Coffee is not breakfast.

I'd beg to differ with the folks who say timing doesn't matter, because timing does indeed affect your metabolic rate. The calorie targets MFP (or any calorie counting system) sets are based on averages and "normal" metabolisms. When your body goes into starvation mode from not eating in the morning, you no longer have a "normal" metabolism. Instead of burning say 80 calories per hour while sitting at your desk, you may instead be burning 60 as your body tries to conserve energy. Most of those calories you ate the night before have already been used or stored in fat or muscle cells.

Your body will start using muscle tissue for energy, which over the long term will bring your metabolic rate down even more. If you then eat all of your calories at the end of the day, your body does adjust slightly, but not enough to compensate for the entire day's reduced metabolic rate. So you may indeed struggle more to lose weight, even eating the same number of calories because you are NOT burning the same calories as someone who eats regularly.

Aside from weight issues, going through periods of starvation will also lead to spikes in blood sugar, making you more susceptible to diabetes. So ultimately, whether you're hungry or not, it's probably a good idea to eat something for breakfast.

My Nanny swears by a milky coffee for breakfast, both my mum and myself got that before school and it was enough. If your body isn't up for food that early then I don't think that's a problem. Forcing yourself to eat breakfast can be more dangerous because you're ignoring your bodies wants and needs.
I normally have a piece of fruit and some tea for breakfast, but some days it's only coffee, and some days it's a full blown Egg and bacon deal Each to their own. If however she's binging in the late afternoon and evening then that's her problem and she should learn to pace herself throughout the day rather than a big lump at the end.
Just listening to your body is the best way to loose weight, I think x

For the millionth time, you don't need to eat breakfast to "jump start" your metabolism. That's complete BS!!

I'd beg to differ with the folks who say timing doesn't matter, because timing does indeed affect your metabolic rate. The calorie targets MFP (or any calorie counting system) sets are based on averages and "normal" metabolisms. When your body goes into starvation mode from not eating in the morning, you no longer have a "normal" metabolism. Instead of burning say 80 calories per hour while sitting at your desk, you may instead be burning 60 as your body tries to conserve energy. Most of those calories you ate the night before have already been used or stored in fat or muscle cells.

Your body will start using muscle tissue for energy, which over the long term will bring your metabolic rate down even more. If you then eat all of your calories at the end of the day, your body does adjust slightly, but not enough to compensate for the entire day's reduced metabolic rate. So you may indeed struggle more to lose weight, even eating the same number of calories because you are NOT burning the same calories as someone who eats regularly.

Aside from weight issues, going through periods of starvation will also lead to spikes in blood sugar, making you more susceptible to diabetes. So ultimately, whether you're hungry or not, it's probably a good idea to eat something for breakfast.

If there is a change in metabolism, it is negligible. You can go much longer than 12 hours before having a change in metabolism.

haha, don't you just hate it when you start a thread about arguing with a coworker... and YOU are the one who's wrong! :laugh:

Don't you just hate it when you reply to a thread telling the person who started the thread that they are wrong when in fact it's you that is really wrong?! :bigsmile:

But the OP is wrong. You don't go into starvation mode over night. You don't have to eat 30 minutes after you wake up. This is an issue of preference. OP can eat her breakfast and her friend can drink coffee, and they can both lose weight. It is the day, the week in total that will determine their loss, not how they choose to eat one meal.

I'm enjoying my "coffee breakfast" as we speak. And I'm not stressing bout it

For me, it is usually breakfast. I am not really hungry when I get up, and really don't want anything to eat yet. So, coffee does it for me until I get a bite to eat, which is usually lunch.

The idea of needing breakfast to "jump start your metabolism" is a myth. Timing of meals simply does not matter when it comes to losing weight.

Personally, I've never been a breakfast eater, my whole life. I've tried to force it on previous weight loss attempts (because everybody says you have to) and had a miserable time. I'd be ravenously hungry for the rest of the day no matter what I ate, irritable, and just generally in a foul mood. Now, I usually get up around 7-8AM and don't eat until after noon. And I feel great, with tons more energy and a much more stable and positive mood.

If eating breakfast works best for you, do it. If not eating breakfast works best for you, then do that. Simple as that.

^^This is what I was going to say. And as for coffee being an appetite suppressor, even on the days I have only water not coffee in the mornings, I'm not hungry until after noon.

big (but still healthy) breakfast, small lunch, smaller dinner. it's more likely that you'll burn calories BEFORE dinner than after.

NAY.. coffee is not breakfast. I am not even allowed to have it while I'm working with the nutritionist !!!! No caffeine allowed. It's helped me lose weight and my metabolism is going full steam!!

Breakfast is an option.

Coffee, however, is not.

big (but still healthy) breakfast, small lunch, smaller dinner. it's more likely that you'll burn calories BEFORE dinner than after.

I burn calories all day long, all night while sleeping, and I continue burning them the next morning too!

^^ This. Time of day does not matter.

NAY.. coffee is not breakfast. I am not even allowed to have it while I'm working with the nutritionist !!!! No caffeine allowed. It's helped me lose weight and my metabolism is going full steam!!

The only thing that is helping you lose weight is being in a caloric deficit. My2C

NAY.. coffee is not breakfast. I am not even allowed to have it while I'm working with the nutritionist !!!! No caffeine allowed. It's helped me lose weight and my metabolism is going full steam!!

Wow, overbearing nutritionist!

I don't see how coffee can be considered as breakfast, but that is just me. What I say is "to each their own" and let people figure out what works for them. :bigsmile: Everyone is different.