How important is breakfast?

Sidesteal

It is my understanding, scientifically, that you actually DO need to eat breakfast. This is not about whether or not you are hungry. And it is not about allotting calories.

Your body burns calories all day long and in order to remain healthy you need to replenish those calories.

Think about it. You burn calories while you are sleeping. Say you don't eat from 6pm until Noon the next day. Do you realize that you just deprived your body of nutrients for EIGHTEEN HOURS?

And do you realize that there are several pieces of peer reviewed research suggesting that you can go much, much longer than that without nutrients and still be just fine?

And starvation mode can start within 10 hours or less.

This part is incorrect. 60 to 72 hours is a more supported target according to research.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2405717
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10837292

But I do work in a state department of health and have learned about all there is to know about health and nutrition.

You may wish to view the above studies and then read this: http://www.leangains.com/2010/10/top-ten-fasting-myths-debunked.html

Which is supported by peer reviewed science.

Suziq2you

It's important to me. But like so many other things, it is up to the individual. Having breakfast isn't any more magical for weight loss than a belly wrap or super shake.

acragle

I have found that eating a rounded meal (but especially protein) every two to three hours works best to keep my metabolism where I need it to be to burn fat. Breakfast is not so tough even though I am not usually hungry first thing either. I just toss a scoop of whey, a tablespoon or two of natural peanut butter and sometimes 8 oz of skim milk (but usually water) into a shaker and go.

PonyTailedLoser

I'm usually not hungry in the morning and I have found that eating breakfast makes me super hungry the rest of the day. I stopped eating it and save my calories for a larger lunch, dinner etc. It's going ok so far

Karlsmit

I've never been a breakfast person (especially traditional greasy, heavy breakfast foods). I almost never eat before 10am because my stomach gets a little upset if I eat much early in the day. I usually just wait till lunch. I'm 5'9" and typically stay around 150lbs when not working out (skinny fat) but go to about 130 when I do work out. I always make sure that I get minimum calories since no breakfast means only 2 meals a day, so I've built 2 snacks into my day.

there are studies that say you need it, there are some that say it's a bunch of BS. do what makes you feel healthy

ArroganceInStep

Of course, you needn't heed what I say. But I do work in a state department of health and have learned about all there is to know about health and nutrition.

lol

Csanchez7

breakfast is the most important meal of the day

Dayquasar

I think what we have been told is that when you eat breakfast you are "breaking your fast" so they say it's good to give your body nutrients since it's been hours since you have eaten, like a previous comment this doesn't mean your body is in starvation mode. I was never a breakfast person, but since I've been a lot more active I find that after that 1st cup of coffee I'm hungry, which is quicker than usual, I think the main thing is to listen to your body, if your hungry then eat something. If lunch is an hour away have some fruit or something light. It's all good. But I am not a doctor so I don't know what is "right" , eating breakfast may also help you function better and sooner.

Sublog

breakfast is the most important meal of the day

Sounds like you've been watching too many breakfast food commercials.

ninerbuff

It is my understanding, scientifically, that you actually DO need to eat breakfast. This is not about whether or not you are hungry. And it is not about allotting calories.

Your body burns calories all day long and in order to remain healthy you need to replenish those calories.

Think about it. You burn calories while you are sleeping. Say you don't eat from 6pm until Noon the next day. Do you realize that you just deprived your body of nutrients for EIGHTEEN HOURS?

Breakfast IS physiologically important because you need to provide your body with nutrients. Remember, your body doesn't go into starvation mode just because you're hungry and not eating. Your body goes into starvation mode because you're depriving it of nutrients. And starvation mode can start within 10 hours or less.

Even if you don't eat a lot, eat something. A banana. A handful of grapes. A half a grapefruit. Just something.

And btw, just like there are people who have a problem "turning off the switch" to eating, there are likewise people who have trouble "turning on the switch". So this is maybe something you should investigate further and maybe even talk to your doctor or a certified nutrition specialist about it. You SHOULD be hungry when you wake up in the morning. It's a natural physiological state. You have trained yourself not to be. I suggest working towards training your body back to normal.

Of course, you needn't heed what I say. But I do work in a state department of health and have learned about all there is to know about health and nutrition.

I'd like to see scientific evidence or a peer reviewed clinical study supporting "starvation mode" after 10 hours of not eating.

A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer/Group Fitness Instructor
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

ninerbuff

breakfast is the most important meal of the day

According to cereal companies.

A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer/Group Fitness Instructor
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

callmejessica

It is my understanding, scientifically, that you actually DO need to eat breakfast. This is not about whether or not you are hungry. And it is not about allotting calories.

Your body burns calories all day long and in order to remain healthy you need to replenish those calories.

Think about it. You burn calories while you are sleeping. Say you don't eat from 6pm until Noon the next day. Do you realize that you just deprived your body of nutrients for EIGHTEEN HOURS?

Breakfast IS physiologically important because you need to provide your body with nutrients. Remember, your body doesn't go into starvation mode just because you're hungry and not eating. Your body goes into starvation mode because you're depriving it of nutrients. And starvation mode can start within 10 hours or less.

Even if you don't eat a lot, eat something. A banana. A handful of grapes. A half a grapefruit. Just something.

And btw, just like there are people who have a problem "turning off the switch" to eating, there are likewise people who have trouble "turning on the switch". So this is maybe something you should investigate further and maybe even talk to your doctor or a certified nutrition specialist about it. You SHOULD be hungry when you wake up in the morning. It's a natural physiological state. You have trained yourself not to be. I suggest working towards training your body back to normal.

Of course, you needn't heed what I say. But I do work in a state department of health and have learned about all there is to know about health and nutrition.

I agree. When you sleep, your body is still burning calories and not eating for that long causes it to go into starvation mode. You need to feed your body in the AM even if you don't actually physically feel hungry. I used to HATE eating breakfast because I could not stomach it. However, I recently started forcing myself to eat breakfast and now I look forward to it every morning! I noticed I feel a lot better throughout the day and have a ton more energy. Maybe that part is a little psychological, but I firmly believe that breakfast is very important.

strawberrie_milk

It's not important. Meal timing is irrelevant.

michaeltoye

I lost my weight not eating breakfast. Of all the times in the day i wasn't thinking about food, it was before midday.

The rest of the day I was *always some level of hungry, so the no breakfast allowed larger portions.

metabolism be damned, the biggest battle is with the mind.

NocturnalGirl

Meal timings are irrelevant to weight loss. If you don't want to eat breakfast, you don't have to.

MellowYellowGem

To me, science or not it makes sense to eat breakfast. Your body needs fuel to function properly, metabolism, blood sugars, insulin levels, brain activity.... etc. Why would you not fuel yourself for the morning???

Sarauk2sf

Listen to Sidesteal, Sublog and Niner - they know their *kitten*.

I am the same as you in that I do not feel like eating first thing in the morning - so I do not. Meal timing is irrelevent as long as you hit your calorie and macro targets - so eat at the cadence that gives you the most chance of doing that.



ETA: medical conditions notwithstanding.

PercivalHackworth

To me, science or not it makes sense to eat breakfast. Your body needs fuel to function properly, metabolism, blood sugars, insulin levels, brain activity.... etc. Why would you not fuel yourself for the morning???

Supposing your body cease to function when you sleep, which is so not the case :-)
What you pointed out happens also in the day; blood sugars drop or increase along the day, so the insulin. And the brain simply still working when you sleep

Why would you not fuel yourself for the morning???

To have even bigger plates after

TheVimFuego

I like to get some protein in first thing hungry or not (and I rarely am), even if it is just a hunk of cheese.

My view is that to retain lean muscle mass and speed the fat burning along the body needs something after an overnight fast and as long as it isn't a carb-heavy breakfast then some cheese will do, tasty too. Entirely my unsubstantiated theory but that's me all over.

If I have time I do like my usual spicy scrambled egg, cheese, bacon extravaganza which invariably means I don't really need much for lunch.

I guess the first step is knowing what hungry is (as opposed to a craving or the usual low blood glucose deal). If hungry then eat until satisfied on Real Food, otherwise don't.

Poods71

My mum has never eaten breakfast as she would be physically sick if she did, I have always eaten breakfast and my mum has always been slimmer than me. So the study saying people who eat breakfast everyday are slimmer doesn't seem to be true in my case lol. I find now I don't have time for breakfast first thing (running after kids and trying to get to work) so I tend to have it at work when I feel hungry (usually about 10:30am) which I find works out better for me. If, on the rare occassion, I have it early I find I get hungrier for lunch and dinner earlier and then end up eating more throughout the day. All eating breakfast seems to do for me is kickstart my appetite.