Breakfast. Is it really necessary?

tequila09

i was never a breakfast person but i've read that it's important to eat to jump start your metabolism for the day. whether that's true or not i don't know but i just have something small like a banana or a 100 cal snack bar, something small and i'm usually still a little hungry but it goes away after a while. i use to just not eat in the morning and stay hungry so i figure to just have something small so i eat something.

russellma

The first meal of the day is pretty necessary. But how early that needs to be is an individual thing.

Haha! True!

I tried eating a big breakfast because "everyone" said it was necessary. It ended up being kind of torturous, so I gave up on the conventional wisdom and opted for something I wanted to continue for the rest of my life.

I'm not much of a breakfast person, so tend to go with a homemade mocha (unless I happen to be hungry). Then I have a light/medium lunch and a bigger supper and, of course, a bedtime snack. I actually like most of my calories in the evening, so that's what I've gone with. It's worked out great!

ShannonMK9

Your digestion slows down when you sleep, wich is why it is a bad idea to eat before going to bed - unless you are so hungry it keeps you from sleeping. Eating breakfast is just that breaking your fast from the time you were sleeping - if you eat on a fairly regular schedule then it doesn't realy matter when you eat, but eating all your calories at once is alot of food and will stretch your stomach wich will make you want to eat more food - that is why it is recomended to eat small meals several times a day - I do not care for breakfast either but do eat something so I have energy to get threw my workout that I do in the morning.

amandavictoria80

I've heard it makes a huge difference in weigh loss, and I think that's so true.

You've heard from who/where? There is actual proof out there to show as long as you keep your calorie deficit it actually makes no difference whatsoever. It's all calories consumed throughout the 24 hours. WHEN you eat them makes no difference.

Well then. I'll have to tell my doctor and all the trainers I've spoken to that they are clearly wrong and you have corrected them. And now I know that my own experience with this was just a major hallucination on my part. Both the way my clothes fit, measurements and the scale. All in my mind.

Jolenebib

It works for some and not for others. Some do just fine and lose weight not having breakfast. Others start eating breakfast and lose weight - probably because they eat less throughout the day. Try it and see how you feel. I usually don't eat first thing in the morning, but have oatmeal after I get to work. You could try by just having a small snack size meal.

galegetsthin

I cant do lunch. I have to eat breakfast, take my ADHD meds 2 hours later, by lunch the meds have my stomach locked up so I cant eat. Then I have dinner and usually a snack about 9-10PM. (celery and water of course *wink*) As long as you get the calories you need, it doesnt matter what time.

auntiebabs

When I was a kid my Mom always told us how lucky we were to have breakfast when we got up.
"If you lived on a Farm you'd be up at 5 AM doing your chores and not have breakfast until 8 or 9 AM..."

I figure if I get up at 8:30 AM and eat lunch at around 1PM, pretty much the same difference time-wise, but with less physical labor...

So as long as I get the right amount of calories in for the day, I don't stress over it.

amandavictoria80

You're are so wrong. Eating later at night DOES matter. If it doesn't for you, you've been a lucky girl.
Cause it matters for me. My doctor has confirmed this and three trainers.

greyrealm

When I started using MFP I realized that I was consuming most of my calories later in the day so I made an adjustment and started trying to get them in earlier, which meant eating much more food before 11am. I eat about every hour or two and have lost 13 pounds in a month (age 36, starting weight 142, height 5'5, minimal exercise). I find that when I eat calorie and carb heavy (but nutritious) foods in the morning, I have more energy and less cravings for bad stuff. I also don't feel as starved throughout the day. On the days that I have made the mistake of eating too light in the morning, I was more likely to binge later in the evening and exceed my daily calorie goal, which led to weight gain. So, my advice would be to give it a try, even if yoiu don't eat traditional breakfast foods (which I am not partial to either). If you don't see results in the form of more energy and control throughout the day, go back to your old habits.

Acg67

You're are so wrong. Eating later at night DOES matter. If it doesn't for you, you've been a lucky girl.
Cause it matters for me. My doctor has confirmed this and three trainers.

Do your doctors and trainers have degrees and training certs in broscience?

Tuffjourney

I like to eat breakfast when I am hungry.

Lorleee

You're are so wrong. Eating later at night DOES matter. If it doesn't for you, you've been a lucky girl.
Cause it matters for me. My doctor has confirmed this and three trainers.

I'm with you, Amanda. I trust the opinion of my RD and I trust the results I've seen with my own eyes.

ArroganceInStep

Well then. I'll have to tell my doctor and all the trainers I've spoken to that they are clearly wrong and you have corrected them. And now I know that my own experience with this was just a major hallucination on my part. Both the way my clothes fit, measurements and the scale. All in my mind.

He's referring to the fact that there have been a number of peer reviewed studies confirming the fact that the time of day you choose to eat your food and the number of meals you split your daily intake into has little to no physiological bearing on weight loss. There is certainly an argument that there could be psychological effects, but that lends itself more to a 'if you find it's easier for you to maintain your deficit doing it one way, do it that way, how you do it though doesn't really matter.

I'm not going to bother linking to specific case studies, honestly because I'm lazy. However, http://www.leangains.com/2010/10/top-ten-fasting-myths-debunked.html has a pretty decent argument, and he put in the legwork of linking to said studies.

If what you're doing now works for you, by all means stick with it. That being said, if it's easier for someone to stick with their dietary goals by eating one huge meal at 830PM every day, that's what they should do too.

nutandbutter

You're are so wrong. Eating later at night DOES matter. If it doesn't for you, you've been a lucky girl.
Cause it matters for me. My doctor has confirmed this and three trainers.

Do your doctors and trainers have degrees and training certs in broscience?

Lulz. Don't most? IIFYM & IF all the way!

bcattoes

You're are so wrong. Eating later at night DOES matter. If it doesn't for you, you've been a lucky girl.
Cause it matters for me. My doctor has confirmed this and three trainers.

What works for you, may not work for others (and vice versa). Trainers are not nutrition experts and neither are a lot of doctors. But if these are trainers and a doctor you have been working with, then they are likely making recommendations for you, which is probably why they are working for you.

killagb

Meal timing DOES NOT MATTER.

swaymyway

Hate breakfast - always have always will.

Due to the constant 'nagging' that it's the most important meal of the day I do now have a little breakfast every day, but only around 100 calories worth. It just doesn't make sense to me to have more because I am not hungry, I don't enjoy it and actually the idea makes me a bit sickly - over the years I have been losing weight (almost 4 now) I have tried to eat more, and it didn't help me lose any weight any way so I don't think it really makes any difference, for me at least.

amandavictoria80

You're are so wrong. Eating later at night DOES matter. If it doesn't for you, you've been a lucky girl.
Cause it matters for me. My doctor has confirmed this and three trainers.

Do your doctors and trainers have degrees and training certs in broscience?

Seriously dude? First of all, I don't body build. Broscience refers to bodybuilders. But it's a doctor and fitness trainer. One trainer has her degree in nutrition. Trainers learn from results with their clients. Duh.

But that's all very irrelevant. I don't care if someone who has their 'broscience' certificate told me it doesn't affect weight. I have tested it. I'm not going to listen to something tell me something different than what I have experienced. Period.

lynzy713

i've always heard it's necessary in order to jump start your metabolism in the morning after the long fast overnight. i don't eat a huge breakfast, just like a yogurt or something.

bcattoes

Meal timing DOES NOT MATTER.

As a blanket statement, that is probably as untrue as saying breakfast is the most important meal of the day.

Happyguy

I tend to regard each of us as an experiment of one, within certain constraints.

For me, breakfast makes for a more productive and energetic morning and eating three to four meals a day helps keep my energy levels up.

Others have different experiences.

I do agree with the calories in/calories out statements for weight loss though.

ninakir88

I used to never be a huge breakfast person, but now I can't go without it.
I prefer to eat a lot throughout the day, but in small portions.

TheAliCrock

Breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a pauper. Works for me.

I have to disagree with whoever said it's fine to eat all your calories together though... surely you get that post-meal digestive slump, or more to the point notice a downturn in mental agility when you're very hungry? Even if you're a low-carb eater, it must cause peaks and troughs in nutrients and glucose levels if you eat just one massive meal each day, plus the stomach distention previously mentioned?

amandavictoria80

This is so NOT true!!! And I hope no one takes this for face value. I have read and heard a million times that eating close to bedtime is not a good idea and can affect weight loss. Now, I'm no professional, but my experience has proved to me that this is completely true.

Many times I have had to eat some stuff before bed just trying to get in the calories I lack for the day. And I;m not talking unhealthy snacks. But either way, it was a BIG mistake! Every single time I have ever done this, my weigh ins were not good. I would either maintain or gain. Never lost!

I've been told it's because your spiking your sugar levels. I have also been told that the reason not to eat right before bed is because we use energy while sleeping. Therefore, calories burned over night. Not if you have food digesting.

You are confusing water weight with fat gain. And in your readings what did it say about eating like a stick of butter before bed since that would have no effect on your blood sugar levels, is that ok?

It isn't water weight. I know the difference. I'm not weighing myself the next day.

And I know because I've learned. I spent MONTHS and MONTHS eating most of my calories later in the evening. I could not lose weight. Now I lose weight consistently because I don't eat late in the evening anymore.

Sheesh. How about we agree to disagree because this isn't going anywhere. It works for ME. That's what I'm saying.

amandavictoria80

Meal timing DOES NOT MATTER.

As a blanket statement, that is probably as untrue as saying breakfast is the most important meal of the day.

THANK YOU!!!

mncardiojunkie

Breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a pauper. Works for me.

Like this saying!

amandavictoria80

Not necessary as increased meal frequency does not offer a metabolic advantage. Breakfast and # of meals per day is a personal preference

So I can eat once a day? lol

Yes. You could eat your entire day's calories right before bed if you so wish, as long as you don't create a calorie excess.

This is so NOT true!!! And I hope no one listen to this. I have read and heard a million times that eating close to bedtime is not a good idea and can affect weight loss. I have found this to be completely true.

Many times I have had to eat some stuff before bed just trying to get in the calories I lack for the day. Big mistake! Every single time I have ever done this, my weigh ins were not good. I would either maintain or gain. Never lost!
I've been told it's because your spiking your sugar levels. I have also been told that the reason not to eat right before bed is because we use energy while sleeping. Therefore, calories burned over night. Not if you have food digesting.

So you think breakfast makes a huge difference to weight loss, and that eating late also affects weight loss?

Ok. Please, show me some peer-reviewed research to back up these claims that i am giving false information.

I don't need to hun. It's tried, tested and true. I've tested both theories on myself. I know what works for me. Not sure why you are trying to tell me it doesn't.

mncardiojunkie

I'm so good at kicking up dirt between people. :sad:

I'm going to post this again and put a different spin on it.

To me it seems like the girls verses the boys on this. I could be wrong though.

amandavictoria80

Not necessary as increased meal frequency does not offer a metabolic advantage. Breakfast and # of meals per day is a personal preference

So I can eat once a day? lol

Yes. You could eat your entire day's calories right before bed if you so wish, as long as you don't create a calorie excess.

This is so NOT true!!! And I hope no one listen to this. I have read and heard a million times that eating close to bedtime is not a good idea and can affect weight loss. I have found this to be completely true.

Many times I have had to eat some stuff before bed just trying to get in the calories I lack for the day. Big mistake! Every single time I have ever done this, my weigh ins were not good. I would either maintain or gain. Never lost!
I've been told it's because your spiking your sugar levels. I have also been told that the reason not to eat right before bed is because we use energy while sleeping. Therefore, calories burned over night. Not if you have food digesting.

I eat roughly 1/2 my daily calories just before bed every night. I met my goal last April, exceeded throughout the next few months and have maintained since. Actually, if my scale is correct I seem to have begun losing slowly again, though I haven't changed anything.

Then you're very lucky. That doesn't work for me. I spent months and months not losing because I ate late at night. Now that I don't, I drop weight consistently.

amandavictoria80

You're are so wrong. Eating later at night DOES matter. If it doesn't for you, you've been a lucky girl.
Cause it matters for me. My doctor has confirmed this and three trainers.

I'm with you, Amanda. I trust the opinion of my RD and I trust the results I've seen with my own eyes.

Thanks hun! So glad someone else has the same body science as me.