Question about skipping breakfast
 

Not deliberately of course :)

Mornings are very busy for me. With the baby, getting ready for work or school, I sometimes don't eat my first meal of the day until maybe noon.

I count calories and try to stay under 1,600. I am fairly active throughout the week.

My question is, If I skip breakfast one day, would it make sense eating a bigger lunch or dinner to make up for those calories? Thanks!

I can't seem to find time for breakfasts either. Whenever I have 30 minutes in the evening, I make a few snacks that I can just grab out of the fridge on my way to work (pasta salads, regular salad, veggies + hummus, or whatever). Then I can eat something around 9 or 10 when the OMG I HAVE TO EAT RIGHT NOW stomach rumblings hit. Otherwise, I'm starving by lunch and end up eating waaaaaaaaaaaaay more than I should.

Shorter answer: if you're hungry and can eat more while staying in your calorie range, do it. If you're not hungry, why stress over it?

Pammi, I feel your pain! I have three kids and especially during the school year, I find it hard to make time for breakfast in the midst of preparing theirs, making lunches, getting everyone dressed and out the door, etc.

However, there is just so much research that points to the importance of breakfast for weight loss. What can you do to make breakfast a reality? How about prepping something ahead of time, like hard-boiled eggs (peel em in advance too)? Or just making sure you have a yogurt available? I'm not a huge fan of bars, but maybe a breakfast bar or something else super-fast is the right thing to at least get you started on the habit of breakfast? Even consider non-breakfast types of foods if those work better for you -- cheese wrapped in a half a tortilla, for example.

If you are truly not hungry, that's another matter. I don't see the sense in eating when you're not hungry. And if you do decide to skip breakfast and you are hungry later, I think it's fine to use those calories during other meals/snacks throughout the day.

I skipped breakfast -- or ate it at 11 am -- for much of last year. Since I started my weight loss (now maintenance) effort in April, I haven't skipped a day. It is now ingrained.

I find it hard to eat breakfast as well. I usually have coffee and a banana or one of those Special K crisp bars ( those are yummy). I'm a teacher and during the school year, I try to eat breakfast in my classroom before homeroom. I'm not sure why I don't sit down with my kids and eat breakfast especially since I am home during the summer. Maybe I will add that into my goals!

In Sept. the kids and I will go back to school. To make the mornings go smoother, I plan on making lunches and snacks the night before. I will most likely end up eating breakfast on the go, my favorite to go breakfast right now is a yogurt and a cup Go Lean Crunch, sometimes I put some of the cereal in the yogurt and sometimes I eat it separately. If I am just not that hungry I frequently eat the yogurt and a little of the Go Lean Crunch, then later in the morning I will eat the rest of the cereal.

I have heard eating breakfast helps get your metabolism going for the day, I would eat something quick like a banana, apple, or even a cup of milk! And sure you can "make up" for not having a big breakfast. Sometimes I skip lunch so I can eat more later if I know I will be going out to eat or a special event.