Not eating breakfast

from what i've seen on here, it's not really necessary to eat breakfast if you're not hungry. some people do better waiting until a couple hours after they wake up, others are hungry right away. just do what's best for you, and make sure you hit your calorie and macro targets.

This always causes huge controversies here on MFP and you'll have die-hard people arguing for both sides.

There are a host of studies that correlate eating breakfast with being thinner, but some people will argue that corellation does not equal causation. There are also a host of studies that say it doesn't matter what time of day you eat, as long as you're within your calorie goal for the day.

I changed to eating breakfast and it has helped me to lose weight. I don't know if it has anything to do with keeping my metabolism stoked (you can find studies on both sides of that argument too), but it does keep me from being overly hungry at lunch time,


I think the bottom line is to do what works for you. Of all the crazy things that people try, it seems like eating breakfast would be an easy thing.

It all comes down to personal choice. Like SideSteel said, if you have no problem maintaining your calorie deficit without breakfast, then no need to force eating one.

Sometimes I eat it sometimes i dont, depends on how i feel on the day, I didnt have breakfast today, but yesterday I did.lol

I find I personally need the fuel in the morning to wake me up and get me going, with lots of protein (30g+) to have me ready for exercise later in the day. I look forward to breakfast, it's my favourite meal of the day

You can always try incorporating a small breakfast and see how it goes for you

1/2 to 2 cups of water
1-2 handfuls of greens (spinach, kale, romaine or mixed)
1-3 sticks of celery
1 banana
1 apple
1 pear
1/2 of 1 lemon juice

Blend all ingredients 1 at a time if you don't have a powerful blender.
Change up your fruits making sure they compliment one another
Start slower with the greens if need be, in no time you may even look forward to your green smoothie,as I do it is amazing how much nutrition is packed into this all natural drink.

Breakfast used to recommended a big/filling meal usually consisting of grains and wheat, which translates to carbohydrates. Also, breakfast cereals/pop tarts/donuts/scones etc that people were eating became less whole grain/wheat centered and more sugary, processed, and fatty. Many recently have said stop eating breakfast all together because carbohydrates can cause insulin resistance, increased overall caloric intake, and can actually make you hungrier later in the day. Also, they are easily burned by the body for energy.

I don't have articles, but what my trainer and many nutritionists have told me is that you should eat breakfast, but eat a smaller portion made up of more protein and healthy fat, not carbohydrates. This can boost your metabolism earlier in the day, givng you more energy. Also, since they are slow burners when compared to carbohydrates, your body will break down fat stores for energy, which can change your body composition to more lean mass, less fat. It prevents the insulin spike that carbs do. and keeps you fuller for longer throughout the day.

The past month, I've eaten a breakfast of eggs/avocado (~250 calories) or greek yogurt (170 calories). I'll add some fruit if it's a post-workout breakfast. Doesn't hurt my daily calories, gives me more energy, and have lost 8 pounds. My advice is to do what works for you. But when I plateaued and wasn't burning off fat the way I wanted, this is a change that I made that has been paying off. Best of luck on reaching your goals!

Who says? I never eat breakfast - intermittent fasting (eating only between 1 and 10 pm) is working wonders for me. Try googling that if you really don't like eating until later in the day (or try Leangains.com).

I'm an advocate of eating small meals periodically throughout the day.

I'll have a cup of coffee and oatmeal at 7. Protein shake and 20oz of water at 9. Fruit/veggie smoothie at 11. Fresh fruit/veggies at 3. Pretzel sticks at 5. Meat/veggie dinner at 7. Sweet snack at 9. Bedtime at 11.

I have found eating breakfast actually leads to me getting hungry more frequently during the day. I also can't run or do any type of cardio besides biking with food in my stomach or I feel sick. If I have had a hard work out first thing in the morning though, like with weights I feel better if I eat right after. Usually some yogurt mixed with mashed banana, it fills me up better than cereal, and soothes my stomach.

For me..

Breakfast enables me to meet my calorie goals. When I wasn't eating it I was missing by 400 to 500 a day. Plus I feel better when I eat in the morning and don't overeat or undereat (my real problem!!) at lunch or dinner. I had to make an effort to eat breakfast everyday initally, now it's failry easy. I still skip it sometimes.. If i'm not hungry.. I don't eat.. but even something small helps get me through my day.

I also pre-plan my days.. so i have an idea where I will be with the foods I want to eat, so I know if I can have whatever it is I want to have. (Honestly if I want it.. i'll probalby have it anyway. LOL)

Like today i had 1/2 c greek yogurt with my strawberry jam and a bit of granola.. I didn't eat my grek salad that i was planning to.. but that will become my snack.

I'm an advocate of breakfast.. Your body just went 12 hours without food.. it need fuel!!! But, I know better then to argue that it's necessary on here. I will say in my world, it's necessary!

I've never been much interested in breakfast and usually have a light lunch, so I have mainly fruit or a couple of eggs (poached or boiled for breakfast) and normally something that doesn't use up more than 200-300 calories for lunch. Sometimes I make do with soup and maybe some dried fruit, very dependent on where I am and what I am doing. I tend to eat (and drink!) most of my calories in the evening. Though if I have a low cal meal planned for the evening I eat more for breakfast and lunch. Works for me. Just a case of planning where possible and taking it as it comes otherwise and trying to eat as balanced and healthy a diet as possible without going overboard.

If you are not hungry don't eat. We're told we got fat from overeating. Then we're told to eat breakfast because "it's the most important meal of the day." and to eat it even if we aren't hungry. You know what happens if you don't eat. Your body starts using what is already there. Isn't that what you want? Your body doesn't even start to treat not eating like starvation or famine coming for a couple of days (effects of a 40-hour fast: http://www.marksdailyapple.com/forum/thread29011.html)

We are predators, not prey. Predators gorge and fast, prey grazes. There is no reason why we should be required to eat every few hours throughout the day:
"...On average, a ‘mixed meal’ (including meat) takes 4-5 hours to completely leave the stomach—so we’ve busted yet another part of the myth. (Keep in mind that we have not absorbed any nutrients yet: we’re still breaking everything down..." (http://www.gnolls.org/1444/does-meat-rot-in-your-colon-no-what-does-beans-grains-and-vegetables/)


If people feel the need to do it then by all means do it. But if you are not hungry then there is absolutely no reason why you should be REQUIRED to eat. I rarely eat breakfast because I usually have cream or half/half in my coffee. Fat is filling and slowest to empty the stomach. But eventually I wil get to a point in the day when my body says "I want some food". So I eat.

See if these articles can help you.
http://www.gnolls.org/2131/the-breakfast-myth-part-1/
http://www.gnolls.org/2181/the-breakfast-myth-part-2-the-art-and-science-of-not-eating-breakfast/

Hope this helps!! Good luck!

(a couple of others just in case you are interested...I'm not pushing anything on anyone. I just found my N=1 and want everyone else to find theirs. )

http://www.gnolls.org/989/adjacent-to-this-complete-breakfast-kicking-your-cereal-addiction-consider-eating-the-box-instead/
http://www.gnolls.org/2052/how-heart-healthy-whole-grains-make-us-fat/

Saving for future reference!

My fiance is currently enrolled in a weight loss "class" through our work. To get our insurance discount for the year, it's necessary that he take the class.

The class has told him not to eat breakfast. What is encouraged, instead, is drinking this nasty water down orange juice crap first thing in the morning. I'm not advocating that you drink that in particular, but maybe drink some water. The idea is that, first thing in the morning, your body is confusing thirst for hunger. If you drink water and feel "full", don't eat breakfast. If you drink that and still feel like you need food, eat something. That's kind of the mentality I've taken on. I start with a glass of water or a travel mug of green tea. If I still feel hungry, I have my breakfast. If not, I'll skip breakfast that day.

I agree with everyone that has said, it's mostly about listening to your body. Eat when hungry, don't eat when not hungry.