Target Calories for Breakfast

mrhappy

There's been a lot of talk about breakfast lately, so hopefully some of you have ideas. Is there a min recommended number of calories for breakfast to kickstart your body into gear?

I ask because I'm trying to net 1,200 calories a day, after counting exercise. My breakfasts though - which I eat every day within about 30 min of waking up - all tend to be between 200-300 calories. Yet, I seem to recall seeing somewhere that if you didn't ingest at least 400 your body wouldn't get the signal to "wake \up" so to speak.

Thoughts?

:glasses:

mrhappy

There's been a lot of talk about breakfast lately, so hopefully some of you have ideas. Is there a min recommended number of calories for breakfast to kickstart your body into gear?

I ask because I'm trying to net 1,200 calories a day, after counting exercise. My breakfasts though - which I eat every day within about 30 min of waking up - all tend to be between 200-300 calories. Yet, I seem to recall seeing somewhere that if you didn't ingest at least 400 your body wouldn't get the signal to "wake \up" so to speak.

Thoughts?

:glasses:

kerrilucko

1200 cals is as low as a woman should go caloriewise. I believe 1800 is as low as a man should go, although I could be off on that. EIther way, 1200 net cals is too low for you Mr. Happy. That said, I get about 1400 cals a day and I usually spend about 300 of those on breakfast. :drinker:

mrsbuzz

I struggle with getting a good breakfast for about 300 calories. I always eat over 300 or under then I am hungry again in like an hour.

Like today I ate oatmeal, but I used more calories in the brown sugar then the oatmeal. UGGHH!!! I love flavor!!!! I not sure what to eat, because I am so picky!!!:flowerforyou:

Hi Mr. Happy!!

spicy618

I agree with kerrie.

For me, I hardly ever eat less than 400 calories for breakfast... being at work by 7 am has alot to do with it. Just the milk in my coffee is 130 calories (2% fat).

You have lost some pounds Mr. Happy... looks like your doing something right

havingitall

my breakfast is 441 calories - organic yogurt on top of strawberries and blueberries, a piece of Ace bakery organic granary toast with organic peanut butter washed down with a cup of hot water with lemon squeezed in

It fills me up every time

Minerva

There's been a lot of talk about breakfast lately, so hopefully some of you have ideas. Is there a min recommended number of calories for breakfast to kickstart your body into gear?

I ask because I'm trying to net 1,200 calories a day, after counting exercise. My breakfasts though - which I eat every day within about 30 min of waking up - all tend to be between 200-300 calories. Yet, I seem to recall seeing somewhere that if you didn't ingest at least 400 your body wouldn't get the signal to "wake \up" so to speak.

Thoughts?

:glasses:

I've lost 4 pounds in 5 days and the ONLY change I made was changing how many calories I eat at breakfast.
A few days ago Jelybe posted this link :
http://health.msn.com/weight-loss/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100230704
When I checked it out I found that my usual 200 calorie breakfast (milk for coffee, 1/2 mini bagel, 1 tbsp low fat cream cheese) was too low and 450 calories (milk for coffee, english muffin, egg, thin slice canadian bacon, slice provolone cheese) would be better.
I had started to go up the scale in December and upped my mileage trying to get it off and couldn't figure out why I couldn't get it off. I've now lost 4 pounds in 5 days and the ONLY change I made was changing how many calories I eat at breakfast. I exercise for about 2 hours every day between running (6 miles 3Xweek),walking my crazy dogs(14miles7Xweek), and TaeKwon Do, Escrima and sword practice.
I do have to get up a little earlier to eat and do my runs because it is hard to run on a full tummy but the weight loss is so worth it!

lovedbyGod2

MY goal is between 300 - 400 calories for breakfast. That's 1/3 of my total calories. That includes my afterworkout smoothie. I ususally eat oatmeal, a little sugar, and a croissant. Then I have a fruit snack or yogurt between breakfast and lunch.

hgam1

There's been a lot of talk about breakfast lately, so hopefully some of you have ideas. Is there a min recommended number of calories for breakfast to kickstart your body into gear?

I ask because I'm trying to net 1,200 calories a day, after counting exercise. My breakfasts though - which I eat every day within about 30 min of waking up - all tend to be between 200-300 calories. Yet, I seem to recall seeing somewhere that if you didn't ingest at least 400 your body wouldn't get the signal to "wake \up" so to speak.

Thoughts?

:glasses:

I suppose depending on how much you want to lose and your stats 1200 might not be too bad but watch you are not overdoing it. Saying that if you are a cereal man, you can get away with between 161 to 204 calories for b/fast + a piece of fruit or yoghurt. Weetabix and dry fruit and skimmed milk will take you slightly over 210 cal. Most non sugared cereal however with s/milk will def see you under 200cals.

1Corinthians13

I don't eat that many calories at all for breakfast. Usually around 200 unless I'm making a big breakfast on the weekend.

But I agree with the first poster who said 1200 is low for a man. That's as low as I can go, at 5'2" and 110 pounds. That's a healthy amount for me. I would think that you need more than that to be healthy.

kpgk

hi mrhappy
1200 is low i have 1900 a day but don't always use them up most day i have only 1600, breakfast i like it have about 400 because i work very hard and i will keep on eating if i don't fill my self in the AM. good luck

thecountrydays

Man, i would be no help in this area seeing how i have only been eating bout 80 calories for breakfast and it takes me alot to eat that, but it makes sense to think that if i might eat a lil bigger breakfast i wouldn't be hungry later on.

lacijae

I usually stay around 300 calories for breakfast. I've given up drinking coffee and soda's so my breakfast consists of (on average) 4 egg whites (which is only 74 calories, compared to one whole egg which is 70 calories), a slice of cheese, and either water or skim milk. This always keeps me full until lunch because both the egg whites and cheese have lots of protein.

porka29

I'm on 1200 with mfp, but I also signed bf up and log his calories too, before exercise he is at 1460. I often have to be careful cause he needs add ons that I don't get to keep him on target.

singfree

My typical breakfast is about 250 cals.
Oatmeal (not instant), with:
1/3 cup canned pumpkin (natural, no sugar added, high in fiber)
Milled flax seed
Cinnamon
1/2 cup light vanilla soy milk
Splenda

This makes a huge bowl.
Very filling, tastes great!

Wash it down with water or green tea.

sunshine_girl

Generally i spend about 300 calories for breakfast, give or take depending on life

jessmomof3

I always aim for around 400- 500 cals. I exercise in the morning first of all, and I have found that eating a filling breakfast (good carb, good protein, good fat) keeps me going all day. If I eat a really light breakfast it ends up backfiring for me later (usually over eating at lunch or in the afternoon).

I also agree that 1,200 cals is low. You can change the settings and make sure you are eating your exercise cals as well!

Jess