There are so many different things I hear. You're supposed have X number of small meals a day. You're supposed to have 3 main meals w/ two snacks. Blah blah blah. And then of course, everyone always says breakfast is the most important meal in the day, but when do you have it? Right away? After an hour or two? Who knows?

Basically, I think I've come up w/ something that works in the last 2 weeks. I usually work in the evenings and at night, so I don't wake up until around 10am (I'd like this to be earlier, but it ain't gonna happen). So I get up, sit around on the internet for a half hour or hour until I'm actually awake, then excersize for an hour, so I usually don't eat "breakfast" (I just call it lunch) until 12:30 or 1pm. Then, depending on the day, I usually eat dinner around 6 or 7pm, with possibly a small snack around 4. Then either I don't eat anymore if I work till 11pm or I eat something like some grapes maybe around 10 or 11 if I get off sooner. And I usually go to bed around 1:30am or 2am. So that ends up being 2 meals and maybe 2 snacks, instead of 3 meals and 2 snacks. It seems to me that I definitly get enough to eat...maybe I sleep too much so my day's too short. I don't know. Too much sitting on my arse being on the internet ;)
=============
There comes a point when you just have to stop listening to the advice, and look at what's healthy and will work for you.

I cannot do six small meals a day. No way, cannot do it. I've tried it and I can't stick with it, no matter how much I want to. I don't know how busy I will be at work.

So I just eat three meals a day. No snacks. If I snack, I go too nuts and don't know when to stop. I've been counting my calories, so I know I get enough. And I never get so hungry that I feel like I'm gonna die becuase of waiting a between meals. I eat things that keep me full, and give me enough fuel to get through. Just becuase one thing worked for one person, or some people, doesn't mean it'll work for you.
=============
It totally varies with me. There are days when I'll eat three or four meals, and days when I'll graze constantly.

I just go with what makes me happy. Some days I want big meals and that's what I have - making sure that I get enough nutrition to justify the binge. Then other days I'll want small things to munch on for the whole day.

It really is just about what works for you. I've tried planning my meals, planning when I'll eat, etc, but for me right now, it's just turning something that's meant to be fun into a chore. I like to be spontaneous.

Jordie
xxxx
=============
Honestly, I can't even imagine what counting calories would be like much less where to begin. I *hate* numbers, and I don't care quite *that* much. It seems like it would take over my life more than I want it to.
=============