Do you have to have breakfast?

Soon2BeMrsThomson

I've heard so many different things about breakfast - some people say you have to eat it to start your metabolism and that it a key factor in weight loss then other people use fasting techniques and never eat breakfast?

Could you with some guidance on this and would prefer scientific evidence rather than what has worked for an individual.

Looking forward to your answers folks and thanks in advance!!

tlhorsley

I always thought you needed to eat breakfast too but have recently heard otherwise.

I am interested in hearing other's take on this as well.

Although I am not sure how I would make it past 10:00 without eating and probably eating stuff I shouldn't because I am starving.....

Elen_Sia

I don't care what science says. If I don't eat breakfast, I am one mean and grouchy son of a gun. :laugh:

lublue

Breakfast RULES.


I had breakfast for lunch today.

anabell31

I've never read anything advocating skipping breakfast, if that helps. Only articles supporting the metabolism thing you mentioned. (I know you didn't want individual-related results but eating a little something in the morning helps wake me up and gets my brain working if anything)

RubyDavies

I'm not sure about the ins and outs of it but i'm sure breakfast is beneficial and healthy. You don't have to have much, if you weigh out your cereals and have skimmed milk, or if you like toast have a few slices of weight watchers bread (only 51 calories per slice) then you can easily eat breakfast that isn't too calorific. I wouldn't cut out complete meals, but maybe think about reducing your portion sizes to cut down on the calories that you'd save by skipping breakfast?

Leafeh

dosen't really matter, keeps you from being grumpy during the day though. it is all about preference I think.

si_puedo

i will die without breakfast....it's the one meal i CANT skip even if i don't have time.....if i don't die, the person standing next to me might die or at least walk away without an arm....

dakitten2

I always eat breakfast unless I have a very early doctor appointmentI I ate breakfast before losing weight and now I just eat a modified version and did away with the pork sausage and bacon.

jesskalynn

I've never read anything that says skipping breakfast is a good idea. I know personally, that if I don't eat breakfast, I end up hitting high carb/fat/sugar/salty items instead of making good choices. I also end up over doing it at both lunch and dinner. I've found, since starting to track not only what I'm eating, but when and how I feel that I feel the best when I start with coffee (black) at 5 in the morning, plus a glass of water, work out, then have a good breakfast (today it was 2 egg whites + one egg omlette with spinach, mushrooms and onions, hotsauce and a tablespoon of shredded cheese and a flatbread toast. (All for under 300 calories) I end up eating breakfast about 2 hours after I wake up...When I'm working (i'm on vacation right now) I eat oatmeal (I like betteroats, b/c they include flaxseed and are high protein) and a piece of fruit. I'll be good until lunch around 12, then maybe a small snack before dinner at 6.
The difference is, when I skip breakfast, I am less likely to make healthy choices later, because when I finally eat, I can actually feel the blood sugar spikes and crashes I experience, and I'm less able to think through my food choices.

I know lots of people who don't eat breakfast....and this is pure observation....but my friends who skip breakfast are overweight. Every one of them that I know who doesn't eat breakfast. I can' think of a single exception.

GirlAnachronismE

I can't eat breakfast, as it makes me feel sick for the entire morning. Doesn't seem to have effected my weight loss. Only a personal view there though!

sophielilirose

I'd say listen to your body... if you're absolutely staving by lunch time then maybe you should have something for breakfast or mid morning so that you don't overeat at lunch, but if you can hold of and not have it, or don't feel the need to have it, i'd listen to your body and not have it. Sometimes I wake up real late and then I don't have time to have it or wake up in time for lunch hahaha!!

lizzierw

People say that you should eat it to stop you getting hungry later and snacking and to kick start your metabolism.

I get pretty grumpy if I don't have breakfast, but I try not to have it. I don't snack, I just wait until lunch time to eat anything. x

rob_v

Not scientific evidence - but I equate it to filling you car with gas.
By morning - your tank is empty - need to refuel for the day, recharging your brain and your body.
For me at least - my breakfast is normally larger than my lunch. Days that I miss it or have something light, I feel like crap.

It has nothing to do w/ starting your metabolism - thats a myth.

There are probably just as many studies that say you should eat breakfast vs ones that say skipping bfast is ok.

Not sure what you are looking for as far as scientific evidence..but here is a write up from the Mayo Clinic
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/food-and-nutrition/AN01119

Hope that helps.

-Rob

japruzze

I have to have breakfast. If I don't I'm hungry all day no matter what I do. I try to have a high protien breakfast rather than a carb-filled breakfast. Keeps me feeling fuller longer and gives my body the kick start it needs. Do what works for you.

healthyliving_girl

The scientific studies will state that to increase metabolism - which helps with weight loss - individuals should eat small meals multiple times a day - like 5-6. So, if you eat every 2-3 hours, then it will assume you must "eat breakfast" - because in order to get all the small meals in, you should start with a morning meal - something small (fruit, at least).

IllMurray

I think individual experience is valid input, because if you skip breakfast I expect you will be hungry all day, and more likely to eat rubbish later on. Although that may be a lie according to this - http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/ten-dieting-myths-debunked.html which is a good resource for solid, non-fad-y information on how to lose weight and get in shape.
My friend who's a sports science graduate says skipping breakfast is ridiculous, and is necessary for when you exercise later in the day.
Also, calories eaten at the beginning of the day will be burned off, which is where the adage breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dine like a pauper come in. If you were going to skip anything (which I wouldn't recommend as it is unsustainable and unhealthy), it would therefore be dinner.

chillichops

I've never heard anything other than Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. If you've been to sleep for 8 hours and had nothing to eat for 8 hours then I think your body really needs something to get you started for the day ahead. I know that if I've ever had to skip breakfast I'm irritable and then I get so hungry I go mad and eat loads that I wouldn't usually eat. But I guess everyone's different.

broekte

It seems to be more vital for children as far as physically needing but here are some expert opinions that I've seen online.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/food-and-nutrition/AN01119

http://www.webmd.com/diet/guide/most-important-meal

http://nutrition.about.com/od/nutrition101/a/breakfast.htm

http://www.fitsugar.com/Why-Breakfast-Important-15559508

Debbieacm83

I just read a book called 6 weeks to OMG which says to not have breakfast, just black coffee. I'm trying it for 6 weeks (i'm on week 2) and although it takes some getting used to, I think it's working!

It says that with eating little and often your body never needs to use its fat reserves. That logic makes some sense so I thought i'd give it a go.

MelissaL582

I need my breakfast! By the time my son's alarm goes off at 7am, I'm starving! The only thing I've heard about having breakfast is to jump start your metabolism. Some of my friends who wouldn't have breakfast before their journey, said they were always tired and would binge at lunch time. So once again, to each is their own if it works for them.

teampradenmum

Would we have a designated name for it if we weren't supposed to consume food in the morning?

Just curious as to why you wouldn't eat breakfast anyway? Does it make you feel ill? Maybe try eating a few small "snacks" in the morning, rather than a larger meal, if that's the case.

As for scientific evidence...I'm sure you could find as many articles supporting breakfast as there are articles condemning it....just like there are "diets" advocating carbs, and "diets" that do not. Think about what our ancestors did...and listen to your body

JanetLM73

No scientific facts, but my husband always says this to me: Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a pauper.

I can't function without breakfast.

Lindacharp

I hate the times that I need to go for 14 hour fast for blood work. And it's true what someone or many have said. No breakfast ruins my day anyhow. Because I let myself get to hungry. To hungry or being tired is hard on a diet.

Good luck to all. Listen to your body.

deksgrl

I used to never eat breakfast, and I always said I was not a morning person.... not that I was mean or grumpy, but my brain just did not work. People would talk to me and sometimes I just couldn't even make sense out of it. I pretty much would sit at my desk and try to pass the time at work, I couldn't do any real work requiring brain power until after lunch. But then I was starving and I would load up, and the carbs would make me crash in the afternoon. After I started eating something in the morning, that made all the difference in the world. I'm not talking a huge breakfast. When I get to work I'll have a greek yogurt, cheese stick or two and an apple. Then I'm not starving at lunch, I can make healthier choices, and no afternoon crash.

So, for me, it is a good thing. But I had to really listen to my body or I would have continued just saying I'm not a morning person, and not function for half the day.

Bondsbest

Your metabolism is like a fire - if you don't feed it - it doesn't burn.

daffodilsoup

Your metabolism, weight loss, etc. isn't affected by what time you eat. I do Intermittent Fasting, so I give myself a designated window of time where I can eat. My "feeding" hours are from noon - 10pm, so technically I break my fast around noon, when I've already been awake for about six hours.

This allows me (and other IFers) to condense our calories into a smaller amount of time and create more satisfying meals. It also cuts down on my snacking throughout the day and before bed. There is a lot more information about the science behind it, etc. at www.leangains.com.

myak623

Breakfast is a matter of personal preference. If you need to eat breakfast because it makes you feel better, then do it. If you don't enjoy breakfast, then don't. There is no metabolic advantage to eating breakfast over not eating it. Most people believe that it jump starts metabolism. This is nonsense. The reason a lot of people have success by not skipping breakfast is not gorging on excess calories at a later meal. It's a psychological effect more than anything.

Being at a caloric deficit is what matters. When you eat those calories does not matter.

GRAMFLYER

absolutely! If you have no other meal during the day, you must have breakfast - it fuels your body after "fasting" over night. Otherwise your body will produce more fat to 'survive'

myak623

Your metabolism is like a fire - if you don't feed it - it doesn't burn.

This is not true. Your metabolism is still going if you don't eat breakfast.

hottottie11

Eating breakfast, 5-6 meals a day...etc....has NO affect on metabolism. Your body doesn't slow down after 8-10 hours of fasting. Our bodies are too smart for that. Don't believe the hype. Eat according to personal preference and workout performance.