how far should you actually go with breakfast?

pumpkinpocalypse
pumpkinpocalypse Posts: 104 Member
in Food and Nutrition
i LOVE breakfast! A few weeks ago, I started coming up with more and more creative breakfast ideas. I never have the same thing two days in a row, but most of the time it's some kind of smoothie (fruits, some milk etc) paired with a solid food like a PB toast, an egg or whatever, oatmeal with fruits, banana ice cream with kashi cereals and berries, etc. Or rarely just a bowl of cereals with a banana, or a PBJ toast again with the good ole banana. I love my carbs.
They're usually around 350-400 calories, as I am on a 1300-1400 cals diet (slowly going onto maintenance), but I'm getting more and more ambitious about new breakfast recipes and was wondering, heck, let's say i want some medjool dattes and stuff, or any highly caloric add on to my food, that could easily bring my breakfast to 500-600 calories...
I don't eat very heavy for lunch, but I don't want to be stuck on eating salad for dinner either because I budgeted all my daily allowance in the morning. Also, I've heard eating too many calories for breakfast, or at any meal really, slows you down and makes you sluggish, bloated, tired etc.
Anyone has some facts on the matter? should i stay within the 400 calories range for my morning meal or would going over that not matter? (and please don't just tell me that ''if it fits in your macros/calories'', because i'm pretty sure the size and composition of the food you eat have some kind of impact on your energy. 2 bigmacs could fit in someone's daily calories, but would they be ready to get on jogging right after? meeh.....) so yup! i hope to get some insight on that as i am a bit lost and confused haha.

Replies

  • livingleanlivingclean
    livingleanlivingclean Posts: 11,751 Member
    Meal timing and size is, for the most part, completely irrelevant. If you like eating that many calories at breakfast, go for it.

  • IsaackGMOON
    IsaackGMOON Posts: 3,358 Member
    You're over complicating things. It doesn't matter how much you eat for breakfast.
  • RodaRose
    RodaRose Posts: 9,562 Member
    pumpkinpocalypse wrote: »
    I don't eat very heavy for lunch, but I don't want to be stuck on eating salad for dinner either because I budgeted all my daily allowance in the morning. Also, I've heard eating too many calories for breakfast, or at any meal really, slows you down and makes you sluggish, bloated, tired etc.
    Anyone has some facts on the matter? should i stay within the 400 calories range for my morning meal or would going over that not matter? (and please don't just tell me that ''if it fits in your macros/calories'', because i'm pretty sure the size and composition of the food you eat have some kind of impact on your energy. 2 bigmacs could fit in someone's daily calories, but would they be ready to get on jogging right after? meeh.....) so yup! i hope to get some insight on that as i am a bit lost and confused haha.
    It is a good question. :) We actually do have lots of facts on the matter of when to eat your caloires. Some people are losing weight eating one or two meals a day doing Intermittent Fasting because that is how they like to partition their days.
    It is just arithmetic. Add up your calories at the end of the day
    Regarding the Big Macs: they have calories that can be counted just like calories in bananas can be counted. For losing weight, the number of calories is all that counts.
    Some people have personal preferences. Instead of spending their calories on Big Macs, they might enjoy eating something else instead. I think if you like your breakfast options, you should try the breakfast of 350-400 calories for a few days and see how it goes.
  • Lounmoun
    Lounmoun Posts: 8,423 Member
    It is your personal preference. A small breakfast, medium lunch and larger dinner work for me. Other people find spreading their calories out a different ways helps them to function better.

    If you like higher calorie breakfast food but don't want to use that many in the morning you could just eat that item for dinner.
  • Sarasmaintaining
    Sarasmaintaining Posts: 1,027 Member
    pumpkinpocalypse wrote: »
    i LOVE breakfast! A few weeks ago, I started coming up with more and more creative breakfast ideas. I never have the same thing two days in a row, but most of the time it's some kind of smoothie (fruits, some milk etc) paired with a solid food like a PB toast, an egg or whatever, oatmeal with fruits, banana ice cream with kashi cereals and berries, etc. Or rarely just a bowl of cereals with a banana, or a PBJ toast again with the good ole banana. I love my carbs.
    They're usually around 350-400 calories, as I am on a 1300-1400 cals diet (slowly going onto maintenance), but I'm getting more and more ambitious about new breakfast recipes and was wondering, heck, let's say i want some medjool dattes and stuff, or any highly caloric add on to my food, that could easily bring my breakfast to 500-600 calories...
    I don't eat very heavy for lunch, but I don't want to be stuck on eating salad for dinner either because I budgeted all my daily allowance in the morning. Also, I've heard eating too many calories for breakfast, or at any meal really, slows you down and makes you sluggish, bloated, tired etc.
    Anyone has some facts on the matter? should i stay within the 400 calories range for my morning meal or would going over that not matter? (and please don't just tell me that ''if it fits in your macros/calories'', because i'm pretty sure the size and composition of the food you eat have some kind of impact on your energy. 2 bigmacs could fit in someone's daily calories, but would they be ready to get on jogging right after? meeh.....) so yup! i hope to get some insight on that as i am a bit lost and confused haha.

    Meal and calorie timing is a preference thing, and nothing more. If you prefer to eat a larger meal in the morning hours, and can fit it into your calorie goals, then go for it :)

    I actually don't break my daily fast till after 11am (lately it's been noon), and then I eat my biggest meal of the day, which regularly clocks in at around 1,000 calories :)
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    as far or not as you'd like...
  • acarmon55
    acarmon55 Posts: 135 Member
    I don't have any scientific proof but I know I feel differently based on what I eat, how much of it and when...even if it fits in my calories. I would have to ask you if you adjusted to 500-600 calories in the morning, what would the rest of your day look like? Do you exercise in the morning or evening, do you work all day, etc. For me, I find I do better with 400 or less on mornings I work because I get hungry faster at work and want to eat. On the weekend, however, I can just eat breakfast and dinner. That is when I have my high calorie breakfast and also when I have time to exercise more. Hope that makes sense.
  • RedArizona5
    RedArizona5 Posts: 465 Member
    I love breakfast too, if it bothers you then don't I guess. I had breakfast as high as 500 before and it didn't affect my energy levels in fact I was not hungry till, like, dinner. Hook up your meals to your liking so as long its in your goals. Make this journey as great as you want it because it makes it THAT much better and worth while. You seem as if you know what is healthy and junk so if your aiming for a bigger breakfast then snacks will have to be kept at bay unless you really are having a salad for dinner-and that is just Ok too.
  • jcow84
    jcow84 Posts: 75 Member
    My breakfast is generally 500 calories - porridge with protein powder, berries, flax and chia seeds. It keeps me full for 5 or so hours which is great when I'm working. I'm maintaining and I eat around 2000 per day. I suppose everyone is different though, depending on body size, activity level, etc.
  • Alluminati
    Alluminati Posts: 6,208 Member
    I'd let it get to third base. At least.
  • jenilla1
    jenilla1 Posts: 11,118 Member
    ALL THE WAY!
  • PaulaWallaDingDong
    PaulaWallaDingDong Posts: 4,641 Member
    OdesAngel wrote: »
    I'd let it get to third base. At least.

    :D
  • Livgetfit
    Livgetfit Posts: 352 Member
    OdesAngel wrote: »
    I'd let it get to third base. At least.

    This comment wins
  • bulbadoof
    bulbadoof Posts: 1,058 Member
    why not just add small amounts of the high-calorie things to breakfast? a single medjool date, a single strip of bacon, a thin slice of cheese, whatever you want, but just a little bit.
  • raelynnsmama52512
    raelynnsmama52512 Posts: 1,184 Member
    OdesAngel wrote: »
    I'd let it get to third base. At least.

    So much win! :laugh:
  • maxit
    maxit Posts: 880 Member
    For me, a lot of easily processed carbs make me sleepy so if I have a big breakfast it has to have at least 30 g protein, and fat to keep me from crashing. I was vacationing recently and my breakfasts hit 700 calories most days - but then I was satiated until dinner.

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