Its 7:15 am…you’ve snoozed your alarm one too many times and now you are rushing out the door to make it to your 7:30 am meeting! The morning continues in to the afternoon with so much work that you breeze through lunch with nothing more in your belly than one cup of coffee. By 3:30 pm you are FAMISHED, run to the nearest convenience store, and pound the first few items you find: chips, cookies, donuts, pop, etc. You are STARVED.
If the above scenario or something similar sounds familiar, it is time to get yourself on a better eating routine!! I’m not saying I want you to “eat by the clock,” but generally, everyone should eat SOMETHING within the first hour of waking; even if it’s just a glass of OJ and a slice of whole wheat toast! This will help to get your metabolism revved and you will find you are hungrier throughout the morning!
Source: http://media.photobucket.com/image/healthy%20breakfast/fuppyfingers/healthy-breakfast.jpg
The majority of breakfast-skippers I consult with confide that eating breakfast makes them feel hungrier through out the rest of the day. Just a little reminder: you ARE supposed to eat through out the day!! Your body WANTS food and in fact, it NEEDS food. After an 8-10 hour fast, you need replenishment! Even though you may think that skipping meals will help you lose weight because you are eating fewer calories, the opposite is true! People who skip meals actually tend to consume MORE calories than those who eat consistently through out the day! Why? Because you have a much easier time choosing sensibly and keeping portions in check when you are not so hungry you cannot see straight!
My goal for you this holiday season is to eat consistently through out the day. I know things can get hectic but make time for nourishment!! Even with Thanksgiving coming up this week: EAT BREAKFAST and a few snacks leading up to meal time!! Don’t let yourself get too hungry, otherwise you WILL binge. I never, EVER starve myself all day to prepare for a big meal on a holiday. That is just silly and glutinous. I eat as I normally would and this prevents me from eating too much!!
Just thought this was cute 
Listen to your body and pay attention to hunger and satiety but as a few general guidelines (not rules):
- Eat within at least 1 hour of waking.
- Try not to go longer than 4-5 hours without a snack or your next meal!
- Be prepared for rushed mornings by keeping a packet of oatmeal in your desk or some other grab and go breakfast!
- Pack a lunch and even a breakfast the night before work so you really can just grab your lunch and run out the door!
I promise if you follow these simple techniques, you will NOT gain weight and you will feel much more alert and energized in the hustle and bustle of a busy holiday season!!
QUESTION: Do you eat regularly through out the day or are you a breakfast skipper? Share your thoughts on my facebook fan page!!
I love breakfast! Quick question: I’m trying to eat intuitively. Should I eat breakfast after a binge even if I’m not hungry? I want to honor my hunger but I also realize that my metabolism needs a boost!!
I’m completely with you–I have no idea how someone can go all day without eating (although I do have some friends that subscribe to this method). I’m definitely a consistent eater throughout the day…probably too much so! Breakfast first thing after my workout, mid-morning snack, lunch, after-work snack, and dinner
Great goals for the holidays!
I used to be brekkie skipper but in the past few months I have learned to eat breakfast and I do eat approx. 4 times a day now and I’m rarely too hungry, I get food at the right times now I think… but the hard part is that when my schedule changes, even just a bit, my whole eating is off balance and then I get too hungry and eat whatever I get.. so I need to learn how to eat right in the other situations too, my daily schedule is not the same every da.
Great post. I get a lot of strange looks when I tell people that skipping meals is only hurting them, NOT helping them. Most people assume it will help them lose weight, but in fact that’s not true! And the breakfast thing is so important. I finally have Nick eating breakfast every morning, which took about 2 years to ingrain into his mind. I would even say a glass o OJ, without the toast, is better than nothing at all!
excellent tips, Erin!! i am adamant about eating within the first 30 minutes of waking. (i read about its affects on metabolism a few years ago and made it a must.) besides, cereal and coffee are awesome, how could you NOT have breakfast???
I am always hungry in the morning…non-breakfast eaters are an enigma to me. I couldn’t do it! I eat 4-5 times a day, 3 meals and 1-2 small snacks. It works for me and I feel the most energized when I eat that way. Great post!!
Amen, sista! I totally agree with you – I NEVER understand why people think that skipping breakfast (or any meal) will actually do them any good in the long run. I am ALWAYS way more munchy if I skip a meal or just eat a “snack” instead…that “snack” usually turns into multiple snacks that don’t ever really satisfy and then I’m left eating more than I would’ve had I just eaten the meal instead. Vicious cycle, isn’t it?
You know I totally agree with so many points here, but it wasn’t until I saw my brother about a month ago that I realized I am not a good snacker. I am much better with three meals. So now, I’m left figuring out a balance.
CUTE pig, er pic:)
What a perfect post for me today. I usually eat breakfast (and at regular intervals throughout the day – I get cranky if I go more than 4 hours without eating). But today I snoozed too much and woke up with only 10 minutes to get dressed, brush my teeth, and get out the door! Better luck tomorrow
i usually wake up hungry so i never skip breakfast! definitely a good reminder not to get too hungry, because that is when i usually eat whatever i can get my hand on first!
I LOVE breakfast! I wouldn’t skip it because then I’d be missing my favorite meal of the day
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Breakfast is my most favorite meal of the day. I NEVER, EVER skip it! If I am running late, I start my oatmeal while I do my thing in the bathroom, grab it and eat it in the car on my way to wherever….whenever I do overnight oats it’s no problem at all! It takes 5 minutes to eat breakfast, there’s NO excuse! It’s SUCH an important start to the day!!!
You are so right on with all your tips!!! Totally right, if people follow your advice, they will not gain weight!!!!
I never miss breakfast. If I don’t eat within an hour of waking, I become someone you don’t want to be around…
And I’ve heard that about consuming more if you skip meals. Totally believe it. Because when I eat when I’m famished, I tend to go a little crazy…
I like making muesli or chia seed pudding for breakfast. Both need to be prepped the night before and I make them in containers that I can take to work, just in case I wake up late.
I could never skip breakfast. I used to, but now I feel so much more energized throughout the day.
I definitely have a harder time controlling what I eat if I make it to that ravenous stage. I agree that keeping up regular eating habits and eating balanced meals/snacks around the holiday feasts helps me keep it more in check.
That’s exactly what’s wrong with all these people thinking they should skip meals to lose weight just to reduce the number of calories. Eating every 2-3 hours keeps your metabolism going! Otherwise your body goes into starvation mode and hold onto every gram of fat. Plus, eating more often is fun.