Is breakfast REALLY that important

HonkyTonks
HonkyTonks Posts: 1,193 Member
edited October 5 in Food and Nutrition
I skipped breakfast this morning - I knew I was going out for lunch and wanted to 'save' calories for the occasion.

I told a friend this and he said breakfast is the most important meal and you shouldn't skip it. It boosts your metabolism and good for weight loss etc. etc.

I did some googling and most sites seemed to confirm this... but just wondering what your thoughts were on breakfast.
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Replies

  • Articeluvsmemphis
    Articeluvsmemphis Posts: 1,987 Member
    For me, it's good so I don't overeat later. If I'm not hungry by lunch time because I ate a good breakfast and snack then I will eat better at lunch otherwise I'll eat whatever I can find and that's no good :)
  • Silverkittycat
    Silverkittycat Posts: 1,997 Member
    In my opinion, no. I sometimes go without, but usually do eat breakfast. Then again, I'm one of those people that snack on things all day long, so breakfast might mean anything/ everything I eat from 7AM to noon+.

    If you're hungry in the morning, eat. :smile:


    *and if it's bacon and eggs, eat. :wink:
  • newarkco05
    newarkco05 Posts: 240
    If I am not hungry, I won't eat. However, I will make sure to reevaluate my hunger 1-2 hours later and eat something. Most of the time I will eat a small breakfast such as a piece of toast & PB or something. I think it does keep me from over eating later or eating things such as donuts and other pastries. I had also noticed if I go out to eat when I'm starving I am more lately to get things like Chicken Tenders and Fries so I try to keep my hunger in check.
  • MB_Positif
    MB_Positif Posts: 8,897 Member
    If I eat a protein heavy breakfast it really impacts my day, very little snacking the rest of the day. On days I just eat cereal or oatmeal I usually end up being snacky.
  • Puffins1958
    Puffins1958 Posts: 614 Member
    Before I saw a nutritionalist who told me about this site, I never used to eat breakfast except when I was on vacation. Now since MFP, I never skip it.....

    12117749.png
    Created by MyFitnessPal.com - Free Calorie Counter
  • ahavoc
    ahavoc Posts: 464 Member
    I didn't use to eat breakfast, but now I do, because my metabolism was absolutely slow as molasses. Big difference. I try to eat more protein at breakfast, because I don't get as hungry later as I do when I eat carbs. So I'm talking about 3 pieces of turkey bacon, or jerky, and maybe some oatmeal.
  • jakejacobsen
    jakejacobsen Posts: 584 Member
    I think its important you body is like a fire. If you don't feed it...it won't burn. If your skipping meals your body will store more so that it has fuel for later uses. When you are trying to lose weight you don't want your body storing
  • cygnetpro
    cygnetpro Posts: 419 Member
    I rarely skip breakfast, partly because I have read the same things that you have. But I have to admit that, when I do skip breakfast, I am usually not hungry till lunchtime. When I do eat breakfast, I am often hungry for a snack by 10 am. So I do wonder if I am really doing myself a big favor by not skipping breakfast.
  • janf15
    janf15 Posts: 242 Member
    The answer to the question - I think it is important to clarify when you eat breakfast? Your glycogen storages has about 1200 calories for you to use. when you wake up, and some people advocate that you spend some of the calories to utilize the process of gluconeogenisis. (look up that word and see what it mean :-) ) it should not be done every day for a variety of reasons.


    Breakfast is important and I would not recommend doing what some of you are doing on a regular basis - given the physiology.
  • a_stronger_steph
    a_stronger_steph Posts: 434 Member
    If you usually eat breakfast and just skipped it this one time, I'm pretty sure you'll be just fine. :)

    I've no idea what the actual science says about eating breakfast and its effects on the metabolism - but as long as you keep eating at a caloric deficit, you should lose weight, regardless of when your calories are consumed. I wouldn't worry too much!
  • Crystal817
    Crystal817 Posts: 2,021 Member
    I only eat breakfast on the days I work.

    On my days off I tend to work out and just have something small like a Lunabar and some coffee, so I can save a bulk of my calories for lunch or dinner.
  • sc1572
    sc1572 Posts: 2,309 Member
    It's good! It's DEFINITELY helped me! Breakfast is my fav meal! :)
  • servilia
    servilia Posts: 3,452 Member
    It is really a myth that it boosts your metabolism. It doesn't matter when you get your calories (barring medical issues). If you want to eat it, eat it, if you don't feel like it then don't. :)
  • Moonbeamlissie
    Moonbeamlissie Posts: 504 Member
    I skip breakfast when i want to save the calories..... I do not see a reaction good or bad...
  • smileteddy
    smileteddy Posts: 12 Member
    I think it is important to eat breakfast, but it needs to be nutritious...(I ate black forest cake for breakfast today, so that can't be good)
  • SergeantSunshine_reused
    SergeantSunshine_reused Posts: 5,382 Member
    I think its important you body is like a fire. If you don't feed it...it won't burn. If your skipping meals your body will store more so that it has fuel for later uses. When you are trying to lose weight you don't want your body storing

    False. Your body doesn't work that way

    There is no metabolic advantage with eating breakfast. You can skip it everyday and not hurt your progress.
    Meal timing is irrelevant
  • HonkyTonks
    HonkyTonks Posts: 1,193 Member
    Interesting guys thanks
  • HMonsterX
    HMonsterX Posts: 3,000 Member
    I think its important you body is like a fire. If you don't feed it...it won't burn. If your skipping meals your body will store more so that it has fuel for later uses. When you are trying to lose weight you don't want your body storing

    False. Your body doesn't work that way

    There is no metabolic advantage with eating breakfast. You can skip it everyday and not hurt your progress.
    Meal timing is irrelevant

    Took away what i was going to say sunshine!

    ...

    ....yup, pretty much that! I never, ever eat breakfast, and It's done me no harm at all. All eating breakfast may do is stave off cravings or hunger pangs later. If you don't get, or can control, those then breakfast is just a waste of calories you could have later when you really wanted them!
  • megz4987
    megz4987 Posts: 1,008 Member
    I completely agree with your friend.
    And even if it weren't true, I have to have breakfast within an hour of waking up or I become dizzy, sweaty and sometimes pass out :)
  • catwrangler
    catwrangler Posts: 918 Member
    http://www.leangains.com/2010/10/top-ten-fasting-myths-debunked.html

    see #7
  • wooooooow
    wooooooow Posts: 3
    You may not feel hungry in the morning or you might be short on time, but skipping breakfast can have
    undesirable effects. Your body tries to draw on your reserves of nutrients and water which it needs to
    function properly but which have been depleted during the night. If you don’t eat anything, you are likely to
    feel tired and hungry a little later and want to snack on such things as chocolate or sweet coffee or biscuits
    to find some energy and raise your sugar level. Once more, the ups and downs of this vicious circle can
    affect your weight and well-being in the long-term.
    Breakfast supplies our body longer lasting vital nutrients, water and energy. A healthy breakfast
    which includes protein can help you feel fuller for longer and helps to avoid mid morning snacking.
    A well-balanced breakfast providing sustainable energy and the right nutrients can help keep you body
    in equilibrium during the day and contribute notably to better weight management and well being in the
    long term.


    This is what Ive been told - hope it helps you - I have a protein shake each brekky - 150 cals and 25g protein - really yummy
  • HonkyTonks
    HonkyTonks Posts: 1,193 Member
    http://www.leangains.com/2010/10/top-ten-fasting-myths-debunked.html

    see #7

    That's a really interesting article thank you for posting
  • scagneti
    scagneti Posts: 707 Member
    I've noticed that I've slimmed down a lot and controlled my hunger much more not eating breakfast and eating my calories later in the day. Even a full on protein breakfast at 8am had me looking for snacks two hours later. Now my first meal is at around 1pm and my waist and stomach size has gone down even though I'm eating over 1800 calories a day.

    Meal timing means nothing and breakfast does nothing to make your metabolism burn harder or faster or whatever.
  • HMonsterX
    HMonsterX Posts: 3,000 Member
    You may not feel hungry in the morning or you might be short on time, but skipping breakfast can have
    undesirable effects. Your body tries to draw on your reserves of nutrients and water which it needs to
    function properly but which have been depleted during the night. If you don’t eat anything, you are likely to
    feel tired and hungry a little later and want to snack on such things as chocolate or sweet coffee or biscuits
    to find some energy and raise your sugar level. Once more, the ups and downs of this vicious circle can
    affect your weight and well-being in the long-term.
    Breakfast supplies our body longer lasting vital nutrients, water and energy. A healthy breakfast
    which includes protein can help you feel fuller for longer and helps to avoid mid morning snacking.
    A well-balanced breakfast providing sustainable energy and the right nutrients can help keep you body
    in equilibrium during the day and contribute notably to better weight management and well being in the
    long term.


    This is what Ive been told - hope it helps you - I have a protein shake each brekky - 150 cals and 25g protein - really yummy

    As i said, these are all "may", "might", etc. If you don't have that, which i and many others don't, there is no need for breakfast. It doesn't boost your metabolism for anybody, so if you're eating it purely for that reason you're doing yourself a disservice. If you like breakfast, or it does help you in terms of cravings, then go for it! It's just less calories you can have later in the day.

    I, like most, have some coffee in the morning, that's where my early morning water comes from. :)
  • kr3851
    kr3851 Posts: 994 Member
    I think it depends on what you define as breakfast. I cannot eat as soon as I wake up - I feel sick all day. On days that I work I'm up at 6am, and generally eat a wrap or omelette when i get to work around 8am. On weekends I may not eat until 11am (which means I'll eat a later lunch and dinner) but I still eat an omelette or tinned spaghetti/baked beans. I rarely eat toast because once I start I can literally eat the whole loaf - it doesn't seem to fill me up as much as a protein based meal.

    You need to do what feels right for you. If not eating first thing in the morning works, keep doing it. If it doesn't work for you, eat when you wake up and see if that makes a difference.

    I think we've all realised after being here for a couple of months that there is no magic formula for losing weight, building muscle, or maintaining weight. You need to try different things until you find out what works FOR YOUR BODY. And that may change after a couple of months and you'll need to reassess.
  • Escape_Artist
    Escape_Artist Posts: 1,155 Member
    I know there is a lot of debate around this, and I guess everybody is so different, it's hard to come up with the right answer.
    Listen to what your body is telling you, probably is the best way to go.

    I know I can't skip breakfast since I workout about 1h30 after, and if I do skip it, I feel dizzy mid workout
  • ElizabethRoad
    ElizabethRoad Posts: 5,138 Member
    I completely agree with your friend.
    And even if it weren't true, I have to have breakfast within an hour of waking up or I become dizzy, sweaty and sometimes pass out :)
    You need to see a doctor immediately. That is by no means normal. Sounds like a blood sugar problem.
  • SarabellPlus3
    SarabellPlus3 Posts: 496 Member
    I think breakfast is REALLY that important IF breakfast is really that important TO YOU.

    I don't think there's anything magical about breakfast, I don't think it speeds your metabolism, or any of the other touted benefits. I just think some people find themselves starving, and eat a lot more, when they skip breakfast... Those people shouldn't skip breakfast.

    In the whole scheme of things, no, I don't believe that the people who eat the same amount of calories at one time of day are going to have real different results than people who eat their calories at another. And certainly doing it once isn't going to mess you up. :)
  • CynthiaCollin
    CynthiaCollin Posts: 406 Member
    Eat when you are hungry.
  • rileysowner
    rileysowner Posts: 8,328 Member
    No. When you eat, how often you eat, are both not important if you stay within your calories. For that matter you are simply delaying your breakfast.
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