I've heard that one of the benefits of eating 5 or 6 small meals as opposed to 3 big meals is that when you eat smaller meals your stomach eventually gets used to the smaller meals and contracts, so you feel full from eating less, as opposed to when you eat a big meal and your stomach expands, making it so you have to eat more to feel full. Is this true?

I've heard that one of the benefits of eating 5 or 6 small meals as opposed to 3 big meals is that when you eat smaller meals your stomach eventually gets used to the smaller meals and contracts, so you feel full from eating less, as opposed to when you eat a big meal and your stomach expands, making it so you have to eat more to feel full. Is this true?

It's true for me.

The stomach is shaped like an accordian - so I don't think its anything more than you getting used to it feeling smaller most of the time.

This is also why I can still really pack it in there if I chose to - although I will admit the couple times I've tried this it literally hurt for a couple hours afterwards.

Yes, your stomach will contract from eating smaller meals, but this isn't necessarily good. Do whatever works for you and your body should compensate if it's healthy. In the end, you will still eat just as much either way.

I heard about an extreme form of this. There is a surgical operation done exclusively for people who are morbidly obese and close to killing themselves because of their lack of control. Most of the stomach is cut off from the rest, left alive but the stomach cavity is effectively made much smaller. The people will eat a few bites and feel full. This is unsafe because if you need a lot of energy you won't be able to get it quickly, and as such it is only performed when absolutely necessary.

Yes, this is totally true. That's why after getting used to eating small meals, you'll learn to get full sooner. That's also the reason why people who are used to eating small, eats smaller as time goes by.
It also goes the other way around, if you train your stomach to eat huge meals (binge, eating-contest, etc) your stomach will eventually get used to it also. The result, even though you had eaten enough (or more), you'll still want to eat more. Somehow, that's the vicious cycle of obesity. :(

I heard about an extreme form of this. There is a surgical operation done exclusively for people who are morbidly obese and close to killing themselves because of their lack of control. Most of the stomach is cut off from the rest, left alive but the stomach cavity is effectively made much smaller. The people will eat a few bites and feel full. This is unsafe because if you need a lot of energy you won't be able to get it quickly, and as such it is only performed when absolutely necessary.

Actually theres two forms of this. The one you describe is stomach stapling - this is where they effectively cut the stomach down to hold about 4 ounces. Problem with stapling is its all to easy to stretch it back out and get right back where you were.

The more drastic one - and permanent one - is Gatric Bypass where they literally carve out your stomach, detach and reattach your intestine directly to the top of your stomach - leaving you with less than 4 ounces of stomach space and basically you don't digest 80% of what you eat. (Talk about getting skinny fat . . . . )

Theres a guy where I work who went through the first - lost all of 40 pounds and then stalled - so they took the next step with the bypass - he's down about 200 pounds in the past 6 months. He looks SCARY! :d_eek:

And don't buy into the scenario you described for doctors selling these procedures. When I was at 306 and went for a physical to start exercising and seeing a nutritionist - the doctor literally said "Why are you bothering with all this - you're a perfect candidate for GB" And I did consider it - finally realizing for me that would be giving in - and I'm glad I didn't. I actually am considering scheduling another physical with the same doctor (this summer will be 2 years later) just to go in and say - "Your advice sucks."

And don't buy into the scenario you described for doctors selling these procedures. When I was at 306 and went for a physical to start exercising and seeing a nutritionist - the doctor literally said "Why are you bothering with all this - you're a perfect candidate for GB" And I did consider it - finally realizing for me that would be giving in - and I'm glad I didn't. I actually am considering scheduling another physical with the same doctor (this summer will be 2 years later) just to go in and say - "Your advice sucks."

I'm glad you didn't do it! Look at how well you're doing now. I guess it is appropriate in a few extreme cases. But I don't see how those people could readily be able to eat enough calories from healthy, rich and varied foods to get optimal nutrition. They'd never be able to consume enough to actually build muscle.

And don't buy into the scenario you described for doctors selling these procedures. When I was at 306 and went for a physical to start exercising and seeing a nutritionist - the doctor literally said "Why are you bothering with all this - you're a perfect candidate for GB" And I did consider it - finally realizing for me that would be giving in - and I'm glad I didn't. I actually am considering scheduling another physical with the same doctor (this summer will be 2 years later) just to go in and say - "Your advice sucks."

That's terrible. I don't think anyone should try surgery as a method of weight loss until it's been proven that they either have a health reason that causes them to not be able to lose weight or something going on upstairs that causes them to eat like a maniac.

My next door neighbor just went through GB. He's a truckdriver so I'm sure that doesn't help. I've never once seen him exercise or eating anything healthy. His wife brings home pizza at least a couple times a week for the family. I'm not going to say anything but I'm sure they've noticed my changes and know that I did it the hard/right way. Hopefully this will lead to some healthier eating for their kids sake.

I'd be tempted to talk to that doctor and show him that you did it the right way!

Jesse

The result, even though you had eaten enough (or more), you'll still want to eat more.

Actually your body will automatically tell you when it's time to stop eating. I sit in my room for long hours doing very little, and I'm constantly surrounded by food. My stomach is pretty big (it can hold around 1kg of food) and it'll process this food through pretty fast (I can eat a full meal and have another after an hour or so). But I lose my craving for food because my body decided it has enough to work with. I can eat more but it makes me feel weird. However, if I do decide to force myself to eat it anyways (which I do when I get bored enough), it still doesn't make me fat. The reason for this is that my body does not want to hang on to extra fat. The problem with people who are obese is that their body wants to keep the weight. They crave a lot of food and their body processes it all and packs it on. And it doesn't mean they have a low metabolism. In fact, if someone gets too fat too quickly, that can be a sign of a high metabolism. A low metabolism wouldn't be able to process all that food into fat so quickly. Unless I'm mistaken about the definition of metabolism...

Let me simplify your term, like it or hate it; "Thin people tends to be thinner, while fat people tends to get fatter". Weird huh? But that's somehow the short definition of the "metabolism anomaly".

yep

[QUOTE=And don't buy into the scenario you described for doctors selling these procedures. When I was at 306 and went for a physical to start exercising and seeing a nutritionist - the doctor literally said "Why are you bothering with all this - you're a perfect candidate for GB" And I did consider it - finally realizing for me that would be giving in - and I'm glad I didn't. I actually am considering scheduling another physical with the same doctor (this summer will be 2 years later) just to go in and say - "Your advice sucks."[/QUOTE]

Its scary to think that doctors are really pushing this surgery. Who really knows what will happen to you after so many years of having it. There is probably a lot of malabsorption of micronutrients going on in these people. I've also heard of people who get this operation yet still figure out ways around the fact that it makes you not as hungry. They just eat smaller amounts of the junk food more often.

I'm wondering if these people that get this surgery (and lose weight to their goal weight) can exercise a lot? I mean that would really increase the amount of calories you need per day and if their stomachs are smaller then they can't take in as many calories.

The stomach is shaped like an accordian.
That must be why I hear Polkas when I toss & turn in my sleep sometimes when I eat right before I go to bed. ;)

That may be water, or a sign that you've eaten too much before going to bed :nod: