Skip to content

coronavirus Visit the all-new COVID-19 Support Center for expert business support, tools and products, and the latest in fitness-related pandemic information.

IDEA Health & Fitness Association
  • Membership
    • Join IDEA today!
    • IDEA Code of Ethics
    • Equity & Inclusion Pledge
  • Conferences
    • IDEA World Virtual
    • IDEA Personal Trainer Institute
    • IDEA World Club & Studio Summit
    • IDEA Korea Convention
    • Become an Exhibitor
    • Advertise / Exhibitors
    • Event Coverage
  • Insurance
    • Health Insurance NEW
    • Fitness Liability Insurance
    • Club & Studio Liability Insurance
  • Education
    • IDEA Courses
    • IDEA Fitness Journal Courses
    • IDEA Certificate Courses
    • Advanced Specialist Courses
    • IDEAFit TV
    • Podcasts
    • Webinars
  • Resources
    • FitPost
    • Client Newsletter
    • Workout Builder
    • Fit Pro Forum
    • Career Advice
    • Job Board
    • Advertise with us
    • Covid-19 updates
  • Pro Directory
    • Find a Personal Trainer
    • Find a Fitness Class
    • Find a Gym or Studio
    • Find a Nutritionist
  • Articles
    • Personal Training
    • Group Fitness
    • Nutrition
    • Business
    • Mind-Body / Recovery
    • Publications
    • Podcasts
×
  • Membership
    • Join IDEA today!
    • IDEA Code of Ethics
    • Equity & Inclusion Pledge
  • Conferences
    • IDEA World Virtual
    • IDEA Personal Trainer Institute
    • IDEA World Club & Studio Summit
    • IDEA Korea Convention
    • Become an Exhibitor
    • Advertise / Exhibitors
    • Event Coverage
  • Insurance
    • Health Insurance NEW
    • Fitness Liability Insurance
    • Club & Studio Liability Insurance
  • Education
    • IDEA Courses
    • IDEA Fitness Journal Courses
    • IDEA Certificate Courses
    • Advanced Specialist Courses
    • IDEAFit TV
    • Podcasts
    • Webinars
  • Resources
    • FitPost
    • Client Newsletter
    • Workout Builder
    • Fit Pro Forum
    • Career Advice
    • Job Board
    • Advertise with us
    • Covid-19 updates
  • Pro Directory
    • Find a Personal Trainer
    • Find a Fitness Class
    • Find a Gym or Studio
    • Find a Nutritionist
  • Articles
    • Personal Training
    • Group Fitness
    • Nutrition
    • Business
    • Mind-Body / Recovery
    • Publications
    • Podcasts
Log in

why it is encouraged for the average person to eat 4-5 small meals per day

ADVERTISEMENT
359 viewsAugust 16, 2013
0
Avatar
troy August 16, 2013 0 Comments

4 Answers

  • Active
  • Voted
  • Newest
  • Oldest
0
Avatar
Christine0 Posted 0 Comments

When you eat a calorie restrictive diet or miss meals you are putting your body into a situation where it will start to slow your metabolism in order to conserve energy or calories. When you eat 4-5 small, healthy meals per day essentially you are telling your body to keep the fire burning, the fire being your metabolism.
It’s simply a matter of survival. When times are lean your body will slow down and conserve, when they are plentiful it will allow calories/energy to burn. Clearly, you want your body to keep burning calories at an optimal level.
That said, it is still the balance of energy in/energy out that will maintain your body in a healthy state. You’ll need to eat as per your level of activity. If you sit in an office all day you will need far fewer calories than someone who performs manual labor or a distance runner.

0
Avatar
Jocelyn0 Posted 0 Comments

There has been a lot of debate about this recently, with studies showing the eating smaller meals can cause people to overeat and studies showing that eating the traditional 3 times a day cause the body to go into “starvation” mode. I believe it comes down to what works best for that client. In other words, there is no “one fits all model” to nutrition.

That being said, the only thing known for certain, whether you follow the 4-5 small meals a day or 3 meals a day, is that the more calories in, than calories out will cause weight gain.

0
Avatar
Sarah0 Posted 0 Comments

It can help with keeping your metabolism burning more efficiently whilst improving hunger cravings by keeping blood sugar levels stable.

Sarah Murphy BSc, ACSM
www.motivatept.co.uk

0
NatalieSmith
NatalieSmith5 Posted 0 Comments

Hello Troy Lebehen,

This way of eating is supposed to keep the body doing everything already mentioned like a nice steady fire instead of the extremes of an inferno or dying flames which may cause other problems.
Also, as already mentioned, this is still being debated because everyone is so different; this is only a general guideline.
People who work with registered dietitians will get the best results, as their diet will be tailored to their specific needs.
Take care,
Natalie
NAPS 2 B Fit

Register or Login

About IDEA

Press
History
Careers
IDEA Fitness Awards
Award Recipients
Inside IDEA
Event Coverage

Advertising & Exhibiting

Advertise with IDEA
Download our Media Kit
Become an Event Exhibitor

Connect With Us

+1 (800) 999-4332
Contact Us
Terms & Conditions
Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2020 IDEA Health & Fitness Association. All Rights Reserved.