Skipping a meal to eat more later?
OAS5
Posts: 376 Member
What is the general consensus on skipping one meal because you know or want to take in more calories in another meal? Meaning today I'm skipping breakfast because we are going to lunch and I will eat basically the same calories at this lunch or close to it as if I ate lunch. I only ask because "skipping meals" is a bad phrase in the weight loss world. Thanks for any info.
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I've done it...I try not to fall into what the 'weight loss world' deems good or bad lol...meaning it's an individual journey...and while guidance is very helpful...it's ultimately up to you! Plus in your case skipping breakfast simply feels like a day of 'intermittent fasting' - Simply be aware of your calories, if that's what you are doing..and enjoy your meal.
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"Skipping meals" in the weight loss world is called Intermittent Fasting, and there's nothing wrong with it. I typically skip breakfast because I'm not hungry in the morning. I prefer to eat the majority of my calories at dinner/dessert.
The only issue would be if skipping breakfast makes you so hungry that you overeat at lunch.12 -
"In the weightloss world..." where would that be? Like with anorexia or eating disorders? I can see that being a thing when in recovery from anorexia...I mean, just getting on a regular eating routine would be a success.
I skip meals or eat lightly in the mornings frequently to make "room" for a higher calorie meal later in the day. It works great.2 -
I usually eat only two meals a day - taken between 10am and 6pm. I don't really think of it as skipping meals nor by the trendy term 'intermittent fasting' - but at a daily 1200 calories, it's simply my preference. If I have a large first meal (weekend pancakes or full English) I'll adjust the second meal (fish and greens).
The only time I have a third meal is when I have a busy schedule and won't be able to take lunch until 1pm. In that case, it's coffee and a protein - either eggs or Greek yogurt with a little high protein granola or chopped nuts.
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Sorry, I had no idea "weight loss world" was a bad thing. Let's call it, healthy way of eating world, skipping meals is frowned upon in general. I'm doing this today, but do rarely if ever do it. It's a once in a while thing to me.0
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I think it’s a fairly common thing to do by people that are watching how much they eat. I just input what I’m going to have for dinner tonight to see how many calories I have to space out for the rest of the day.3
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I don't eat traditional morning breakfast meal. First meal is usually at 12pm.
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I skipped breakfast for the first 6 months of my weight loss journey, since it left me more calories for lunch, dinner and an evening snack (easier to stick to my calorie goal).
While I have started eating breakfast on most days (high protein, to increase my protein consumption), I do still skip breakfast when I know I'll have a high calorie meal later in the day.
I don't see any problems with that strategy 🙂1 -
No problen at all. Its just snart budeting and knowing your own tendencies.1
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As stated above, as long as skipping the meal doesn't make you overeat at the next one, it's fine.4
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I don’t eat breakfast so I can eat a bigger lunch and dinner.... I’m naturally not a breakfast eater so it fits my lifestyle better. If it doesn’t cause you to be hungry or gorge later, go for it2
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it doesnt matter when you eat your calories. eat one meal a day or 10. as long as you are in your deficit, you will lose weight.
i very rarely eat breakfast.4 -
I do it all the time. When I was losing I'd commonly replace breakfast and lunch with a big brunch on one weekend day and on Fridays or Saturdays (if I didn't do the brunch) might skip either breakfast or lunch to have a restaurant dinner. Now my schedule is such that skipping breakfast and eating two larger meals is the most pleasant way for me to keep a deficit (I didn't used to do that since it would mean working out long before I had a chance to eat if I didn't have breakfast after, but my workout schedule is currently more flexible and plus I've gotten more used to no breakfast again).
My current pattern fits in what I'd call TRE (others call it IF), so it's actually pretty trendy in the "weight loss world," but that's not why I do it, it just happens to work for me currently. But more relevant to you, I see nothing wrong with skipping a meal to have more cals for a special meal, unless it causes you to eat more that day than you intended to.1 -
I think the big determining factor is listening to your body and knowing if it feels helpful or harmful to YOU, right now, where you are in your journey. If you feel fine skipping a meal, arent dizzy, arent stressed or hangry, then do it. However, if you feel like you are STARVING, are getting irritable, having mood swings, and generally feeling bad-- it can cause more harm to you and actually cause a setback. Introducing stressors and anxiety around your calorie intake only makes it more difficult for your body to function at max and more difficult to lose weight effectively.
It all comes down to how you feel. Do you feel safe and empowered by skipping your meal, or do you feel like you are depriving yourself and abusing your body? It makes a big difference.8 -
I usually have a light breakfast (such as a couple of boiled eggs) if I want to eat something more calorific later. And/or I trim down the portion size of lunch.2
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Sorry, I had no idea "weight loss world" was a bad thing. Let's call it, healthy way of eating world, skipping meals is frowned upon in general. I'm doing this today, but do rarely if ever do it. It's a once in a while thing to me.
IMO skipping meals is fine in the healthy eating world, too, as long as it doesn't have negative consequences for you personally (like that "getting too hungry then overeating" thing). People eat on all kinds of different schedules, either routinely or on odd days here and there, and do fine.
One of my personal thought-experiment tests: What are the odds that natural selection shaped us to thrive only when eating on a very regular eating schedule? I'm thinking those odds are low. (Sure, there are bad strategies at the extreme, but what you're talking about isn't extreme.) Humans are designed to be pretty adaptable, IMO.
Further, you seem to be talking about doing this now and then, which seems like even less of an issue. Some days I eat 2 meals, some days 3 or 4, some days snacks, some days not. While I was losing, it was a common thing to eat a light breakfast/lunch to save calories for a special restaurant or social meal. I lost weight fine, maintain weight fine, am healthy. 🤷♀️
It's fine.2 -
Well I must say I went a little overboard for lunch, we ended up ordering a dessert that was split 3 ways. It's Sunday, and that is my little over the top day. I don't go crazy, but just much less strict on Sundays.
By the way I'm down some 75 pounds from 272 to 197. Goal is 180. I'm close, just trying to get this last 15-20 pounds off. Stubborn those last few as we all know. It's all good, I liked what I did today. Maybe on Sundays I'll do a one day a week fast, skip breakfast. I kinda like that idea.5 -
I tried doing this last night, because my husband and I had a date night. While I did stay within my calories I was horribly, horribly grumpy after breakfast and lunch (I didn't skip entirely but ate significantly less.) Intermittent fasting is not recommended for me right now because I'm breastfeeding. I did have some success with it a couple of years ago, but I was doing it everyday and altered my meals gradually over time instead of making changes abruptly, which probably helped with the mood bit.
I think if the math works it's fine, but just be aware of how it might affect you and adjust accordingly. I think for future occasions I might take a weeklong look at my calorie budget and adjust several days rather than just the one, because then it won't seem like such a big deal.2 -
I think it shows being mindful of your eating. If I'm going out to brunch.. yes. I'll skip breakfast. If I ate too much last night? I'll eat less today..skip carbs and eat broiled fish for dinner and skip red meat. balance.3
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Sorry, I had no idea "weight loss world" was a bad thing. Let's call it, healthy way of eating world, skipping meals is frowned upon in general. I'm doing this today, but do rarely if ever do it. It's a once in a while thing to me.
I’ve never come across the idea that ‘skipping meals’ was bad, in any context. Curious as to where you’ve picked up that particular arbitrary piece of wisdom?
I skip meals - always have, dating back to school days. I never ate lunch - once I started work I skipped both breakfast and lunch. These days, I don’t eat until around 2pm, because that’s when I feel hungry.
I’ve never subscribed to the idea that hunger should be controlled by the clock.
Having said that - when I first met my husband he seemed to genuinely think that something dire would happen if he didn’t eat every 4 hours! 😂
He still doesn’t understand how or why I regularly go 16+ hours without considering food!
But certainly, saving calories when you know you have an occasion will do absolutely no harm!2 -
I do remember back in health class being told not to skip meals. I think that makes sense for growing children, not to mention concerns about EDs among adolescents.3
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Not sure about now, but I'm pretty sure that back in the day Weight Watchers frowned on skipping meals.2
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That's just like fasting I you mean? Works every time it's done right and I know a few people that do it1
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I almost never eat breakfast because I really like big dinners. Same calories per day! Nbd!1
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