To eat breakfast or not to eat breakfast

DOMTIA1012

I find that when I do not eat breakfast I do not consume as much during the day. I am less likely to become ravishingly hungry in the afternoon. I know breakfast jump starts your metabolism and you should never skip a meal however can this be different for different people?

elephant_in_the_room

I find that when I do not eat breakfast I do not consume as much during the day. I am less likely to become ravishingly hungry in the afternoon. I know breakfast jump starts your metabolism and you should never skip a meal however can this be different for different people?

The idea that breakfast jump starts your metabolism is yet another diet myth.
http://www.leangains.com/2010/10/top-ten-fasting-myths-debunked.html
http://yourdoctorsorders.com/2011/10/breakfast-myths/
I am just not hungry in the mornings. It's the idea of dieting that at the very least you don't eat when you are not hungry. So I quite often don't eat breakfast.
That's taking the traditional definition of breakfast. In my own personal terms, I do eat breakfast because I do break the fast -- sometime during the day, sometimes at 10, sometimes at 12. Usually with something healthy.
Not eating breakfast makes me less hungry in the morning and helps with weight loss because the overall calories I then eat during the day are lower, not higher. In no way does it make me crave food more later or binge more later.
So, find out how your body works, don't listen to popular myths.

JesterMFP

Eating breakfast at a certain time isn't necessary. It doesn't "jump start" your metabolism, so you're ok there. I would say you have a good reason for not eating breakfast, and there are a lot of people who are the same. For me personally, I find it depends on what sort of day I'm having, so I end up eating breakfast about 3 days a week. The other days, I don't eat until about 1pm. Strangely enough, the more physically active I am in the morning, the more I prefer to skip breakfast.

Meal timing is one of those things where one size doesn't fit all, and you have to find what works for you with your schedule and preference. Some people do better on 6+ small meals a day, others on 3 square meals and no snacking, others even have just one big meal.

twelfty

i'm the same it's what made me too skinny, so it's breakfast all the way for me

kennie2

breakfast is good
shut up and eat it

agulamali

I skip breakfast daily as part of an intermittent fasting strategy. I've found that it helps me stay lean and energized. Eating a large meal in the morning just makes me want to go back to sleep. Now, I'm used to not eating in the mornings and I don't even feel hungry until around noon.

sijomial

"I know breakfast jump starts your metabolism"
- Not true, that's a complete myth.
"You should never skip a meal"
- Not true, does you no harm at all. (More likely to do you some good.)

"I find that when I do not eat breakfast I do not consume as much during the day. I am less likely to become ravishingly hungry in the afternoon. "
- Sounds like skipping breakfast works for you.

twelfty

breakfast is good
shut up and eat it

lol i think it depends what your goal is, if you don't feel hungry and you're trying to lose weight as long as you don't try and compensate for missing it with your other two meals you're ok, i know if i were trying to lose weight my body would respond to skipping breakfast, but others would skip it and feel like eating a small elephant at lunch

SheOwens

I find that when I do not eat breakfast I do not consume as much during the day. I am less likely to become ravishingly hungry in the afternoon. I know breakfast jump starts your metabolism and you should never skip a meal however can this be different for different people?

I agree! I do better when I don't eat breakfast. I get up at 4:45 am. I will eat an apple at 10:00 break at work ...

I used to eat breakfast after I got out of the shower and was dressed, about 6 am, and then I wanted to eat all day long .....

alexbusnello

I have to eat breakfast. But sometimes it depends on the morning. It's rare for me to be able to not eat breakfast and be fine till afternoon.

appelsiinipuu

I don't really eat the traditional breakfast things in the morning... Now I seem to eat a chicken breast and salad every morning for breakfast. That keeps me going for quite a while.

Ramberta

Some days I eat a small breakfast with my morning coffee, others I don't. I always bring a bag of dry cereal to work to eat on my break, since I work morning shifts. Some days I feel a bit woozy and have to take my break earlier to eat, some days I barely feel hungry until hours after I've gotten up.

The notion of "skipping" a meal isn't bad if you're still eating enough throughout the day. As long as your body is used to getting food at certain times, give it food at those certain times. Doesn't really matter what they are. But if you go more than four hours without eating anything you're probably going to get a bit of a headache or become lethargic. Just listen to what your body wants, make sure you're getting all your calories and nutrition for the day, and leave it at that.

never124get

I find that when I have to wake up at 2:30 in the morning for work I find myself becoming hungry around 5:30 when I'm already at work so I usually bring breakfast with me like oatmeal, bananas, cereal, grapefruit etc...But when I am off I tend to sleep in til about 10:00 am. I also work out (usually in the mornings) and when I'm off that means I work out until 11:00 then shower and everything and usually don't eat until about 12:00...I'm not a huge breakfast fan anyway so I usually skip it. I have noticed I eat more calories on my days off but then again when I'm home there is more food than what I allow myself to bring to work to munch on. Basically I will go by my tried and true statement, don't eat if you aren't hungry! If you are hungry eat! (but stay within your calorie goal for the day lol) ( I work one week straight through Thursday - Wednesday and then I'm off Thursday - Wednesday good gig, 2 weeks off every month isn't so bad lol)

fallonrhea

I find that when I do not eat breakfast I do not consume as much during the day. I am less likely to become ravishingly hungry in the afternoon. I know breakfast jump starts your metabolism and you should never skip a meal however can this be different for different people?

The idea that breakfast jump starts your metabolism is yet another diet myth.
http://www.leangains.com/2010/10/top-ten-fasting-myths-debunked.html
http://yourdoctorsorders.com/2011/10/breakfast-myths/
I am just not hungry in the mornings. It's the idea of dieting that at the very least you don't eat when you are not hungry. So I quite often don't eat breakfast.
That's taking the traditional definition of breakfast. In my own personal terms, I do eat breakfast because I do break the fast -- sometime during the day, sometimes at 10, sometimes at 12. Usually with something healthy.
Not eating breakfast makes me less hungry in the morning and helps with weight loss because the overall calories I then eat during the day are lower, not higher. In no way does it make me crave food more later or binge more later.
So, find out how your body works, don't listen to popular myths.

^^This

joyfuljoy65

You need to listen to what your body needs - I have to eat something by 10am or I feel lightheaded and my brain goes even more gaga - but then I also need to eat regularly so thats not unusual for me. My husband can go til mid afternoon without eating anything and feel fine. Neither is wrong, neither is right - they are just what works for our needs.

shanster23

I'm the same as you. If I eat breakfast, I end up feeling really hungry all day and snack a lot. When I don't have breakfast, I don't feel as hungry, and don't need as many snacks. Do what works for you.

SomeoneSomeplace

I normally can't stomach anything besides black coffee before noon. Sometimes I don't eat until much later in the day. Works fine for me. I just listen to my body.

AzhureSnow

The reason you are less hungry when you don't eat breakfast is because your body is still in the mode of conserving energy. Sure, you may not be hungry, but you're certainly burning significantly less calories working this way. Not to mention, I find that starting my day with a healthy fat and protein (greek yogurt with peanut butter is a good option) is really filling to begin with, so I don't tend to get hungry until almost AFTER lunchtime most days.
I can't go without breakfast anymore. I get so foggy and lackluster by noon if I don't eat something, even just a banana first thing in the morning.
I have noticed, however, that if I eat something carb-heavy for breakfast, I tend to go for carbs all day long. So, if I eat toast and a banana, I make sure to add some peanut butter or yogurt to balance out all those sugars.

AzhureSnow

I find that when I do not eat breakfast I do not consume as much during the day. I am less likely to become ravishingly hungry in the afternoon. I know breakfast jump starts your metabolism and you should never skip a meal however can this be different for different people?

The idea that breakfast jump starts your metabolism is yet another diet myth.
http://www.leangains.com/2010/10/top-ten-fasting-myths-debunked.html
http://yourdoctorsorders.com/2011/10/breakfast-myths/
I am just not hungry in the mornings. It's the idea of dieting that at the very least you don't eat when you are not hungry. So I quite often don't eat breakfast.
That's taking the traditional definition of breakfast. In my own personal terms, I do eat breakfast because I do break the fast -- sometime during the day, sometimes at 10, sometimes at 12. Usually with something healthy.
Not eating breakfast makes me less hungry in the morning and helps with weight loss because the overall calories I then eat during the day are lower, not higher. In no way does it make me crave food more later or binge more later.
So, find out how your body works, don't listen to popular myths.

^^This

I think it's important to note, though, that even if it may benefit some people's diets, it's not as healthy for brain function, alertness, and productivity. It is much easier to focus if you're fueling your brain with something, regardless of whether you're trying to lose weight or not. Once I started eating a regular breakfast, I became a much more tolerable "morning person" than I once was. I just generally feel more "awake" with a cup of tea and some toast at the very least.

Taneil27

I would eat breakfast. If you aren't hungry in the mornings, it's probably because you ate too late the night before or too close before bed, so the food sat in your stomach all night. I just woke up and didn't eat 3 hours before bed and I am starving

twelfty

The reason you are less hungry when you don't eat breakfast is because your body is still in the mode of conserving energy. Sure, you may not be hungry, but you're certainly burning significantly less calories working this way. Not to mention, I find that starting my day with a healthy fat and protein (greek yogurt with peanut butter is a good option) is really filling to begin with, so I don't tend to get hungry until almost AFTER lunchtime most days.
I can't go without breakfast anymore. I get so foggy and lackluster by noon if I don't eat something, even just a banana first thing in the morning.
I have noticed, however, that if I eat something carb-heavy for breakfast, I tend to go for carbs all day long. So, if I eat toast and a banana, I make sure to add some peanut butter or yogurt to balance out all those sugars.

that's another way of saying breakfast kickstarts your metabolism, i'm sorry but it's wrong, i used to be a builder, i'd get to work at 7am and wouldn't eat till 11/12 doing high energy intensive work and never once felt light headed or sluggish

sorry to add aswell i dont believe people should aim to skip breakfast either if you're hungry you should eat but if you're not hungry and it helps you lose weight, go for it, one thing to add though if your workout (if you do) is in the morning it is a good idea to eat before hand to give yourself something to burn, but driving to work and sitting at a desk isn't going to require alot of fuel for your body

XoXoLJFitness

If you are not hungry I recommend having a small bite to eat. You don't start your car in the morning if it doesn't have gas why should your body be any different?

amberdust

i found that if i don't eat in the morning i get very very nautious, and almost feel like i'm going to throw up. after that i'm just starving mode hungry until i actually do get some food.

on the other hand i know people who can easily skip breakfast with no problems at all. so i bet it is per person.

EmGetsFit

I only eat breakfast -- something small & light, like a granola bar or cereal -- a couple days a week. Otherwise I just have coffee. I'm usually not hungry in the morning. And if I eat when I'm not hungry, I feel blech. Listen to your body. I always hear "you must eat breakfast! It's most important!" But I'm 34 years old & know what works for me. So do what works for you!

OneDimSim

I find that when I do not eat breakfast I do not consume as much during the day. I am less likely to become ravishingly hungry in the afternoon. I know breakfast jump starts your metabolism and you should never skip a meal however can this be different for different people?

if i eat carbs in the morning i find this to be true as well. Try a low carb protein shake. this is a fave for me.

deepuckett1

I think it's a personal choice; I tend to eat less of the 'wrong' foods if I eat breakfast. At the very least, I would recommend that you drink a large glass of water when you get up. At the very least rehydrate after resting.

ndj1979

ahhh the old skip breakfast thread...where "starvation mode", and "you must eat in the morning to start metabolism" will be debated in earnest LOL ....I can already see the arguments and counter arguments that will be made...

I have been skipping breakfast for about four months now as part of 18/8 lean gains protocol, and have gone from 16% to 13% body fat...

if you want to skip breakfast skip it..you won't go into starvation mode or mess with your metabolism or any of that crap...if you want to teat breakfast it it...again it wont kick start your metabolism, but if your hungry eat, if you are not hungry eat...just make sure you work out and eat in calorie deficit...

Here is an interesting one to ponder...about 85% of americans eat breakfast but 30% of those americans who eat breakfast are obese hmmmmm.....

twelfty

I only eat breakfast -- something small & light, like a granola bar or cereal -- a couple days a week. Otherwise I just have coffee. I'm usually not hungry in the morning. And if I eat when I'm not hungry, I feel blech. Listen to your body. I always hear "you must eat breakfast! It's most important!" But I'm 34 years old & know what works for me. So do what works for you!

this i agree with, hydration in the morning is very important, i've found myself more in tune with hunger throughout the day by having water/ cordial in the morning

jakkidoodles

Everybody is different I guess. My mother won't touch breakfast for the reason that so many of you don't. She is ravenous by 10am! Personally, I used to find I functioned the same way, but these days, I LOVE my morning porridge and fruit. Especially as I walk 2 miles with the pram before 8.30am! If I don't have my breakfast, I find myself physically tired as soon as I get home and the housework doesn't get done. I think breastfeeding may have something to do with my hunger in the morning too. I also enjoy eating with the kids and partner. Gives us a chance to socialise before I kiss them all goodbye for the day.

AsrarHussain

I have to eat breakfast im hungry in the morning so i eat

twelfty

ahhh the old skip breakfast thread...where "starvation mode", and "you must eat in the morning to start metabolism" will be debated in earnest LOL ....I can already see the arguments and counter arguments that will be made...

I have been skipping breakfast for about four months now as part of 18/8 lean gains protocol, and have gone from 16% to 13% body fat...

if you want to skip breakfast skip it..you won't go into starvation mode or mess with your metabolism or any of that crap...if you want to teat breakfast it it...again it wont kick start your metabolism, but if your hungry eat, if you are not hungry eat...just make sure you work out and eat in calorie deficit...

Here is an interesting one to ponder...about 85% of americans eat breakfast but 30% of those americans who eat breakfast are obese hmmmmm.....

that's an interesting fact lol