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Eating once a day

Eating once a day

Started by Ragdolly on May 28, 2011

34 Comments

Ragdolly said #1 May 28, 2011 at 11:05pm

Hi,

I'm a vegan who eats once a day. A few months ago I heard how that is a no no, especially for vegans and how it's especially important for us to eat the 3 meals daily. Then there's this guy named Gary Null who is a vegan who only eats once a day. I'm not trying to be like him. It's just happening that way.

So what do you think, is it dangerous for a vegan to eat only once a day? I've been doing this on and off for a few months now. About 4 days out of the week I eat twice daily and 3 times only once, but never 3 times and I never snack.

powerlifer said #2 May 29, 2011 at 5:55am

I would say probably yes long term that it is dangerous, even stuffing yourself you'd probably struggle to get adequate calories and scope of nutrients.

http://www.amlaberry.co.uk

catgirl said #3 May 29, 2011 at 9:23am

Do you enjoy only eating once a day? Or are you doing it for health or weightless reasons? Just curious. I live on UWS so I've heard of Gary Null but don't know much about his diet.

Smurfy said #4 May 29, 2011 at 12:16pm

I'm no nutritionist, but I've always heard that eating small meals throughout the day is healthiest. It makes sense, because one meal makes your blood sugar spike and drop, instead of keeping it relatively consistent. Also, skipping meals may make your body go into starvation mode which screws with your metabolism. Have you considered discussing this with a nutritionist or macrobiotic counselor?

seraphimia said #5 May 29, 2011 at 12:38pm

Smurfy is right because it gives your body less to process and keeps you better sustained through the day. I roast mixed seeds and keep them in a jar for snacking for example. I generally have smaller meals through the day sometimes three sometimes four. I've felt more sustained this way and have naturally lost weight. Also, acitivity plays it's part in how much energy you use and need to replace.

Ragdolly said #6 May 29, 2011 at 4:56pm

Yes I enjoy eating once daily. In that meal I have dessert, a raw fruit, vegetables (not always raw, except for raw garlic slices), grain (either white or wheat, brown rice or white, or maybe some corn), some type of tomato product, at least 20 grams of protein either from beans, vegan meat, or nuts and or all 3, and a little bit of some type of potato, some oil either olive or vegetable, and usually some greenery which is either light green; not always dark. To drink I have a tall glass of either chocolate rice or almond milk or unsweetened original, sometimes 2. For dessert is either vegan cookies i baked the night before with a citrus fruit or just the fruit. Often times it's two pieces; a banana and an orange. I do not like apples so it's hardly ever those.

The idea of eating more than once (which I often do eat twice daily, about half the week I will) or many small meals turns me off b/c I hate having to brush my teeth so often. I'm one of those people who thinks they have to brush and floss them even after snacking and right away too...

Besides it's easier and more convenient for me the days I eat only once. I have "companion animals" who think they have to eat every time I do and so if I ate more than once they'd be at their bowls even more than they already are. Same w/ the fish. When they see me eat, they want to eat again too and you cannot overfeed them. The aquariums are in my kitchen. I love having their company during dinner and my morning coffee.

powerlifer said #7 May 30, 2011 at 3:57am

Like i say id harbour a guess your probably not getting anywhere near even the RDA for many macro and micro nutrients and probably not hitting adequate calories for your weight.

There is only so much the body can absorb and digest at the one time anyway. Even if you were getting your full RDA of say protein in the one meal you wouldnt absorb it all.

Have you ran the calories through an online calorie calculator such as fitday.

http://www.amlaberry.co.uk

Ragdolly said #8 May 30, 2011 at 4:18am

^No but I'd be very interested in knowing how many calories is needed for 115 lb person now that you mention it.

I will try to start eating more than once a day. You ppl have me worried!

BTW I do know that 20 grams of protein is barely 1/2 the amount needed for an adult female per day.

TBH with you I don't know how I'm even functioning. Maybe I didn't do it long enough to cause damage (appx 3 months). Plus take into consideration the days I eat twice a day.

powerlifer said #9 May 30, 2011 at 6:34am

The human body is pretty resiliant, but with time you could do yourself serious damage.

Caloric intake can depend on many factors such as weight, level of activity(if you exercise or an athlete your caloric intake must be increased and in some cases such as weight lifting protein needs also), gender etc.

The average recommendations vary a little. In England, the government suggests these figures for people maintaining their weight:

2500 calories a day for men, 2000 calories a day for women (2,500 in third trimester of pregnancy) and 1800 calories a day for children aged 5-10.

Again this all depends on your level of activity but it gives you a rough idea. I mean eating junk and calorie dense foods you probably could easily eat 1500 calories in a sitting but you would only be absorbing so much rather than spacing it out through the day. Your metabolism is probably slowing down also due to the one meal and you may run into blood sugar issues.

Hope that helps

http://www.amlaberry.co.uk

Audrey Biloon said #10 May 30, 2011 at 7:46am

It doesn't sound healthy to me..

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