Hi everyone. I’m starting over (yet again) on my weight loss journey and trying to stay committed. I’ve been tracking my calories, and thankfully, the weight is starting to drop, even if it’s a bit slow. I use Nutracheck for my logs, and I just read an article on their site that has me worried. It claimed that you should never skip breakfast because it ‘starts’ your metabolism and helps burn calories, and that skipping it makes your body store more fat. I rarely eat in the morning because I just don’t have an appetite then, but I didn’t think it mattered as long as I stayed in a deficit. I’d love to hear your advice or experiences with this. Thanks!
10 Likes
I’m on your side here. I see it as an easy way to skip a meal and maintain my deficit. I’m still a beginner at this weight loss stuff, though, so maybe don’t take my word as gospel.
That’s total nonsense; if it were true, intermittent fasting wouldn’t be effective at all.
I’ve found that skipping breakfast is actually quite helpful. I don’t usually get hungry until later anyway, and forcing a meal early on just makes me hungrier for lunch and increases my total calories for the day. I sometimes use LipoMax to help keep my appetite steady, but generally, I just listen to my body. If you aren’t hungry, don’t feel obligated to eat just because of an article.
Avoiding breakfast is only an issue if it leads to binge eating or over-consuming at your next meals. If that’s not happening, then the timing is irrelevant. At the end of the day, it’s the total calories that count. Just focus on maintaining your deficit regardless of when you eat.
For me, I’ve noticed that if I skip the morning meal, I’m much more likely to snack late at night. I imagine if I committed to intermittent fasting, I’d eventually adjust, but I don’t have the capacity for that right now. So, I stick to breakfast to keep my appetite stable throughout the day.
Total myth. Some people find it easier to lose weight with breakfast, others don’t. There’s no universal rule or strong science proving breakfast is mandatory for weight loss. It really comes down to what fits your personal hunger cues and lifestyle. The goal is to build habits you can actually keep up with, and if you aren’t a breakfast person, forcing it won’t be sustainable.
I’m not big on morning food either, but I’ve found that adding a protein shake to my iced coffee keeps me full until the afternoon, which works better for me than just plain coffee.
It’s really a personal preference. Some people need that morning fuel, while others are fine without it. Just do what works for you. The claim about ‘kick-starting’ metabolism is mostly nonsense; your metabolism isn’t dictated by a single meal.
The term ‘breakfast’ literally just means breaking your fast. There’s no law saying when that has to happen. A calorie deficit is what matters most. My only rule is to avoid eating right before going to bed.
CICO is CICO regardless of the time. Just stick to your daily calorie allowance and you’ll be fine.
Unless skipping it makes you so ravenous that you end up binging later, it doesn’t matter. CICO applies regardless of the time of day.
If you aren’t hungry in the morning, skipping breakfast is a fantastic way to reduce your intake. I find I eat much less overall if I skip a meal. I usually aim for a late breakfast and an early dinner for that reason; it’s easier for me than trying to manage three meals a day.
That article sounds like total rubbish. The timing of your meals doesn’t make breakfast superior to any other time. Food is food. Just track your daily totals and you’ll be fine.
Missing breakfast might make some people more likely to overeat later on, but if you find it works for your routine, there’s no reason to worry about it.
The theory is usually that people who skip breakfast get hungrier and eat more impulsively later in the day. Personally, I only eat breakfast if I have enough calories to spare. Since I’m on a 1500-calorie limit, I’d rather save those calories for a more satisfying lunch and dinner.