Is it better to do 3 meals or smaller mini meals?

Hey guys!

I'm moving on to solids next week and I notice during the daily "what are you eating today?" that some of you eat 3 meals and some eat more. Which is easier? Why do you personally eat that way?

Thanks,

S.

I fall into the 3 meals and 2-3 snacks camp. That worked great during my weight loss phase, but I did have to put a minimum time between eating guideline in order for it to not turn into grazing. I also had low blood sugar issues during that part, which had a lot to do with the eating routine. If you elect to go this route, keep a close eye on the calories. The big advantages are stoking the metabolism and keeping it burning, and never feeling deprived. The risks are grazing, or eating smaller amounts that are higher in calories or carby items that triggers hunger more frequently. 

Thank you for your response and helpful tips!

I am with HappyTeacher. My NUT says 3 meals and 2-3 snacks per day. Her theory is that having smaller meals throughout the day will keep me satiated and stave off hunger. I did this during the 6 months prior to surgery, it worked for me then and it is working for me now.

Great! Thank you Dawn!

My surgeon's plan is very specific on 3 meals a day, so I decided that I would stick to that if at all possible.  So far, it has been.  Occasionally I have snacks but, honestly, most days I feel like it's hard enough fitting in 3 meals with my busy schedule.  So I'm pretty content.  I'm pretty happy with 3 meals a day right now.  

ThAnk you Gwen! I think three meals will work best for me too.

My plan called for 5-6 small meals a day. My capacity is still really small and there is no way I could get enough calories in with only 3 meals a day (unless I ate lots of sliders and junk food), even 2 years after having surgery. My capacity is only 3 ounces of protein at a time with a small amount of something else. One other thing for me is the 5-6 small meals a day keeps my blood sugar more level. If I go much longer than 3 hours without eating when I'm awake, my blood sugar drops and I have problems with hypoglycemia now. If you end up with a larger sleeve, you might have to go with only 3 meals a day, but with my smaller one this is how I need to do things. 

I started at eating 3 times a day.  Recent low blood sugar issues has required me to change that.  You'll just have to find what's right for you and it might take some trial and error.  Good luck.

Thank you for sharing!