Breakfast Question?

Ok, everyone was so helpful with my weighing daily post that I thought I'd throw this one out there. This is something I've been struggling with and I'd love to hear your input! Do you eat breakfast every day? Do you eat b/c you're hungry at that time or do you eat b/c its an important start to your day? 99% of the time I am not hungry in the morning, but since having wls, I have made myself get up and eat breakfast daily. So, that means I am eating even when I'm not truly hungry for food. My hungry time of day is in the afternoon and sometimes in the evening~like I'll eat lunch and then within an hour or two I am super hungry again. I try not to snack at this time and opt for cottage cheese, strawberries, a cheese stick, etc. I always try to down some water first to make sure its not the fluids that I'm really craving. The same thing happens in the evening sometimes too. There's no doubt that I LOVE to eat now, LOL, way more than I ever did when I was obese. So, I got to thinking that this whole weightloss thing comes down to calories in vs. calories burned off during the day. Would I be better off not eating breakfast and just starting to eat when I'm truly hungry? I tried it out today. I got up and had some low sugar orange juice and a bottle of water, did my work out, etc. I got hungry around noon and I made my salad w/turkey, cheese, croutons and ranch. It's now 2pm and I'm hungry again~already had 3 bottles of water today plus my oj so I've decided to have some strawberries w/cool whip (YUM!). This is how I would normally feel if I would have eaten breakfast, so no real difference there, but I'm actually down, so far, on calories for the day b/c I didn't eat breakfast. So, that would essentially mean that I would have more calories to "play with" later on in the day when I'm really hungry vs. eating them in the morning when I'm not hungry at all. Does that make sense? Thanks in advance! Tracy B 328/153 5'9"

Tracy, this is a good question and one I'll be looking at to see what replies you get. I'm not hungry in the mornings either, but know that to get the metabolism started, breakfast is an important part of it. I've been drinking a protein drink early in the morning (my day starts at 4:30 a.m.). I drink it on the way to work and usually around 9:00 I'll try to make myself eat breakfast, usually cottage cheese (3-4 oz). Some days I just can't make myself eat. My lunch is usually around 11:30 so I'll skip breakfast. I wonder if the protein drink (vanilla-cinnamon in decaf coffee) gets the metabolism started. I know Tooter has a great article on why breakfast is important, I have it bookmarked at home if I find it I'll email to you later. I know I really didn't offer you advise, I'm in the same boat as you. Now I have been drinking lots more water this week and find the desire/hunger/continuous thoughts of food have subsided significantly. Dana

Thanks Dana! If you have that article I'd love to read it! Tracy B

I do breakfast everyday. I have a routine. I eat a bowl of oatmeal every morning. while the oatmeal is nuking I do my vitamins. If I get off schedule I feel it in my routine. Breakfast is one of the most important meals of the day. It is one of many for me. I have to do 5-6 small meals a day because of sugar levels. Different foods make you feel full longer than others. Some foods are more dense and have the "stick to the ribs" feeling. That's my answer and I'm sticking to it.... Darlene

I have always needed food first thing in the morning so breakfast is necessary for me. Recently, as I struggle to get down a few more pounds, I have given up my oatmeal or cream of wheat (which I love) to help conserve calories. I started doing a low carb yogurt with two teaspoons of wheat germ added for some fiber. When I get to work, three hours after breakfast, I have a protien bar to keep myself going. So far, this seems to be working. I will see if this helps with the weight loss. It is a never ending struggle to find the right combination of food and exercise. I added more exercise but seem to be going the wrong way with the weight. I do agree with your hunger battle. In the afternoon, I could continually eat. UGH!!!!!!! Best wishes!

My .02$ It is about feeding my brain in the morning. I have found that if I eat a good solid protein I just feel better and have more energy until lunch.

Before WLS I was a diet coke for breakfast kind of girl. When I gave up diet coke, I was an iced tea for breakfast kind of girl. My excuse for never eating breakfast was "I'm not hungry". I could go all day, till around 2, and then I was hungry.... and hungry and more hungry and I would eat all the way up till I went to bed. I was a mess. My endocrinologist told me that people who eat breakfast, actually physically chew food, have faster metabolism and are actually less hungry later in the day. She also suggested eating 6 small meals a day instead of consuming everything later in the day. These things made sense to me. So before surgery I incorporated them into my life in preparation for my new life. (surgery was on the way) Even before surgery, her two suggestions made me feel better within one week. My sugars weren't as high, I was in a better mood, etc. Needless to say these are life long changes I have adopted, and very worth it. No I am not always "hungry" for breakfast, but I still have my oatmeal, every single day. Michele

Tracy, My Doc and Nutritionist recommended that I Eat multiple smaller meals through out the day. Starting with Breakfast. Am I hungry first thing in the morning? Nope. Do I eat my yogurt with oat fiber or egg? Yep. I find that if I have a Cup of De-Caf first With a little protein supplement in it as creamer, I don't actually have a "problem" eating first thing in the morning. According to Dr. James O. Hill, director of the Center for Human Nutrition A 10 year study (started in '93) of the common traits Found among those who lost and maintained weight-loss, Listed the top 4 traits as- 1.) Eat a Lower Fat Diet 2.) Exercise 3.) Eat Breakfast Every Day 4.) Keep Track of Your Weight and Eating Getting your metabolism up and running Causes you to burn more calories through out the waking day. Having less food in your digestive system at night Before bedtime (particularly Carb) Keeps your resting metabolic rate higher as you sleep With less insulin release which will drop your Blood sugar thus release more stress hormones Which are the bodies signal to store androgynous or (Abdominal) fat! I find that as long as I eat something every 3 hours to keep my Blood sugar stable, I rarely if ever get "hungry." Thus, I'm not prone to overeat/endulge. Just- "What works for me." SO FAR..... Right at 3 years and holding.... Best Wishes- Dx 385/180 6'1"

Makes sense to me....Thanks Dx for putting it into words! Sometimes in life we get so busy we forget the basics such as eating right! Good post. Debbie

hello again! breakfast...what's that? i rarely eat breakfast. just this week, i hard-boiled some eggs to keep in the fridge, but only two days i actually ate one in the morning. i usually don't eat breakfast for two (dumb) reasons. 1. i am not hungry. 2. becuase i go to starbucks every monring and have a ff/sf vanilla latte. i just assumed i would count my coffee calories as my "breakfast". see, told ya they were dumb reasons! i think i am going to try this week to do breakfast and see what happens. in all honesty, if i only ate when i was hungry, i would probably never eat! i still don't get that hungry feeling, maybe a few times a month do i feel TRUE hunger. i usually eat based on what time it is or just because i know i have to. why should breakfast be any different? ok, going to have some weight control banana bread oatmeal now! hugssssss