When do you eat breakfast?

FitToBeFab

This has been plauging my mind for a few weeks now. I'm not a huge breakfast eater! I love breakfast food - bacon, eggs, pancakes, waffles, hashbrowns (mmm....hashbrowns...) - but I don't like to eat in the morning. I'm just not that hungry!

Here's my typical routine - wake up around 830 or 9, have coffee (waaaay too much but I'm addicted!), putt around the house till the first hunger pain strikes at around 1230. Then I have something breakfasty and light (like an english muffin and an egg, or yogurt and granola). I eat about 4 hours after I wake up, is that too long?

I have been known to eat earlier than that, especially if I wake up before 830, but then I feel hungry all day. I'm assuming it's because my metabolism is awake and working, but I hate the feeling of being hungry all day!

So I want to know when other MFP members eat breakfast, and if they experience all day hunger. And what is a reasonable, or healthy amount of time to wait before eating breakfast?

aippolito1

I usually eat within 30 minutes of waking up so it just depends on what time I wake up. Since I'm currently jobless, the last month I've been eating breakfast around 10:30.

ronchap

I eat a small breakfast (egg whites or oatmeal) about 630 then cereal at 900

sarah_ep

I heard that for breakfast, it should typically be anytime with 3 hours after you wake up. But I doubt the extra hour makes much of a difference.

yeahfatty

i eat breakfast no later than an hour after i'm up. i'm not a huge breakie eater either so i have a toast & a glass of milk. (:

raychybabe

I start work at 7.30am most days so I eat porridge at home at 7am and then I have to snack by about 9.45am!

taso42_DELETED

Timing is more or less irrelevant. As long as you're hitting your targets, it doesn't matter what time you eat. Yes, this includes eating late at night or skipping breakfast.

aneumany

u are supposed to eat within the first hour of being awake/up, watever. its how ur bodys metabolism gets kick started.. then u should be eating every 3 hrs afterwards, so im not sure why ur starvign all day long.. ur body will be constantly fed.. u should start to get hungry around 3 hrs of not eating, not all day, maybe u need to incorporate more protein into ur diet to make sure that u feel fuller longer.. egg whites, chicken, spinach, cottage cheese, protein shake/bar.. thingsl ike that.. peanut better (just dont overdue it)...hope this helps!

Just1forMe

So I want to know when other MFP members eat breakfast, and if they experience all day hunger.

Usually between 1:30-3:30 pm :blushing: (eating bf now--2:40pm)

I, like you, drink 3 large cups of coffee in the morning. I am rarely hungry at any point during the day (I guess fortunately!) and am always so stinking busy that I forget to eat until mid to late afternoon. I am always trying to get better about that, but I don't think it has hurt me much...? I guess you have to do what works for you...eating breakfast late is probably no different than what time you finish eating at the end of the day--it really doesn't matter as far as weight loss is concerned.

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also eats right up until bedtime many nights...

jonikeffer

They say you should eat within an hour of waking up. I'd give you more wiggle room than that, but waiting 4 hours (830 to 1230) is way too long. And yes, you're right, you do feel hungrier when you eat breakfast because you are kick starting your metabolism, but it is really best for you. Try to pick things that are more filling, like protein and complex carbs....eggs, meat, steel cut oatmeal. Anyone who has seen me post knows I am a huge fan of the steel cut oatmeal. That said, you don't have to eat a TON for "breakfast". I eat something small to start with and then drink coffee, and then have the oatmeal around 10:30-11. I get up around 7am.

jllipson

Depending on the day, I try to eat within 2-3 hours of waking up. On work days it's closer to 3 hours from time I get up, get ready and all, because I usually eat when I get to work.

Shelbug65

I've never been a big breakfast eater. I do, however, know it's important. I start my work day at 7:30. I usually have a peanut butter/chocolate chip granola bar at my desk after I get my computer up and running. I try to snack on something about every 3 hours- otherwise my blood sugar plummets.

SLambertAlaska

I eat a small bit about a half hour after I get up, before I exercise. sometimes it's just the milk in my "milked down" coffee, sometimes half a yogurt jug or half banana. Then I exercise. I'm always hungry after that and I'm glad to still have my breakfast calories "available" for a late morning breakfast.

When school starts back (I teach) and I have to eat before the school day starts (cause there's no break for food in our morning) I eat my oatmeal at work right before I have to start being officially "on" (a bit before the students arrive).

dawnrenee567

I eat breakfast when I get to work (plain yogurt with berries and sometimes granola).

I'm up anywhere between 5-6:30 and I'm at work at 8:30

chefchazz

i start my day at 7. eat my breakfast about 8ish. then i have a snack about 10:30. both of these meals are packed b/c i eat on the road.

Daisy_May

I have to get to work REALLY early becasue I car pool with my fiance, so I sleep every minute I can, throw on some clothes and go to work. So I dont' eat until I'm at work, usually about 7AM which is an hour and a half after I wake up. I can't imagine getting up any earlier to eat or being able to keep anything down at 5am! .

It does tend to make me hungry all day so I just snack all day, I still tend to have at lest 600 calories left for dinner.



Days I'm off I usually eat about half an hour to an hour after I get up.

scarletfever2005

I usually do a myoplex shake or other protein packed meal replacement. Quick, easy, and enough protein to carry me for a while. I usually get it in before 7 and then have a snack about 9.

SNorris01

Wow I must be odd man out for the most part. I eat breakfast at 5:00AM shortly after I get up. I eat just about the same thing every morning. Egg beaters, one slice of cheese some other sort of protein, like turkey sausage, or turkey bacon. Then a GNC protein shake as well. Then off to the gym, I work out at 6:00-7:00 every day M-F so same routine just different workouts each day. Then about 9:00 I have protein bar, or some kind of high protein snack. Lunch at 11 or close to it. Afternoon snack about 2-3 depending on my work schedule. Then dinner and a snack before 8PM. If I don't eat breakfast I feel drained during my workout. I have a lot more energy when I have breakfast rather than skipping it and eating after.

Lisa0504

You should eat breakfast sooner than 4 hours after waking up. Eating breakfast jump starts your metabolism which I know other people have said but let me put it to you like this; if you eat breakfast you will most likely feel hungry again sooner like you said you have before. However, your body will actually burn more calories throughout the day if you eat breakfast within an hour or so of waking up. If you aren't a big breakfast person then you could even try something like a smoothie or protein shake. even if it's something small like a granola bar or special k bar just so you have less to eat. But like the commercials for cereals say, studies have proven that people who eat breakfast generally tend to weigh less. Hope this helps

azingale

When I'm commuting, I eat in the car about an hour to an hour and a half after I've woken up depending on when I can handle the thought of eating and what kind of traffic I'm up against. When I'm not commuting, I try to eat within an hour (and always coffee asap!)

arw060310

I physically cannot eat breakfast right after waking up. So I wake up, drink a glass of water, walk 4 miles, drink another class of water, watch some tv, drink some more water, take a shower, THEN I have a Total Lean shake for "breakfast". So I have my shake 4 hours or so after I wake up. Any sooner than that and I just can't eat.

BJPCraig

My wife & I usually eat within an hour or so of getting up.

I would recommend eating a little protein as early as possible. I've heard (I think it was from former aerobics instructor and past Miss Canada Cynthia Kereluk) that because protein is harder to digest, the earlier you have protein, the sooner your metabolism kicks into high gear. I suspect this might be why when you have breakfast earlier, you feel hungry all day... your metabolism is working harder for longer, so it's craving more fuel.

brandiuntz

I usually eat breakfast after I workout, so 1-2 hours after I get up. Sometimes I eat before I workout, so that's within 30 minutes.

I eat a protein heavy breakfast since I don't eat lunch until 5 or so hours later, and I don't like to "snack" between breakfast and lunch. I stay satisfied with my breakfast and don't feel "hungry all day". But, I've always been a breakfast eater.

datzun

I get up at 6:30. After I get ready and walk my dog, I have some yogurt (typically around 7:45). I then drive to work, get settled in, and make some oatmeal (typically around 9).

milaxx

If I waited until I felt hunger I wouldn't eat until 8pm some days. oddly enough I used to be one of those people unable to eat breakfast. Food honestly made me nauseous that early in the morning. Also if you are a coffee drinker, a cup of coffee can fill you up. I eat breakfast within 1 hour of waking. What I do is break it up. When I get up I take my vitamins and drink a glass of water. I then depending on how I'm feeling may nibble on some almonds or a piece of fruit and mid morning have breakfast. I always try to have protein in my breakfast and usually an egg. To lazy to google but there are tons of studies that show eating breakfast and getting protein in your breakfast helps keep you from over eating.

My naturapath is the one who encouraged me to make sure to get breakfast in and I must say it has been a big help in eating well. If I'm eating properly and getting enough fruit and veg, I NEVER feel hungry and rarely get the munchies.

VeganGal84

I tend to eat within an hour of waking up, and get hungry every 2 or 3 hours throughout the day. But I'm natually a grazer/snacker, not a big meal person.

FitToBeFab

Thanks for all the tips!! This really helps.

I like the idea of splitting morning eating into two parts, honestly never thought of that. I think I get hungry all day because of a lack of protien in the morning (I'm a big evening protien eater because I work out in the evening), and the empty carbs (hi, I'm Fittobefab, and I'm a carb-aholic).

Thanks for the advice!!