How bad is not eating until late in the day?

rsjohnb
rsjohnb Posts: 215 Member
edited October 25 in Health and Weight Loss
I already know the awnser to this but what are the thoughts on not eating until later? I ended up missing breakfast and lunch today so went 13 hours on coffee and a couple of sweets, by the time i got home was STARVING, ended up in the takeaway shop, plugging it in to the calorie counter im still under my total but do you think my body will be doing the staving so save it thing by the time I eat my dinner???
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Replies

  • adrenaline682
    adrenaline682 Posts: 2 Member
    You'll be fine.
  • SideSteel
    SideSteel Posts: 11,068 Member
    I already know the awnser to this but what are the thoughts on not eating until later? I ended up missing breakfast and lunch today so went 13 hours on coffee and a couple of sweets, by the time i got home was STARVING, ended up in the takeaway shop, plugging it in to the calorie counter im still under my total but do you think my body will be doing the staving so save it thing by the time I eat my dinner???

    You're fine. Total caloric intake matters most. How you divide those calories into your individual meals will effect preferential things like mood, possibly gym performance, etc, etc, but how it effects your metabolism/fat loss is negligible.

    You could literally eat all your calories between dinner and bedtime in one or two big meals and if you behave fine on that method you will still make great progress.
  • Chief_Rocka
    Chief_Rocka Posts: 4,710 Member
    Doesn't matter

    nice hat
  • Sarauk2sf
    Sarauk2sf Posts: 28,072 Member
    I already know the awnser to this but what are the thoughts on not eating until later? I ended up missing breakfast and lunch today so went 13 hours on coffee and a couple of sweets, by the time i got home was STARVING, ended up in the takeaway shop, plugging it in to the calorie counter im still under my total but do you think my body will be doing the staving so save it thing by the time I eat my dinner???

    You're fine. Total caloric intake matters most. How you divide those calories into your individual meals will effect preferential things like mood, possibly gym performance, etc, etc, but how it effects your metabolism/fat loss is negligible.

    You could literally eat all your calories between dinner and bedtime in one or two big meals and if you behave fine on that method you will still make great progress.

    ^^yep
  • FITnFIRM4LIFE
    FITnFIRM4LIFE Posts: 818 Member
    Eat most of mine at night!:-)
  • ladyrider55
    ladyrider55 Posts: 316 Member
    Not to worry you'll be OK. I work 3rd shift and most days my 1st meal is at 3 PM. :smile:
  • rsjohnb
    rsjohnb Posts: 215 Member
    Cool thanks, going to have a jaffa cake to celebrate!!
  • neiljbrady
    neiljbrady Posts: 41 Member
    Totally agree. Worst is psychological, thinking you're going to "starve" to death. Usually the problem is that you end up "gorging". If you didn't do that " no worries".
  • yogafan63
    yogafan63 Posts: 3 Member
    I just started taking a nutrition class, and the teacher (with a masters in nutrition) states that your body is more insulin sensitive later in the day. That is why you should eat the most in the morning, and least at night. It's hard to do with a job, but he says that yes, it does hurt you to eat most of your food late in the day. Some people obviously have success even if they do that. And even the teacher says that no one can do everything 100% of the time. But I would imagine if this is your norm, it will hurt your weight loss goals or at least be not as healthy.
  • oh_em_gee
    oh_em_gee Posts: 887 Member
    personally, I'd be tired, crabby, and dizzy, but if it works for you, go for it. I skip dinner, so I'm the opposite. My theory is, eat the calories while I'm up and using them, instead of pile on the food and then sleep.
  • sunlover89
    sunlover89 Posts: 436 Member
    I do this deliberately, every day! I'm in intermittent faster and my eating window is from 3-9, it works absolutely fabulously for me :-)
  • mmddwechanged
    mmddwechanged Posts: 1,687 Member
    No you are fine! Actually you're having a better day than I. It's only 1:30 in the afternoon and I've already surpassed my fat goal.
  • now_or_never13
    now_or_never13 Posts: 1,575 Member
    I just started taking a nutrition class, and the teacher (with a masters in nutrition) states that your body is more insulin sensitive later in the day. That is why you should eat the most in the morning, and least at night. It's hard to do with a job, but he says that yes, it does hurt you to eat most of your food late in the day. Some people obviously have success even if they do that. And even the teacher says that no one can do everything 100% of the time. But I would imagine if this is your norm, it will hurt your weight loss goals or at least be not as healthy.

    Calories in vs calories out is what causes someone to lose or gain weight.
  • Derpina7
    Derpina7 Posts: 552 Member
    Check out the intermittent fasting threads.. Everyone has a different take, some people prefer to do it and it works great for them, others prefer 3 solid meals or smaller meals throughout the day. I don't really think there's a right or wrong way, just as long as you're getting the calories you need.
  • trojanbb
    trojanbb Posts: 1,297 Member
    I just started taking a nutrition class, and the teacher (with a masters in nutrition) states that your body is more insulin sensitive later in the day. That is why you should eat the most in the morning, and least at night. It's hard to do with a job, but he says that yes, it does hurt you to eat most of your food late in the day. Some people obviously have success even if they do that. And even the teacher says that no one can do everything 100% of the time. But I would imagine if this is your norm, it will hurt your weight loss goals or at least be not as healthy.

    Get a refund. It's the other way around. It's slightly better to eat later on as opposed to frontloading the calories. As far as weight loss goes, it's absolutely better not to eat most of your calories in the morning for several reasons.
  • Missjulesdid
    Missjulesdid Posts: 1,444 Member
    It's only bad if not eating causes you to binge later or make bad food choices. Controlled IF is awesome though.
  • mommamellymac
    mommamellymac Posts: 205 Member
    Thank you for asking this question! i was wondering the same thing because with the kids, I normally survive on my coffee until later!
  • sofielein
    sofielein Posts: 539 Member
    I'm in intermittent faster and my eating window is from 3-9

    wow, I didn't know this was called intermittend fasting but my brother and I both ate like this as kids (totally nothing until we got home from school) - we were not overweight kids!
  • nxd10
    nxd10 Posts: 4,570 Member
    You'll live. When I go too long without eating, I got grumpy and I tend to over-eat - even if I'm under my calorie goals. Not good for me.

    Tomorrow's another day. If you sleep late, grab an apple.
  • SGT_Reg
    SGT_Reg Posts: 186 Member
    One method that is lie what you are taking about. Check it out-- http://www.leangains.com/2010/04/leangains-guide.html

    Free eBook- http://www.precisionnutrition.com/intermittent-fasting


    Cal calculator- http://www.1percentedge.com/ifcalc/
  • Ythiel
    Ythiel Posts: 14
    What's with everyone stating 'it's okay'? It most definitely is not.

    We need food in regular paced intervals to keep our metabolism going. After your night's sleep (which is like fasting for 12 hours, also your metabolism slows down during your sleep), you need food to kickstart your metabolism. If you do not have breakfast, your body with go into preservation mode to get all it's nutrients from places you've stored them. You'd think that's fat, but eh no. The burning of fat requires energy your body doesn't have when you don't eat breakfast: causing for your fat to only be partially oxidized.

    So when around lunchtime you decide, well, maybe I should eat, your body will gear up and hold on to those nutrients and carbs you just ate because it hasn't had anything yet.

    Fasting for long periods of time doesn't help jack-squat in my opinion considering during these fasting periods your body goes into 'starvation mode' dipping into energy sources within the body. It lowers the metabolism speed, your appetite etcetera. It also drains you from energy and isn't to be considered healthy due to the fact you actually do need certain nutrients to stay alive. When you get out of the fasting period and eat again, once more, your body will hold onto those nutrients because our body has to make up for the earlier loss.

    HOWEVER. I do agree there's a certain power in long-term fasting intervals (so, let's say one day per week). Studies have shown it does help increase the fat oxidition.

    In short: eat meals at regulars intervals. Educate yourself if you're curious about intermittent fasting.

    sources to back it up:
    http://www.thekitchn.com/why-breakfast-is-the-most-impo-1-113418
    http://www.disabled-world.com/artman/publish/healthy_breakfast.shtml
    http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/guide/fasting
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-19112549
    http://web.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.hro.nl/ehost/detail?sid=8a653800-616c-4242-8ea7-f0042ad00409@sessionmgr4&vid=1&hid=13&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ==#db=rzh&AN=2005078893
  • princessd84
    princessd84 Posts: 121 Member
    I don't know how it will affect your weight loss, but it would definitely play havoc with your blood sugar levels. You might still lose weight but it's not healthy.
  • now_or_never13
    now_or_never13 Posts: 1,575 Member
    What's with everyone stating 'it's okay'? It most definitely is not.

    We need food in regular paced intervals to keep our metabolism going. After your night's sleep (which is like fasting for 12 hours, also your metabolism slows down during your sleep), you need food to kickstart your metabolism. If you do not have breakfast, your body with go into preservation mode to get all it's nutrients from places you've stored them. You'd think that's fat, but eh no. The burning of fat requires energy your body doesn't have when you don't eat breakfast: causing for your fat to only be partially oxidized.

    So when around lunchtime you decide, well, maybe I should eat, your body will gear up and hold on to those nutrients and carbs you just ate because it hasn't had anything yet.

    Fasting for long periods of time doesn't help jack-squat in my opinion considering during these fasting periods your body goes into 'starvation mode' dipping into energy sources within the body. It lowers the metabolism speed, your appetite etcetera. It also drains you from energy and isn't to be considered healthy due to the fact you actually do need certain nutrients to stay alive. When you get out of the fasting period and eat again, once more, your body will hold onto those nutrients because our body has to make up for the earlier loss.

    HOWEVER. I do agree there's a certain power in long-term fasting intervals (so, let's say one day per week). Studies have shown it does help increase the fat oxidition.

    In short: eat meals at regulars intervals. Educate yourself if you're curious about intermittent fasting.

    sources to back it up:
    http://www.thekitchn.com/why-breakfast-is-the-most-impo-1-113418
    http://www.disabled-world.com/artman/publish/healthy_breakfast.shtml
    http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/guide/fasting
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-19112549
    http://web.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.hro.nl/ehost/detail?sid=8a653800-616c-4242-8ea7-f0042ad00409@sessionmgr4&vid=1&hid=13&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ==#db=rzh&AN=2005078893

    A link that actually says starvation mode is not one to be trusted.

    Show some peer reviewed studies. Non of your links have any actual science in them. For some not eating in the morning is bad because it causes them to eat more later in the day or not make good choices.

    If you control your food and stay within your calories it is fine. Your body won't go into starvation mode or preservation mode etc and your metabolism will not slow until you have not had any food for over 72 hours.

    Your metabolism only slows when you lose lean muscle mass.

    If you were correct the people on this site who have lost tons of weight and maintained it with IF wouldn't be around.
  • SideSteel
    SideSteel Posts: 11,068 Member
    Those of you suggesting that its not okay for metabolic reasons, please see here. Please note that I have included research in this post: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/820577-meal-frequency-rev-up-that-furnace-lol
  • Sarauk2sf
    Sarauk2sf Posts: 28,072 Member
    What's with everyone stating 'it's okay'? It most definitely is not.


    Yes it is. Please show an actual peer reviewed study, not an article regurgitating this myth, that indicates that not eating for up to say 24 hours impacts your metabolism.
  • mmapags
    mmapags Posts: 8,934 Member
    What's with everyone stating 'it's okay'? It most definitely is not.

    We need food in regular paced intervals to keep our metabolism going. After your night's sleep (which is like fasting for 12 hours, also your metabolism slows down during your sleep), you need food to kickstart your metabolism. If you do not have breakfast, your body with go into preservation mode to get all it's nutrients from places you've stored them. You'd think that's fat, but eh no. The burning of fat requires energy your body doesn't have when you don't eat breakfast: causing for your fat to only be partially oxidized.

    So when around lunchtime you decide, well, maybe I should eat, your body will gear up and hold on to those nutrients and carbs you just ate because it hasn't had anything yet.

    Fasting for long periods of time doesn't help jack-squat in my opinion considering during these fasting periods your body goes into 'starvation mode' dipping into energy sources within the body. It lowers the metabolism speed, your appetite etcetera. It also drains you from energy and isn't to be considered healthy due to the fact you actually do need certain nutrients to stay alive. When you get out of the fasting period and eat again, once more, your body will hold onto those nutrients because our body has to make up for the earlier loss.

    HOWEVER. I do agree there's a certain power in long-term fasting intervals (so, let's say one day per week). Studies have shown it does help increase the fat oxidition.

    In short: eat meals at regulars intervals. Educate yourself if you're curious about intermittent fasting.

    sources to back it up:
    http://www.thekitchn.com/why-breakfast-is-the-most-impo-1-113418
    http://www.disabled-world.com/artman/publish/healthy_breakfast.shtml
    http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/guide/fasting
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-19112549
    http://web.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.hro.nl/ehost/detail?sid=8a653800-616c-4242-8ea7-f0042ad00409@sessionmgr4&vid=1&hid=13&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ==#db=rzh&AN=2005078893

    This entire post is myth and misinformation. Please review the link that Sidesteel posted that has acutal research and not news stories and questionable websites.
  • laurelobrien
    laurelobrien Posts: 156 Member
    What's with everyone stating 'it's okay'? It most definitely is not.

    We need food in regular paced intervals to keep our metabolism going. After your night's sleep (which is like fasting for 12 hours, also your metabolism slows down during your sleep), you need food to kickstart your metabolism. If you do not have breakfast, your body with go into preservation mode to get all it's nutrients from places you've stored them. You'd think that's fat, but eh no. The burning of fat requires energy your body doesn't have when you don't eat breakfast: causing for your fat to only be partially oxidized.

    So when around lunchtime you decide, well, maybe I should eat, your body will gear up and hold on to those nutrients and carbs you just ate because it hasn't had anything yet.

    Fasting for long periods of time doesn't help jack-squat in my opinion considering during these fasting periods your body goes into 'starvation mode' dipping into energy sources within the body. It lowers the metabolism speed, your appetite etcetera. It also drains you from energy and isn't to be considered healthy due to the fact you actually do need certain nutrients to stay alive. When you get out of the fasting period and eat again, once more, your body will hold onto those nutrients because our body has to make up for the earlier loss.

    HOWEVER. I do agree there's a certain power in long-term fasting intervals (so, let's say one day per week). Studies have shown it does help increase the fat oxidition.

    In short: eat meals at regulars intervals. Educate yourself if you're curious about intermittent fasting.

    sources to back it up:
    http://www.thekitchn.com/why-breakfast-is-the-most-impo-1-113418
    http://www.disabled-world.com/artman/publish/healthy_breakfast.shtml
    http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/guide/fasting
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-19112549
    http://web.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.hro.nl/ehost/detail?sid=8a653800-616c-4242-8ea7-f0042ad00409@sessionmgr4&vid=1&hid=13&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ==#db=rzh&AN=2005078893

    A huge problem with MFP forums is responses like these with no peer-reviewed evidence - just someone parroting what they read "somewhere". It is absolutely fine to fast for longer than 12 hours, I've done it for the last 12 months under the guidance of a doctor and reading thoroughly on the topic. And said readings weren't done on WebMD...

    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23171320
    there are about 100 more on that website, and many others with peer-reviewed journals and tests.
    Fasting for less than 24 hours will not even "play havoc" with your blood sugar levels, unless you have a pre-existing condition
  • I just started taking a nutrition class, and the teacher (with a masters in nutrition) states that your body is more insulin sensitive later in the day. That is why you should eat the most in the morning, and least at night. It's hard to do with a job, but he says that yes, it does hurt you to eat most of your food late in the day. Some people obviously have success even if they do that. And even the teacher says that no one can do everything 100% of the time. But I would imagine if this is your norm, it will hurt your weight loss goals or at least be not as healthy.

    This is completely backwards!! Insulin sensitivity is highest in the morning

    I also agree science shows no correlation to needing frequent meals to keep your metabolism up.

    In my experience frequent smaller meals can help control appetite
  • mfpcopine
    mfpcopine Posts: 3,093 Member
    Not a problem, so long as you feel good. Look at the IF and Myth of Starvation Mode threads.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,974 Member
    I just started taking a nutrition class, and the teacher (with a masters in nutrition) states that your body is more insulin sensitive later in the day. That is why you should eat the most in the morning, and least at night. It's hard to do with a job, but he says that yes, it does hurt you to eat most of your food late in the day. Some people obviously have success even if they do that. And even the teacher says that no one can do everything 100% of the time. But I would imagine if this is your norm, it will hurt your weight loss goals or at least be not as healthy.
    You need a new teacher then. Peer reviewed clinical studies verify what most here have agreed with.


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    Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
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