Is eating one meal a day really bad for you?

[CaribbeanQueen]

I know I might get :gotroasted: for asking this BUT.... Is eating one meal a day really and truly bad for the human body?

A friend of mine recently lost loads of weight by simply exercising for 20 mins in the morning, drinking water throughout the day and eating a balanced meal at dinner time along with taking her vitamins/supplements. She does not look sick, or emaciated. Her body isn't soggy or soft looking from losing the weight quickly either.

My father never everate 3 meals a day... He would maybe have a up of tea in the morning and then a large meal at around 4 pm. He exercises regularly and to tell the truth is the most fit looking person out of all of us .:lachen:

So I started thinking.... back in the days, our bodies were happy to survive on just one meal a day. Human beings back then were hunters and gatherers who would basically starve all day and feast in the evening when food was available.

Then as food became more readily available to us (eg. groceries stores, restaurarnts, fast food etc) we were told we had to have 3 meals day... now it is 5-6 small meals a day.

So I guess the question is, Is eating 1 balanced meal a day really that bad for us, or is it something that we have been led to believe?

[Sky]

I think it depends on what you define as "meal". I dont eat 3 meals a day. I eat one "meal" a day. I have smoothies and juice vegetables in the morning and eat fruit and nuts for lunch. I also drink a lot of water through out the day and take supplements and exercise.

Some people might call the juicing and smoothie a "meal". The only down side to eating one meal is that you can overeat at that one meal. You have to snack or graze through out the day otherwise you will overcompensate and that leads to bloating and just throws off your metabolism and still can cause weight gain or prevent weight loss. My goal now is to push my one meal up earlier in the day. I'd like to be done eating no later than 5pm.

[shakira74]

Yes.

Eating mini-meals throughout the day is much healthier and keeps your metabolism up.

[Cichelle]

I usually only eat one meal a day, with some exception like holidays and vacations. I've been doing it for maybe twenty years. I think it might be one of the reasons I wear the same size clothing I did in high school. I'm healthy. But I do think my nutrition could be a lot better.

I've actually tried eating more throughout the day. I went on a nutritional plan and ate a few small meals a day. But I ended up feeling so sluggish and full. It really dragged me down a lot. I didn't like forcing myself to eat when I wasn't hungry.

I'm going to try again, but with different foods. It's just that I feel best when I am on calorie restriction. I don't know why.

[SugarBaby]

I remember on some TV. program, calorie restriction had a big impact on lessening the aging process.

Don't ask me which one, I thought it was interesting :yep:

[Oasis]

A friend of mine recently lost loads of weight by simply exercising for 20 mins in the morning, drinking water throughout the day and eating a balanced meal at dinner time along with taking her vitamins/supplements. She does not look sick, or emaciated. Her body isn't soggy or soft looking from losing the weight quickly either.


If she was eating 3 meals a day and went down to 1, her caloric intake would have severely decreased, so it's seems obvious that she would lose weight. That's if that one meal didn't have the same amount of calories as the 3 meals put together.

Anyway, I think it works for some people. I don't think it's something that'd work for everyone.

For me, I HAVE to have to eat 5-6 times a day or every 3 hrs. There is no way I could only eat once and not feel absolutely terrible.

[TayMac]

It can be bad depending upon how your body works. With some people, when they cut calories dramatically the body will begin storing fat because it thinks it's starving. So you gain weight instead of lose. That is how my body reacts anyway. If you do it gradually, I think it will work better than all of a sudden deciding to eat once a day.

I like to eat so I do the small meals (healthy food choices) throughout the day when possible and I've lost weight.

[PinkSkates]

Absolutely...the body has no idea when it's going to get fuel again so it holds on to FAT and stores it. Your metabolism goes into slow motion, 'cause it's not going to put out any extra energy when it feels its being starved. The key is ...

Eat less more often!:yep:

[Gin]

It doesnt sound like a good idea.

[Dogmd]

Hi OP :wave: thanks for posting this..

I am also a firm beleiver that eating 1 balanced meal a day is NOT BAD FOR YOU if you are overweight. I am actally doing this now during my detox. I am drinking water/ juice and detox clay in the am and eating a late lunch. I don't eat dinner..I have been too busy with the kids. I just may snack on some fruit or drink a fruit and vege smoothie made with water. There is nothing wrong with this way of eating if you have weight to lose... my doc told me to stick with it. My body has not wanted to hold onto the fat so far...

FYI.. My mother in law never at 3 meals a day.. she just drank coffee for breakfast. never ate lunch and just ate a small dinner. She never gained a pound. Her highest weight was probably 105 pounds when she was pregnant with my hubby, or so they tell me. She use to say that there were better things to do in life than stuff your face. :)

[winnettag]

Honestly, the way you put it doesn't make it seem that bad...especially if the one balanced meal has enough calories in it.

[FlowerHair]

I think one meal is ok if you eat healthy snacks every now and then.

[HoneyA]

I remember meeting a lady who looked really fit and much younger than she really was and she said that she attributed that to the fact that she never eats a plate of food. She doesn't even eat one meal a day but she looked really good and she was in her 60s.

[FlowerHair]

Bumping because I'm reading about Intermittant fasting, The Warrior Diet and such diets... it seems one or two meals a day is good for you and the metabolism doesn't go down at all according to studies.

I guess it's all about what suits you best :)

[monica24]

Bumping because I'm reading about Intermittant fasting, The Warrior Diet and such diets... it seems one or two meals a day is good for you and the metabolism doesn't go down at all according to studies.

I guess it's all about what suits you best :)

Could you post the studies, Flowerhair, or point me in the right direction where I can read up on them? I'm rethinking the way I eat and what I've read up on IF seems interesting. Thanks in advance:grin:

[FlowerHair]

Could you post the studies, Flowerhair, or point me in the right direction where I can read up on them? I'm rethinking the way I eat and what I've read up on IF seems interesting. Thanks in advance:grin:

Here is one study I found http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6WN2-4JFGFM7-1&_user=10&_handle=V-WA-A-W-CV-MsSAYWA-UUW-U-AAZUYUBBUZ-AACYBYVAUZ-AWZWYZAYU-CV-U&_fmt=summary&_coverDate=12%2F31%2F2006&_rdoc=3&_orig=browse&_srch=%23toc%236950%232006%23999329997%23624953!&_cdi=6950&view=c&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=96c00cfa4fff7eb7671448500eabcb1e

You can also read more (both positive and negative aspects) on these two sites
http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2008/03/02/postponing-death-caloric-restriction-vs-intermittent-fasting-part-1/

http://lifespotlight.com/health/2008/02/27/intermittent-fasting-101-how-to-start-part-i/

I don't think it's for everyone, but it makes sense in a way...
No way I ate 6 small meals a day when I was a child, neither did anyone else I knew. Despite that, we were all thin and healthy. Three meals were the standard back then.

In many countries, two meals a day is the standard, with a cup of tea and some fresh fruit in the morning :)

[~~HoneyComb~~]

I think it's okay as long as it's a healthy meal. I've done it before, for about 2 or 3 months and end up losing weight in the process. When I did it I made sure I had fruit, veggie, protein and I'd eat until satisfied. I noticed that my digestive system was better, I sleep better, and actually had lots of energy. I ate the meal about 3 or 4pm.

I had a friend that also ate one meal a day. He was accustomed to it and was in the best shape for a man in his 60's. He worked out, lived alone, and didn't have food in his house, but would go to a restuarant that served home cooked meals and have his dinner about 5 or 6 and wouldn't eat anything else after that.

[~~HoneyComb~~]

I might have to revisit this, by eating fruit in the morning, then having a healthy balanced meal about 3 or 4pm, and nothing but tea or water afterwards.

Sometimes I feel like eating the smalller meals throughout the day are too much for my body. And it's a great feeling to know that your life isn't controlled by food.

[~~HoneyComb~~]

I am not Muslim, but Louis Farrakan practices the eating of one meal a day, and he looks great. He tells of how you won't need the use of many drugs by eating once a day (make sure your meals are healthy is the key) Here's some info for those interested:

http://www.noibaltimore.org/how_to_eat_to_live.shtml

http://www.noibaltimore.org/how_to_eat_to_live.shtml

[FlowerHair]

I am not Muslim, but Louis Farrakan practices the eating of one meal a day, and he looks great. He tells of how you won't need the use of many drugs by eating once a day (make sure your meals are healthy is the key) Here's some info for those interested:

http://www.noibaltimore.org/how_to_eat_to_live.shtml

http://www.noibaltimore.org/how_to_eat_to_live.shtml

I read about that too.

I also read that the Bible recommends two meals a day (don't ask me where in the Bible LOL).

I like it from a non-gluttony standpoint. If there is such a word as non-gluttony :D Sometimes I feel like I just push food into my mouth without thinking... :ohwell:

Maybe we should start a challenge one of these days HoneyComb?