Should I only be eating 2 meals? 16:8

I have just started the 16:8 IF protocol. But I find i still have time for three meals. I see a lot of people talking about skipping dinner or skipping breakfast- but I am able to do all three. I eat a protein smoothie at 10am, then a lunch at 12/1 and then eat dinner at 5ish. I also am not counting calories just yet. I want to get used to the fasting schedule before cutting my carbs down, and watching my portions/or counting calories. My question is: if I’m having room for three meals am I doing it wrong? Should I only be having 2?

Answer

There are not really good or bad way to do it, I find 16:8 to be more of a 2.5 meal “diet”, the .5 being a snack, be it at the start middle or end doesn’t really matter. I would count a smoothie as a snack.

Own personal view here :16:8=2.5 meals, 18:6=2, 20:4=1.5 and 23:1 (or omad)=1

Note than when meals and snacks are closer together, they also have a tendency to be smaller, since the are still food from the last time you ate in there. Which can be all good if you try to eat less overall.

Small steps.

Good job so far, keep going!

Answer

Imo…you do whatever works for you. Remember that the more times eating, the more insulin spikes. But that is if no real concern if the pattern you are using is a best practice for you to keep generally in line with.