If I eat breakfast, I get hungry

broadway_Calls

Still can't believe how many people think breakfast is an essential part of losing weight or that it matters what time you eat. It really doesn't so don't worry I eat cereal at about 1pm these days and dinner 6 hours later - just works for me as I see no reason to 'wake up' my appetite earlier on, I'd rather suppress it if I'm awake and this is a natural way of doing so!

Eskimopie

Glad to hear others have the same experience! I thought I was crazy after reading article after article saying breakfast makes you eat less all day. Thanks for the tips everyone.

Bellydance

skipping breakfast is fine, the metabolism stuff is a myth

Ya, I've been reading fitness gurus websites and almost all of them advocate Intermittent Fasting, some on a daily basis. And they advocate a calorie/fat dense Cheat Day. Love it. I'm never deprived.

gradgal01

when you haven't eaten for a couple hours, your body slows down its metabolism. this makes sense -- it realizes it's getting less energy, so it stops using energy to store sugar, for example. once you eat something in the morning, or whenever, your body revs up its metabolism -- oh hey, look at all this energy, let's do stuff with it. so for the next couple of hours, you get hungry, because your body is plain old doing more. (this is not the same thing as "starvation mode," which takes >5 days to happen.)

i have the same problem too. i never used to eat breakfast because a) it meant waking up earlier and b) i would be starving until lunch. if i eat something high in protein -- like eggs/egg whites -- i find that i can actually last until lunch hour. but still, the first half hour or so can be tough :-\. also, moving around a bit after you eat -- whether it's to your car or walking to work or whatever -- can help, as it helps your body use glucose better.

EmHorn4

Try spreading your food out to anticipate the hunger strike. I plan my 9-5 work day around 5 meals: breakfast, mid morning snack, lunch, afternoon snack, and then dinner. I eat just 2 egg whites and some coffee for breakfast right before I leave for work. At 10:30 or 11, I have my mid morning snack (right when hunger hits!) of an apple with a light string cheese, or a bowl of cereal. For lunch (around 1:30 or 2) I have a salad with a protein. For an afternoon snack, usually around 3:30 or 4, I have a bag of raw veggies with some light cheese, some nuts, or a granola bar. Usually the afternoon snack holds me over until I can get home and make some dinner. I try to keep all of my snack stuff handy in my desk (cereal/granola bars/nuts, or milk/cheese/veggies in the fridge). The biggest thing I did to help change to eating smaller meals was to rearrange my MFP diary to show time slots instead of generic "Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner/Snacks." Mine shows "Breakfast 7-10am, Mid Morning Snack 10am-12pm, Lunch 12-2pm, Mid Afternoon Snack 2-5pm, Dinner 5-8pm, and Late Snacks 8-10pm. This way, I keep myself on an eating schedule, but give myself a big enough window to make sure I get it done.

Except for breakfast (I'm not a huge morning eater), I try to eat between 200-300 cals per "mini meal" and I'm never hungry when I eat this way! My cal goal each day is 1400. Oh, and I try to drink a bunch of water too!

robpett2001

*chuckle

So the answer to your question, as far as all of us are concerned is...every position on this topic has its own supporters, so try different solutions and find out what works best for you...

One person's truth is another's fiction.

crisanderson27

when you haven't eaten for a couple hours, your body slows down its metabolism. this makes sense -- it realizes it's getting less energy, so it stops using energy to store sugar, for example. once you eat something in the morning, or whenever, your body revs up its metabolism -- oh hey, look at all this energy, let's do stuff with it. so for the next couple of hours, you get hungry, because your body is plain old doing more. (this is not the same thing as "starvation mode," which takes >5 days to happen.)

Show me ONE study...just ONE, that proves this horribly perpetuated myth.

You have the whole of the internet, but make sure it's a peer reviewed study (pubmed is a good source).

Ready...go.

jenngi620

Same problem! I thought it was the carb thing, I was most often eating weight control (fiber enriched) oatmeal. I switched to just hard boiled eggs and still struggled with hunger. Now I'm just having a piece of fruit around 930 or 10 am and I feel great all day. I have seen studies that suggest people who are most sucessful with permanant weight loss do eat breakfast. I wonder if it may be that people who eat breakfast are also more likely to (???? something else, like go to bed earlier, snack less at night, etc) and it is really that thing that makes them successful. IDK.

auntiebabs

This is the way I think of it...

If you grew up on a farm you'd get up about 5AM or 6AM do your chores then eat breakfast around 8AM or 9AM

So, if I don't get up until 8 or 8:30AM and coast on coffee until lunchtime, it's sort of the same thing with out the intense physical labor.

mommyhof3

when you haven't eaten for a couple hours, your body slows down its metabolism. this makes sense -- it realizes it's getting less energy, so it stops using energy to store sugar, for example. once you eat something in the morning, or whenever, your body revs up its metabolism -- oh hey, look at all this energy, let's do stuff with it. so for the next couple of hours, you get hungry, because your body is plain old doing more. (this is not the same thing as "starvation mode," which takes >5 days to happen.)

Show me ONE study...just ONE, that proves this horribly perpetuated myth.

You have the whole of the internet, but make sure it's a peer reviewed study (pubmed is a good source).

Ready...go.

^^ Would love to see the results of this challenge

FrugalMomsRock75

Same here! I often find myself skipping breakfast and then having a big, fat protein shake after my workout (for lunch). Then a snack, then supper, and another snack in the evening if I'm hungry. I find that I feel better after a workout if I skip breakfast and go straight for the workout, too...

I don't pass on my coffee in the morning though, even if I don't have breakfast.

crisanderson27

Same problem! I thought it was the carb thing, I was most often eating weight control (fiber enriched) oatmeal. I switched to just hard boiled eggs and still struggled with hunger. Now I'm just having a piece of fruit around 930 or 10 am and I feel great all day. I have seen studies that suggest people who are most sucessful with permanant weight loss do eat breakfast. I wonder if it may be that people who eat breakfast are also more likely to (???? something else, like go to bed earlier, snack less at night, etc) and it is really that thing that makes them successful. IDK.

No, it's that people who are DETERMINED to lose weight and keep it off, have been force fed the myth that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. People who are disciplined enough to get up early and eat a healthy breakfast, are generally disciplined enough to maintain a healthy caloric intake.

Plain and simple.

Go look at the IF group on this board. Virtually every person on there is sub 20% bodyfat. Not a single one of us eats 6 meals a day...and very few eat before 1pm.

Another example....

www.leangains.com

That guy maintains a sub 10% bodyfat level, and doesn't eat breakfast, ever.

Food timing is a myth. It's been proven. Read the studies people, stop spouting opinions based on someone elses opinion based on antiquated dietary propaganda.

rockinright

skipping breakfast is fine, the metabolism stuff is a myth

I don't know about that...since a lot of MFP'ers can attest that "eating more to weigh less" has WORKED for them.

if not the metabolism thing, then what?

FrugalMomsRock75

skipping breakfast is fine, the metabolism stuff is a myth

I don't know about that...since a lot of MFP'ers can attest that "eating more to weigh less" has WORKED for them.

if not the metabolism thing, then what?

Eating more=1800 calories vs. 1200 calories. It doesn't mean more OFTEN. I eat a good 1800 to 2000 calories (or more if I exercise a lot)... I just do it in fewer "meals" than some do.

rockinright

You can skip breakfast. it doesn't really matter.

However I do want to say that I had the same thing. Breakfast made me hungry all day, but that was because I was eating a ton of carbs for breakfast... Bagels, muffins, bread. I eat yogurt and fruit for breakfast and it doesn't cause my appetite to go out of control anymore.

^^^ THIS

I have the same thing - my breakfast has to be high in protein and low in carbs. If I have yogurt, eggs, or even a little bacon, I'm OK. If it's something like cereal or my occasional treat of pancakes or waffles, I'm ravenous by 10:30.

However, I do better overall eating SOMETHING for breakfast. I also seem to be OK having higher carbs later in the day...

Phrak

Same problem! I thought it was the carb thing, I was most often eating weight control (fiber enriched) oatmeal. I switched to just hard boiled eggs and still struggled with hunger. Now I'm just having a piece of fruit around 930 or 10 am and I feel great all day. I have seen studies that suggest people who are most sucessful with permanant weight loss do eat breakfast. I wonder if it may be that people who eat breakfast are also more likely to (???? something else, like go to bed earlier, snack less at night, etc) and it is really that thing that makes them successful. IDK.

No, it's that people who are DETERMINED to lose weight and keep it off, have been force fed the myth that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. People who are disciplined enough to get up early and eat a healthy breakfast, are generally disciplined enough to maintain a healthy caloric intake.

Plain and simple.

Go look at the IF group on this board. Virtually every person on there is sub 20% bodyfat. Not a single one of us eats 6 meals a day...and very few eat before 1pm.

Another example....

www.leangains.com

That guy maintains a sub 10% bodyfat level, and doesn't eat breakfast, ever.

Food timing is a myth. It's been proven. Read the studies people, stop spouting opinions based on someone elses opinion based on antiquated dietary propaganda.

Good post, wish people would drop this myth. But magazines, supplment, and food companies dont endorse this becuase it doesnt sell products. Telling people to eat more and more often sells better then telling people to skip a meal, and eat less.

Livin_Large

I find a breakfast high in protein helps.

Sp1nGoddess

skipping breakfast is fine, the metabolism stuff is a myth

I don't know about that...since a lot of MFP'ers can attest that "eating more to weigh less" has WORKED for them.

if not the metabolism thing, then what?

I don't think the timing matters so much as your intake over time. If I skip breakfast i usually make up the missing calories later in the day for the same result.

crisanderson27

skipping breakfast is fine, the metabolism stuff is a myth

I don't know about that...since a lot of MFP'ers can attest that "eating more to weigh less" has WORKED for them.

if not the metabolism thing, then what?

Eating more=1800 calories vs. 1200 calories. It doesn't mean more OFTEN. I eat a good 1800 to 2000 calories (or more if I exercise a lot)... I just do it in fewer "meals" than some do.

Exactly! Eat more food, don't eat more often.

BondBomb

The breakfast/meal frequency myth makes me want to punch someone in the face.
Seriously do people not read any of the replies. Or any scientific data for that matter.

Its like being told you will catch a cold walking outside with wet hair.

OP I love IF. You don't need breakfast. You need responders that know what they are talking about.

WaterBunnie

The reason is it gets your metabolism revved up. The worst thing you can do is skip breakfast. Key to losing is keeping your metabolism going! Plan a snack between breakfast and lunch to help with it. Starving yourself or skipping meals wont help you lose weight...it does the opposite.

This

The_new_Amy

I drink 32 oz of water within the first hour of waking and find that I am not hungry until about 10:30 (I wake at 6:00). I usually have a green smootie or protein shake then and lunch around 1:00 PM.

I find that when I eat breakfast, which is usually eggs and veggies, I am hungry all morning as well.

crisanderson27

The reason is it gets your metabolism revved up. The worst thing you can do is skip breakfast. Key to losing is keeping your metabolism going! Plan a snack between breakfast and lunch to help with it. Starving yourself or skipping meals wont help you lose weight...it does the opposite.

This

And your proof?

rockinright

skipping breakfast is fine, the metabolism stuff is a myth

I don't know about that...since a lot of MFP'ers can attest that "eating more to weigh less" has WORKED for them.

if not the metabolism thing, then what?

Eating more=1800 calories vs. 1200 calories. It doesn't mean more OFTEN. I eat a good 1800 to 2000 calories (or more if I exercise a lot)... I just do it in fewer "meals" than some do.

Exactly! Eat more food, don't eat more often.

Not a problem for me, but I was curious. I don't worry much myself about the timing...and in fact, if my wife and I are planning a dinner out where we know the calories are going to be on the wrong side of 1000 for the meal, we both eat VERY light for breakfast and lunch, basically just to avoid being starving the whole day. Doesn't seem to hurt us as long as the daily totals are OK.

In fact, some people say that as long as on a WEEK TO WEEK basis your calories match up, that you'll lose weight, even if some days you're 300 over and other days you're 300 under.

johnstegeman

I eat something for breakfast because people say I should. Usually something less than 200 calories. Really doesn't matter though if weight loss is the only goal. Under the calorie count means you will lose weight.

WaterBunnie

The reason is it gets your metabolism revved up. The worst thing you can do is skip breakfast. Key to losing is keeping your metabolism going! Plan a snack between breakfast and lunch to help with it. Starving yourself or skipping meals wont help you lose weight...it does the opposite.

This

And your proof?

None of us has concrete proof but this works for me.

FrugalMomsRock75

The reason is it gets your metabolism revved up. The worst thing you can do is skip breakfast. Key to losing is keeping your metabolism going! Plan a snack between breakfast and lunch to help with it. Starving yourself or skipping meals wont help you lose weight...it does the opposite.

This

Oh. Good. Grief.

Pakitalian

BUMP to read later. Because the SAME thing happens to me when I eat breakfast! I get hungry!!!

crisanderson27

The reason is it gets your metabolism revved up. The worst thing you can do is skip breakfast. Key to losing is keeping your metabolism going! Plan a snack between breakfast and lunch to help with it. Starving yourself or skipping meals wont help you lose weight...it does the opposite.

This

And your proof?

None of us has concrete proof but this works for me.

That's my point, there IS concrete proof that you don't need to eat breakfast.

If it works for you...that's seriously wonderful. I mean that...but just because it works for you doesn't mean it's necessary. On top of that, you don't even know for sure why it works for you (most often it's hunger control, not everyone gets hungry if they eat breakfast...usually it's people with naturally higher metabolic rates to begin with). That's why quoting a post perpetuating the antiquated belief that your metabolism slows down if you don't eat constantly...is actually hurting more people than it's helping.

BondBomb

The reason is it gets your metabolism revved up. The worst thing you can do is skip breakfast. Key to losing is keeping your metabolism going! Plan a snack between breakfast and lunch to help with it. Starving yourself or skipping meals wont help you lose weight...it does the opposite.

This

And your proof?

None of us has concrete proof but this works for me.

And how exactly have you measured you metabolism increase before and after breakfast to make that conclusion?