I'm officially confused. :confused:

I'm having a real hard time getting into a pattern of healthy eating. I know what to eat for health, so the "what" for me isn't a problem. It's the "how".

What I'm going back and forth with is what kind of eating pattern to stick with. I'm reading so many conflicting things and would really like everyone's opinions. So, here are the two types of eating patterns I've been looking at-

1. Only eat when I'm physically hungry. This way, I do not overeat and I get "in tune" with my body. Of course, I would eat healthy food when I do get hungry and stop when I'm pleasantly full, not stuffed. I guess the only problem I'm seeing with this is that I might not get enough calories or nutrients, depending on how often I become physically hungry.

2. Eat mini meals every three or four hours. This is supposed to give you more energy throughout the day and prevent overeating. The problem I see with this is that eating this way would totally get me out of tune with my actual hunger signals. I also think it could possibly make me consume too much, despite the claims that it prevents overeating.

Right now, I'm eating very sporadically and feel pretty crappy. I'd really like to get into some kind of rhythm that feels good. Any opinions or suggestions?

Flower, I do both, they're one and the same thing :) I eat about 5-7 times a day.

The trick is to think ahead and always keep good food near you. In my case this is a bunch of bananas, if I'm not at home.

Really simple and works very well for me.

Well, I eat the second way usually, but that's because that's how often I get hungry. Typically I eat Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner, plus one snack in between each meal. (i.e. breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, dinner, and then sometimes another snack) But if I didn't eat that way I'd be starving. If I eat breakfast at 8 am, by 10 am I'm hungry again. And then I'm hungry again at around 12:30 or 1 for lunch. I definitely feel best when I eat every 2-3 hours. Usually my main meals are medium-sized, and my snacks are about 200 calories usually. (examples: a luna bar, a cup of yogurt, a handful of almonds, etc)

On the rare occasion that I go for a long time without a snack break (sometimes at work I get busy and eat lunch at 1 and then don't eat again until I get home at 7 or 8) then I'm dying. And then when I do eat I eat everything in sight.

Everyone's different, but that's what works for me.

I kind of do both... Depending on the day. When I'm on the run I just grab food as I get hungry. This usually means, however, that I end up grabbing a lot of cookies. For instance, up until ten minutes ago, I'd not consumed a fruit or vegetable in three days. (Oops.)

For me, in order to make sure I eat "healthy," I kind of have to plan meals. However, when I do this.. my caloric intake is not sufficient. I mean, broccoli isn't as calorie packed as a box of fudge cookies.

You, however, seem to have the opposite problem...

I don't know, just vary it a bit. It works out for me in the end. All evens out.

I am exactly like spa_girl.

I eat every 2 to 3 hours, and if I don't I get really lethargic and low on energy. usually I'll eat the 3 main meals in a smaller portion than normal people, but they will be bigger than the snacks I eat in between. If I am hungry, then I add extra snacks. I don't consume large amounts of calories at one time, but I eat often enough where I get enough. I checked my plan with fitday once, and I am about where I should be cal wise, so it works for me. Well, hopefully what I wrote made some type of sense...its basicly just restating what spa_girl said anyways.

The signal for hunger comes when you don't have enough nutrients, so if you learn to listen to your body, you can get all the macronutients you need by only eating when you are hungry - be that 2 or 6 times a day.

Personally, I start eating a couple of hours after I wake up and continue eating until a couple of hours before bed. I don't sit down for meals, I just graze all day.

The important thing is not to follow a strict rule but to follow what works for you. It will take some trial and error to discover your pattern.

#2 is exactly how i end up overeating. and boy, i can eat. now i'm seriously trying to control myself, and i only eat when i'm hungry. but that's because i have some sort of insaciability problem... :p if you're the kind of person who "forgets to eat" then maybe #2 is for you.

Also, I think the key to #2 is to have healthy foods around. If you graze all day on junk food, then you probably should do #2. But if you eat an apple and an hour later you eat celery w/peanut butter, and then you eat a mini meal, thats okay.

I have discovered that when I have junk in the house, it will get eaten. Period. For some reason I have more willpower in the grocery store. This way when I get hungry, there is only good stuff around. If I really crave a certain junk food, I'll go out and get it, but I'll only get what I'm craving. This cuts down on convienence, its not right in front of you and you actually have to make a sepreate trip to go out and buy it.

Well, this works for me anyways. Just making suggestions. :D

personally, i will like to follow #2. but i also listen to my body. for example, if i ate something heavy for breakfast, i'll skip my morning snack, simply because i don't get hungry so fast. but then i'll probably eat my lunch an hour or so earlier. but i have to agree that small meals do sustain your energy longer and you don't get the "sick" feeling when you eat too much during your 3 main meals.

Flower,Ive never eaten a habit so I dont know which ones are healthy.......better ask a nun:D........seriously having been 200 plus lbs overweight all I can say is theres tons of people who think they have all the answers. The real truth lies inside you. what works for one does'nt work for all. Listen to your body it will tell you what and how much and often it needs to be refreshed with food and exercise.

Flower,Ive never eaten a habit so I dont know which ones are healthy.......better ask a nun:D........seriously having been 200 plus lbs overweight all I can say is theres tons of people who think they have all the answers. The real truth lies inside you. what works for one does'nt work for all. Listen to your body it will tell you what and how much and often it needs to be refreshed with food and exercise.

Hee hee. :lol: I like the joke, budda! Thanks for the great advice. :)