How many times do you eat during the day? Learn how you can determine how often you should eat throughout the day.

As is well known, breakfast is the most important meal of the day. If you are someone who is looking to speed up your metabolism, it is recommended that you consume 6 meals throughout the day.

Ideally, these should be distributed in the morning and between 2 and 8 pm. Although this is the recommended amount, there will always be a question as to whether these amounts really apply to all people and their lifestyles. Every body is different and so are the schedules of each person to eat their food.

The key formula for weight loss

In order for a person to lose weight, more calories need to be burned than are consumed. Therefore, it doesn’t matter if you eat healthy foods all the time, if the amount of calories you eat are not burned during the day, it will be impossible to lose weight. It is important to consider the breakdown of the macronutrients ingested, which are proteins, carbohydrates and fats. Some recommend a 40-30-30 intake, meaning 40% carbohydrates, 30% protein and 30% fat. Here it is advisable to opt for whole foods or foods that contain high amounts of fiber, as this will help to have a feeling of satiety for longer periods of time and provide a good amount of vitamins and minerals.

Once you have defined the type of calories you are going to consume, the type of food, the priority of macronutrients, it is time to define the frequency with which you are going to eat, always take into account the schedules that you can not change, either for work or personal reasons. It doesn’t matter if you eat 2 or 8 times a day, as long as you remember that it’s important not to consume more calories than you burn, you’ll be able to lose weight.

Here are some tips to help you determine how often you should eat based on your schedule and preferences:

If you :

You wake up very hungry.

You have a low tolerance to the sensation of hunger.

You can’t sleep without having something to eat first.

You have a job that allows you to eat meals on a regular basis.

You prefer to eat snacks

You get excited when you know you’re going to eat.

If you identify with these points, then we recommend that you eat between 4 and 6 times a day. Try to eat protein at every meal and always be satisfied but not uncomfortable.

If you :

You prefer many foods in one meal.

You feel uncomfortable with the idea of going a long time without food.

You don’t give importance to breakfast

You can’t eat during the working day

For this type of people it is recommended not to eat breakfast and instead consume 2 meals distributed between noon and afternoon-evening. In these cases, you should probably eat until you are very full to ensure that you are getting enough energy.

If you are somewhere in the middle of the above mentioned points and also :

You like to eat until you are satisfied but not uncomfortable.

You have a job that allows you to eat between meals.

You want to spend a lot of time without thinking about food.

In this case, try to eat the more traditional way, 3 balanced meals a day and maybe some snacks in case you feel hungry.

Find out what’s right for you

Now that you have a clearer picture of how often you should eat, we invite you to try it out and see what works best for your body.

If you are currently following a dietary regimen and have noticed that it has provided results, then there is no need for you to make any drastic changes. However, if you notice that your weight loss process is going too slow, we recommend that you try to make some changes in your diet or the frequency with which you eat so that you can find out what works best for you.

Try different eating patterns until you find one you feel most comfortable with. Do not forget to limit the consumption of sugar, salt, alcohol, fried and refined foods.