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MyFitnessPal Community

Hungry right after breakfast?

tajmel

I'm sure this has been brought up before. Most days I get breakfast, but some days I forget. Because of the studies done on the subject I'm somewhat fanatical about getting breakfast, even if I'm not hungry (which is often). Eating breakfast seems to have no effect on my hunger levels - either way, I want a meal at 11. I do feel a little more energetic on days that I eat something, but it still feels like kind of a waste of calories, particularly because I'm normally a big fan of the eating when hungry thing.

Anyone else experience this? Should I keep eating in the am anyways? Or eat a tiny breakfast? Or give in and skip it? If you're in favor of not eating breakfast (I know some of you are), do you know of any studies on the subject?

Replies

kodakdigitalcamera

you should just skip it

peachyxoxoxo

I wrote a post on my blog about this: http://choosing-healthy.tumblr.com/post/26443816045/why-do-i-feel-hungry-after-breakfast

HeadBangingBabe

I have never been a fan of breakfast...but I force myself to eat it every day. I've found that since I've been eating breakfast every day, I've actually lost more weight. I always eat two egg whites, fried, and either a piece of toast or a bagel. Most days, I'm not hungry for lunch later. I attribute it to having a high-protein breakfast. *shrug* I always aim for 16-20g of protein per breakfast.

coalboilermanBryan

Also if you Google that "why do i feel hungry after breakfast" you will get a lot of information. Many have comented on it...One person I was reading said that you should never eat breakfast..So being like you, I got up one day had my coffee, and just did not feel like eating....By 10:30, My blood sugar had dropped to the point that I was shaking, and irritable, and just plain ready to pass out. So for me......I have to eat a yogurt, or egg whites, and turkey sausage or some sort of protien soon after I get up. But I know others who are just fine with skiping Breakfast.

Bryan

wookiemouse

Why not do both? I always have breakfast around 6:30 and then a snack (200 cals) at 10:30. Breakfast is one of the most important things you can eat to lose weight, from what I've read. I never miss breakfast. Make sure it counts tho....not a crappy bowl of sugary cereal. I either do greek yogurt with granola and berries, or a bowl of oatmeal.

usmcmp

I stopped eating breakfast and was no longer hungry after breakfast time. I'm pretty sure the first article on leangains.com right now is actually about why breakfast makes some people hungry.

Sandwiches5000

This happens to me too. Try to eat a breakfast full of protein but low on carbs. Just eat as much as you can without overeating. I usually just try to suck up the hunger that I feel at around 10:30 every day (I eat breakfast at about 5:30-6 a.m.) because I have class till 12:20 so it distracts me. Sometimes I have a small snack and I find that suffices.

Rmfowler1990

I always make a shake for breakfast (around 250 cals) then I have a granola bar (100 cals) around 10-11am then lunch between 1-3.
I think it's important to eat breakfast to start my metabolism regardless of my hungry level. Sometimes I stop eating at 6pm and I don't eat breakfast until around 7am so I always think of not being hungry as my body being in a subtle form of starvation mode (no clue if this is correct though).

I think you should find something to eat IMO even if its just 100 cals to get your metabolism going.
BUT I am no expert and everyone is different!

Good luck finding what works for YOU because that's what matters.

Redheadllena

My vote is to eat something, even if it's small, and especially if you get up pretty early. Kick start that metabolism

I get hungry around 10:30-11 too but I notice it's worse if I've had a breakfast that's more sugary (even fruit) AND keep in mind that my first breakfast is around 7:30am (not sure when yours is). Eating every couple of hours ain't a bad thing, so I'm all for having something small between breakfast and lunch.

tajmel

I wrote a post on my blog about this: http://choosing-healthy.tumblr.com/post/26443816045/why-do-i-feel-hungry-after-breakfast

Nice post, and I love your last point. I love ALL science, but nutrition is extra interesting because it's directly applicable to life. I'll read the leangains post too, but it doesn't look like he cites references either. There's nothing wrong with just trying it out (what better way to find out what works for us personally?), but do you know of any good studies? I'll go hunt around pubmed...

maryd523

You don't need to eat breakfast. It doesn't matter when you eat, at all.

hurfswife

I agree....I never used to eat breakfast, but now that I do a shake for breakfast I feel like I am doing better with my weight loss...I think it has to do a lot with getting my metabolism going in the morning. If I am hungry at 11, which does happen some times, I add in a low calorie snack to hold me over for my lunch.

chrisdavey

Breakfast does not kick start you're metabolism.

Eat when you are hungry.

Cals in vs out is what matters most.

If you are eating in the morning because someone told you it was good for weight loss and you're not actually hungry then you're just using up some of you're daily cals unnecessarily.

Many types of intermittent fasting involve skipping breakfast (& some more).

blondiebonce

I find keeping topped up with water helps with this personally. Maybe a large glass of water each hour to see if this makes any difference at 11am?

hooperkay

Why not do both? I always have breakfast around 6:30 and then a snack (200 cals) at 10:30. Breakfast is one of the most important things you can eat to lose weight, from what I've read. I never miss breakfast. Make sure it counts tho....not a crappy bowl of sugary cereal. I either do greek yogurt with granola and berries, or a bowl of oatmeal.

Totally agree with this!

_TastySnoBalls_

I only eat when i'm hungry...sometimes that's at 7am, sometimes it's not until after 11am. i don't believe the whole "you have to have breakfast to lose weight" thing. Do what works for you. If there is a caloric deficit at the end of your day, than that equals weight loss, whether you had bkfst or not

rileysowner

I'll read the leangains post too, but it doesn't look like he cites references either.

I just skimmed through it and saw at least 4 references. There may be more, but a quick skim didn't show them.

HeatherHoskins

I am not an expert but I think the theory goes that you fast all night while sleeping so if you don't eat in the am your metabolism slows way down. It is too long to go without eating. Even if you just have a banana or something to feed your metabloism.

tajmel

I just checked my diary to confirm the protein point, and I'm easily getting at least 20 g of protein for breakfast. I did notice that I'm a lot less consistent than I thought I was, haha.

Sounds like there's a lot of dissent on the subject (just as there is in my head haha). I suppose it's going to have to be an experiment then!

HarlequinnAsh

It could be what you are eating that is making you so hungry so quick. I made a whole wheat banana bread with honey instead of sugar one week and had that for breakfast, one slice of course. It kept me feeling full for a few hours and kept me from over eating. Also keep in mind its usually recommended to have 5 or 6 small meals a day so if you eat first thing you will be hungry within 2-3 hours, not ravenous of course but looking for something to munch on. Take small snacks in your bag with you like a bag of almonds or cashew or even make your own granola. make portion controlled bags if you need to make sure you dont over indulge in your snacks.

I also have trouble just eating first thing but I also have animals so usually first thing Im cleaning up after them and very hungry by the time Im done. I've bought a very low calorie protein shake powder to make myself shakes for breakfast whenever I feel lazy, they help fill you up and I use almond milk so it stays under 200 calories. You could even use water and have it be under 100.

tlruffino

Was never a big breakfast person. Usually waited until I got to work and had something around 8, With trying to loose weight, I started eating a high protein breakfast when I get up at 5:30. Around 10:30-11 when i start to feel hungry I have some plain almonds and an apple and then am good til luch at 2. Works for me'

tajmel

I just skimmed through it and saw at least 4 references. There may be more, but a quick skim didn't show them.

You're clearly better at skimming than I am! Kudos.

MelanieKaye1s

I do not recommend skipping breakfast!! If you go without eating for 12 hours or longer your metabolism actually slows down. Just eat something filling like oatmeal or you can try an english muffin with egg and canadian bacon. If you get hungry mid-morning, eat a snack! Its ok, its no big deal and you will feel better.

tajmel

I find keeping topped up with water helps with this personally. Maybe a large glass of water each hour to see if this makes any difference at 11am?

I easily drink 5L of water a day. I'm active / live in a desert / like water.

usmcmp

I would experiment and find out what works for you. There is no right way. Leangains and Intermittent Fasting has helped me stop feeling hungry all the time and I no longer binge (used to binge weekly).

hbm616

If skipping breakfast doesn't make you so hungry that you end up overeating later then I say skip it. I always eat breakfast in the morning before work, even if I'm not hungry, because I don't have time to eat at work until lunch on most days. If I'm not working early then I just eat my first meal whenever I'm hungry for it.

Rae6503

I just have coffee and save the calories for later.

The idea that you have to eat breakfast to start your metabolism came for the fact that digesting food burns calories. BUT the amount of calories burned is proportional to the amount of calories ingested. So if I eat 2000 calories spread out over the day I burn X number of calories digesting it. If I eat 2000 calories in only one meal, I burn the same X number of calories.

tajmel

Take small snacks in your bag with you like a bag of almonds or cashew or even make your own granola. make portion controlled bags if you need to make sure you dont over indulge in your snacks.

That's excellent advice, but I already eat six meals a day! If my first meal is normally at 7 am, and I'm hungry again at 10-11. The problem is that my hunger seems to hit at 10-11 whether or not I have breakfast.

dmest

My view on that is eat if you are hungry. I typically get up around 6:30 or 7 and found that if I ate a full breakfast early, I'd be starving by 9:30 or 10, so I stopped eating breakfast early. I usually work out right after I get up, so if I wake up hungry, I'll have something small between 40 and 60 calories right before I work out. Then I'll eat breakfast around 9. That usually keeps me satisfied until noon.

NWCountryGal

I got in the habit of eating breakfast because it just energized me more than a chocolate cupcake and skim milk(now there's an oxymoron for you, LOL) so I've been eating good breakfasts for years. It's usually the same of two types and a little boring but it does fuel my mornings. I usually don't get hungry until after noon so I set up my diary for lunch anytime between 11 and 2 I think?? Anyway, that's what works for me. Also, I am learning every single time I do feel hunger(which is not often at all)I drink 8-16 oz of water first:)

I think it has to do with schedules and what a person is comfy with. I've heard from women that have lost weight and gained muscle that eating any time of day is fine. But they usually suggest smaller meals more often. Also, eating at night I've heard there is nothing wrong with it at all unless it may be a food that gives you a tummy ache while you are trying to sleep or something:)

denise:drinker: :drinker:
PS One of my fave things now is if I work out in the cool of the evening after dinner? I do a protein snack or my fave, protein smoothee before bed because they say that it will help repair and rebuild muscle while I sleep, yeehaw!!

I'm sure this has been brought up before. Most days I get breakfast, but some days I forget. Because of the studies done on the subject I'm somewhat fanatical about getting breakfast, even if I'm not hungry (which is often). Eating breakfast seems to have no effect on my hunger levels - either way, I want a meal at 11. I do feel a little more energetic on days that I eat something, but it still feels like kind of a waste of calories, particularly because I'm normally a big fan of the eating when hungry thing.

Anyone else experience this? Should I keep eating in the am anyways? Or eat a tiny breakfast? Or give in and skip it? If you're in favor of not eating breakfast (I know some of you are), do you know of any studies on the subject?