Eating within an hour of waking?

cindytsx
cindytsx Posts: 3 Member
in Getting Started
hello community [:

this is my first post and i've been on mfp since last year and have made progress since. i felt that my progress had been pretty stagnant and woohoo i started a fitness club in a local community yesterday - and it was so awesome :)

well other than getting us to work out together they also supplied us with some nutritional talk which got me confused. so yes, please let me know if it's true that we need to eat within an hour of waking up?

They claim that it's to fuel our metabolism & kick start our body systems.

Another question: My BMR as measured by the body scan machine said 1280 whereas, if calculated by formula it is 1358. I'm a tad confused by difference in measurement. Please shed some light on this, thanks! ^-^
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Replies

  • KaterinaTerese
    KaterinaTerese Posts: 345 Member
    There's no time limit on eating. Many people on here practice intermittent fasting and don't eat until the late afternoon.

    You eat when you feel ready, choose things which fit into your calorie budget (weigh them on a food scale), and your metabolism will be just fine. Really. :flowerforyou:
  • aleggett321
    aleggett321 Posts: 186 Member
    Your metabolism doesn't suddenly stop when you go to sleep. Your body doesn't need to be "kick started". Eat your first meal when you choose.
  • Dnarules
    Dnarules Posts: 2,081 Member
    I don't know anything about how accurate the body scan bmr measurement is. I do know that the formula gives you an estimate only.. And the most accurate formula takes body fat percentages into consideration, which might be part of the difference.
  • hearthwood
    hearthwood Posts: 794 Member
    I don't eat until I'm hungry, which sometimes is around lunch time. It hasn't stopped my weight loss schedule one bit. Calories in versus calories out, it doesn't matter what time you eat them.
  • itsbasschick
    itsbasschick Posts: 1,584 Member
    i used to eat about 2 hours after i woke up. since i've started working out a lot more, i get hungry within an hour and a half. years ago when i used to bodybuild, i used to eat within an hour of waking up, but that was because i was hungry.

    since you burn calories while you sleep, you don't need to "kick start" your metabolism - when you move around, you'll burn more. if your metabolism stopped, that would mean you'd be dead.
  • cam8724
    cam8724 Posts: 7
    I think you should eat when you feel ready; however, I'm a believer in eating a mostly clean diet and trying to eat 5-6 small meals a day. Space them out evenly and this will help your metabolism stay strong and working all day long!!
  • HeidiCooksSupper
    HeidiCooksSupper Posts: 3,839 Member
    Although, in general the simple "eat only before 8," "eat breakfast within an hour," "eat early," eat late," etc. recommendations that have been around forever rest on myth and guesswork. That's why many of us will pooh-pooh them.

    BUT -- and it's a big but -- very recent research is showing some evidence that time of eating and circadian rhythms may make a difference. The research is at a very early state. Consider this abstract sentence from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23357955:

    "There is emerging literature demonstrating a relationship between the timing of feeding and weight regulation in animals. However, whether the timing of food intake influences the success of a weight-loss diet in humans is unknown."

    In other words, there is some evidence that it does make a difference when and what you eat how soon or after you exercise and breakfast content and size may make a difference. Also, adequate sleep may have a greater effect on obesity and weight loss.

    Don't leap to conclusions yet and suspect anybody who tells you that something is absolutely known about this at this point.
  • Rebekah718
    Rebekah718 Posts: 134 Member
    I personally eat when I am hungry sometimes it's first thing sometimes it's later for me anyways I have found listening to my body is key.
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  • comrade_questions
    comrade_questions Posts: 103 Member
    Eating when I wake up makes me want to vom, personally. I wait until I get to work and have something at my desk.
  • HCG73
    HCG73 Posts: 23 Member
    As I tend to be hungriest later in the day, especially if it is a working day, I try to have breakfast, lunch and tea as late as possible to put off these hunger pangs.

    I've found that the more I read or hear about nutrition and fitness the more confusing information I get, so I've decided to try and keep it simple and listen to my body more (but still keep reading on MFP forums!!!)
  • melodiarentsen
    melodiarentsen Posts: 20 Member
    I eat immediately. I have since childhood. I am starving when I wake up. I can hardly stand to take the time to get the breakfast together because I want to eat so bad.
  • Alluminati
    Alluminati Posts: 6,208 Member
    I think you should eat when you feel ready; however, I'm a believer in eating a mostly clean diet and trying to eat 5-6 small meals a day. Space them out evenly and this will help your metabolism stay strong and working all day long!!

    Yeah. No.
  • seltzermint555
    seltzermint555 Posts: 10,740 Member
    I think you should eat when you feel ready; however, I'm a believer in eating a mostly clean diet and trying to eat 5-6 small meals a day. Space them out evenly and this will help your metabolism stay strong and working all day long!!
    Your metabolism is strong and working all day regardless if you eat 2 meals or 6 meals. More meals does not mean a faster metabolism.

    ^ I agree. Metabolism isn't some kind of super tricky thing that randomly stops over the course of a day and must be kicked back into action.

    Yeah we are all humans and our bodies work in pretty much the same way...but as these responses show, there are many variables, too! I have to eat breakfast to feel like a functional and fully awake person especially for a work day. If I waited until I was at work to eat I'd be really cranky -- and sorry for TMI but I probably wouldn't have pooped either. Coffee and a small meal of even 150-200 calories gets my day going in those ways, so it's an absolute must for ME.

    Do what works for you.

    Also regarding the practice of mini meals rather than a few larger meals...that seems to work well for many people. For me it's the fastest route to feeling vaguely hungry all of the time and never fully satisfied, and experiencing some mild emotional distress when I eat with friends or family who eat a "regular" sized meal. No thanks.
  • redpandora56
    redpandora56 Posts: 289 Member
    Also regarding the practice of mini meals rather than a few larger meals...that seems to work well for many people. For me it's the fastest route to feeling vaguely hungry all of the time and never fully satisfied, and experiencing some mild emotional distress when I eat with friends or family who eat a "regular" sized meal. No thanks.

    Same here... I regularly have 2/3 of my daily calories at dinnertime because I am able to quite happily eat less in the day so i can enjoy a big dinner. This isn't always the case but it is nice to be able to do that. I only snack between meals if I'm super hungry.

    OP If you feel better eating throughout the day then by all means, go for it. But you don't have to eat at any specific times or frequencies. Do what works for you and your schedule.
  • EvgeniZyntx
    EvgeniZyntx Posts: 24,208 Member
    Best starting is here: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1175494-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants

    Nutrient timing is of a lot less importance than getting the basics right. Make sure it is something you can adhere to rather than someone else's plan.
  • michellemybelll
    michellemybelll Posts: 2,228 Member
    Nutrient timing is of a lot less importance than getting the basics right. Make sure it is something you can adhere to rather than someone else's plan.
    ^^ this

    and...
    I eat immediately ... I am starving when I wake up. I can hardly stand to take the time to get the breakfast together because I want to eat so bad.
    ^^ this
    i'm a bit OCD with my routine too, as another poster said. i just stick to what works best for me, my schedule, and my satiety.
  • leggup
    leggup Posts: 2,942 Member
    Anything referring to eating that uses the term "kick start" is bro science.
  • lamps1303
    lamps1303 Posts: 432 Member
    I used to be a firm believer of 'you must eat breakfast within the first hour', 'no carbs after 6pm', 'no food after 8pm' etc. I eventually realised it's all BS.

    I now eat what I want (Obviously within reason) when I want. If my body says it's hungry - I eat. If my stomach is satisfied - I don't eat. Simple.

    These days I get up between 5.30-7am (I go to the gym at 6am 3x a week) and have my first meal around 10.30-11am. My final 'feed' is usually around 8.30pm ish. That's what my body tells me to do so I listen.

    And like others have said - there is no need to 'kick start your metabolism'. You can damage your metabolism by following a VLCD for a LONG period of time, but that's another topic of discussion.

    Basically - eat when you want.
  • Jacwhite22
    Jacwhite22 Posts: 7,010 Member
    hello community [:

    this is my first post and i've been on mfp since last year and have made progress since. i felt that my progress had been pretty stagnant and woohoo i started a fitness club in a local community yesterday - and it was so awesome :)

    well other than getting us to work out together they also supplied us with some nutritional talk which got me confused. so yes, please let me know if it's true that we need to eat within an hour of waking up?

    They claim that it's to fuel our metabolism & kick start our body systems.

    Another question: My BMR as measured by the body scan machine said 1280 whereas, if calculated by formula it is 1358. I'm a tad confused by difference in measurement. Please shed some light on this, thanks! ^-^

    No. Eat when you want. There is no magic formula to calculate your BMR....They are all estimates. Want to know your exact BMR? ...Eat VERY consistently at one number for a month..If you lost eat more, if you gained eat less....Once you stay the same you know your BMR.
  • lamps1303
    lamps1303 Posts: 432 Member
    hello community [:

    this is my first post and i've been on mfp since last year and have made progress since. i felt that my progress had been pretty stagnant and woohoo i started a fitness club in a local community yesterday - and it was so awesome :)

    well other than getting us to work out together they also supplied us with some nutritional talk which got me confused. so yes, please let me know if it's true that we need to eat within an hour of waking up?

    They claim that it's to fuel our metabolism & kick start our body systems.

    Another question: My BMR as measured by the body scan machine said 1280 whereas, if calculated by formula it is 1358. I'm a tad confused by difference in measurement. Please shed some light on this, thanks! ^-^

    No. Eat when you want. There is no magic formula to calculate your BMR....They are all estimates. Want to know your exact BMR? ...Eat VERY consistently at one number for a month..If you lost eat more, if you gained eat less.... Once you stay the same you know your BMR.

    I think you're confusing BMR with TDEE.

    BMR (basal metabolic rate) is the number of calories your body burns at complete rest - i.e. how much you would burn if you stayed in bed all day and didnt move a muscle.

    TDEE (total daily energy expenditure) is your BMR + exercise/activity

    ETA: You will be at maintenance if you eat your TDEE, not BMR. To lose/gain you would reduce/increase TDEE by X%
  • hermann341
    hermann341 Posts: 443 Member
    Nutrient timing is of a lot less importance than getting the basics right. Make sure it is something you can adhere to rather than someone else's plan.

    ^This^

    I do the majority of my exercising in the morning, and prefer to eat afterwards after getting cleaned up. The only exceptions tend to be the day of a running event. If I'm up 2 hours or more before an event, I will eat my usual breakfast before running.
  • W31RD0
    W31RD0 Posts: 173 Member
    Anything referring to eating that uses the term "kick start" is bro science.

    ^^^This.

    Also be wary if you see "Toxins" or "Cleanse".

    Eating first thing in the morning and smaller meals works not because of some metabolic magic happening, it's because it can give you more control over each meal at a more granular level. People losing weight may feel less hungry if they space out their meals; they end up in a binge less often. People seeking to gain weight (such as myself) feel less bloated when they arn't trying to pile down >1000 calories in a single meal.
  • elisa123gal
    elisa123gal Posts: 4,324 Member
    My two cents… I did notice when I ate breakfast.. I seemed to lose more weight. That is not because it was a big plan.. i just made the connection that i lost weight when I did eat breakfast and stalled when i stopped…

    however…when i eat breakfast early..it starts my appetite for the entire day and I don't like that. . So.. i'd wait to eat …and my weightloss was much smaller.
  • tuckeychicken
    tuckeychicken Posts: 167 Member
    I think you should eat when you feel ready; however, I'm a believer in eating a mostly clean diet and trying to eat 5-6 small meals a day. Space them out evenly and this will help your metabolism stay strong and working all day long!!
    I mainly agree with this, but I do believe you need to give your body something before you get it moving even just a good piece of fruit. Eat with 30 minutes of waking. Doing things through out the day without eating is like asking your car to run without gas.:drinker:
  • W31RD0
    W31RD0 Posts: 173 Member
    My two cents… I did notice when I ate breakfast.. I seemed to lose more weight. That is not because it was a big plan.. i just made the connection that i lost weight when I did eat breakfast and stalled when i stopped…

    however…when i eat breakfast early..it starts my appetite for the entire day and I don't like that. . So.. i'd wait to eat …and my weightloss was much smaller.

    So you were more hungry but you more successful at losing weight? Maybe you need to allow yourself the hunger and just prepare a veggie dish for those times to snack on.
  • Kalikel
    Kalikel Posts: 9,603 Member
    If you're advised to eat first thing, do it. See how it works.

    I can say that it's entirely possible to skip breakfast and lose weight. I never, ever eat during the first hour of being awake. I very often don't eat for the first three hours and if I do, it's something light, like fruit.

    But you should always try to do what they advise and see how it works. I wouldn't knock it till I tried it. :)
  • Jennypoo76
    Jennypoo76 Posts: 10 Member
    I don't eat breakfast until after I get to work. I get to work around 7:45 after waking up at 5:45. I can't eat first thing upon waking up. Sometimes it take me 10 minutes to each breakfast and others, like today, I'm still snacking on my breakfast but it's because I eat dry cereal some days and it just works for me to eat a little through out the morning until I finish. My focus is weight loss but also adding iron and decreasing the cholesterol intake so I eat my larger meals at breakfast and lunch with a smaller dinner. Some days I want a midafternoon snack and some days I don't. I eat when I'm hungry. Last night for dinner, I had very little because I just wasn't hungry.

    Just play with a few times and amounts and see what works for you.
  • ConnorS879
    ConnorS879 Posts: 47 Member
    I managed to get great fat loss results by exercising in the morning and having something small immediately after (pineapple slices and a protein shake) and then having a low carb lunch and then some carbs with my dinner
  • SideSteel
    SideSteel Posts: 11,068 Member
    I think you should eat when you feel ready; however, I'm a believer in eating a mostly clean diet and trying to eat 5-6 small meals a day. Space them out evenly and this will help your metabolism stay strong and working all day long!!
    I mainly agree with this, but I do believe you need to give your body something before you get it moving even just a good piece of fruit. Eat with 30 minutes of waking. Doing things through out the day without eating is like asking your car to run without gas.:drinker:

    Fortunately we have this thing called body fat which, to go along with your analogy, would be the gas in the car.

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