Is breakfast absolutely necessary?

124

Replies

  • Cassea7
    Cassea7 Posts: 181 Member
    You can eat breakfast whatever time you want to. It means literally "breaking the fast", not "early morning meal".

    very nice! :flowerforyou:
  • Saucy_lil_Minx
    Saucy_lil_Minx Posts: 3,302 Member
    You don't have to eat a giant breakfast, but try to get your metabolism working. Give yourself at least 100 calories to work with. Perhaps a couple of pieces of fruit or some yogurt.

    Your metabolism is already working in the morning... eating doesn't jump start it.

    I would have to disagree with you whole heartily! You do understand that our bodies go into a starvation mode if we do not eat often and regularly. Your body will hold on to fat stores. I would cycle my diet though. Do not be afraid to go over your daily calorie intake occasionally. I keeps your metabolism guessing. Think about it if we had to still forage for food, so days are more productive in food gathering than others :flowerforyou:
  • Saucy_lil_Minx
    Saucy_lil_Minx Posts: 3,302 Member
    I personally shoot for 20 - 30 grams of protein, and 20 - 30 grams of carbohydrates with in the first 30 mins. of waking up to fuel my body the best. By the way I am hardly ever tired anymore because of my diet, sleep, and exercise routine!
  • bnorris2013
    bnorris2013 Posts: 256 Member
    you are hearing tons of conflicting information
    as you can see there is only one correct answer


    YES AND NO

    EVERYONE has a different body type and no 2 people are exactly the same
    You need to figure out what works for your body

    For me personally I NEVER eat breakfast and when I do I am starving the rest of the day - So unless its a free day for me I skip breakfast and eat at 11 am - But again this is what works for me

    Now my husband is the exact opposite - If he does not eat breakast then he is starving all day long and no doubt will gobble something down he will regret later so for him he MUST eat breakfast

    Try it both ways for a few days each and see what works best for you
  • SideSteel
    SideSteel Posts: 11,068 Member
    You don't have to eat a giant breakfast, but try to get your metabolism working. Give yourself at least 100 calories to work with. Perhaps a couple of pieces of fruit or some yogurt.

    Your metabolism is already working in the morning... eating doesn't jump start it.

    I would have to disagree with you whole heartily! You do understand that our bodies go into a starvation mode if we do not eat often and regularly. Your body will hold on to fat stores. I would cycle my diet though. Do not be afraid to go over your daily calorie intake occasionally. I keeps your metabolism guessing. Think about it if we had to still forage for food, so days are more productive in food gathering than others :flowerforyou:

    The statement you are disagreeing with is correct. Your metabolism is already running and you do not start it or rev it up by eating.

    There have already been examples of peer reviewed studies showing that metabolic rates slightly increase in the absence of food during the first ~24-48 hours. I've never seen any evidence that missing an individual meal will cause any slowdown in metabolic rate.

    Total intake may have an effect on thermogenesis (adaptive responses to prolonged dieting both hormonally and through change in activity) but this is not something that happens acutely. You really do not have to eat frequently for thermogenesis. You MAY have to for preference.
  • AnvilHead
    AnvilHead Posts: 18,343 Member
    I would have to disagree with you whole heartily! You do understand that our bodies go into a starvation mode if we do not eat often and regularly. Your body will hold on to fat stores. I would cycle my diet though. Do not be afraid to go over your daily calorie intake occasionally. I keeps your metabolism guessing. Think about it if we had to still forage for food, so days are more productive in food gathering than others :flowerforyou:
    You not only misunderstand metabolism, you also misunderstand "starvation mode". None of your information is correct. Here, have some peer-reviewed studies to educate yourself:

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/820577-meal-frequency-rev-up-that-furnace-lol
  • Tachyonic
    Tachyonic Posts: 64 Member
    EDIT: Apparently there are fitness fanatics that might criticize my first sentence. Let me state that I'm not a fitness professional, so I honestly have no idea how bodies work on that level. However, I think that every body is a little different. If you find that eating breakfast makes you lose weight better or gives you more energy or whatever, go for it!

    I think that breakfast helps kickstart your body's metabolism. You don't have to eat much for breakfast, but try to eat something. If you're like me, you don't eat breakfast because you either don't actually feel hungry until at least an hour after waking up, or you don't have time to make breakfast before rushing out the door in the morning.

    Some good tips are to buy breakfast bars or granola bars that you enjoy, and just grab one of those and a piece of your favorite fruit. You can eat it on the go or just chuck it in your bag to eat when you get to work or school.

    A Nutrigrain bar and a banana are less than 250 calories combined, and rather filling! If you don't like granola bars, try instant oatmeal that comes in packets... only takes a minute or two to heat up.
  • amberdcouch
    amberdcouch Posts: 5 Member
    Yes, you need to eat breakfast daily. If you skip out on breakfast it will slow your metabolism
  • thisismeraw
    thisismeraw Posts: 1,264 Member
    You don't have to eat a giant breakfast, but try to get your metabolism working. Give yourself at least 100 calories to work with. Perhaps a couple of pieces of fruit or some yogurt.

    Your metabolism is already working in the morning... eating doesn't jump start it.

    I would have to disagree with you whole heartily! You do understand that our bodies go into a starvation mode if we do not eat often and regularly. Your body will hold on to fat stores. I would cycle my diet though. Do not be afraid to go over your daily calorie intake occasionally. I keeps your metabolism guessing. Think about it if we had to still forage for food, so days are more productive in food gathering than others :flowerforyou:

    Your body will not go into "starvation mode" if you don't eat for 12 hours. It doesn't happen. If it did, all those who practise IF would be huge as some don't eat for 20 hours at a time.

    Your metabolism is working all day everyday... it doesn't stop unless you die. Eating frequently does not make it increase. You could eat all your calories 9-10pm and still lose weight the same as if you were eating them spaced throughout the day.
  • thisismeraw
    thisismeraw Posts: 1,264 Member
    Yes, you need to eat breakfast daily. If you skip out on breakfast it will slow your metabolism

    False.

    I don't know why people still believe this myth... it has been pushed for far too long.
  • Cr01502
    Cr01502 Posts: 3,614 Member
    Yes, you need to eat breakfast daily. If you skip out on breakfast it will slow your metabolism

    DOGSLAP_zpsdc89e490.gif
  • Saucy_lil_Minx
    Saucy_lil_Minx Posts: 3,302 Member
    I would also say the there is good studies for both point of views. I think more than revving up your metabolism in the morning breakfast is key to maintain healthy blood sugar levels so you do not overeat a later meals in the day. For a lot of people that drop in blood sugar triggers us to eat until we are uncomfortably full! (Over indulging, it is what we're good at! It takes our brain about 20 minutes after eating to get the signal that we have had enough. I f you are not one of these people (like me) who has an issue with your blood sugar, and you do not like breakfast (my husband is this way) then do not eat it :smile:
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,029 Member
    Yes, you need to eat breakfast daily. If you skip out on breakfast it will slow your metabolism
    Lol, dieting slows your metabolism. Truth.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • _Witsy_
    _Witsy_ Posts: 609 Member
    No. Not necessary.
  • KenosFeoh
    KenosFeoh Posts: 1,837 Member
    You don't have to eat a giant breakfast, but try to get your metabolism working. Give yourself at least 100 calories to work with. Perhaps a couple of pieces of fruit or some yogurt.

    Your metabolism is already working in the morning... eating doesn't jump start it.

    I would have to disagree with you whole heartily! You do understand that our bodies go into a starvation mode if we do not eat often and regularly. Your body will hold on to fat stores. I would cycle my diet though. Do not be afraid to go over your daily calorie intake occasionally. I keeps your metabolism guessing. Think about it if we had to still forage for food, so days are more productive in food gathering than others :flowerforyou:

    You have to be getting around 500 calories per day or less for a prolonged period of time before you go into starvation mode.
  • Barbellerella
    Barbellerella Posts: 1,838 Member
    I usually skip breakfast and eat most of my calories in the evening. Anyone saying this is wrong or bad is promoting mythology.
  • Jacwhite22
    Jacwhite22 Posts: 7,010 Member
    I usually skip breakfast and eat most of my calories in the evening. Anyone saying this is wrong or bad is promoting mythology.

    Greek or Roman?
  • Insanity2bSane
    Insanity2bSane Posts: 204 Member
    I don't think that it's absolutely necessary but for me it's important because it keeps me from making poor food choices later in the day cause I'm starving. Also a good healthy breakfast gives me more energy.
  • mustgetmuscles1
    mustgetmuscles1 Posts: 3,346 Member
    I love breakfast....for dinner.

    Meal timing does not matter beyond personal preference and how it effects your eating and sleeping. If you find you eat more when you do or do not eat breakfast then adjust your meals accordingly.
  • Barbellerella
    Barbellerella Posts: 1,838 Member
    I usually skip breakfast and eat most of my calories in the evening. Anyone saying this is wrong or bad is promoting mythology.

    Greek or Roman?

    MFP mythology. Its rampant around here.
  • CyberEd312
    CyberEd312 Posts: 3,536 Member
    Strictly comes down to personal preference and what works best for you and your particular plans..... Best of Luck....
  • AnvilHead
    AnvilHead Posts: 18,343 Member
    Yes, you need to eat breakfast daily. If you skip out on breakfast it will slow your metabolism

    DOGSLAP_zpsdc89e490.gif
    This gif could be useful in so many threads for so many posters.

    Your metabolism works 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If it isn't working it means you're dead, in which case you have more to worry about than whether you should eat breakfast or not. Your body isn't a car battery, a motorcycle or an engine - you don't "jump start" it, "kick start" it, or "rev it up". There's nothing wrong with eating breakfast, but there's nothing wrong with not eating breakfast either. Neither is going to have an effect upon your weight loss. Due to personal preference, however, it may have an effect upon your hunger levels or workout performance. If you like to eat breakfast and it works for you, do it; if you don't, then don't do it and don't worry that it's somehow adversely affecting your metabolism or weight loss efforts.

    Many people here on MFP would be well-served by taking a basic nutrition class and/or doing some actual research rather than just mindlessly spouting fictional, disproven diet myths as if they were irrefutable fact. The quote attributed to Abraham Lincoln comes to mind: "It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt".
  • GettinIT6
    GettinIT6 Posts: 44
    YESSSSS
  • gauchogirl
    gauchogirl Posts: 467 Member
    Not in my opinion, no. I don't "break my fast" until about 2:00 pm everyday. Sometimes 1, sometimes 3 or 4, depending on when I feel real, genuine hunger that doesn't go away. I eat in a roughly 5-6 hour window, usually ending about 7 or 8 PM.

    DO what works for you and don't worry about any preconceived "rules." Your body will tell you what works for you.

    ETA: This is coming from a life-long YOU MUST EAT BREAKFAST person. Until I realized that was totally not true. I do great without it, I did NOT do great with it -- but kept eating it, because "i was supposed to" for 40 years!
  • bsuew
    bsuew Posts: 628 Member
    I guess it depends on the person. But, for me YES!!! If I don't eat breakfast I find myself being hungry all day and making bad choices. I start out with a high protein breakfast I'm good.
  • Saucy_lil_Minx
    Saucy_lil_Minx Posts: 3,302 Member
    Yes, you need to eat breakfast daily. If you skip out on breakfast it will slow your metabolism

    False.

    I don't know why people still believe this myth... it has been pushed for far too long.

    After reading several post of yours, I have to wonder where you get your info from? you seem to have a commit on a lot, and no explanation to back it up. Of course when I was 26 I thought I knew it all too!
  • jennaworksout
    jennaworksout Posts: 1,739 Member
    no. eat when your hungry. very simple.
  • jennaworksout
    jennaworksout Posts: 1,739 Member
    Yes, you need to eat breakfast daily. If you skip out on breakfast it will slow your metabolism

    DOGSLAP_zpsdc89e490.gif
    This gif could be useful in so many threads for so many posters.

    Your metabolism works 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If it isn't working it means you're dead, in which case you have more to worry about than whether you should eat breakfast or not. Your body isn't a car battery, a motorcycle or an engine - you don't "jump start" it, "kick start" it, or "rev it up". There's nothing wrong with eating breakfast, but there's nothing wrong with not eating breakfast either. Neither is going to have an effect upon your weight loss. Due to personal preference, however, it may have an effect upon your hunger levels or workout performance. If you like to eat breakfast and it works for you, do it; if you don't, then don't do it and don't worry that it's somehow adversely affecting your metabolism or weight loss efforts.

    Many people here on MFP would be well-served by taking a basic nutrition class and/or doing some actual research rather than just mindlessly spouting fictional, disproven diet myths as if they were irrefutable fact. The quote attributed to Abraham Lincoln comes to mind: "It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt".


    THIS!!!!! ^^^^^^^^ very well said....:drinker:
  • neeko_3
    neeko_3 Posts: 68
    I always eat breakfast. Always the same stuff. Rolled Oats w/ whey protein. 2 eggs w/ 1/4 cup egg whites and coffee!
  • sullus
    sullus Posts: 2,839 Member
    You don't have to eat a giant breakfast, but try to get your metabolism working. Give yourself at least 100 calories to work with. Perhaps a couple of pieces of fruit or some yogurt.

    Your metabolism is already working in the morning... eating doesn't jump start it.

    I would have to disagree with you whole heartily! You do understand that our bodies go into a starvation mode if we do not eat often and regularly. Your body will hold on to fat stores. I would cycle my diet though. Do not be afraid to go over your daily calorie intake occasionally. I keeps your metabolism guessing. Think about it if we had to still forage for food, so days are more productive in food gathering than others :flowerforyou:

    It takes 3-4 days to go to starvation mode. You do not wake up in starvation mode. And until that 3-4 days hits - your metabolism runs faster when you don't eat.

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