now.
   — Rose A.

February 17, 2002
Breakfast - 2 eggs mid morning - protein shake lunch 3-4 oz protein and a small salad mid afternoon - protein shake dinner 3-4 oz protein and veggie evening some sort of protein or protein bar My shakes and bars are all sugar free and low carb. I am almost 8 yrs post op and am at maintenance. rita
   — vt_rita

February 17, 2002
Hi, I eat 6 mini meals a day. I eat 2 to 3 ounces of protein related food, every three hours or so. Chicken, fish, turkey, salad, or cheese.
   — Carey N.

February 17, 2002
I'm believe that there is not only ONE rule for all of us. If I'm having a "hungry" day, typically pms day. I will do the 6 small meals a day. Like every 2-3 hours. It is mainly high protein good nutritional foods. I don't consider this grazing unless it's snack foods, chips, cookies etc. I think we have to find what works for us. I think of it as spreading the meals out in sections.
   — ZZ S.

February 17, 2002
Be careful! You may want to consult your nutritionist before you do this. My surgeon and nutritionist strongly, strongly encourage us to eat just 3 meals a day, that's it! No grazing! That is, if you want to maximize your weightloss and/or maintain your goal weight. The one reason my nutritionist gave me for no grazing is this: you can't drink anything 30 minutes before eating or 30 minutes after...so do the math--that takes 4 1/2 hours away during the day in which to get your water. (you should use 30 minutes to eat, so it's an hour and a half each time you eat) If you are grazing, you severely limit the time to drink 64 ounces or more of water. Please talk to your nutritionist and doctor before you do this!!
   — [Anonymous]

February 17, 2002
Well that just shows you that advice will be different coming from different places. My nutritionist says that eating for more than 20 minutes IS grazing. And then waiting 30 minutes then eating again is grazing some more. Eating 6-8 mini-meals a day is NOT grazing, it is often recommended as it keeps your metabolism running. I, like the other poster, find that I eat more frequent meals when I am PMSing, I just get hungrier more often and eat smaller meals. On the other weeks, I can go longer and eat a normal meal. I just follow my body's commands, eat when I am hungry. It makes it so much easier. But you have to find what works for you.
   — [Anonymous]

February 17, 2002
I started on the 6 eensy meals, til goal wt. NOw I'm at 4 meals, but I also do the protein shakes 4-6 times per day. I get comfortably full, comfortably empty. Grazing is eating constantly, no full, no empty. My meals are still fairly small at 7.5 yrs, and very satisfying. Some meals are just half a protein bar or a little bread/cracker with cheese & apple slice. Since I was a volume eater, this was better for me than the "starve & stuff" method.
   — vitalady

February 18, 2002
I have been eating 5-7 meals a day since I got on solids. I put a typical day's meals on my profile for both 4 months post and 9 months post so you can see the difference. I also eat more when the hormones strike--like every 2 hours instead of every 3-4 hours.
   — ctyst