Stupid Diet Myth #2: Eat 4-6 Small Meals Per Day
Here is another way to spike your fat storing hormone insulin…and get fat fast; Feed your face 4-6 times daily (graze). This myth grew from the erroneous idea that eating boosts metabolism. And it does. But after three meals per day, this metabolic effect diminishes. It’s like watering a plant all day rather than once a day. Eventually it dies. We’re not that fortunate. If we eat too often, we are forced to waddle our way through life, just like "eat small meals, all the time, advocate" Dr. Weil; man-boobs fully intact.
Note: Dr. Weil states, "I have never eaten a McDonald’s hamburger. I think I am one of the few Americans who can say that. However, I have, when on the road, gone into a McDonald’s to get a Coca Cola." No doubt he is telling the truth.
Restricting feeding times to three meals per day is crucial because during the five hours between meals, the body produces anti-aging and muscle building hormones courtesy of hormone intelligence. Disrupt this timing and you produce fat inflating and age-accelerating ones - courtesy of hormone ignorance.
Grazing is for cows. If you like mimicking fat farm animals (or Dr. Weil) go for it.
Note: A select few "eat all day" advocates offset the fat building effect with an exercise addiction that takes them to the gym every day. This isn’t practical for everyone, and excess exercise wrinkles your face fast.
Check back for Stupid diet Myth #3 and #4!
Posted in Moms In Thongs, Fat Men Turned Sexy
April 21st, 2009 at 2:20 pm
Being one of the few who benifit in the bulking department from the 4-5 meals a day. I’ve always found it hard to gain mass until i started eating more meals, I’m not fat by any means. I’m 25 will this catch up to me later in life? What would I benefit health wise going back to 3 meals 5 hours apart. Should I eat more in those meals to keep the bulk?
I don’t eat sugar or processed foods since I heard one of Shane’s lectures at FLC a while back. Also I asked in another part but where does bacon fall in the health zone I usually have 4 pieces of bacon with 4 eggs cooked in the left over grease.
April 22nd, 2009 at 2:34 pm
Great question Thomas. Yes, 4-5 meals per day WILL catch up to you later in life. Football players are a great example. While lean in their college days while eating 4 to 5 meals daily, many of them inevitably rebound later in life with excess weight.
Bulk comes from Hormone Intelligence courtesy of three meals per day. 50% Healthy fat, 25% protein and 25% carbs are general percentages to follow. Organic bacon and eggs is great.
April 22nd, 2009 at 4:33 pm
Thanks keep up the good Fight! I know this is way off topic but I’m surprised you haven’t blasted the High Fructose corn syrup propaganda commercials that have been playing on TV lately, put on by the corn refiners association who is has a site at sweetsuprise.com. They claim moderation when its infiltrated everything in a box or a bag in the supermarket these days. There defense is that its no different than sugar, what a whack defense. I’d like to see them get a stinky sulfur award. I about fell of my couch laughing watching that commercial. Then I got mad because its what is wrong with our country.
May 14th, 2009 at 10:30 am
Thomas,
Highly fucked up corn syrup will have its d-day. It’s a big topic in my upcoming book, which is a GIANT Stinky Sulfur Award on the whole industry, due out on shelves in October. Look for it in Wal-Mart.
June 2nd, 2009 at 7:27 pm
Who’s stupid adivce is your wife following? I see on her ‘ameteur of the week’ profile that she eats at least 5 meals a day.
June 3rd, 2009 at 7:01 am
Looks like you forgot to scroll down and read the rest of the blog:
“The important note here is that she went into this cycle VERY lean and while on it, was supplementing with natural insulin mimics and lifting heavy weights. Without these supporting variables, such an eating frequency can in fact lead to fat gain. Note that it didn’t here, and I was monitoring her habits 24/7 to make sure of it. It works for men too, but not without the supporting supplements.”
June 3rd, 2009 at 9:11 pm
By “supporting supplements”, do you mean insulin mimics such as Alpha Lipoic Acid, Cinnamon and Vanadyl Sulfate? Do you feel there is any credence to the metabolic typing area of research?
June 4th, 2009 at 11:28 am
Yes. I’m not that familiar with metabolic typing.
Insulin mimics in that they herd glucose out of the bloodstream and into the gates of muscle cells to prevent fat storage.
Dose and timing are very important. She won the Arnold Classic with this approach.
June 10th, 2009 at 4:56 pm
So, if a woman is 5ft 2in works out 1 hour 4 times per week 132lbs 24percent body fat and wishes to get to 18 percent at 118 lbs then how many calories should I be getting in 3 meals. Also if I intend on keeping lean year round is 3 meals still recomended or 5 like your wife?
Blessings your way……..
June 10th, 2009 at 5:49 pm
My wife only did that for two weeks and, like stated above, was offsetting the negatives with potent insulin mimics - was doing this for a figure competition. Not all calories are created equal. I can’t specify the perfect number for you without running customization numbers. But 3 meals all the time is exactly what a person needs.
July 10th, 2009 at 6:14 am
I have to disagree slightly. I have SEEN and PROVEN otherwise, and still am doing so. It has yet to “tire out and quit working”. This may be largly due to MMA training though.
July 10th, 2009 at 6:35 am
@Blake, Good point, exercise can mask the negative outcome of multiple meals per day. Eating three larger meals each day, at most four, will prove more valuable twenty to thirty years from now.
July 22nd, 2009 at 6:29 am
I am eating 4500 calories a day on a clean bulk. I cannot eat 1500 calories in one sitting so I must eat 6 to 7 meals a day. I do take 200mg Na-R-ala three times a day and I eat less than 50g of carbs a day.
More than three meals a day works if you keep your carbs below 5% of your daily caloric intake.
I eat some rice pudding once every two weeks as a refeed and that works great!
Love the site!
Cheers!
July 28th, 2009 at 3:25 am
Hey, I had a question as to the myth on eating 5 meals and fasting. My situation is this: I’ve lost 120lbs over 18 months (360lbs to 240lbs) and I still have a lot of extra fat hanging around my chest, and stomach area. I exercise 4 times a week between 1 and 2 hours each time. I do heavy cardio (dance % Karate for 40mins, and the rest free weights, and crunches) My diet is normally less then 1500 calories a day. My goal is to lower the bulk of my upper body, and from what I read, eating 5 small meals a day would work against me. Do you have any suggestions as to what I could do differently? I’m 21 years old, if that helps come to any conclusion. Thanks for any information you can give.
~Isaac
July 31st, 2009 at 12:46 pm
Isacc-
Your metabolism has stalled at 1500 calories a day.
You should try to work in some HIIT/tabata energy system work with complexes and lift HEAVY before.
Alwyn and Rachel Cosgrove’s blogs can be great resources. Best of luck!!!
Stay Strong!
August 1st, 2009 at 4:46 pm
JT - Thanks for the info.
I’ll give it a shot and see what happens.
October 4th, 2009 at 7:46 pm
Hola!
So, I have studied metabolic typing, gone through Chek training, do visualization exercises and audio and meditation and STILL I AM ADDICTED to SUGAR…I believe this is why I cannot lose the “last 10 lbs” I have lost a great deal..I work kettlebells heavier than ebven most guys I know,I teach them…I am an extremely STRONg and FASt female..BUT I ICANNOT LOSE THIS DANM FAT…mostly in belly and upper body. I eat 3 meals plus 2 snacks a day…it’s NOT WORKING! What to do?????
gracias…