Breakfast - a waste of calories?
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If I am hungry for breakfast, I eat it, if not, I eat the calories later. The days that I workout at 5 am, I usually need something by 9 am though.0
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Breakfast jump starts your metabolism...it should be your largest caloric meal of the day. You will maximize your body's own calorie/fat burning.0
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My wife is exactly the same. I've only just started to convince her that having breakfast would be a great big start in her own quest to lose weight. I know experts espouse the virtues of breakfast blah, blah, blah but its actually so vitally important for everyones maintenance of health that overlooking it is a recipe for weight gain and other health issues. I would train yourself to have even just a slice of toast or a piece of fruit. I think you'll find that once you kick start your metabolism you will eventually include breakfast daily and start eating more substantial meals. Good luck!0
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i think breakfast is a way to break your fast. You are actually fasting when you are sleep. most people fast from about say 10-7 or 8 in the am.. that is a long time. I love breakfast i tend to have it within an hour of waking up. just think of it as training your body to eat every few hours.0
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I need to eat breakfast but cereal doens't cut it so more protein base even if it is a hard boiled egg or greek yogurt with fruit. Most of the time it is later in the morning if I work in the afternoon.0
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I've never, ever been a breakfast eater. But since starting MFP, I've begun to eat breakfast. Not a ton, but I find I don't need a morning snack and it gets me to lunch. So I feel like I'm saving calories in the long run. Plus, I just feel like I honestly have more energy. But I do extremely simple breakfasts with high protein, or good fats. Greek yogurt. Avocado toast. Boiled eggs. Cottage cheese. Takes no time to make and grab. I'm a very low maintenance breakfast eater. I couldn't do it otherwise. And my body has gotten used to being appropriately hungery about an hour after I get up. So it feels like my eating is falling into a more natural rhythm. Your mileage may vary, of course.0
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That thickshake looks yummy
So try it if you have a blender. Hits the icecream craving on the head too. if you want it really thick so you eat it with a spoon add ice cubes.
I use to eat 2 pieces of toast with vegemite and a coffee for breakfast. I have definatly changed how I eat and I love the food I eat now. I am going to finish off the kangaroo from tonights dinner for breakie tomorrow. Mmmmmm skippy!
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I dont think it's a case of tending to pig out through the day, I think it's a case of skipping meals and therefore slowing your metabolism, making it much more difficult to lose weight.Breakfast isn't a necessity. Health 'experts' say that it's the most important meal, and there's the whole myth about breakfast skippers being fatter, but that's simply because most people that don't eat breakfast tend to pig out and eat more throughout the rest of the day.
As a recovering eating disorder sufferer, it blows my mind to see people on here encourage others to fast. I'm sorry, but no-one will ever be able to tell me fasting in any way, shape or form is good for them. That will never wash with me. As Morgan said, you cant run a car with no fuel, so how can you expect to run your body with no food?
For me personally, I workout on a morning so breakfast is very important even if Im not hungry. I cant workout without something in my system, I really lag badly. BUT if you don't want to eat it, it's a personal choice and so long as your cal intake is spot on throughout the day, all well and good x
I'm not encouraging others to fast. I'm telling her that it doesn't matter if you eat breakfast or not. If it makes you feel terrible, simple; don't eat it. You have your opinion on fasting, clearly strong from your past, and that's okay. I have my opinion, backed by science I've spent hours researching.
Among my research:
"Breakfast skipping is associated with higher body weights in the population. The explanation is similar to that of lower meal frequencies and higher body weights. Breakfast skippers have dysregulated eating habits and show a higher disregard for health. People who skip breakfast are also more likely to be dieting, thus by default they are also likely to be heavier than non-dieters. Keep in mind that most people who resort to breakfast skipping are not the type that sit around and read about nutrition. They are like most people dieting in a haphazard manner. The type to go on a 800 calorie-crash diet and then rebound, gaining all the weight (and then some) back.
Sometimes, an argument is made for eating breakfast as we are more insulin sensitive in the morning. This is true; you are always more insulin sensitive after an overnight fast. Or rather, you are always the most insulin sensitive during the first meal of the day. Insulin sensitivity is increased after glycogen depletion. If you haven't eaten in 8-10 hours, liver glycogen is modestly depleted. This is what increases insulin sensitivity - not some magical time period during the morning hours. Same thing with weight training. Insulin sensitivity is increased as long as muscle glycogen stores aren't full. It doesn't disappear if you omit carbs after your workout.
Origin of the myth:
First of all, we have the large scale epidemiological studies showing an association with breakfast skipping and higher body weights in the population. One researcher from that study, commenting on the association with breakfast skipping or food choices for breakfast, said:
"These groups appear to represent people 'on the run,' eating only candy or soda, or grabbing a glass of milk or a piece of cheese. Their higher BMI would appear to
support the notion that 'dysregulated' eating patterns are associated with obesity, instead of or in addition to total energy intake per se."
Kellogg's and clueless RDs love to cite them over and over again, so people are lead to believe that breakfast has unique metabolic and health-related benefits. In reality, these studies just show breakfast eaters maintain better dietary habits overall.
Other studies frequently cited claiming that breakfast is beneficial for insulin sensitivity are all marred with methodological flaws and largely uncontrolled in design.
In one widely cited study, subjects were entrusted to eat most meals in free-living conditions. The breakfast skipping group ate more and gained weight, which affected health parameters negatively.
From the abstract: "Reported energy intake was significantly lower in the EB period (P=0.001), and resting energy expenditure did not differ significantly between the 2 periods." EB = eating breakfast. In essence, people who ate breakfast could control their energy intake better for the rest of the day. They didn't gain any weight but the breakfast skipping group did. Fat gain always affects insulin sensitivity and other health parameters negatively. Thus what people took this to mean is that breakfast is healthy and improves insulin sensitivity. Which isn't at all what the study showed."0 -
Eating at 5, 6, 7 or 8 AM doesn't jump start anyone's metabolism. Metabolism doesn't stop. And, if you choose to wait until noon for your first meal, assuming your last meal was 6, 7, 8 or 9 PM the previous evening, then your body isn't going to slow down in that period of time. It's more like a 72 hour period before metabolism starts to slow.
If you don't enjoy eating early in the morning, then there is no metabolic advantage to forcing yourself and you will not be stalling your weight loss efforts.0 -
yes people stay to start your day with breakfast. But I like to start my day with fuel.
See I say fuel, because 3 times a week I wake up at 5.30am to do exercise. But I don't really like eating on an empty stomach. So I usually have a 100 cal meal. Like almonds or what not.
Then I exercise.
Then after I exercise, I have my breakfast.
See I love breakfast, so to me, it's not a waste of calories, but it does tend to be my 'biggest meal' of the day.0 -
I'm glad to see that there's a few of us who doubt the 'experts' advise about breakfast. I have no problem eating all the time just like another person here already said, however if I skip breakfast or eat like a 100-150 calorie small item, then I find myself leaving the bulk of my calorie allowance for later in the day when I will truly be hungry.
There's on scenario where I will definitely always try to eat even a hefty breakfast and that's when I go the gym first thing for weight lifting. A couple of times I almost fainted because I have low energy in my system and started to get cold, steady and light headed.
I hear the logic of kicking off your metabolism but for me I get more benefits from not going over my calorie limit and I can easily do that if I have a super small breakfast (cereal bar + coffee).
Having said all of it, I keep my mind open for later in the game when I'm closer to my goal weight. I'd be interested to see if the starting thermo genesis as soon as you wake up helps burn the most calories in a day.
Thanks for posting such a daring question too, I expected the MFP community to jump all over this one but they didn't [yet] 0 -
Eating at 5, 6, 7 or 8 AM doesn't jump start anyone's metabolism. Metabolism doesn't stop. And, if you choose to wait until noon for your first meal, assuming your last meal was 6, 7, 8 or 9 PM the previous evening, then your body isn't going to slow down in that period of time. It's more like a 72 hour period before metabolism starts to slow.
If you don't enjoy eating early in the morning, then there is no metabolic advantage to forcing yourself and you will not be stalling your weight loss efforts.
Thank you!
Edit: I often lift weights or run before eating, in the morning. I might not eat until 11am if I have a bit of a sleep-in then do a workout. I get through the workout, same as I normally would if I did it at 6pm that night. Some days I even get through it easier.0 -
I need my breakfast. If I don't, I will eat rubbish mid-morning. But if you don't, I wouldn't worry about it and eat when you're ready for it.
^ This
Have to say , you would not run your car on empty , why do it to your body?
I also agree with the first quote - I try to eat breakfast, but sometimes I don't feel like eating when I first get up so just have a cup of tea or something until my tummy feels up for it.
With regards to the second quote - sometimes you can run your car on empty until you make it to your first stop then put petrol in ;p Same thing here, maybe some people still have a little bit of food leftover from the night before LOL0 -
I mix a double protein shake most mornings & add in 1/2 my daily fruit. I enjoy it real thick & eat it slowly as it is the only meal I get to eat alone. I make up for all the usual breakfast foods I'm missing out on by having them @ dinner time - I make dinner omelets a couple of times each week. The shakes are satisfying & keep me going so I don't mind using 1/4 of my calories in the am.
I agree with others who have expressed that you have to figure out what works best for you so long as you are getting in enough calories each day & not overeating to compensate for skipping breakfast.0 -
300gr Yogurt and a big scoop of vanilla or chocolate protein for me...every morning without fail..0
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I am usually not hungry when I wake up. But have gotten into the habit of drinking my Shakeology first thing (6 am.).and have noticed I don't have that craving around 10-11 for snacks0
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Eating at 5, 6, 7 or 8 AM doesn't jump start anyone's metabolism. Metabolism doesn't stop. And, if you choose to wait until noon for your first meal, assuming your last meal was 6, 7, 8 or 9 PM the previous evening, then your body isn't going to slow down in that period of time. It's more like a 72 hour period before metabolism starts to slow.
If you don't enjoy eating early in the morning, then there is no metabolic advantage to forcing yourself and you will not be stalling your weight loss efforts.
While metabolism doesn't stop, it does slow and does have "gears" throughout the day that can be tweaked. Also, while focusing on the idea of 72 hours of something, for example caloric deficit or caloric binging, making metabolism change may certainly hold, everyday of a similar pattern of 12-hour breaks in caloric intake can also causes the body to form habits as well.0 -
I think it's up to the individual. But personally for me I prefer to just skip it and then have something later in the day. My favourite meal is actually dinner, so most of calories are eaten at dinner and some at lunch.0
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I eat breakfast most days because I'm hungry. Some days I'm not so I just don't eat until later in the morning. But I'm up at 5 am every day with my husband, so by the time I'm done with my workout (which I just finished now at almost 6:30 am), I'm starving.0
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Eating at 5, 6, 7 or 8 AM doesn't jump start anyone's metabolism. Metabolism doesn't stop. And, if you choose to wait until noon for your first meal, assuming your last meal was 6, 7, 8 or 9 PM the previous evening, then your body isn't going to slow down in that period of time. It's more like a 72 hour period before metabolism starts to slow.
If you don't enjoy eating early in the morning, then there is no metabolic advantage to forcing yourself and you will not be stalling your weight loss efforts.
While metabolism doesn't stop, it does slow and does have "gears" throughout the day that can be tweaked. Also, while focusing on the idea of 72 hours of something, for example caloric deficit or caloric binging, making metabolism change may certainly hold, everyday of a similar pattern of 12-hour breaks in caloric intake can also causes the body to form habits as well.
I was under the impression metabolism actually increased after a period of fasting. eg. that you burn more fat say 12-24 hours after not eating and then it starts to decline after the 36+ hours after you stop eating0 -
I think you'll find mymost health experts will tell you that breakfast is the most important meal of the day.
Personally, I can eat all day every day (that's the problem)
Same here! I
eating! 0 -
I'm usually not hungry in the morning. When I am, I have breakfast. It is not the most important meal of the day. It is not going to affect your metabolism if you either have it or not. These are myths, as stated above. If you like breakfast, eat it. If not, don't.0
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With over 2k to eat a day, I can fit it in fine and it helps me wake up and function, so not a waste.0
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I'm not hungry when I first wake up so I have breakfast about 1.5 hours later. I also eat something with about 10g of protein so I'm satisfied until lunch. It cuts down on my snacking. I still believe breakfast is the best way to jump start your blood sugar and keep your metabolism going.0
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According to the
The National Weight Control Registry
http://www.nwcr.ws/Research/default.htm
Only 78% of successful long term losers eat breakfast everyday.
That leaves 22% of us who can successfully lose weight and not necessarily have to eat breakfast every single day or a big one anyway.0 -
I would say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but you've lost 72kg so keep doing what you're doing. It's obviously working for you.0
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I think it's up to the individual. But personally for me I prefer to just skip it and then have something later in the day. My favourite meal is actually dinner, so most of calories are eaten at dinner and some at lunch.
I certainly sympathize with you on this idea ... dinner, for better or worse, tends to also be my focus meal and I find myself often going through the day "stealing" some calories from lunch and breakfast so "spend" them on dinner.
I also think, like you said, you have to look at things like what works for the individual. If you don't like breakfast or get nauseous eating breakfast, then while you might be losing weight, if you start your day on a bad note, it may not be worth it to your overall benefits. Nonetheless, I would certainly say, give breakfast an experimental try. I've made a game of figuring out how to eat some protein in the morning without feeling like I ate a full meal and without feeling like I've had to "force it down." Those butter toffee almonds make it feel like "cheating" in the morning because they have such a great taste to them. Like I said, in my case, I did nothing more than start adding a little something in the morning, and saw mini-plateaus break.
In the end, each person has to find what works safely for them, but I would certainly encourage experimenting with breakfast intake just to see if it changes anything for you. I started in exactly the same mindset that you did, and to some extent, still wrestle with it because I love dinner so much and really don't care for breakfast at all, but I can't argue too much with the individual results that I've seen for myself ... your mileage may vary. 0 -
I'm not a breakfast fan either so a friend suggested smoothies and it has worked well for me
here's a recipie:
good base for smoothies is 1 cup of frozen sliced bananas (i buy them, and cut them up all at once and measure into containers), 1/2 cup of whatever other kind of fruit you like- frozen (i like blueberries or strawberries), 1/2 cup of plain yogurt,.(has alot less calories than the flavored ones), and 1 cup of milk (i use 1% but could probably even switch to fat free for this bc you wouldn't be able to taste the difference)
mix in the blender and enjoy at your own pace 0 -
I've never really been a breakfast eater but I keep a tin of Slimfast powder in the cupboard in case I don't feel hungry but know I'll be too busy that morning to eat when my appetite wakes up. Not the best alternative I know but I'm not much of a milk drinker either and it has a few added vitamins and stuff so maybe it's not too bad. I've just had a 'proper' breakfast at 11.40am (two small slices of plain toast and a tin of sardines in tomato sauce, about 330 cals) 0
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what exactly does this last sentence mean in terms of metabolic/physiological parameters?By saying you think breakfast is 'a waste of calories', it demonstrates a lack of understanding of food and why we eat it. As has been said breakfast is the most important meal of the day for several reasons.
Your body been in a state of rest all night, meaning it needs a 'kick start' to have you functioning properly.
not encouraging anyone to do anything, but I have to notice - so many people around the world are doing occasional fasts for religious purposes. I understand it might sound incredibly extreme or harsh to people who didn't grow up in such environments, but I'm coming from one such country and I really don't see it as a big deal.As a recovering eating disorder sufferer, it blows my mind to see people on here encourage others to fast. I'm sorry, but no-one will ever be able to tell me fasting in any way, shape or form is good for them.
and, yeah, I always have breakfast (sometimes at 10am, sometimes at 1pm ). 0
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