Anyone else eat 1 meal a day?

[Sick_beard]

I'll review the pubs in detail. I'm curious about the design, controls, population numbers, cohorts (i.e. healthy normal people vs athletes who require greater energy to handle expenditure during active periods), stats used, etc. too often people generalize results based in a small sample size using across subjects designs instead of within subject designs where individual variables will not confound data interpretation in the latter sample design.

I've picked the best studies I could find. There are other ones done on obese women and what not lol, I didn't include those.

[Turkish Juicer]

Here are a few opinions of my own regarding the subject matter, which stem from both personal experience and research:

1. It is simply impossible for bigger guys with high daily caloric intake needs to consume their daily macros in one sitting, which is why you will never see or hear a professional BB or a power lifter eating one meal a day, regardless whether he is bulking or cutting (although a power-lifter doesn't cut).

2. On paper, this argument may make sense: ''It doesn't matter how many meals you eat throughout the day as long as you hit your daily macros''; however, in reality, nutrients are in a constant state of competition with one another while being ingested and going through the GI tract, and it is a known scientific fact to the realm of nutrition science that bigger a meal is, less efficient is the absorption of these nutrients, which means more waste (and hence empty calories).

3. There is the insulin spike and metabolic syndrome issue with one huge meal that represents several thousand calories, which is in fact a very serious issue regarding human health: the more carbs you eat in one sitting triggers a much bigger insulin spike, which inevitably results in a nasty inflammation in circulatory system. Needles to say, this is a major threat to cardiovascular health and is literally a genuine form of suicide that one can perform.

I am sorry OP but it is really hard to back up your argument. Facts are facts.

[kelkel]

I'll review the pubs in detail. I'm curious about the design, controls, population numbers, cohorts (i.e. healthy normal people vs athletes who require greater energy to handle expenditure during active periods), stats used, etc. too often people generalize results based in a small sample size using across subjects designs instead of within subject designs where individual variables will not confound data interpretation in the latter sample design.

Meaning normal peoples energy requirements vs a hard core bodybuilder's....

[MuscleInk]

With time your stomach will get used to it, trust me. Now if I don't eat a 2,000 cal meal, I just don't feel emotionally satisfied. Your will body adapt.

That I have no doubt. If you limit your caloric intake for several weeks, you would find a similar, though opposite effect - i.e. eating larger meals after an extended caloric deficit would be difficult if not painful until you adjust to increases in volume.

My interest in all this is not capacity based, rather the efficacy with which your body utilizes the macros when provided in a single larger meal versus distributed across several moderate sized (600-1000 calories) meals throughout the day.

[Sick_beard]

Here are a few opinions of my own regarding the subject matter, which stem from both personal experience and research:

1. It is simply impossible for bigger guys with high daily caloric intake needs to consume their daily macros in one sitting, which is why you will never see or hear a professional BB or a power lifter eating one meal a day, regardless whether he is bulking or cutting (although a power-lifter doesn't cut).

2. On paper, this argument may make sense: ''It doesn't matter how many meals you eat throughout the day as long as you hit your daily macros''; however, in reality, nutrients are in a constant state of competition with one another while being ingested and going through the GI tract, and it is a known scientific fact to the realm of nutrition science that bigger a meal is, less efficient is the absorption of these nutrients, which means more waste (and hence empty calories).

3. There is the insulin spike and metabolic syndrome issue with one huge meal that represents several thousand calories, which is in fact a very serious issue regarding human health: the more carbs you eat in one sitting triggers a much bigger insulin spike, which inevitably results in a nasty inflammation in circulatory system. Needles to say, this is a major threat to cardiovascular health and is literally a genuine form of suicide that one can perform.

I am sorry OP but it is really hard to back up your argument. Facts are facts.

Good points, but I have to disagree with point #3. Bigger meals are digested very slowly, and the spike in insulin will be likewise. If you eat one giant meal vs 2 cups of orange juice on empty stomach, I think your insulin spike will be much bigger with the latter.

Again TJ, I'm just experimenting here. But after experience and experimenting with meal frequency (which I've been doing for over a year now) the best and most convenient protocol for me is to eat 2 meals a day: one pre workout and one post workout. And this is def reasonable for most people I think.

[MuscleInk]

Meaning normal peoples energy requirements vs a hard core bodybuilder's....

Absolutely. We all know that most of us here don't eat like "normal" people. Most people eat 3 meals a day and generally gorge themselves. As much as I enjoy a good breakfast at iHop or Denny's, most of the menu selections are 1500 cals or more! Heck, some of the meals on those menus approach 2000 calories - far more than most sedentary people should consume at one time (and North Americans wonder why there is an obesity epidemic!! Lol)

Most nutritionists will advocate more frequent smaller meals thought the day to maintain healthy weight.

[Flagg]

When would you eat this? And when would you be working out?

I'd be super cranky, not to mention tired if I didnt have breakfast. Thing is it would take you nearly an hour to eat that much food in one go. And wow, i'd probably have to wait hours before working out because i'd probably hurl if I went into the gym an hour later.

I just dont see how you would be getting enough energy during the day. I mean just forget bodybuilding for one second, you eat carbs for your daily energy requirements. You would have to eat something like this early in the day, surely. Otherwise you'd be hella tired in the morning, but too bloated in the afternoon to work out (if you're eating this mega meal around lunch). If you say "hey, i'll leave it to the evening to work out", wont you be burned out by then?

As a matter of convenience, yeah I could see where this is going, but I dont think it can be healthy to eat that much food in one go.

[Sick_beard]

When would you eat this? And when would you be working out?

I'd be super cranky, not to mention tired if I didnt have breakfast. Thing is it would take you nearly an hour to eat that much food in one go. And wow, i'd probably have to wait hours before working out because i'd probably hurl if I went into the gym an hour later.

I just dont see how you would be getting enough energy during the day. I mean just forget bodybuilding for one second, you eat carbs for your daily energy requirements. You would have to eat something like this early in the day, surely. Otherwise you'd be hella tired in the morning, but too bloated in the afternoon to work out (if you're eating this mega meal around lunch). If you say "hey, i'll leave it to the evening to work out", wont you be burned out by then?

As a matter of convenience, yeah I could see where this is going, but I dont think it can be healthy to eat that much food in one go.

Your body is smarter than you think. Our cave dwelling ancestors would have not survived at all if they had to eat every 3 hours. They sometimes went DAYS without eating, and when they did find a prey, they ate as much as they could.

Your body can and will adapt.

[Flagg]

Your body is smarter than you think. Our cave dwelling ancestors would have not survived at all if they had to eat every 3 hours. They sometimes went DAYS without eating, and when they did find a prey, they ate as much as they could.

Your body can and will adapt.

I actually heard something on the radio about this recently, that when our ancestors killed, they killed big, and ate big, and that might be all they had for awhile. Obviously most mammals are adapted to build muscle, but humans/primates in particular, apparently their bodies crave exercise.

[JWP806]

Your body is smarter than you think. Our cave dwelling ancestors would have not survived at all if they had to eat every 3 hours. They sometimes went DAYS without eating, and when they did find a prey, they ate as much as they could.

Your body can and will adapt.

So just because it works, doesn't mean it is optimal. In no way does this make sense for a bodybuilder. Eating all of your food at once doesn't make it easier to keep track of your macros either.

As Flagg asked, when would you eat this? Also, why would you do this? It just doesn't make sense.

[Turkish Juicer]

There are other issues with multiple thousand calorie meals that consist of all 3 macros:

- Stretching of the abdominal fascia: Bigger a meal is, a greater area it requires to sit and be digested in the stomach, which inevitably results in stretching of the abdominal fascia. Do I want to look like Ronnie Coleman in my core? Hell, no! Do I want to get a tummy-tuck every other year? Again; hell, no!

- Cardiovascular threats: I remember reading in a 2000 study that fat intake in large amounts can change the functioning of the arteries and keep them from expanding when they need to.

- More Cardiovascular threats: Such a large amount of food also requires a lot of digestive activity, which means the gut needs more blood. So the heart has to work harder. Blood sugar and insulin output go up, and that may cause blood pressure to rise in some people.

[Sick_beard]

There are other issues with multiple thousand calorie meals that consist of all 3 macros:

- Stretching of the abdominal fascia: Bigger a meal is, a greater area it requires to sit and be digested in the stomach, which inevitably results in stretching of the abdominal fascia. Do I want to look like Ronnie Coleman in my core? Hell, no! Do I want to get a tummy-tuck every other year? Again; hell, no!

- Cardiovascular threats: I remember reading in a 2000 study that fat intake in large amounts can change the functioning of the arteries and keep them from expanding when they need to.

- More Cardiovascular threats: Such a large amount of food also requires a lot of digestive activity, which means the gut needs more blood. So the heart has to work harder. Blood sugar and insulin output go up, and that may cause blood pressure to rise in some people.

Now we're talking! I have to say the 1st and 3rd points are the best arguments presented so far and they're all very solid indeed.

Not sure I have counter arguments to these either... but I'll be back with vengeance!

[Sick_beard]

I still hold my position that meal frequency has little to nothing at all to do with body composition, but TJ's points are something to consider.

I'd say up to 1,500 - 2,000 cals per meal still shouldn't be a problem especially if you're 200lb+. Eating 3 big meals a day on a bulk, maybe 2 on a cut is the way to go for me.

[wh1spa]

I still hold my position that meal frequency has little to nothing at all to do with body composition, but TJ's points are something to consider.

I'd say up to 1,500 - 2,000 cals per meal still shouldn't be a problem especially if you're 200lb+. Eating 3 big meals a day on a bulk, maybe 2 on a cut is the way to go for me.

I eat two big meals, 1500/2000 cals, First at 16:00, Train at 19:30, Second at 22:00. Bed at 00:00. 5.5 hours sleep max per night.
Maintaining weight at 190/5"10 and dropping bf consistently.

[DOSA]

Sick;

how is your energy during the entire day?

[Sick_beard]

Sick;

how is your energy during the entire day?

Energy levels are high and steady when I'm in a fasted state after the food's been digested, and lowest right after eating the food.

[bdos]

I feel like crap if i miss even a snack how do you survive on 1 meal a day

[marcus300]

You won't find any really big guys doing this protocol and no matter what studies you read this is muscle tissue suicide and you won't become a really muscular guy doing this. Trust me this won't hold the big guys muscle tissue and imho shouldn't even be considered if your goal is muscle building and maintaining.