Is breakfast REALLY necessary?

mkandrew

Every website, blog, article, diet advice column, etc. says that eating breakfast is key to weight loss. However, I find that when I eat breakfast, I am STARVING like 2 hours later! If I don't eat breakfast, I can go 6 or 7 hours without feeling hungry. Does this happen for anyone else? I feel like I eat more when I start the day with breakfast.

P.S. - When I eat breakfast I eat a healthy breakfast - usually a high fiber cereal with fruit, or oatmeal or an egg and high fiber toast

Nelski

See if having a higher protein lower carb breakfast, with some fat, helps curb the hunger. I find that if I have a high carb(even if it's good carbs) breakfast I am hungry sooner. There is nothing wrong with having a snack a couple hours after breakfast though. I usually eat a snack about 2.5-3 hours after breakfast.

arw060310

No it's not really necessary. I've lost all my weight without breakfast. If I eat breakfast I get kinda sick and sluggish for some reason. I say do what you feel is best for your body.

jennajava

It boosts your metabolism. Burns more fat.

taso42

No, if you'd rather skip it, then skip it. Hitting your calorie target day after day, week after week, is far more important than what times of day you eat.

ak_in_ak

you get hungry becasue you are breaking a fast. it sounds like you need a sanck.

MrsCon40

No. It isn't.

Meal size, frequency and timing don't matter.

SpaceMarkus

It's absolutely necessary. It has nothing to do with weight loss, it has to do with fueling your body. What I've found is breakfast should be anywhere from 300-500 calories to really jump start your day and carry you to your morning snack.

Besides, you need to eat every 2-3 hours anyway so it sounds like you're actually doing fine

Feel free to shoot me a friend request if I can help you out at all.

AlsDonkBoxSquat

It boosts your metabolism. Burns more fat.

It is for me, it's not for everyone. This is actually a myth, just like eating right before bed makes you gain weight. It doesn't really matter when you eat, just that you eat enough in a 24 hour period. Some people better control what they eat when they eat by spreading it out, others not so much, so you just do what works for you an EAT!

I eat every 2 hours or so because that's when I'm hungry, not because that's when I think I need to for any other reason. Listen to your body, sometimes you make your body adapt to your expectations and sometimes you need to adapt your expectations to your body.

ohmissemily

i eat most of the time an hr after i wake up, i usually get hungry. but i wouldnt call it breakfast cuz sometimes i wake up at 11-12 lol. soooooo i just try and eat every 3-5 hours.

Unknown

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Delyla07

I used to be the same way but now I eat breakfast because it helps to start your metabolism in the morning, I don't eat anything huge but usually ahve to snack around 1030, as long as your eating healthy food it's actually good to eat 3 meals and two snacks a day. So far I've lost 10 lbs

mrmanmeat

Every website, blog, article, diet advice column, etc. says that eating breakfast is key to weight loss. However, I find that when I eat breakfast, I am STARVING like 2 hours later! If I don't eat breakfast, I can go 6 or 7 hours without feeling hungry. Does this happen for anyone else? I feel like I eat more when I start the day with breakfast.

P.S. - When I eat breakfast I eat a healthy breakfast - usually a high fiber cereal with fruit, or oatmeal or an egg and high fiber toast

Yes, it's important. And eating a smaller dinner is important too. Better to eat more at breakfast than dinner.


There's a reason why everyone says it's important. Think about it.

nsimportant

Look up intermittent fasting from leangains. And no breakfast isnt important.

tararocks

i used to be the same way, i figured im watching calories, why would i consume "empty" calories in teh morning when im not even hungry yet when i could jsut eat more in the afternoon? I had to force myself to eat breakfast, but im glad i do, yes i was hungry shortly after when i started, i said thats my body showing me that my metabolism is working, my body took that food and utilized it right away. i can say that i honestly feel better now 3 months later when i have breakfast, and it isnt always something big, sometimes its a fiber bar and a cup of grapes, but its something. heck today it was a girly coffee and some toast, but its something...my body is using it...

EdensMummy

I've always been led to believe it kickstarts your metabolism, but I can't imagine it matters that much one way or the other, and at the end of the day if you're staying under your cals then you're going to lose weight. I think the other reason you're always advised to eat brekkie when you're trying to lose weight is that some people might skip it and then be really hungry by lunch time and eat more than they would otherwise. If you're not doing that then there's not much to worry about!

MartiOConnor

Wow, you sound just like me! I KNOW I HAVE to eat something in the am, so I have really cut it down (like 1/2 a Zone bar or 1 egg white) then I know I will have a mid morning snack around 10 (laughing cow cheese or some fruit or veggies) to get me through to lunch. Since I know I'll be more hungry if I do eat breakfast, I just cut down the amount to allow for a mid moring snack, which for me is what really matters, because that keeps me from feeling starved at lunch time. Hope that helps!!

joejccva71

It boosts your metabolism. Burns more fat.

Ugh.

littlemount

According to eastern philosophy after 50 a person needs only two meals and after I believe 65-70 a person needs only one meal. Fruits are acceptable in the morning even when ur young it is best to eat fruits for breakfast. lunch as early as 11 am and dinner at 6-7 pm.I think the book fit for life by Harvey has similar principles.

Jade_Butterfly

I know it can be tough but yes breakfast is essential to weight loss. . . even if it is a small one. . . after sleeping. . It gets your system going again. . .

Perhaps a protein shake would make you feel better in the morning. . Other than that I eat high protein cereal. . . and fruit for a midmorning snack. . . . Wish you all the best~

chevy88grl

I didn't used to eat breakfast. Actually, I used to feel physically ill if I ate in the morning. I also used to binge eat at the end of the day because I was starving.

I've found that eating within 30 mins of waking and eating every 2-4 hours during the day does wonders for me. It stabilizes my blood sugar and if that is stable - I don't tend to binge eat. So, for me eating breakfast and eating often has been the key to breaking the binge eating habit. I also truly believe me eating so much keeps my metabolism up (regardless of what "studies" say) and makes me feel better overall.

Do what works for you.

catwrangler

No. It isn't.

Meal size, frequency and timing don't matter.

I used to be a big "you must eat a healthy breakfast daily" person, but now I agree with the above. As a matter of fact, I am going to start eating smaller to no breakfasts because I seem to want more food at the end of the day and into the evening.

CMmrsfloyd

Eating breakfast works better for me b/c if I skip it, I am STARVING by lunchtime and highly likely to over-eat. (like MORE than compensating for the skipped breakfast) Might not be the same for everybody. You can always try skipping breakfast and seeing if it works for you, if it does, great, if not, it's not that hard to change it up. You could also try something like a smoothie or protein shake if you don't want to 'eat' breakfast but still want a little morening nutrition.

clean115

I don't think it's necessary. I'm going to think about skipping breakfast tomorrow.

maillemaker

See if having a higher protein lower carb breakfast, with some fat, helps curb the hunger.

This!!!

The reason you are so hungry after breakfast is not because you ate breakfast. It's because you spiked your blood sugar and when it crashes, you get hungry!!

Eat a low-carb breakfast. In fact, I recommend low-carb all the time if you have hunger issues.

Steve

cramernh

I would say discuss whether or not breakfast is important for you, with your doctor.

My uncle eats one large meal per day and then a snack around 5pm.... and he is fit as a horse.

My mother never eats breakfast, but eats lunch and dinner, and keeps gaining weight.

My sister is a staunch vegetarian/vegan and has more health problems going on digestively/dermatologically speaking... and doesnt always eat breakfast.


For many years, I didnt eat breakfast or lunch and it caused havoc for my metabolism. Add Metabolic X Syndrome and PCOS to that, and its a recipe for disaster that actually put me in the hospital nearly quarantined because of a rare liver enzyme overload - and later we found out hyperinsulinemia caused the liver overload. And then another hospitalization for insulin shock - my system couldnt get rid of the overload of insulin!

I had to force myself to eat breakfast and lunch for serious health concerns, but yet, in my family, everyone is different and reacts differently.

As you can see from my post, and other posts, everyone is going to be different.
My suggestion is to speak with your Primary Care Physician. Learn from him/her whether or not its ok for you and your situation.

sunkisses

Eat when you're hungry or to stave off hunger when food will be unavailable; it's been keeping the human race alive since the dawn of time.

ppiinnkkmmoonn

i dont. i just listen to my body now. i have a protein shake at about ll:00ish just about everyday.

tiedye

I feel nauseous and have no appetite when I force myself to eat breakfast. I do eat it though (at 6 am), because as a nurse I don't usually take my lunch break until 3pm. I found that drinking 4c (1L) of water with a bowl of cereal and milk will keep me going until then. I don't have the privilege of snacking, otherwise I would just snack later on in the morning when I am actually hungry and more awake.

I have awful memories of my childhood where I was forced to stomach a bowl of cereal and piece of fresh fruit with a cup of juice or milk in the morning. I would linger and watch the news and do ANYTHING to avoid eating, but my dear mother felt it was essential to learning at school. She eventually began feeding me carnation instant breakfast in the blender with a cup of milk, spoonful of ice cream and an oreo instead of a traditional breakfast. God I miss those amazing breakfast shakes!

I think that having some form of "energy" in the morning is important for learning/working/driving/exercising etc. So I do believe if you have something reasonably important to do you should eat something first. Overall this seems to be a controversial issue and in general it seems like people are saying to listen to your body and respond appropriately!

Good luck

writtenINthestars

Forcing yourself to eat when you don't truly need to is unnecessary.

Wake up, do your thing and when you feel hungry, eat. Timing doesn't matter.

kandrews24

Breakfast is not necessary. Lots of interesting facts though: such as most obese folks skip breakfast. Eating a little something as soon as possible definately helps to maximize weight loss. But it is not necessary.