skipping meals, especially breakfast

TruckerChick

I was wondering what everyone's opinion on skipping meals is....

I forgot to eat breakfast this morning. I am not, as a general rule, a breakfast eater. I never have been. Ever since I was in high school. So it's a real effort for me to eat breakfast. Even knowing that eating the right breakfast is beneficial, I still have to remind myself to eat before it gets too late.

What usually happens is on the mornings when I am busy and have lots of chores on my to-do list, once I'm off the couch and moving, I just keep on moving and without even realizing it has happened, it's noon and I haven't had anything to eat all day. Only then does it occur to me that I've forgotten to eat breakfast.

And then there are days when I forget to each lunch. Same scenario.... except I eat breakfast and then get busy .... and once busy, I forget to eat.

I know the downside to skipping meals is when evening comes, I will want to snack, even knowing that snacking is not good for me. This was especially dangerous for me when I was cleaning pools and working in the Las Vegas heat all day. I wouldn't eat, simply because I was drinking water all day and the water was filling up my stomach making me not hungry. I would lose the weight, all right, but come winter, when I wasn't drinking as much water, my stomach would tell me it was empty and I would fill it with food. It was a really bad cycle!

Anyway.... so what is your opinion of skipping meals? Is it okay if it's only once in a great while? Or do I need to beat myself up??

chevy88grl

I avoid skipping meals because when I skip meals I end up starving and want to eat everything I can get my hands on. I've found every eating couple hours to keep my blood sugar level is what works best for me. Keeping your blood sugar level will help prevent binge eating (or wanting to eat crap).

What about something small for breakfast while you're sitting on the couch? Eat a piece of fruit or yogurt? Something small just to get you going. I was never a breakfast eater - but now I wake up so hungry I can't imagine NOT eating!

birdlover97111

Eating breakfast jump starts your metabolism for the day. If you don't have time to eat breakfast, stock up on protein bars and just have one of those. I used to skip breakfast, too. In the last 2 years since eating breakfast, I have dropped 40 pounds. Good luck!! :flowerforyou:

SKP1986

I used to skip breakfast all the time, but now that I eat breakfast regularly, I have noticed that I am less hungry throughout the day and it a lot easier for me to manage what I eat, how much of it I eat, and when instead of grazing on fatty/carby/calorie-ridden things all day long.

I will never, ever, ever go back to skipping breakfast.

Amo_Angelus

I rarely eat breakfat, never have and I've always been slender (until these lat few months)

Emma1903

If your not a breakfast eater you may do well with intermittent fasting, it's great for fat loss, search lean gains on google and read up on it, basically you allow yourself an 8-10 hour eating window. I have my first meal from 11 or sometimes 12-1

jmore85

I avoid skipping meals because when I skip meals I end up starving and want to eat everything I can get my hands on. I've found every eating couple hours to keep my blood sugar level is what works best for me. Keeping your blood sugar level will help prevent binge eating (or wanting to eat crap).

What about something small for breakfast while you're sitting on the couch? Eat a piece of fruit or yogurt? Something small just to get you going. I was never a breakfast eater - but now I wake up so hungry I can't imagine NOT eating!

While I agree with your about skipping meals, I just thought it might interest you to know, that long term, it is not a good idea to 'keep you blood sugar up' it is actually better for us to allw our blood sugar to dip, to prompt our bodies to create it's own energy from our stores. Keeping your blood sugar constantly 'up' will, over a long time lead to insulin resistance in your body, which in effect is the beginning of diabetes.

LJCannon

Skipping meals--or even going for too many hours between meals--is the BEST Way to slow down your Metabolism and make sure that your body does not burn calories efficiently.

It can be hard to change a Life Long habit of skipping meals, but the rewards are WORTH IT!!!

:flowerforyou: JMHO!!!

trophywife24

I absolutely hated eating breakfast. I just wanted two mugs of boiling hot coffee... the end. I started making it a point to eat it about two months ago. I can absolutely feel the difference if I run out of the door without it. I always over-eat at lunch and the rest of the day to compensate for missing a meal. I still eat fairly light, and once in a while I'll just have a protein shake instead.. but it helps and sets up your eating for the rest of the day, I think.

tbakerwa

Studies have shown that skipping meals is not good for your body, and if you really want to lose weight, you must give your body what it needs. That includes breakfast. It doesn't have to be a big breakfast, but your body needs something. Otherwise it goes into the mode of thinking it needs to "stock up" for the times it won't get nourishment and you will not lose the weight effectively and efficiently. I used to not eat breakfast when I was in high school, but now I have to have my three meals a day..... Good luck! :happy:

BonnieJean3

Here is my personal opinion. I used to skip breakfast for the same reasons you do. Because the world gets moving and who thinks to stop and eat. I also forgot lunch alot. Someone told me that is a sure way to gain weight. So... for months now, I have been very strict with myself. I make myself eat every meal. In fact, I usually spread my lunch and dinner out over the course of the day. I try not to eat anything after 7 in the evening. Well... atleast for me, it has worked. I am down a little over 49 pounds. Granted I cut back on sugar, carbs etc but I don't have the urge to binge and find when I eat all my meals, I actually eat less. Oh... I even did something that sounds silly. I made a list of things I needed to get done everyday and breakfast and lunch were on it. Feels good to scratch something as being done so maybe that would help trigger your mind. Hope that helps. Don't beat yourself up though!!! Just figure out what works and do it!! If something doesn't work for you, go on to the next option. That's the beauty if individuality! Have a good day.

sc1572

I plan out my meals each day and make sure to stick to them. At the very least if I am in a big hurry, I have a banana. But, my normal is either a bowl of cereal and a banana, a bowl of oatmeal and a banana, or if I have time, scrambled egg whites and a banana. I've found that having breakfast makes me feel better!

RangerSteve

Skipping meals is fine physiologically. The problem with it, for some people, is that it makes them want to eat everything around them when lunch time hits. This whole idea that you need to eat breakfast to get your metabolism going is mostly myth. As long as you get your required nutrients during the day you'll be fine. That being said, I can't skip breakfast because I'm one of those people who likes to eat. More power to you if you can make it until lunch though.

Whatnow50

Generally I hate breakfast and mornings... but I do find eating every 2-3 hrs helps keep me stable so I eat something small with my mocha in the morning (which is the one thing I will not ever give up!).
A banana is quick and easy, I also buy energy bars at Costco that are quick but healthy. Look around, you will find things you can handle first thing. But don't skip putting something in your system, anytime of the day.

Welcome to MFP!

jmore85

Skipping meals is fine physiologically. The problem with it, for some people, is that it makes them want to eat everything around them when lunch time hits. This whole idea that you need to eat breakfast to get your metabolism going is mostly myth. As long as you get your required nutrients during the day you'll be fine. That being said, I can't skip breakfast because I'm one of those people who likes to eat. More power to you if you can make it until lunch though.

Absolutely.... I wholeheartedly agree with you.

erinsueburns

Breakfast is breaking the fast, so in that sense no matter when you rest it, that first meal is breakfast. Don't think of it as skipping breakfast. I don't usually eat till noon and I finish eating around ten most nights. I am content that way. When I was forcing myself to eat breakfast I actually gained weight because I was eating when not hungry, I would use up my calories, but then in the later evenings I was hungry again.

TruckerChick

Skipping meals is fine physiologically. The problem with it, for some people, is that it makes them want to eat everything around them when lunch time hits. This whole idea that you need to eat breakfast to get your metabolism going is mostly myth. As long as you get your required nutrients during the day you'll be fine. That being said, I can't skip breakfast because I'm one of those people who likes to eat. More power to you if you can make it until lunch though.

This makes sense to me... thank you all very much for your input!!! Reaffirms that I made the right decision to join this site!!

emadigan

I used to be a breakfast skipper and I could make it to lunch fine. Then I made it a habit to eat breakfast, and now I'm starving in the mornings. I also find that I eat less in the evenings when I eat a good breakfast. I think my body was used to me skipping breakfast and so would hold on to those calories from the previous evening, which was why I wasn't losing weight. Once I made a habit of eating breakfast, I didn't need to snack in the evenings to stock up on energy for the mornings. Just my experience.

LuciaLongIsland

I rarely eat breakfat, never have and I've always been slender (until these lat few months)

Me too!!!

cramernh

There are times I sleep in and wont wake up until 10:30am/11:00am.... Ill wait to eat lunch at 12:00pm... no big deal.

hottottie11

Skipping Breakfast has no affect on metabolism or weight loss. Meal timing is entirely up to your preference. If you are not a big breakfast eater, then don't eat it.:flowerforyou:

Yanicka1

It's ok. I use intermitent fasting and eat between 1pm and 7 pm. You really do not have to eat breakfast and it has no impact on the metabolism.