8 hour window verses breakfast?

groversa

I'm a breakfast person, I have a shake (Herbalife) every morning as I get ready for work (at about 6:30). I work as a teacher as a daycare so am on my feet most of the day. I feel as though having breakfast right when I get up helps me get energized to keep up with the kiddos. But, I keep hearing many people having success with this 8 hour window of eating during the day. Here is my problem. If I have breakfast (a shake) and lunch (a shake) with fruit in between, starting from when I get up, my 8 hour window would end at 2:30. I get done with work at about 4:30, go workout and then make supper for my boyfriend and I at home. I would have to choose between having breakfast or doing the 8 hour window. What do you recommend?
Thank you in advance for your opinions!

eileensofianmushinfine

if what you're doing is working, then there's nothing to change. I'm a middle school teacher and could not imagine going to work with all of my students without having had breakfast (my protein shake). Lunch is at 11:00 and then dinner at 6 pm....As long as you're in a calorie deficit, it really doesn't matter when you eat.

Alluminati

It doesn't matter what time you eat or what windows you use. You can make it a 12 hour window. As long as you're in a deficit you'll lose.

Francl27

Meal timing doesn't matter.

ki4eld

If breakfast works, then do that. Fasting/windows/timing is just another tool to keep you on track. If fasting in some way makes you feel better, that's great, but it's not magic. I'm one of those "no breakfast" people. My stomach just thinks it's wrong, so I don't do it. I eat 12-7p each day with a few forays a month outside of the window. The timing makes me feel better, it helps my mental game to stay on track, but timing is not why I lose weight.

lemurcat12

You could try it and see how you feel. My suspicion is that a lot of the benefit of "8 hour window" is that it eliminates opportunities to overeat (kind of like why "only 3 meals" works for me). Moreover, ANY benefit from meal timing (and the studies have generally found it doesn't matter or go every which way) would pale compared to picking a schedule that's sustainable to you.

I like having breakfast and am used to it, so don't feel right without it, but for years I did. People vary in how important it is for them.

cwolfman13

success isn't attributable to meal timing and whatnot..all of that is personal preference...people have success with that because it works with the way they eat/like to eat and they are consistent.

success is ultimately a bi-product of consistency in doing whatever it is that you do...unfortunately, people jump around from this thing to that thing and get all wrapped up in industry woo and are never consistent and thus never really see the results they want.

do what you do...be consistent.

ninerbuff

You don't need to eat in an 8 hour window. The body doesn't really care. Some eat this way because it's what they prefer.
I will say that if you're using shakes as weightloss, then expect to somehow be ready to eat food when you get to goal, you'll more than likely gain weight. Unless you're planning to drink shakes the rest of your life, shouldn't you just learn the correct method. It's like using a calculator to solve problems, but not understanding that math.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

lorrpb

You need energy (food!) to fuel your energy needs (activities) throughout the day. Keep doing what works for u.

kommodevaran

Does your current eating pattern work for you? If it does work for you, no need to change it.

Two shakes instead of meals and fruit alone sounds terrible, but if it works, good for you.

PeachyCarol

I used to eat in a 6 hour window and it worked great for me... then.

But I'm not a first thing in the morning breakfast person. And that was the whole reason my eating window was small. I found out that the longer I delayed breakfast, the less hungry I was throughout the time I ate.

I'm hungry earlier now that I've become much more active, though. I eat in a 8-10 hour window now.

Sounds like you are a first thing in the morning breakfast person, and that it's working for you. Meal timing is irrelevant to weight loss. There are some hormonal advantages, and I think there was one study showing better protein synthesis when it was ingested all in one meal instead of spread out over a day, but honestly? Compliance trumps everything when it comes to dieting/eating habits.

You need to eat in a way that's sustainable for you.

yesimpson

I would say if you're a 'breakfast person' (you enjoy eating breakfast early, you feel ready for food when you wake, and it's working for you in terms of satiety and keeping to your calorie goal) you may struggle to change that, and for no meaningful gain. It seems best to keep doing what you're doing.

Personally, on weekdays I first eat between 7:00 and 9:00, and finish the day often with a bedtime snack around 10pm. Having a 15 hour eating window has not prevented me from losing weight and keeping it off for years now.

lemurcat12

yesimpson wrote: »

Having a 15 hour eating window has not prevented me from losing weight and keeping it off for years now.

This is same for me too.

I typically eat breakfast around 5:30 and dinner as late as 10. Sometimes my longest break between eating isn't overnight, but between lunch and dinner (if I don't do a snack).

I've still lost weight just fine.

I think playing with timing is worth doing if you think you might like something better, but it fitting easily into your preferences and lifestyle and knowing yourself is the most important thing.

Liftng4Lis

Timing is irrelevant, caloric deficit equals weight loss.

Lounmoun

I think you should eat when you are hungry and when it is convenient for your lifestyle. Don't overthink this.
You can lose weight eating every single hour or just once a day as long as you stick to your calorie goal. It doesn't matter what time you choose to consume your calories as long as it works for you.

Personally, I eat every 3-5 hours from the time I wake up until a couple of hours before bed... kind of a 13 hour eating window. I've lost 25 lbs doing that and sticking to a calorie deficit.

Timelordlady85

our bodies don't know what time it is when we eat. eat at a deficit and you will lose weight. do what works for you

Sued0nim

Agree with comments about eat when you like

Surprised nobody is questioning why shakes rather than real food though

groversa

ninerbuff wrote: »

You don't need to eat in an 8 hour window. The body doesn't really care. Some eat this way because it's what they prefer.
I will say that if you're using shakes as weightloss, then expect to somehow be ready to eat food when you get to goal, you'll more than likely gain weight. Unless you're planning to drink shakes the rest of your life, shouldn't you just learn the correct method. It's like using a calculator to solve problems, but not understanding that math.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

I've been drinking the shakes for years, most of the time not even as a weight loss tool, but because I enjoy them.

rosej31

Whatever work best for you...whatever you doing now work out for you than don't change. Everyone body is different. I eat every 2 or 3 hours 6 small meals a day

Sued0nim

groversa wrote: »

ninerbuff wrote: »

You don't need to eat in an 8 hour window. The body doesn't really care. Some eat this way because it's what they prefer.
I will say that if you're using shakes as weightloss, then expect to somehow be ready to eat food when you get to goal, you'll more than likely gain weight. Unless you're planning to drink shakes the rest of your life, shouldn't you just learn the correct method. It's like using a calculator to solve problems, but not understanding that math.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

I've been drinking the shakes for years, most of the time not even as a weight loss tool, but because I enjoy them.

Maybe you should stop ...they are clearly not working

Unknown

This content has been removed.

groversa

rabbitjb wrote: »

groversa wrote: »

ninerbuff wrote: »

You don't need to eat in an 8 hour window. The body doesn't really care. Some eat this way because it's what they prefer.
I will say that if you're using shakes as weightloss, then expect to somehow be ready to eat food when you get to goal, you'll more than likely gain weight. Unless you're planning to drink shakes the rest of your life, shouldn't you just learn the correct method. It's like using a calculator to solve problems, but not understanding that math.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

I've been drinking the shakes for years, most of the time not even as a weight loss tool, but because I enjoy them.

Maybe you should stop ...they are clearly not working

Who said I haven't had success using them? I drink them because they have good protein, keep me full and are efficient for me to drink while I'm busy doing other things. Just because I'm wanting to keep pushing myself to be better doesn't mean I haven't found any success.

groversa

0myHeer0 wrote: »

She's not having a problem with shakes and losing, she's just questioning about timing of meals.

Thank you.

groversa

Thank you for all the posts, it makes me feel better with what I have been doing. Good luck to all of you!