Eat even if I'm not hungry

I don't believe in meal replacements, but you could try a protein bar. I also don't know how new you are, but if you can keep this up for a long time, you should check with a therapist.

Personally, I would listen to your body, just make sure you are getting enough calories in during the day to support your current goals.

You should keep your caloric intake at the very minimum that is recommended, which is usually around 1200. Try to eat calorie-dense foods like nuts, avocado, or nut butter, which may not make you feel as full but give you enough calories? A meal replacement shake or protein bar is a feasible option too, if they don't make you feel too full. They do have a bit more volume than nuts/nut butter.

I don't eat breakfast. Even on days when I eat 3500 calories the most I have in the morning is a cup of milk with my vitamins. If I'm hungry or having an issue with my calorie balance for the week I'll have a protein shake with a meal.

As you can see, it depends.

For some people, if they wait until they actually feel hungry, they might make poor choices and overeat.

For others, skipping a meal can help them control their total calorie intake.

As long as you are meeting your goals, do what feels comfortable for you.

Medical issues aside, most of the studies supporting eating breakfast for weight loss did not actually study weight loss. They polled large populations and most of the normal weight people ate breakfast, so breakfast was deemed to have an important role in weight control.

ETA: I am a breakfast eater, or at least a morning snack (both, if I get up early enough), I am just laying out the facts.

You don't need to eat breakfast if you're not hungry.

I eat two meals a day, generally mid-day and supper. If my work schedule is weird (start between 10am and 12pm) I will eat before I go, because it's physically demanding (lots of walking, climbing ladders, lifting and lowering bikes, etc).

As long as it isn't negatively impacting your day, or stopping you from eating enough food to support your health, when you break your fast doesn't matter.

I guess I disagree with many people here.

You should eat calorie dense foods for breakfast, even if you aren´t hungry. It is a mistake to wait until you are hungry to eat, because that can lead to eating too fast, and over-eating.

This isn´t about weight-loss, but your body needs calories throughout the day and you will have minor symptoms if you aren´t getting calories until lunch. Things like problems concentrating or fatigue. There are so many minor symptoms that we experience that we dont´attribute to poor nutrition.

For simple tricks like counting calories for weight loss, there is no difference if you get 1500 in 12 hours, or 1500 in 8 hours. But for quality of life, you are much better off spreading your calories throughout the day, and if possible front-loading as much as possible so you have the energy available when you are awake and working. I think you will find that you have much more energy for exercise if you get more of your calories earlier in the day.

PeteSede wrote: »

I guess I disagree with many people here.

You should eat calorie dense foods for breakfast, even if you aren´t hungry. It is a mistake to wait until you are hungry to eat, because that can lead to eating too fast, and over-eating.

This isn´t about weight-loss, but your body needs calories throughout the day and you will have minor symptoms if you aren´t getting calories until lunch. Things like problems concentrating or fatigue. There are so many minor symptoms that we experience that we dont´attribute to poor nutrition.

For simple tricks like counting calories for weight loss, there is no difference if you get 1500 in 12 hours, or 1500 in 8 hours. But for quality of life, you are much better off spreading your calories throughout the day, and if possible front-loading as much as possible so you have the energy available when you are awake and working. I think you will find that you have much more energy for exercise if you get more of your calories earlier in the day.

Just because it can lead to these things, doesn't mean it will lead to them. In fact many people, myself included find early morning eating to be nauseating.

As far as cal needs through out the day, your body has access to all the cals you eat and the ones stored as fat, so why does it matter when you eat them, as long as you don't feel a negative impact in Your daily activities?

PeteSede wrote: »

I guess I disagree with many people here.

You should eat calorie dense foods for breakfast, even if you aren´t hungry. It is a mistake to wait until you are hungry to eat, because that can lead to eating too fast, and over-eating.

This isn´t about weight-loss, but your body needs calories throughout the day and you will have minor symptoms if you aren´t getting calories until lunch. Things like problems concentrating or fatigue. There are so many minor symptoms that we experience that we dont´attribute to poor nutrition.

For simple tricks like counting calories for weight loss, there is no difference if you get 1500 in 12 hours, or 1500 in 8 hours. But for quality of life, you are much better off spreading your calories throughout the day, and if possible front-loading as much as possible so you have the energy available when you are awake and working. I think you will find that you have much more energy for exercise if you get more of your calories earlier in the day.

Not true. Humans evolved eating once every few days and gorging on calories at eating times. Waiting an extra 3 hours to eat later in the morning or early in the afternoon has no effect on health provided overall calorie intake is appropriate.