How important is eating breakfast in the morning to weightloss?
TimeforchangeEtd
Posts: 11 Member
So, I am pretty new to this whole "lifestyle change" thing and although I don't know all that much yet, I am pretty excited to be learning different things. That being said, let's talk about breakfast! ha 
I never eat breakfast in the morning because I am usually not hungry and also lacking time. I was talking to a colleague at work today and she voiced that not eating breakfast will ruin any chances of losing and keeping off weight!
Any thoughts on this? Will eating breakfast actually make a difference?
I never eat breakfast in the morning because I am usually not hungry and also lacking time. I was talking to a colleague at work today and she voiced that not eating breakfast will ruin any chances of losing and keeping off weight!
Any thoughts on this? Will eating breakfast actually make a difference?
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Replies
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It is absolutely not important (assuming you don't have a medical need for breakfast). Eat it if you want. Skip it if you want.0
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It's not important at all. Meal timing is irrelevant for weight loss. I skip breakfast, have a small (400ish calories) and 1400-1600 calorie dinners. It's all about personal preference and what you find sustainable.0
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Breakfast gets this crazy hype because a lot of people (myself included) feel very hungry later in the day and overeat if they skip breakfast leading to a calorie surplus at the end of the day. I am no scientist and there are some convincing studies that say that breakfast will get your metabolism going earlier in the day. I don't really buy it as your body is burning what it needs based on your activity levels (calories out).
I know others who do not eat breakfast and just drink a glass of water and can maintain their calories throughout the day without overeating and they lose weight. Diane is correct, your call.0 -
What's fundamentally important is for you to figure out whether or not breakfast makes it easier or harder for you to adhere to a given calorie and nutrient target.
We can say with confidence that dietary compliance is the number one factor to long term weight management, so this is one of those things where doing what best contributes to diet compliance makes the most sense and that answer isn't going to be universal. Some people do great without any breakfast and some people are much better off with it.
Find out which group you belong to.0 -
If you don't have certain medical conditions it is completely unnecessary. Calories in < Calories out = Weight loss
If you aren't hungry don't worry about it, however, if you are hungry I wouldn't put it off too long because that could lead to binge eating.
Another thing to consider is if you are working out - - depending on the exercise I can't go on an empty stomach. When I run I go empty, when I am on my bike I need some fuel beforehand. Just something to consider.0 -
What's fundamentally important is for you to figure out whether or not breakfast makes it easier or harder for you to adhere to a given calorie and nutrient target.
We can say with confidence that dietary compliance is the number one factor to long term weight management, so this is one of those things where doing what best contributes to diet compliance makes the most sense and that answer isn't going to be universal. Some people do great without any breakfast and some people are much better off with it.
Find out which group you belong to.
I agree. I used to think breakfast was SO important. I mean I still religiously eat a large breakfast. But that because I'm hungry the minute I wake up and if I don't eat I tend to feel lousy, grumpy, and not fully "awake"0 -
If you're not eating breakfast and have sufficient energy to make it to lunch, then don't eat breakfast. If I'm working hard, I can only make it to 10:00 or so without breakfast. My standard breakfast is 3 hard boiled eggs (210 calories), which sustain me until noon or so.
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For me? Very important, i can function without it, my most important meal of the day! For others? Ummm not so much, is not essencial at all, and they do just fine with their weight loss, do what works for you and that's it0
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The only time I eat breakfast is when I'm out of the house early enough for McD's breakfast, which is almost never. Loss as of Monday: 36.6 lbs since January.0
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Yep like it's said it's not fundamentally important for weight loss.
That being said you need to find what works for you. If I don't eat breakfast I find myself very hungry and making poor choices the rest of the day. If you don't, the by all means skip it.0 -
I typically work out at lunch. If I skipped breakfast and tried to do a strenuous workout after not eating for 16-17 hours, I'd likely faint. Having something at breakfast gives things plenty of time to digest and then lets me have a decent workout 4-5 hours later. When I was younger I skipped breakfast a lot. I generally felt more lethargic until I had lunch at noon, then I'd pound down too much food. Skipping breakfast doesn't work for me any more.
When I started tracking and measuring, I was eating cereal for breakfast a lot -- and wow is it easy to end up with 2-3 servings of cereal in a bowl. Nowadays my breakfast is usually two eggs, either with a couple slices of toast or on a tortilla with salsa -- so it's not big. It takes about five minutes to make it. I could do it faster if I cooked the eggs in the microwave, but I like them in the skillet. It gives me enough to make it to my workout, then I have a lunch around 1pm that carries me to dinner. Sometimes I need a snack around 3pm, but not always.0 -
For me, I get hungry about an hour or so after I wake up. I usually work out on an empty stomach and then eat something after. Eat when you are hungry.0
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I agree that it is a personal decision but I think there are other reasons it is important . I cannot function as well without nutrition and if I wait too long to eat I feel yucky and then I tend to binge. Do whats right for you but note that if you snack a lot at night it might be because you are hungry from not eating breakfast0
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Breakfast is extremely important! It all depends on WHAT you eat (protein with complex carbs) in order to fuel your body to get it started for the day! By having a proper breakfast, you'll be able to have more control over your cravings and portions later in the day. Yes, it does matter more with certain medical conditions (I have type one diabetes), but it's also important for weight loss results and for feeling energized. If we skip meals or go more than 5 hours without eating, our portions tend to get larger which interferes with our goals. Something such as Greek yogurt with 1/2 cup of berries or whole wheat English muffin with 1 tablespoon of peanut butter can still be generally low in calories, but help keep you on track for the rest of the day.0
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Breakfast is extremely important! It all depends on WHAT you eat (protein with complex carbs) in order to fuel your body to get it started for the day! By having a proper breakfast, you'll be able to have more control over your cravings and portions later in the day. Yes, it does matter more with certain medical conditions (I have type one diabetes), but it's also important for weight loss results and for feeling energized. If we skip meals or go more than 5 hours without eating, our portions tend to get larger which interferes with our goals. Something such as Greek yogurt with 1/2 cup of berries or whole wheat English muffin with 1 tablespoon of peanut butter can still be generally low in calories, but help keep you on track for the rest of the day.
But what if we can skip breakfast and NOT eat larger portions later? Is breakfast still necessary?
What if we skip breakfast IN ORDER to eat larger portions later?0 -
Breakfast is extremely important! It all depends on WHAT you eat (protein with complex carbs) in order to fuel your body to get it started for the day! By having a proper breakfast, you'll be able to have more control over your cravings and portions later in the day. Yes, it does matter more with certain medical conditions (I have type one diabetes), but it's also important for weight loss results and for feeling energized. If we skip meals or go more than 5 hours without eating, our portions tend to get larger which interferes with our goals. Something such as Greek yogurt with 1/2 cup of berries or whole wheat English muffin with 1 tablespoon of peanut butter can still be generally low in calories, but help keep you on track for the rest of the day.
But if you are controlling calories, then meal timing doesn't matter. The only thing that matters is how you feel when you skip a meal. The contents of that meal is also a matter of personal preference.
And you don't need "get your body started for the day." It's going to get started whether you eat or not. In fact, it was going before you even woke up.0 -
Breakfast is extremely important! It all depends on WHAT you eat (protein with complex carbs) in order to fuel your body to get it started for the day! By having a proper breakfast, you'll be able to have more control over your cravings and portions later in the day. Yes, it does matter more with certain medical conditions (I have type one diabetes), but it's also important for weight loss results and for feeling energized. If we skip meals or go more than 5 hours without eating, our portions tend to get larger which interferes with our goals. Something such as Greek yogurt with 1/2 cup of berries or whole wheat English muffin with 1 tablespoon of peanut butter can still be generally low in calories, but help keep you on track for the rest of the day.
But what if we can skip breakfast and NOT eat larger portions later? Is breakfast still necessary?
What if we skip breakfast IN ORDER to eat larger portions later?
Right?
-61 pounds. Mostly 16:8 fasting, so no breakfast til after 2 pm. Massive salad at lunch. Big dinner. Moderate snack.
I put on weight eating breakfast--I am generally not hungry in the AM but bough5t into the hype. It wasn't the sole cause of my weight gain, but it didn't help.
And it makes me hungrier all day.0 -
Timing of the meals is not important for weight loss.
Breakfast is my most important meal of the day because I workout very early and I have my breakfast right afterwards.
It works for me. It will not work for somebody else.
Every person has to find what works for them.
Good luck in your healthy journey0 -
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It depends on you. There's no scientific evidence supporting it; however it puts you into a routine. People succeed on routines - this is the bro-science element that purists dismiss.
I eat a small breakfast because I feel better doing it. Eating several small meals keeps me from getting hungry and balances me out through the day. If this works for you great - if not, don't do it.0 -
All my diabetic and weight loss classes emphasized the importance of breakfast. For the diabetic, it is to start off on a good note for stable sugars all day. In the weight loss classes, it was intended to prevent binging later in the day.0
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I think that most people usually eat or graze approximately 4-5 hours apart (just as an example) for instance, breakfast around 8:00, lunch around 12:00, dinner around 5:00 or so. I actually eat around 6 small meals like breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, dinner, snack!! Doing this, I am never starving or craving. But point is that from dinner time to breakfast the next day is already around 15 hours without eating. Now push it to lunch and it's almost 20 hours without food or fuel. I believe (in my 'personal opinion') that eating breakfast or 6 meals like I do speeds up the metabolism which in my case is probably a strong factor in my 80+ pound weight loss. It is a preference to each person as stated. I would strongly recommend breakfast! My mother use to skip it all together & now that I have her eating even the littlest bit of something, even with no exercise for her (scoliosis & recent mastectomy) she has dropped around 10-15 pounds.0
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TimeforchangeEtd wrote: »So, I am pretty new to this whole "lifestyle change" thing and although I don't know all that much yet, I am pretty excited to be learning different things. That being said, let's talk about breakfast! ha
I never eat breakfast in the morning because I am usually not hungry and also lacking time. I was talking to a colleague at work today and she voiced that not eating breakfast will ruin any chances of losing and keeping off weight!
Any thoughts on this? Will eating breakfast actually make a difference?
No, it will not ruin chances of keeping the weight off. If not eating breakfast makes adherence easier (and is your preferred way of eating) or allows you to eat less in the day if not tracking, then there is no reason to start.0 -
Breakfast is extremely important! It all depends on WHAT you eat (protein with complex carbs) in order to fuel your body to get it started for the day! By having a proper breakfast, you'll be able to have more control over your cravings and portions later in the day. Yes, it does matter more with certain medical conditions (I have type one diabetes), but it's also important for weight loss results and for feeling energized. If we skip meals or go more than 5 hours without eating, our portions tend to get larger which interferes with our goals. Something such as Greek yogurt with 1/2 cup of berries or whole wheat English muffin with 1 tablespoon of peanut butter can still be generally low in calories, but help keep you on track for the rest of the day.
It is entirely individual.0 -
Breakfast is extremely important! It all depends on WHAT you eat (protein with complex carbs) in order to fuel your body to get it started for the day! By having a proper breakfast, you'll be able to have more control over your cravings and portions later in the day. Yes, it does matter more with certain medical conditions (I have type one diabetes), but it's also important for weight loss results and for feeling energized. If we skip meals or go more than 5 hours without eating, our portions tend to get larger which interferes with our goals. Something such as Greek yogurt with 1/2 cup of berries or whole wheat English muffin with 1 tablespoon of peanut butter can still be generally low in calories, but help keep you on track for the rest of the day.
It's not important to me and never has been. Eating late, however is. So, I have my 'breakfast' at night time. This means that I am replacing any potential unhealthy evening grazing, with an actual, calorie counted meal.
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michellesz wrote: »I think that most people usually eat or graze approximately 4-5 hours apart (just as an example) for instance, breakfast around 8:00, lunch around 12:00, dinner around 5:00 or so. I actually eat around 6 small meals like breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, dinner, snack!! Doing this, I am never starving or craving. But point is that from dinner time to breakfast the next day is already around 15 hours without eating. Now push it to lunch and it's almost 20 hours without food or fuel. I believe (in my 'personal opinion') that eating breakfast or 6 meals like I do speeds up the metabolism which in my case is probably a strong factor in my 80+ pound weight loss. It is a preference to each person as stated. I would strongly recommend breakfast! My mother use to skip it all together & now that I have her eating even the littlest bit of something, even with no exercise for her (scoliosis & recent mastectomy) she has dropped around 10-15 pounds.
It is not really a matter of opinion ...0 -
michellesz wrote: »I think that most people usually eat or graze approximately 4-5 hours apart (just as an example) for instance, breakfast around 8:00, lunch around 12:00, dinner around 5:00 or so. I actually eat around 6 small meals like breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, dinner, snack!! Doing this, I am never starving or craving. But point is that from dinner time to breakfast the next day is already around 15 hours without eating. Now push it to lunch and it's almost 20 hours without food or fuel. I believe (in my 'personal opinion') that eating breakfast or 6 meals like I do speeds up the metabolism which in my case is probably a strong factor in my 80+ pound weight loss. It is a preference to each person as stated. I would strongly recommend breakfast! My mother use to skip it all together & now that I have her eating even the littlest bit of something, even with no exercise for her (scoliosis & recent mastectomy) she has dropped around 10-15 pounds.
It is not really a matter of opinion ...
It is not my place to tell this person what to do only what has worked for me. I stated in my opinion this has worked for me, but it is just my opinion. Please elicit further...Are you saying that you agree or don't agree?
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To me it makes A LOT of difference. All the times I did not eat breakfast and made it a habit I gained weight. I ended up eating just one big meal a day around the evening time/night and it made me gain a lot of weight....0
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michellesz wrote: »michellesz wrote: »I think that most people usually eat or graze approximately 4-5 hours apart (just as an example) for instance, breakfast around 8:00, lunch around 12:00, dinner around 5:00 or so. I actually eat around 6 small meals like breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, dinner, snack!! Doing this, I am never starving or craving. But point is that from dinner time to breakfast the next day is already around 15 hours without eating. Now push it to lunch and it's almost 20 hours without food or fuel. I believe (in my 'personal opinion') that eating breakfast or 6 meals like I do speeds up the metabolism which in my case is probably a strong factor in my 80+ pound weight loss. It is a preference to each person as stated. I would strongly recommend breakfast! My mother use to skip it all together & now that I have her eating even the littlest bit of something, even with no exercise for her (scoliosis & recent mastectomy) she has dropped around 10-15 pounds.
It is not really a matter of opinion ...
It is not my place to tell this person what to do only what has worked for me. I stated in my opinion this has worked for me, but it is just my opinion. Please elicit further...Are you saying that you agree or don't agree?
That's not a problem. The problem is that it's your "opinion" that it speeds up metabolism. It does not, and that fact is not a matter of opinion.0
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