Do I really need to eat breakfast early in the day?

Jess__I__Can

I can eat less if I postpone breakfast. I get up around 5:30am every day and get to work around 7:30am. Usually, I would eat breakfast between 7am and 8am, but then I would be starving by 10am and end up snacking and snacking and snacking.

Now it is 9:30am, all I have had today is coffee and water, and I am not "starving." I feel like I can make it to lunch without feeling like I NEED to eat.

So what's worse? Postponing my calories for the day or eating breakfast and potentially overeating?

BigT555

i get up at 6 and dont eat breakfast until 10. it really makes no difference other than hunger levels, i find it much easier to stick to my calorie goals if i postpone breakfast as long as possible, but this is not the same for everyone

so to answer your question it would be worse to eat breakfast and risk overeating for you

SugaryLynx

Meal timing is personal preference. I wake up at 7 am have coffee and wait until noon before I eat, most of the time. Like you, if I eat early, I get more hungry and it makes me ravenous for what feels the rest of the day. Waiting until noon, I have better satiety and it keeps me on track. Do what works for you!

Cranquistador

NO

Branstin

Weight loss doesn't have anything to do with meal timing or when the sun rises.

DYELB

If you don't eat breakfast you'll die.

It's science.

Jess__I__Can

If you don't eat breakfast you'll die.

It's science.

Best answer.

MeganAnne89

Weight loss doesn't have anything to do with meal timing or when the sun rises.

I agree with this.

That being said, I need to eat right away. I find that if I don't, I physically feel sick until I do.

sassyjae21

I never eat breakfast. I'm done eating by about 8 the night before and don't eat again until about 12 the next day. Some days i'm hungry, some days i'm OK. But I tend to get too close to going over if I eat breakfast.

SLLRunner

I can eat less if I postpone breakfast. I get up around 5:30am every day and get to work around 7:30am. Usually, I would eat breakfast between 7am and 8am, but then I would be starving by 10am and end up snacking and snacking and snacking.

Now it is 9:30am, all I have had today is coffee and water, and I am not "starving." I feel like I can make it to lunch without feeling like I NEED to eat.

So what's worse? Postponing my calories for the day or eating breakfast and potentially overeating?

Nope. You don't have to eat breakfast at all if you don't want to.

As for me, keep me from my breakfast and my sunny personality changes to dark and vicious. :bigsmile:

Jess__I__Can

Weight loss doesn't have anything to do with meal timing or when the sun rises.

Thanks. I've read so many places that breakfast is important because it gets your metabolism going for the day, and the feeling of hunger is good because it means your body is burning calories/fat/whatever.

SLLRunner

If you don't eat breakfast you'll die.

It's science.

And it's been well documented too. :laugh:

Love the humor.

CindyMarcuzAdams

It doesnt matter whag time you eat as long as you do.

Calories cant tell time...

IronPlayground

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day when it's eaten at dinner time and includes bacon and pancakes and eggs and syrup and butter.

monicapatituccijones

Eh. Eat when you want, as long as you're not overeating. Many people don't need breakfast at all.

farway

Weight loss doesn't have anything to do with meal timing or when the sun rises.

Thanks. I've read so many places that breakfast is important because it gets your metabolism going for the day, and the feeling of hunger is good because it means your body is burning calories/fat/whatever.

There was a recent thread, since vanished, about skipping breakfast.

The most "important meal of day" was promoted by cereal companies, and no such thing as kick starting metabolism

Timing of your first meal is not important, it could be 6 pm if you like

littlefoot612

I'm up at 6am and usually have to eat before 8am. My last snack is normally by 8-8:30 in the evening so 12 hours between meals and snacks is about my limit before I start to feel the nausea and lightheadedness.

ironanimal

I usually have a protein shake right before bed, around midnight, but then I don't eat again until 3-4pm. Weight is coming off just fine.

robin52077

Weight loss doesn't have anything to do with meal timing or when the sun rises.

Thanks. I've read so many places that breakfast is important because it gets your metabolism going for the day, and the feeling of hunger is good because it means your body is burning calories/fat/whatever.

Your metabolism is always going. It only stops when you're dead....

I wake up at 5 and only have a cup of coffee before ten and feel great. I work out fasted in the AM too. Sausage and eggs around ten to "break the fast", simply because that is the time i feel hungry.

eggomylegos

No you don't. You just need to meet your daily goals (calories/fat/exercise, etc.).

For me, it's more that I feel crummy if I wait more than a couple of hours after a morning workout. Kinda sleepy, stomach a little achey, overall blahhhh.

I think in the past it may have driven me to binge as well. "Oh no! I didn't eat breakfast. I'll just have ALL the lunch now. Why not two lunches? And Milano cookies."

KaterinaTerese

Calories cant tell time...

Except the ones you eat within 30 minutes of your workout. Those ones it recognizes as workout calories and you can eat as many of them as you like in those 30 minutes. #science

:laugh:

rebeccaplatt21

Look up Dr. Mercola and his views on intermittent fasting! this is basically what you are doing.
if it works for you, then go for it!

unapologetically_crystal

im one of those people that believe you should be starting your metabolism off early.. so i say never skip breakfast. yes calories cant tell time.. but i believe your metabolism gets slower.

coffee thats a supressant.. it will make you not feel hungry.

why not eat breakie then have coffee..

and if you are hungry its because your metabolism is working. you should eat like 5 times a day.. the problem is that you probably are consuming too many calories later in your day. thats what i like to call sumu wrestler eating. hey i can starve all day and eat all my calories later.. and then guess what.. your metabolism is so slow and sluggish that it doesnt do half its work so then majority of that becomes fat.

these are just my beliefs and ideas that i have developed or learned.. im not a doctor or professional anything so what do i know.

SugaryLynx

im one of those people that believe you should be starting your metabolism off early.. so i say never skip breakfast. yes calories cant tell time.. but i believe your metabolism gets slower.

coffee thats a supressant.. it will make you not feel hungry.

why not eat breakie then have coffee..

and if you are hungry its because your metabolism is working. you should eat like 5 times a day.. the problem is that you probably are consuming too many calories later in your day. thats what i like to call sumu wrestler eating. hey i can starve all day and eat all my calories later.. and then guess what.. your metabolism is so slow and sluggish that it doesnt do half its work so then majority of that becomes fat.

these are just my beliefs and ideas that i have developed or learned.. im not a doctor or professional anything so what do i know.

Since we're basing this on beliefs and not science. If you believe this then explain me.

Eats a bulk of calories in the evening like a sumo wrestler. Only eats 3-4 times a day, mostly after noon when I wake at 7am. Loses 53 lbs in 9 months. Goes from over 31% BF to 17%. I've eaten like this for a year. I maintain my weight on around 2200 calories. If that's a slowed metabolism, then I would love to see what isn't one!

My personal experience leads me to believe meal timing is irrelevant to weight loss and all about personal preference. Metabolism only stops when you die.

DavPul

If you don't eat breakfast you'll die.

It's science.

DYEBrunch?

LifeWithPie

im one of those people that believe you should be starting your metabolism off early.. so i say never skip breakfast. yes calories cant tell time.. but i believe your metabolism gets slower.

coffee thats a supressant.. it will make you not feel hungry.

why not eat breakie then have coffee..

and if you are hungry its because your metabolism is working. you should eat like 5 times a day.. the problem is that you probably are consuming too many calories later in your day. thats what i like to call sumu wrestler eating. hey i can starve all day and eat all my calories later.. and then guess what.. your metabolism is so slow and sluggish that it doesnt do half its work so then majority of that becomes fat.

these are just my beliefs and ideas that i have developed or learned.. im not a doctor or professional anything so what do i know.

LOL

3dogsrunning

If you don't eat breakfast you'll die.

It's science.

DYEBrunch?

No!

Brunch sucks.

arnoldfamily07

Every personal trainer/nutritionist I have talked to or worked with, and based off my own experiences, recommend breakfast within 1 hour of waking. Depending on your last meal and the amount of sleep you achieved, your body will most likely be in a catatonic (not sure of the spelling) state. This means you are running low on calories needed to function, so your metabolism has slowed. And since your body functions on efficiency, protein provides more calories than fat, if you continue to wait to eat your body is deteriorating until you consume food.

Your hunger after eating breakfast could be linked to eating some of the wrong types of food, i.e., too high in fat or too many simple carbs. I eat 1/2 cup of oatmeal with almond milk and two hard boiled eggs at about 4:30 AM and I am never reaching for food until about 11:30 AM or later. When I eat cereal--high in simple carbs--I am reaching for a snack by 7:00 AM.

But most importantly, this works for me, you have to do what makes you comfortable. I don't believe in fasting, I think it causes more harm than good, but also because if I go too long without eating, like some people suggest, I will be sick. Even if I'm not hungry, I force myself to eat by noon after my early breakfast, because if I don't, the hunger hits me at the same time as the sickness.

The best thing you can do though is research and listen to what your body tells you. If you want to fast, then fast, just make sure your energy levels aren's droping low and that you don't feel weak or sick. Just be patient and smart; you want to reach your goals but you want to do it in a safe manner.

diannethegeek

Some people find that breakfast gives them increased energy and mood if they eat first thing in the morning. Others experience the opposite. Some people find that breakfast keeps them fuller and more satiated throughout the day. Others experience the opposite. Meal timing shouldn't affect your weight loss. It may affect your concentration, gym performance, energy levels, or hunger. This really is one area where you have to find what works best for your own schedule.

Kalikel

There is no worse. It's just what works for you. I don't eat a bite for at least an hour after rising. I only have fruit for the first three hours. It works for me.

Do what works for you.

mrsKOrtiz

It's all personal preference!