Does anyone out there eat just one meal per day?

Question

I do. I've been doing this for about 2 months now and I love it. I've lost about 5 pounds and just have more energy and even eat healthier. Does anyone else do this?

Eating during the day just makes me feel weighted down and tired. Eating a really big dinner with dessert and evening snack (crackers, cheese, wine) really makes me feel good.

Any thoughts on this?

Thanks for all the comments but I'm not underweight. In fact, I'm normal weight (5'9" at 155 lbs). I don't eat 1 meal to lose weight. I do it to put minimal demand on my digestive system and to live more healthy and in line with how humans should live. Wild animals (or ancient humans) don't eat 3 meals a day. They are lucky to get by with 1 every day or 2! I've read research that says decreased caloric intake actually extends life expenctancy. I think Americans are glutons. There are some religions that regularly require only 1 meal per day intake.

Also, my one meal consists of approx. 1500 calories. I eat ALOT at dinner (veggie meats, fresh veggies, a little dairy, carbs) and I drink liquids all day long.

Here is just one of many articles that support this:
http://www.lef.org/protocols/lifestyle_longevity/caloric_restriction_01.htm

Answer 1

I also eat only one meal per day. I see to it that I get a big breakfast in (usually a big bowl of cereal), and that usually keeps me full until mid-afternoon. Then, I eat an apple or some oatmeal, and I'm fine until the evening. I believe in only eating when hunger strikes, and this has been a very good method to lose weight (although it wasn't my intention).

Some people say that you're supposed to eat every 3 hours to keep your metabolism running, but I just don't believe in that. I've tried that, and I actually put on weight. So, I agree with you that one meal a day can completely suffice. Everyone needs to find their own eating pattern, and I guess this system of eating once a day works very well for both of us! I also feel that I have more energy and that my nutrition has shifted in the healthy direction. I also feel that I can enjoy food more because by the time I eat, I've worked up a full appetite.

If this way of eating is best for you, then don't let anyone tell you it's not. People have also been telling me that the way I eat isn't healthy, but I just don't see the point of stuffing myself with food when I'm not hungry! I'm at a normal weight and am keeping my weight ever since I started eating like that. Also, you're right in saying that eating larger meals throughout the day just weighs the body down and makes you feel tired. This is also one of the reasons why I refrain from eating large meals in the daytime.

Answer 2

This seems to be the only diet that works for me. If I eat anything during the day, I get so hungry all day, so I use up all of my calorie allowance throughout the day. The problem is that I work late, so I still get hungry at night no matter what I ate during the day, and I end up ruining my day. Now I "save" my calories for that late night meal, and I am able to stay under my calorie allowance. I don't indulge on fats or sugar, but I eat a good-sized meal with meat/eggs, vegetables, fruit, and possibly a small dessert, until I feel satisfied. The only difference is that instead of fruit during the day, I add milk to all my drinks (coffee, tea, sugar free hot chocolate, etc). By the end of the day, I consume about 1-2 glasses of milk. This seems to curb the hunger pains much better than fruit, plus the protein keeps me going. I work out later in the evening, and then go home and eat my meal.

Answer 3

I have been eating one meal a day for more then half my life. I am 33 and started eating one meal a day since I was 16 years old. I am perfectly fine I am 5 8 160 pounds and have been the same weight ever since I started eating this way. I have no health problems. I don t understand why people call this fasting. Real fasting would be going days without eating.

Answer 4

RE:
Does anyone out there eat just one meal per day?
I do. I've been doing this for about 2 months now and I love it. I've lost about 5 pounds and just have more energy and even eat healthier. Does anyone else do this?

Eating during the day just makes me feel weighted down and tired. Eating a really big dinner with dessert and evening...

Answer 5

1 Meal A Day

Answer 6

I like how people write here in panic mode "starvation" when talking about obese people who missed a meal. LOL, even though not laughable, starvation is what people in African countries or India are suffering, fasting is not eating for weeks, some don't even get water. Obviously withdrawal is going to be hard when you start and adjustment needs to be made, but western first world countries eat way too much unnecessarily. There are very healthy people who eat a fruit with some cheese and maybe some bread.

Answer 7

One Meal A Day Diet

Answer 8

I tried everything to lose weight pills, exercise, extremely low cal, atkins, nothing worked. The only way I finally cracked it and lost 14lb was to not eat during the day and then have one main meal at night. I found that trying to eat several small healthy meals during the day made me constantly hungry and by the time the evening meal came i had already consumed my RDA calories. After a while your body gets used to not eating in the day and you look forward to eating whatever you like in the evening so you don't feel deprived like if you had to eat salad and fish 4 times a day and no chocolate or ice cream. Ignore what people say about starvation mode or eat 6 small meals a day it is all BS. Only you know how your body works and what is best for you. Your body will not think it is starving as bodies can adapt to routine like this and it knows it will get it's calories later. How do you think early men and women survived when they had to hunt for food in the wild.? They would go for a few days without eating and then have an enormous feed when they caught their prey. It didn't make them fat!

News that may be of interest to you.

http://www2.netdoctor.co.uk/news/index.asp?id=97074&D=29&M=4&Y=2003

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/3263249.stm


Just supplement with vitamin tablets if you feel you aren't getting enough from your meal.

Answer 9

Eating one meal a day is fine as long as you're getting enough calories and are eating moderately healthy.

In fact, Intermittent fasting is proven to be healthier for you than eating throughout the day.

Answer 10

I've lost 5 kilos in my first week. It's my 10th day and I have included salad with some protein (eg. egg/ lean chicken) as you suggested. After 4 years of trying, the fat is finally coming off. It truly feels like magic!

Get started today!