Getting used to skipping breakfast
Francl27
Posts: 26,371 Member
I'm always hungry in the morning, but savory food just doesn't appeal to me at all anymore then... so instead of just eating empty carbs and still be hungry after 500 calories, I've started skipping breakfast and end up eating around 11am. It makes the rest of the day MUCH easier, but, well, I'm hungry, and I exercise in the morning so it's not really ideal...
The question is - if you started skipping breakfast, did you stop being hungry at some point? I typically don't eat later than 7pm at night, so it's a pretty long time without food. It's easier for me to ignore hunger in the morning, but it would be easier if I'd just get used to it...
The question is - if you started skipping breakfast, did you stop being hungry at some point? I typically don't eat later than 7pm at night, so it's a pretty long time without food. It's easier for me to ignore hunger in the morning, but it would be easier if I'd just get used to it...
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I almost never eat breakfast. I have two cups of coffee and that's it.
Occasionally I'm hungry, but like you said, I prefer to ignore it and leave myself more calories for dinner time.
I'd say after a few weeks I got used to it and wasn't looking for food in the morning.
If you don't want savory in the morning but want to eat, what about some kind of protein pancakes or overnight oats or even just a banana?2 -
Low calorie drink helps me make it to my 11:30 PM lunch break. I like the Crystal Light packets.1
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I stopped eating breakfast a few months ago to save calories. I didn't stop being hungry but I am no more hungry than I was when I used to eat breakfast every day.6
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I almost never eat breakfast. I have two cups of coffee and that's it.
Occasionally I'm hungry, but like you said, I prefer to ignore it and leave myself more calories for dinner time.
I'd say after a few weeks I got used to it and wasn't looking for food in the morning.
If you don't want savory in the morning but want to eat, what about some kind of protein pancakes or overnight oats or even just a banana?
The problem is that pretty often, I just keep eating because I don't feel satisfied. 600+ calories later and I'm still not satisfied and still hungry by 11am
I'm usually up by 6.30am.3 -
Breakfast doesn't need to be 500 cal or savory.
How about an omelette with 2-3 egg whites, some sweetener, cinnamon and berries or even half a banana. Under 100 cal and it is sweet..and you won't need to go hungry!
Or a sweet vanilla parfait made of oatbran, chia seeds, fruit and sweetener?
(I know it doesn't answer your question but it is a different perspective)9 -
Are you compensating by eating more for your other meals? If you're eating the same amount of calories as before, you "shouldn't" be appreciably more hungry, but if you are, you'll just have to shuffle your calories again.
Are you sure there's no middle ground between savory and empty carbs? I like things like porridge (made with milk and water, with butter, no added sugar), or sandwiches and milk, and always fruit and vegs. I eat breakfast maybe around 9-10, lunch 12-13, dinner 16-17, and I'm hungry before all meals but it's easy to wait. (I used to have a fourth meal after dinner, but around a year ago, I started to not have room for it anymore, fullness from dinner just wouldn't go away, I didn't have time for more before it was bedtime.)4 -
Mkneedtogetfit wrote: »Breakfast doesn't need to be 500 cal or savory.
How about an omelette with 2-3 egg whites, some sweetener, cinnamon and berries or even half a banana. Under 100 cal and it is sweet..and you won't need to go hungry!
Or a sweet vanilla parfait made of oatbran, chia seeds, fruit and sweetener?
(I know it doesn't answer your question but it is a different perspective)
Sorry but... ew. I can't stomach the idea of eggs in the morning, and egg whites... just yuck.
I've done the yogurt parfait route too, but I don't feel satisfied and it just seems to boost my appetite. Really, unless it's the week after my period and I'm not hungry, I'm never satisfied with less than 400 calories.kommodevaran wrote: »Are you compensating by eating more for your other meals? If you're eating the same amount of calories as before, you "shouldn't" be appreciably more hungry, but if you are, you'll just have to shuffle your calories again.
Are you sure there's no middle ground between savory and empty carbs? I like things like porridge (made with milk and water, with butter, no added sugar), or sandwiches and milk, and always fruit and vegs. I eat breakfast maybe around 9-10, lunch 12-13, dinner 16-17, and I'm hungry before all meals but it's easy to wait. (I used to have a fourth meal after dinner, but around a year ago, I started to not have room for it anymore, fullness from dinner just wouldn't go away, I didn't have time for more before it was bedtime.)
Yeah I'm eating more with my other meals, but now it's much easier to stick to my goal (which is pretty high, I'm very active and I have a small deficit, so it's not uncommon for me to be able to eat 2100 calories to lose).0 -
I'm not a breakfast eater but my trainer said I need to eat every 3hrs, that includes eating 30min after I get up so I have some pieces of cantaloupe or 4 Tbl of yogurt. I found doing this I'm not as hungry for lunch & helps me control calories better24
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I have a berocca and creatine powder before I work out at the gym in the morning but then I wont eat any food until at least 12pm. It certainly makes managing my calories for the day a whole lot easier.
And yes, I stopped feeling hungry in the morning very quickly... In saying that though I do drink water and black Nespresso coffee (maybe 2).0 -
I usually have two cups of black coffee in the morning.2
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I never eat breakfast. Haven't for years now. I usually get up at 5:40 Am,and eat lunch around 12:30. Supper used to be around 5:00 but my new job pushes that off till 7:00 or so. As for getting used to it I can't really give any advice except for drinking water and eating an early lunch might help for you.1
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I always ate breakfast but just got busy in the mornings and would eat 90 cal fiber bar and coffee.. then eat lunch at noon.. somedays i would go to a am body combat time and still ate at noon. i honestly wasnt hungry.. but then i started craving donuts a few days a week and giving in or getting other snacks. i realize i have created a bad habit and working on having a small breakfast. while skipping breakfast may work for some it didnt me.. i feel yucky about most breakfast foods at home.. give me a donut or something great from a restursnt and i can eat no problem.0
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I don't eat breakfast and I'm hardly ever hungry in the morning, but I eat a substantial snack before bed. So I guess I just have shifted my meals. Instead of breakfast lunch dinner, I do lunch dinner snack.
I usually eat lunch between 11:30 and 1:30, dinner between 4:30-6:30, snack around 7 or 8. Usually go to bed around 10.4 -
If you're hungry in the morning, eat. It doesn't have to be savory. Fruit, yogurt, protein shake, Ezikiel muffin with almond butter, cottage cheese with berries. Lots of great options.0
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I feel like crap if I don't eat something in the morning. Often it's a couple poached eggs on toast. Sometimes it's a piece of toast and butter, and cantaloupe with blueberries. Sometimes I've even reached for a banana and peanut butter. If I don't have that fuel, especially before a workout, I am absolutely ravenous later. Not to mention grouchy.0
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I eat on the 16/8 principle.
Fast 16 hours and eat in an 8 hour period.
So I don't eat until 12.30pm.
I drink tea and water in the morning.
I think it's what you get used to and what suits you. It's personal preference.
Every human body is different. What works for one person won't work for another.
This journey is trial and error. We just walk each day and keep our feet on this path and keep learning.11 -
I wanted to say something along PP's comment. You can't expect to get used to something that doesn't suit you. I "fell into" 16/8; previous attempts to just reduce numbers of meals failed. And I think you need to be used to being hungry, not to skip breakfast. Have we discussed the Hunger Scale already? Or Allen Carr's "Easyweigh"? It's about being well fed, by feeding yourself regularly and reliably, thereby building the trust that you'll be fed again, anticipating a good meal, and then just allowing and tolerating and not fearing hunger. Dieting is deliberately inflicting oneself with food insecurity, and reversing that takes time and patience and awareness and kindness.8
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I eat mine around 10-11am as that's usually when I get hungry. If I'm hungry after my cup of tea first thing then I'll eat sooner. No sense in torturing yourself by skipping it if you are hungry!0
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I can't stomach food in the morning, usually hold off till about 11am. But by then I've normally had a cup of coffee & a litre of water.0
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I usually wake up hungry, but can ignore the hunger until I eat. Once I eat I feel like I just want to keep eating..i make do on a couple of coffees.3
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What about a snack a little later in the evening to tide you over and see if that helps? I tend not to eat until around 10/11am but I will have some powdered greens with orange juice when I wake up just so I have a bit of energy for my exercise (on a weekend) or my walk to to work (during the week).1
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I'm always hungry in the morning, but savory food just doesn't appeal to me at all anymore then... so instead of just eating empty carbs and still be hungry after 500 calories, I've started skipping breakfast and end up eating around 11am. It makes the rest of the day MUCH easier, but, well, I'm hungry, and I exercise in the morning so it's not really ideal...
The question is - if you started skipping breakfast, did you stop being hungry at some point? I typically don't eat later than 7pm at night, so it's a pretty long time without food. It's easier for me to ignore hunger in the morning, but it would be easier if I'd just get used to it...
why are the only options savoury or empty carbs?
i have protein enriched cereal, or greek yoghurt and granola most days for breakfast, neither are high carb or savoury...4 -
After a while you may find yourself less hungry when skipping breakfast, but be prepared to have some "WTF" days. I go on and off eating breakfast and it always takes 2-3 weeks of adjustment to get used to it and feel less hungry, but then a day hits when you're hungrier than normal and messes with your head "didn't I just get used to this? I was doing very well". The trick is to stay the course long enough to feel less hungry, and to be ready for some pretty odd days so you don't get taken by surprise.0
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Personally I need breakfast first thing, it fuels my morning workouts - often I'm in need of a second breakfast after exercise but I try to hold off until at least 10.30.
Do whatever works for you, if you can manage without it, it'll mean you can eat larger meals later in the day.
Let your energy levels guide you? I know that's how I would view it.2 -
Since you go so many hours, without consuming something; especially since you've ceased breakfast & exercise within the morning, how about consuming something beyond 7:00 P.M.; instead of just increasing the calories of your other meals; to timely fuel your exercise?1
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livingleanlivingclean wrote: »I usually wake up hungry, but can ignore the hunger until I eat. Once I eat I feel like I just want to keep eating..i make do on a couple of coffees.
This is exactly why I'm trying to learn to skip breakfast, lol. I've been waking up much earlier for the last 8 months or so (insomnia, then I got a puppy) so when I eat too early, I just end up hungrier earlier too, and it's much harder to stick to my calories.kommodevaran wrote: »I wanted to say something along PP's comment. You can't expect to get used to something that doesn't suit you. I "fell into" 16/8; previous attempts to just reduce numbers of meals failed. And I think you need to be used to being hungry, not to skip breakfast. Have we discussed the Hunger Scale already? Or Allen Carr's "Easyweigh"? It's about being well fed, by feeding yourself regularly and reliably, thereby building the trust that you'll be fed again, anticipating a good meal, and then just allowing and tolerating and not fearing hunger. Dieting is deliberately inflicting oneself with food insecurity, and reversing that takes time and patience and awareness and kindness.
Not really the issue for me. I can ignore morning hunger, but afternoon hunger turns me hangry.TavistockToad wrote: »I'm always hungry in the morning, but savory food just doesn't appeal to me at all anymore then... so instead of just eating empty carbs and still be hungry after 500 calories, I've started skipping breakfast and end up eating around 11am. It makes the rest of the day MUCH easier, but, well, I'm hungry, and I exercise in the morning so it's not really ideal...
The question is - if you started skipping breakfast, did you stop being hungry at some point? I typically don't eat later than 7pm at night, so it's a pretty long time without food. It's easier for me to ignore hunger in the morning, but it would be easier if I'd just get used to it...
why are the only options savoury or empty carbs?
i have protein enriched cereal, or greek yoghurt and granola most days for breakfast, neither are high carb or savoury...
I guess I should have specified - I'm not in the mood for savory, but I don't feel satisfied if I don't have carbs either. So if I have Greek yogurt and granola (which have plenty of carbs, by the way), I'll probably head for the breakfast biscuits after... and will probably still be hungry by 11am too. Hence the 'I can't stop eating after I start' issue.
I mean, I've been on MFP for 5 years and it's been way more of an issue in the last couple years (I've gained back 12 lbs or so and finding it extremely difficult to get back to a deficit).0 -
I eat brekkie after walking the dog so 10-ish then lunch 2-3pm and dinner 7-8pm. I find I snack less this way0
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I'm always hungry in the morning, but savory food just doesn't appeal to me at all anymore then... so instead of just eating empty carbs and still be hungry after 500 calories, I've started skipping breakfast and end up eating around 11am. It makes the rest of the day MUCH easier, but, well, I'm hungry, and I exercise in the morning so it's not really ideal...
The question is - if you started skipping breakfast, did you stop being hungry at some point? I typically don't eat later than 7pm at night, so it's a pretty long time without food. It's easier for me to ignore hunger in the morning, but it would be easier if I'd just get used to it...
I haven't eaten breakfast since I turned about 18.
But I eat late in the day ... last snack around midnight ... so I'm not hungry until about 10:30 am.0 -
My day ...
No breakfast
10:30 am snack - cheese & crackers (100 cal)
12:30 pm snack - banana (small 100 cal ... approx.)
2:00 pm lunch - chicken, rice, steamed veggies or occasionally LaZuppa soup, noodles and steamed veg
3:30 pm snack - yogurt
4:45 pm snack - apple, mandarin or some other fruit
6 pm snack - cottage cheese, raw veggies, whole wheat crackers
7:30 pm dinner - steamed veggies & ... whatever else my husband makes
9:30 pm snack - yogurt
11 pm snack - toast with nutella & honey ... sometimes without the nutella ... sometimes with cheese instead of either the nutella or honey
12:30 am snack - McVities digestive biscuit with chocolate coating or a few cheese crackers if I still have the calories for them.
Whether I eat large meals or not, I get ravenously hungry about 1.5 hours later. I can pack away a massive dinner, and be prowling around the kitchen 1.5 hours later. Therefore, I feel so much more comfortable if I just keep the food coming on a regular basis ... but keep everything on the small side.
My larger "meals" are the 2 pm lunch and the 7:30 pm dinner but it is rare that either one will go over 500 cal. The rest of my snacks are usually somewhere around the 100 cal point.2 -
kommodevaran wrote: »I wanted to say something along PP's comment. You can't expect to get used to something that doesn't suit you.
Yes, this. I've been experimenting with skipping breakfast more (not this week, but off and on, trying to decide what eating pattern is preferable for me -- for me breakfast plays a role in getting enough protein/veg so I need to learn to compensate if I do two meals), and for me it's easy, but not because I got used to it but because I seem to naturally not be that hungry in the morning. For years I never ate until lunch. I enjoy eating in the morning (it's a pleasant part of a routine) and tend to if I get up early and workout, mainly, but I don't feel particularly hungry pre lunch if I don't (or if I do so long as I don't do something dumb (for me) like just eat a muffin). My hunger/want to eat danger period is more late afternoon, and there I do think it's habit (and can get out of it).
So I think the question is whether you ARE feeling better eating in the morning or not. Have you given it enough of a try that you know it's not just a habitual desire for food? Do you feel bad not eating or just like you could eat? Stuff like that.3
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