OK to miss breakfast, eat protein shake for lunch?

Scubdup
Scubdup Posts: 104 Member
edited November 21 in Food and Nutrition
I really just want to keep it simple - calories in/calories out.

Having a coffee for breakfast and then a protein shake after my lunchtime gym session means I can eat pretty much whatever I like for supper and still stay comfortably under my 2000 MFP calorie daily limit.

Am I fine sticking to CICO or is that gonna cause any problems?

Thanks a lot for any advice.

Replies

  • kommodevaran
    kommodevaran Posts: 17,890 Member
    edited September 2017
    Your first meal of the day is your breakfast. Eat any time you want, You should stick to an appropriate calorie intake and aim for good nutrition.

    CICO (calories in - calories out) is how weight goes up or down or stays the same, it's not a diet or meal schedule.
  • GlassAngyl
    GlassAngyl Posts: 478 Member
    Whatever works best for you. There are no rules. Science is inconclusive on this. Some of the longest living people fast, so skipping can't be all bad.
  • aeloine
    aeloine Posts: 2,163 Member
    Are you worried that you will be hungry? Otherwise, that sounds like something many people on here do.
  • chantellenicholson6648
    chantellenicholson6648 Posts: 21 Member
    I wake around 7am and don't usually eat until around midday, then have soup and a brown roll most weeknights and then meat/fish with veg/salad and maybe a small amount of rice/pasta weekends.
    That fits in easily with kids work and evening work out.
  • Jruzer
    Jruzer Posts: 3,501 Member
    It's totally cool, provided you have enough energy during the day and don't get the munchies in the afternoon.
  • Scubdup
    Scubdup Posts: 104 Member
    Hi. Thanks for the replies. I've been at it for 3 weeks and haven't suffered any discernable problems, with hunger, or otherwise - I'd be eager to keep it as my method of hitting calorie targets.

    I was just worried in case it might be causing problems. I vaguely remember reading that some things could put your body into "starvation" mode and it would start trying to conserve fat and would preferentially get rid of muscle as a result - that sort of thing.

    Just wanted to make sure that was a myth.
  • kommodevaran
    kommodevaran Posts: 17,890 Member
    Yeah, it's a myth. You're doing great :)
  • Nony_Mouse
    Nony_Mouse Posts: 5,646 Member
    thechiopodist wrote: »
    Only eat when you are hungry. Your body will only go into starvation mode if you are skipping meals when you are hungry.

    Starvation mode is a myth. Otherwise there would be no anorexics. Think about it.
  • AnvilHead
    AnvilHead Posts: 18,343 Member
    edited September 2017
    thechiopodist wrote: »
    Nony_Mouse wrote: »
    thechiopodist wrote: »
    Only eat when you are hungry. Your body will only go into starvation mode if you are skipping meals when you are hungry.

    Starvation mode is a myth. Otherwise there would be no anorexics. Think about it.

    Starvation mode is temporary.

    Starvation mode is mythical.

    https://www.aworkoutroutine.com/starvation-mode/
  • aeloine
    aeloine Posts: 2,163 Member
    thechiopodist wrote: »
    Nony_Mouse wrote: »
    thechiopodist wrote: »
    Only eat when you are hungry. Your body will only go into starvation mode if you are skipping meals when you are hungry.

    Starvation mode is a myth. Otherwise there would be no anorexics. Think about it.

    Starvation mode is temporary.

    Starvation mode is a PERMANENT myth.
  • canarysal
    canarysal Posts: 118 Member
    As long as you get a healthy calorie intake doesn't matter when you have them. Sounds like intermittent fasting and lots of people do that.
  • hesn92
    hesn92 Posts: 5,966 Member
    Sounds fine to me but won't you be hungry? You can work out without having had anything to eat and then still not eat anything for several more hours? Besides a protein shake. I would be dying
  • BrianSharpe
    BrianSharpe Posts: 9,248 Member
    If you've got enough energy to do your workout then your plan is fine, my only concern would be if you were feeling unduly fatigued at the gym that your form suffered which could lead to an injury.
  • Scubdup
    Scubdup Posts: 104 Member
    @hesn92 - I get hungry a bit every now and again, but it's not that bad. Usually I have an apple and/or a banana on hand for those moments.

    Brian, funny you should say that - yesterday and today I had programmed some rowing, and both days I've felt like I had no energy at all. I'm thinking I need to moderate my performance expectations while I am in a calorie deficit, and hopefully do better once I hit my goal weight and can start increasing my calorie intake and make some fitness gains.
  • mmapags
    mmapags Posts: 8,934 Member
    Scubdup wrote: »
    @hesn92 - I get hungry a bit every now and again, but it's not that bad. Usually I have an apple and/or a banana on hand for those moments.

    Brian, funny you should say that - yesterday and today I had programmed some rowing, and both days I've felt like I had no energy at all. I'm thinking I need to moderate my performance expectations while I am in a calorie deficit, and hopefully do better once I hit my goal weight and can start increasing my calorie intake and make some fitness gains.

    Some carbs, like the banana, with a little protein an hour or 2 before workout might help.
  • esjones12
    esjones12 Posts: 1,363 Member
    BrianSharpe wrote: »
    If you've got enough energy to do your workout then your plan is fine, my only concern would be if you were feeling unduly fatigued at the gym that your form suffered which could lead to an injury.

    This. I fast from 7pm to 12pm (no breakfast). But I always eat a nice salad for lunch and drink a protein shake in the afternoon. That way I have energy and nutrients to fuel my workouts (4:30pm). I do do some workouts (and even start my races) fasted, but every workout has a purpose and most of my workouts are more beneficial when I'm fueled for them. I too have found this allows me more calories in the evening which is when I struggle the most.

    I don't know what your goals are or your current fitness level is, but you can actually make quite a lot of fitness gains while losing weight. I've done it. Bottom line is though - on a properly designed program you won't maximize your benefits if you can't properly get through the workout. Properly fueling your workouts will also help with the weight loss!

    Good Luck!
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