Timing meals?

So forgive me if I asked this before, I think I lost a few brain cells along with some of the fat.  But my NUT is pushing only 3 meals a day no snacks!  But I always thought it was better for your metabolism to have 5 smaller meals a day.  I find that if I don't have a snack around 3-4pm before dinner I get an upset stomach.  But if I eat something I feel guilty or like I'm doing something wrong.  What does everyone elses NUT tell them as far as meal times and amounts, snacks etc...?

I was advised to eat four to six times a day.  Three meals only would not work for me at all.  Does your nutritionist think it's better for you to not have a snack and then have an  upset stomach? Why does she think having an upset stomach is a good thing?

I don't like to criticize anyone's professional aide but it will not hurt you to spread your meals/ snacks out through the day.  Just make sure you aren't raising your total calories and carbs.  I also need a boost around 3:30 or 4pm and then we eat around 7 or 8pm and a tiny snack before bedtime.  If I don't have that snack my BS is really low by breakfast.

Everyone is different and you have to follow your instincts.  If it doesn't work change it.

I know the standard reply on here is "follow your plan" but it should have a caveat that you should do what SENSIBLY works for you!

This is your journey and you have to travel it the best way you can.   If that means you need to do 5 smaller meals rather than 3 large ones, then that is your decision ...   Your surgeon and NUT are not living your life for you!   Just make sure that every decision you make is an informed one - know what you are doing and why you are doing it - that way you will not talk yourself into bad habits and possible failure!

My Doctor's office also spouts the 3 meals only rule. At 3 mo when I wasn't getting in enough calories they allowed me to add a snack. I am still on the 3 meals one snack routine for most days some days I do 5 smaller meals. I too find if I wait too long I get hungry and then I eat too fast or get a stomach ache before I eat and then nothing sits right. I don't like that feeling so I do what I need to to keep it from happening. While I appreciate my doctor's plan I have modified parts of it for what works for me. I don't think this is a one size fits all lifestyle plan and if I am going to adhere for the rest of my life it has to work for me.

I was on 3 meals a day after surgery and only added a snack if I needed one. I still stick to the 3 meals a day rule and add in something else if I've had a strenuous day. I cut back if I've had a sedentary day with sitting at my desk. My 3 meals were protein only or protein forward - my snacks were and still are protein:beef jerky, cheese sticks, etc. 3meals a day is a good way to teach yourself to eat at mealtime and not all through the day. Grazing is a problem later and getting familiar with a meal - no matter how small every couple hours can lead us in to problems later on. If you're exercising a lot and need a snack about 3 or 4 go ahead and have on - more protein won't hurt you. But skip high fat, high calorie snacks.

Jen 11+ yrs post op RNY

Thanks everyone that makes me feel a bit better.  My afternoon snack is usually pretty small and usually I try to focus on protein like a good little patient.  I'm still not in a regular pattern of exercise yet, mostly because I have still been in and out of the hospital for various reasons.  The latest is they found out I have ulcers at my incision site... never healed right.  At least now I know and can get better but I just feel better during the day if I can eat when my stomach is telling me I'm hungry and not just at certain times.  Especially because for a while there I still couldn't eat much after being sick again.  Now that I'm actually hungry again I was feeling like I was cheating all the dang time.