Please Scroll Down to See Forums Below Will eating 5 meals a day (but larger portions) have much of an effect on your bulking or cutting gains? I have always eaten 6 meals a day but read an article recently saying how eating every 4 hours is more beneficial. Of course I want to believe this because eating 5 meals a day will be much easier and conducive to my lifestyle. Does anyone HUGE eat 5 meals a day here? Anyone think there is a big difference? Will I just end up not being able to hold onto as much weight? What are your thoughts, I'd appreciate really experienced people with big physiques to comment as I am one myself lol.
6 meals a day much different than 5?
- Thread starter John89231
- Start date
Actually the amount of meals you eat each day have zero impact on your muscle gains. The body will utilize nutrients and digest aminos from food for up to 24 hours after eating. Eating 6 meals a day is not required at all. I eat 2-3 meals per day as part of intermittent fasting diet and gaining muscle has never been affected by it. Total cals and macros for the day is what matters and that is it
rustilldown
New member
Yes, it is all about your caloric intake. But, bear in mind, some people won't utilize 12 ounces of steak in one sitting as well as they will 2 smaller meals of 6 ounces of protein each. I like to stick with the smaller meals more often because I feel I have more consistent energy.
A
ALIN
Guest
I too think its ALOT about calories and macros when it comes to diet.
I do like splitting my meals over the day every 2-3 hours.
5 versus 6 meals is not going to make a difference. You need look at your ratios of protein to carbs to fat before worrying about meal timing. Try a carb blocker if you can.
kristianlaz
New member
5-6 meals a day thing is complete and utter nonsense. If all you're ingesting is whey protein shakes, then yes, they'll be in and out of your stomach in 20 minutes. Then you can even "eat" 50 times a day if you'd like 
Look, if you eat a good meal with chicken, veggies, rice, etc., you're body will be digesting that meal for the next 4-6 hours. Eating every 3 hours, all you're doing is piling more food on top of previous partially digested food.
Look, if you eat a good meal with chicken, veggies, rice, etc., you're body will be digesting that meal for the next 4-6 hours. Eating every 3 hours, all you're doing is piling more food on top of previous partially digested food.
Ezskankens
New member
interesting.5-6 meals a day thing is complete and utter nonsense. If all you're ingesting is whey protein shakes, then yes, they'll be in and out of your stomach in 20 minutes. Then you can even "eat" 50 times a day if you'd like
Look, if you eat a good meal with chicken, veggies, rice, etc., you're body will be digesting that meal for the next 4-6 hours. Eating every 3 hours, all you're doing is piling more food on top of previous partially digested food.
While generally speaking the key is caloric intake BUT the number of meals does have an effect but it goes hand in hand with the content of the meal as well.
If your cutting you want to keep the glycemic impact of your meals low. The major contributor to the glycemic impact of a meal is the makeup of the meal itself but overall calories consumed during that meal will also have an impact. For example a low glycemic meal thats say 500 calories will have much less of a glycemic load on your system as a 1000 calorie meal with the same macro breakdown. Following that reasoning your better off eating many smaller meals while cutting.
When bulking there is less concern about gaining a little fat and many would argue the extra natty insulin produced by a higher glycemic meal is actually beneficial to mass gains.
If your cutting you want to keep the glycemic impact of your meals low. The major contributor to the glycemic impact of a meal is the makeup of the meal itself but overall calories consumed during that meal will also have an impact. For example a low glycemic meal thats say 500 calories will have much less of a glycemic load on your system as a 1000 calorie meal with the same macro breakdown. Following that reasoning your better off eating many smaller meals while cutting.
When bulking there is less concern about gaining a little fat and many would argue the extra natty insulin produced by a higher glycemic meal is actually beneficial to mass gains.
