[jat850]

Only by way of anecdotal experience, but if I skip a meal (or worse, two) I tend towards massive overindulgence at a later meal, and I don't have an innate sense for calorie intake estimation. So I will often end up eating far more calories at the later meal than I might have skipped in the earlier one.

Not at all scientific, just 2 cents.

[jonahbenton]

Yeah, I have observed this in my personal noom data. Super interesting. Couple of caveats/exceptions for me- there is a level of diminished calorie intake on a given meal that does not trigger huge compensation on an immediate later meal, around 100 calories or so (for me). I can compensate a little bit but I don't feel unsatisfy-able, like I do when I skip, which leads to overcompensation.

Also, one event of skipped dinner and winding up at, like, 1500 calories for the day can result in normal eating the next day for me if I drink an extra heavy amount of water. But I have to be conscious about it.

In general for me skipping and intermittent fasting is extremely unpleasant and ineffective. Eating 400-500 calories every 3-4 hours- 1800-1900 in all- is far more scalable and enjoyable to maintain or lose a little.

I do believe that extended fasts can be good (for me) but I can't do them and participate in any activities, whether family or work or whatever. An extended fast would need to be a solo week vacation.

[mrighele]

I have been doing intermittent fasting (eating only on a window of 6 hours per day), for the past two years

At the beginning I had the same issues as you, and arrive at meal time craving for food.

After the second week though the cravings started to disappear and with it the issue of overeating on that meal. I still eat more on that single meal than in the past, but not that much.

Every person reacts in different ways, but my guess is that when the body is used to continuously process food skipping a meal is a big deal, while in the other case is just part of the routine.

[pengaru]

In my anecdotal experience, that's much more of a factor if my prevailing diet involves carbs - especially simple carbs/sweets. It feels more like a drug addiction I've briefly experienced withdrawal from before regaining abundant access.

On a more keto/low-carb style diet it's a much different experience, for me.

[amalgamated_inc]

Can confirm, same for me

[paulpauper]

Same here. I find it too easy to overeat at night, during dinner and after.

[phpisthebest]

This is common with people struggling with Obesity, often it is due to dehydration as people eat a lot of salt with their dinner and then stop drinking water so they do not have to urinate at night, the result is signals of hunger late in the evening

In my Experience, the best combo is One should stop eating by 6pm, and have 8-10oz of plain water between 6pm and 8pm...

//not a health expert, but my own experience this is not medical or nutrition advice...