Eating Every 2-3 Hrs Vs. Eating When You Want

[Primal]

Hey all, I have been wondering about this question for a while. When I first started out, all I heard was that you needed to eat every 2-3 hours to get huge! I did this for over a year and after many nights of throwing up, hovering over the sink and being so full I am unable to sit down, I'm curious to know if this method was really worth it. Now I hear some people saying that eating when you feel hungry will get you the same results. What do you guys think about this? I know that whenever I did count my macros, I'd always reach about 3000 calories eating comfortably in 4-5 meals. It's when I started really pushing into 3200 that I started feeling bloated all the time but my lifts improving and my physique improving like crazy.

Now that I can't eat as much as I used to, I wonder if when I start bulking again if I can take a better approach and not have to feel terrible all the time. Your opinions would be greatly appreciated on the topic!

Thanks!

-Primal

[Aar0n]

I am not an expert on nutrition or dieting..... However, I do have experiance with my own weight fluctuation. If I am trying to put on mass or if I'm trying to lean out.

My question to you is.... How can you go for 3 hours with out not eating and not being hungry? I talked with my other buddies who I train with at the gym about this topic.....and after 2-3 hours after a meal they are ready to refuel. Whether it be a small snack like almonds and an apple or a piece of fish and veggies.

In my opinion, if you are training 4-5 days a week, not ill, eating properly, I don't see how you can not be hungry after 3 hours after your last meal.

[Primal]

Fair point being made! I suppose I should explain how my stomach works, I haven't heard of other people having this before. So, my stomach is weird in the sense that, if I don't eat for 2-3 hours your right, I do get hungry (my stomach starts growling, hurting e.c.t.). If I go past this 3 hour period however, my stomach just seems to 'shut off' seriously, all the hunger pangs go away, and my stomach just feels regular. I can not eat for 2 days straight and this still happens, no hunger pangs, no growling no anything past the first 3 hour mark. Of course, I've never gone for over 1 day ever since I started training, but when you have lectures and labs back to back at school I like to cram about 3 meals worth into one meal cause I can't eat while dissecting things. So yes I do feel hungry but after a good while, I don't crave food anymore. Haha, I literally have to force myself into eating food to get back onto eating every 2-3 hour cycle!

-Primal

[steve_d]

If you can go a day without eating and feel fine, you are eating too much, you're body is way above your set point, and you should consider going on a diet. If you don't crave food ever anymore, ditto. I've mentioned this before. If you are force feeding in an attempt to get bigger, it means you are getting fatter not better. Now if you're goals are purely to be stronger, this may be necessary. If muscle and health are your goals, its time to ease up.

Hunger pangs are different then needing food. If I eat pure sugar for a whole day straight, I'll likely feel 'hunger' the next morning. This is my body signalling I need some nutrition.

If you can't eat every 2-3 hours, you're eating too much each meal, or you're too much past your setpoint to begin with. If you're throwing up all night because 3200 calories is too much, then eat 2500 a day until you lose enough bodyfat that your body wants and craves nutrition again.

[Primal]

Yeah I suppose your right, I must have been eating way over my set point early on... Ok so when I bulk in the future I'll keep in mind that I should be hungry every 2-3 hours if I'm eating correctly. Thanks you!

-Primal

[Praetorian]

The underlying idea is your body fat is too high if your appetite is too low..it goes hand in hand. Also your insulin resistance will also be too high and you will be gaining weight but predominantly fat not muscle. Ive posted an article on this just recently..i believe you've read it. You should "never" be bulking....that is old school archaic thinking and really means "fattening". If you truly want to optimize muscle gain or muscle maintenance the yes you do need to eat at least every three hours...why...because the body does not store protein like it can store carbs(glycogen) or fat. So to build muscle or maintain it requires a supply of amino acids..ie protein.

When you diet and your BF drops you will notice that your hunger builds...this is a natural reaction of the body to sustain life. That's why bulking is not wise and also cardio off season is a good idea.

P

[Primal]

[QUOTE=Praetorian;450088] If you truly want to optimize muscle gain or muscle maintenance the yes you do need to eat at least every three hours...why...because the body does not store protein like it can store carbs(glycogen) or fat. So to build muscle or maintain it requires a supply of amino acids..ie protein.

If only I had known this last year... Thanks Prae, sorry I should stop using the term bulk now I guess. What I mean is that I will uptake my calories to where I am about 12% bodyfat or less next time. Thank you very much, I know better now!

-Primal