nope no joke
when I started eating less I dropped from 176 to 150 (at 5'9"), got stronger on the big lifts and kept all of my muscle. It wasn't hard, just eat 3 normal meals a day, now I have a full Christmas tree, shredded glutes, decent quad separation, and much improved vascularity all over. I can't tell youy how much of a relief it is not to be hunting for lean protein all day, and not having to worry that I haven't eaten in 2 hours.
Not to mention my strength relative to bodyweight has skyrocketed. I Know myseone that you lift extremely heavy poundages, but I'm doing weight for me that is very good. chins with 90lbs (almost 2/3 my bodyweight) hanging for 3 reps, dips with the same weight for 4, 18 HSPUs, getting close to a full planche hold, and a full lever hold.
Awesome that you have found what works well for you, thats what we all should strive for.
I didn't say your kidding because I believe that eating only three times a day doesn't work, I know it does as I've done it in the past for years with great success. I said your kidding because you said that eating 6 meals a day is only for 250lb mass monsters, I don't agree with that.
I think that the most important factor is caloric intake, more so than the exact ratios of nutrients, or frequent feedings. You said that you cut back your meals to three, that right there caused your calories to drop which led to fat loss.
For me its easier to eat more frequently as I don't have a big appetite and get full quickly, so I spread my calories throughout the day.
I definitely feel that the meal frequency thing has been pushed by the magazines to promote meal replacements and protein shake purchases.
By the way, I actually have cut back on the poundages that I lift, choosing instead to make use of slower rep speeds, higher reps, pre-exhaust, etc... The change has actual worked really well in terms on an increase in muscle mass and strength endurance, not to mention the potential stress on the connective tissue and bone structure.
