Do I really need to eat breakfast?

2

Replies

  • RachyLovesRattys
    RachyLovesRattys Posts: 143 Member
    I NEVER eat breakfast. I really friggin hate it!! If anything, I can manage a PB sandwich a few hours after waking for some calories...but I really don't eat breakfast. And I'm losing weight and very healthy! So as long as you are eating the right number of calories and don't feel faint or anything in the morning--screw it! Just make sure you have enough fuel for your workouts or make sure you eat right after :) I don't like working out with food in my stomach...but the second I get home from the gym it's Nom time!
  • skinnyinnotime
    skinnyinnotime Posts: 4,078 Member
    Yes! I’m sure that you have heard that it’s the most important meal of the day, that’s not far from the truth. I’m sure you’ve also heard the importance of eating more frequent but smaller meals, also great advice. You don’t necessarily have to eat a big breakfast but eat something, it kick starts the metabolism.
    V/r,
    DW.

    No, no and no.

    Please nobody listen to this
  • red_road
    red_road Posts: 761 Member
    no.
  • cebreisch
    cebreisch Posts: 1,340 Member
    My husband and I try to follow the "only eat if you're actually hungry" and if you aren't you aren't. My breakfast typically consists of greek yogurt (around 8 am), and maybe a protein/fiber bar (at about 10:30 a.m.)

    I think it's helpful, but if it just causes you distress, then forget it. Although I have the opposite problem: I love breakfast things!!! Eggs, bacon, biscuits, omlette's, bagels, pancakes, you name it - I love it!!

    It's all about finding what works for you.....if breakfast ain't it, then so be it!!!
  • ItsCasey
    ItsCasey Posts: 4,021 Member
    I’m sure that you have heard that it’s the most important meal of the day, that’s not far from the truth.

    If it's any distance at all from the truth, it's still a lie. So we're on the same page about that, at least.

    Dinner is the only meal I eat, so I'm going to call that the most important meal of the day. You can, similarly, do what you want.
  • SailorKnightWing
    SailorKnightWing Posts: 875 Member
    Biologically no, eating breakfast is not necessary unless you're, say, diabetic and need to regulate your blood sugar or something.

    Psychologically, some people do need breakfast. If I don't eat it, I feel like I'm starving and eat too much at lunch. This is not the case with some people, such as yourself OP. So find what works for you mentally, because biologically it doesn't make much of a difference.
  • KateK8LoseW8
    KateK8LoseW8 Posts: 824 Member
    No, you do not need to eat breakfast as long as you are getting adequate calories during the rest of the day.
  • BeckiCharlotte13x
    BeckiCharlotte13x Posts: 259 Member
    why eat for the sake of eating? If your body isn't telling you it is hungry then you don't need food.
    Screw the 'studies' and do what works for you, as long as it is healthy :)
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,988 Member
    Yes! I’m sure that you have heard that it’s the most important meal of the day, that’s not far from the truth. I’m sure you’ve also heard the importance of eating more frequent but smaller meals, also great advice. You don’t necessarily have to eat a big breakfast but eat something, it kick starts the metabolism. Try something higher in protein as it makes you feel full and last longer. You will get hungry before lunch time, that is good, have a healthy snack standing by. Also, drink plenty of water that helps to keep you feeling full longer and suppresses your appetite.
    Good luck!
    V/r,
    DW.
    Eating in the morning DOESN'T kickstart metabolism. It's been running since one's been born and doesn't stop till one's dead.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,988 Member
    Hey :-) good question. This works for me!

    Eat a small breakfast within the first hour of waking up.
    Get at least 300 calories and 10 grams of protein.
    It jump starts your metabolism and gives your body the fuel it needs to function properly.
    And prepare a healthy snack before lunch time :-) try apples and peanut butter

    Check out this informative link:
    http://www.everydayhealth.com/health-report/healthy-breakfast/importance-of-eating-breakfast.aspx
    Again, it DOESN'T jump start metabolism. It's important to defuse this ongoing myth that's been believed for decades now.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • mustgetmuscles1
    mustgetmuscles1 Posts: 3,346 Member
    I eat breakfast but only after I have been up for about 5 hours. Do not like eating first thing in the morning unless it is waffles on the weekend. Because waffles.

    The truth is its personal preference. There is no metabolic adaptation from missing or delaying one meal in a day. If skipping causes energy, mood, focus, hunger, or over eating problems then yes you should eat breakfast. If you do fine without it then just adjust your eating to meet nutrient and personal needs.
  • liloldDee
    liloldDee Posts: 92 Member
    I don't eat breakfast and do better losing weight when I don't. Eating any less than 2 hours after I get up makes me sick when this passes I'm starving and end up eating more for the day. I do drink 2 mugs of tea though, I couldn't manage without that.;-)
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,988 Member
    Hey :-) good question. This works for me!

    Eat a small breakfast within the first hour of waking up.
    Get at least 300 calories and 10 grams of protein.
    It jump starts your metabolism and gives your body the fuel it needs to function properly.
    And prepare a healthy snack before lunch time :-) try apples and peanut butter

    Check out this informative link:
    http://www.everydayhealth.com/health-report/healthy-breakfast/importance-of-eating-breakfast.aspx
    Breakfast does not jumpstart your metabolism; meal timing doesn't effect your metabolism in any appreciable way. The article you link to talks about the "psychological benefit" of eating breakfast. And that benefit is going to vary from person to person since no two minds are alike.


    MarKayDee,

    Eating breakfast has both physical and psychological benefits. and that's great!

    Food helps you stay focused and alert during your day.

    “For sustainable energy, partner high-fiber foods with proteins that promote alertness, like egg whites, turkey, chicken, fish, and lean meats.” Susan Kraus, MS, RD,
    http://www.everydayhealth.com/health-report/healthy-breakfast/importance-of-eating-breakfast.aspx


    Also See...
    Best Fat Burning Breakfasts
    http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20406798,00.html

    Eat like a Nutritionist:
    http://www.wholeliving.com/136087/eat-nutritionist-8-healthy-breakfasts

    Good Luck to you with your weight Loss Goals!
    There are no such things as "fat burning" foods. It would benefit you to learn more about physiology, digestion, and actual nutrition.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • lavaughan69
    lavaughan69 Posts: 459 Member
    I never eat breakfast. In fact my lunches are pretty small too. I really enjoy having a nice dinner with a sizable piece of meat so I basically save up my calories for that meal. I also love to have popcorn around 9pm. Just listen to your body and design you meals to suit your lifestyle.
  • fruttibiscotti
    fruttibiscotti Posts: 986 Member
    You don't have to eat breakfast. If you are not hungry in the morning, then don't eat. If all you desire is a coffee in the morning, then just have that.
  • lindsayk324
    lindsayk324 Posts: 54 Member
    There are lots of interesting studies on breakfast. Here are a couple recent ones:

    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23672851
    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23512957

    Hello, scientist here. I'm going to translate these two articles for any non-scientist out there.

    FIRST LINKED STUDY: "Effect of skipping breakfast on subsequent energy intake"
    This paper did two experiments where people were given one of 4 different breakfast meals and then at lunch they could eat as much as they wanted. The four breakfast types were as follows

    Breakfast 1 = no breakfast
    Breakfast 2 = 335kcal of high carb
    Breakfast 3 = 360kcal of high fiber
    Breakfast 4 = no limit, as much as you want

    They asked two questions.
    Question 1: If you skip breakfast, do you eat more at lunch?
    Question 2: Does the kind of breakfast matter?

    Answer 1: (verbatim from the article) "neither eating breakfast nor the kind of breakfast consumed had an effect on the amount consumed at lunch despite a reduction in hunger ratings."
    This is saying that whether you eat breakfast or not, you won't eat more at lunch, you'll just feel less hungry if you have breakfast. ...duh.

    Answer 2: (again verbatim) "intake at lunch as well as hunger ratings were significantly increased after skipping breakfast (by 144 kcal), leaving a net caloric deficit of 408 kcal by the end of the day."
    This is saying that if you skip breakfast, you eat just a LITTLE more at lunch (144kcal extra lunch). But since you skipped breakfast, you "saved" about 550kcal so you end up eating 400kcal less than the people who ate breakfast.


    So that study, if anything, is saying that skipping breakfast is BETTER for weight loss!!


    Study 2: "High Caloric Intake at Breakfast vs. Dinner Differentially Influences Weight Loss of Overweight and Obese Women"

    I don't even need to break this study down, because right off the bat, it is a study done only with overweight/obese women with metabolic disorders. That certainly doesn't say anything about the population as a whole. Also important to note is that these caloric intakes were self-reported, so a critical eye should be skeptical about the subjects' compliance to the diet and timing.

    However, for those interested, the big breakfast group lost about 3x more weight than the big dinner group, according to their statistics. While that's impressive, it should be noted that the big breakfast group only lost 8kg over 12 weeks (so about 1.5lb/week) on a 1400kcal/day diet, which is pretty much what you'd expect no matter when you're eating your meals.



    <b>tl;dr - official science conclusion is that that if you don't eat food, you might be hungry. derrr</b>
  • DWBalboa
    DWBalboa Posts: 37,259 Member
    Good morning MarKayDee,

    After revisiting your post and reading the strong opinions of others on this subject, I would highly recommend that you visit your Doctor and get their professional take on the subject. As well as the intentions may be (including my own), no one but a Dr. should be leading you and giving you advice on your diet, which could have ramifications on your health both in the long and short term. I have yet to hear of a Dr. (one with a medical degree) tell anybody to skip meals, in fact Dr. Mehmet Oz has done shows based on the subject and WebMD has plenty to say on it as well. The good thing about WebMD is that the articles are reviewed by medical professionals before publication.
    1. http://www.doctoroz.com/
    2. http://www.oprah.com/health/Diet-Myths-and-Facts-Doctor-Oz
    3. http://blog.doctoroz.com/dr-oz-blog/why-breakfast-can-save-your-life
    4. http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/most-important-meal
    5. http://www.webmd.com/heart/news/20130722/skipping-breakfast-a-recipe-for-heart-disease-study-finds
    6. http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/many-benefits-breakfast
    7. http://www.webmd.com/diet/news/20090615/skip-breakfast-get-fat

    “To eat or not to eat”, that is a question best answered by medical professionals not any of us! Whatever you do I wish you the best in your endeavors and the best of health.
    V/r,
    DW.
  • jonnythan
    jonnythan Posts: 10,161 Member
    Good morning MarKayDee,

    After revisiting your post and reading the strong opinions of others on this subject, I would highly recommend that you visit your Doctor and get their professional take on the subject. As well as the intentions may be (including my own), no one but a Dr. should be leading you and giving you advice on your diet, which could have ramifications on your health both in the long and short term. I have yet to hear of a Dr. (one with a medical degree) tell anybody to skip meals, in fact Dr. Mehmet Oz has done shows based on the subject and WebMD has plenty to say on it as well. The good thing about WebMD is that the articles are reviewed by medical professionals before publication.
    1. http://www.doctoroz.com/
    2. http://www.oprah.com/health/Diet-Myths-and-Facts-Doctor-Oz
    3. http://blog.doctoroz.com/dr-oz-blog/why-breakfast-can-save-your-life
    4. http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/most-important-meal
    5. http://www.webmd.com/heart/news/20130722/skipping-breakfast-a-recipe-for-heart-disease-study-finds
    6. http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/many-benefits-breakfast
    7. http://www.webmd.com/diet/news/20090615/skip-breakfast-get-fat

    “To eat or not to eat”, that is a question best answered by medical professionals not any of us! Whatever you do I wish you the best in your endeavors and the best of health.
    V/r,
    DW.

    Just FYI, linking to anything from Oprah or Dr Oz induces facepalms across the internet. Dr. Oz cashed in his doctor credibility to shill for supplement companies and sell a TV show. Most of what he says these days is total nonsense.
  • auddii
    auddii Posts: 15,357 Member
    Good morning MarKayDee,

    After revisiting your post and reading the strong opinions of others on this subject, I would highly recommend that you visit your Doctor and get their professional take on the subject. As well as the intentions may be (including my own), no one but a Dr. should be leading you and giving you advice on your diet, which could have ramifications on your health both in the long and short term. I have yet to hear of a Dr. (one with a medical degree) tell anybody to skip meals, in fact Dr. Mehmet Oz has done shows based on the subject and WebMD has plenty to say on it as well. The good thing about WebMD is that the articles are reviewed by medical professionals before publication.
    1. http://www.doctoroz.com/
    2. http://www.oprah.com/health/Diet-Myths-and-Facts-Doctor-Oz
    3. http://blog.doctoroz.com/dr-oz-blog/why-breakfast-can-save-your-life
    4. http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/most-important-meal
    5. http://www.webmd.com/heart/news/20130722/skipping-breakfast-a-recipe-for-heart-disease-study-finds
    6. http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/many-benefits-breakfast
    7. http://www.webmd.com/diet/news/20090615/skip-breakfast-get-fat

    “To eat or not to eat”, that is a question best answered by medical professionals not any of us! Whatever you do I wish you the best in your endeavors and the best of health.
    V/r,
    DW.

    Just FYI, linking to anything from Oprah or Dr Oz induces facepalms across the internet. Dr. Oz cashed in his doctor credibility to shill for supplement companies and sell a TV show. Most of what he says these days is total nonsense.
    Yup, maybe if I needed a thoracic surgeon, but likely not. I know one here who does research on comparative effectiveness of new drugs versus old ones because he doesn't believe you should pay more for a new drug if the old one is as good or better. And, he refuses money offered to him by drug companies to perform the studies because he doesn't want the results of the study tainted in any way by how the drug companies chose to publish the data and he wants to remain impartial while considering the results. That's a doctor I trust... (Granted, I still don't think I'd ask him if it's ok to skip breakfast.)
  • BigGuy47
    BigGuy47 Posts: 1,768 Member
    Oz and Oprah said wut? :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
  • BusyRaeNOTBusty
    BusyRaeNOTBusty Posts: 7,166 Member
    No. You don't need to eat breakfast.

    *I did not read any of the replies.
  • Cranquistador
    Cranquistador Posts: 39,744 Member
    Yes! I’m sure that you have heard that it’s the most important meal of the day, that’s not far from the truth. I’m sure you’ve also heard the importance of eating more frequent but smaller meals, also great advice. You don’t necessarily have to eat a big breakfast but eat something, it kick starts the metabolism. Try something higher in protein as it makes you feel full and last longer. You will get hungry before lunch time, that is good, have a healthy snack standing by. Also, drink plenty of water that helps to keep you feeling full longer and suppresses your appetite.
    Good luck!
    V/r,
    DW.
    LOLOLOL


    NO.
  • mustgetmuscles1
    mustgetmuscles1 Posts: 3,346 Member
    Halp!!! Missed a meal and now my metabolism wont start!

    DHA3Vwn.gif
  • SailorKnightWing
    SailorKnightWing Posts: 875 Member
    179809d1373210666t-apple-going-down-billions-tax-fraud-thread-necromancy.png
  • ParamoreAddict
    ParamoreAddict Posts: 839 Member
    what-about-second-breakfast.png
  • chatogal
    chatogal Posts: 436 Member
    sometimes I wonder if people muddle up metabolism with peristalsis!! ... all I know, when I first eat... half an hour later my gut is moving....dosnt matter what time this is after I get up!!
  • KANGOOJUMPS
    KANGOOJUMPS Posts: 6,474 Member
    nope, don't
  • allana1111
    allana1111 Posts: 390 Member
    YES. I always thought it was a lie but once I started, I lost the most weight ever. Completely sets your tone and mindset for the whole day and helps you more efficiently burn. I either eat 2 eggs or oatmeal.. but just today I discovered Quest protein bars... which taste freakin awesome. I'm gonna use them for after workouts, but GNC said people also use em for a quick breakfast. No added sugar, 20 g of protein and only 16-190 calories (depending which ones you get).
  • Snow3y
    Snow3y Posts: 1,412 Member
    I like cereal
  • auntiebabs
    auntiebabs Posts: 1,754 Member
    I hate breakfast, I hate eggs, and eating before noon or so has always either made me feel sick to my stomach or starving, but I know that breakfast is supposed to be good for you especially when you're losing weight, but do I really need to eat first thing or is it just another lie, like how many carbs the food pyramid says I need?

    When I was a kid, if we complained at the breakfast table, my Mom always said "If we lived on a farm you'd be up at 5AM to do chores and wouldn't get your breakfast until 8AM, your so luck that you can get up at 7:30 and have breakfast at 8"

    Well, I'm not on a farm... and if I get up at 9AM and don't eat until Noon it's the same difference...
    (I also don't heed the no eating after 8PM rule, being that I have a shifted work schedule and I would never get to eat dinner.)