What time should you eat your 1st meal of the day?

Kavazya

There seems to be a ton of conflicting research on whether or not it is better to eat first thing in the morning or closer to noon. I've tried both, and to the point of most of the pro-fasting crowd, I do get very hungry for the rest of the morning when I eat really early. My concern with this, however, is the possibility of this lowering metabolism. No one needs to make it even harder for their body to lose weight.

So, I'm curious as to what the general consensus is on this topic. Anyone been significantly more successful one way or the other?

Maxematics

The timing of your eating does not alter your metabolism. The whole "eat small meals every few hours to boost your metabolism" thing is a myth. The best time to eat your first meal of the day is when you're actually hungry for it.

Unknown

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fr33sia12

I have my breakfast 1-2 hours after getting up as I'm never hungry first thing. Just eat when you're hungry, if you get hungry in the morning after breakfast, have a snack.

DanaDark

Coffee. Because the world wouldn't be here if I didn't have it.

fr33sia12

DanaDark wrote: »

Coffee. Because the world wouldn't be here if I didn't have it.

True, I have my coffee first thing, then breakfast a few hours later.

bpetrosky

Whenever you *kitten* well please.

RodaRose

There are no "shoulds."
Eat at the times that work for you and then change them whenever you want.
Many do not eat at all in the mornings.

DanaDark

I guess I should mention: I have my coffee in the morning, and usually eat my first meal around 11am-1pm. I simply don't start eating in the day until I am slightly hungry.

Kavazya

Okay, thanks guys! Since I'm no pro athlete and am hungry at totally different times day-to-day, this is music to my ears. Glad most of the "shoulds" have been debunked

Lounmoun

Eat when you are hungry and works with your schedule.

However, I find that having consistant eating times helps me to stick to my plan better.
I eat at 8 AM, noon, 3-4 PM (snack), 6PM, 8-9 PM (snack). If I eat at 5 AM I end up hungrier throughout the day than if I just wait to eat at 8 AM.

duckforceone

yeah they did a research a little while ago, where they had people eat at different times, 3 times a day, 6 times a day, and big meals.... and they found, there were no difference between either solution...

JeromeBarry1

There's no one 'expert' on the subject of meal timing. Suit yourself.

MarziPanda95

Whenever you want.

Wynterbourne

When you're hungry.

Machka9

What works for me ... 10:30 am. It takes a while before my stomach wakes up and wants food.

What works for you ... who knows!

lemonlionheart

Whatever works for you. I eat my first meal at around 3.30pm

Francl27

When I'm hungry. So anywhere between 6am and 9am, usually.

chellekoren

I'm with the coffee first thing in the morning. Then I can exercise soon after finishing, then I eat around 11 am. Usually my lunch or oatmeal, as I don't care for breakfast foods in general. I can't exercise with food in my tummy without feeling ill. I also just think it's silly to make myself eat when I'm not even hungry.

Alarae21

I have a protein shake for breakfast so I can drink it throughout the whole morning. I leave for work at 7:30am and the few times I tried to eat before I left I was starting before midday. I don't eat lunch until half 1.

Having my shake little and often throughout the morning helps keep my hunger at bay

brb_2013

Kavazya wrote: »

Okay, thanks guys! Since I'm no pro athlete and am hungry at totally different times day-to-day, this is music to my ears. Glad most of the "shoulds" have been debunked

Indeed! If all those silly rules could be publicly debunked and the media would report that instead of all the woo, people would have a much easier time losing. Yesterday I didn't eat until 1pm, today I was starving at 9 so I ate. Sometimes it makes waiting for lunch harder so today my strategy will be to have my high protein snack at my usual lunch hour, and then that will help me wait an extra hour or so for lunch, allowing lunch to be late enough I won't need a PM snack before dinner. I will also likely cook a bit earlier in the evening tonight. No biggie, I just eat when hungry then adjust as needed

ASKyle

One more vote for whenever you want!

I get heat from some friends that I don't eat until noonish most days, with comments about how I'm slowing my metabolism, etc. Ironically, I'm the thinnest.