The bigger the breakfast, the faster the metabolism?

I've always heard to eat breakfast because it starts up your metabolism for the day but i've been wondering..if you have a larger calorie breakfast, would it increase it even more? Or is it simply just eating something little that will suffice.

I'm wondering so I can decide how to space out my calories. If it helps my metabolism, i'll have more in the morning. What do you think?

This is what Mary had to say about a similar question that was posed in the Ask Mary section.  It seems it's more a matter of personal preference! 

I can guarantee you that from personal experience the two things that Mary mentions--fiber and protein--are extremely important to revving up the metabolic engine for the day.

I have found many sites where health-wellness experts, trainers, professional people, etc. recommend somewhere between 40-60% of your daily protein needs can be eaten for breakfast.  Also, I have found several places that drinking a large glass of water to start the day will also help the metabolism get going.

Also, to keep the metabolic engine going, I have read and been told by my health-wellness doctor that eating a meal with significant protein within 30-40 minutes of your most intense work out is also important.

My approach to this issue is quite logical: if I`m working out in the AM, breakfast will be my most consistent meal; conversely, if I exercise in the afternoon, it`s lunch; and if it`s in the evening, I`ll have a large dinner. If I have my physical activity evenly spread out through the day (for instance, walking around sightseeing) I will also spread out my meals evenly.

Once you think about it, it makes perfect sense. I mean, why have a huge breakfast if you go to the gym after work? By the time you get there, the energy boost will be long gone, and your performance will be affected accordingly.

It`s not that difficult to plan as it sounds, either, especially if you are planning your meals and activity in advance. You can eat the same 3 meals you normally would and just rotate them, like having lunch for dinner and dinner for lunch instead.

Original Post by ily51:

My approach to this issue is quite logical: if I`m working out in the AM, breakfast will be my most consistent meal; conversely, if I exercise in the afternoon, it`s lunch; and if it`s in the evening, I`ll have a large dinner. If I have my physical activity evenly spread out through the day (for instance, walking around sightseeing) I will also spread out my meals evenly.

Once you think about it, it makes perfect sense. I mean, why have a huge breakfast if you go to the gym after work? By the time you get there, the energy boost will be long gone, and your performance will be affected accordingly.

It`s not that difficult to plan as it sounds, either, especially if you are planning your meals and activity in advance. You can eat the same 3 meals you normally would and just rotate them, like having lunch for dinner and dinner for lunch instead.

^ This is exactly what is recommended for runners and other athletes, btw.  Excellent advice.  Eat in preparation for your coming activities, so that your body has the fuel it needs to be able to perform (if you're working out). 

Good point about the exercise, if one exercises later in the day.  But for anyone who just wants a jump start on getting the metabolism revved up for the whole day, I have found numerous sites and read numerous health experts who go with the healthy, protein-filled  breakfast for people in general.  I haven't found any health expert who suggests that breakfast is not an important meal, alhough I agree it does not have to be a large meal.

I don't have any experts advice, but I can tell you what has worked for me.  In the past (when I was fat) I never even ate breakfast.  I wasn't hungry for several hours after waking.  Sometimes, especially on the weekends, I wouldn't eat for six hours or more after I woke up.

The day I decided to change my life, I started/forced myself to eat breakfast.  What I do now is this:  when I leave for work at 4:30am, I either make some juice with veggies, or eat a small snack like toast with coffee (jumpstarts it as soon as I can).  Two and a half hours later I'm am really really ready to eat.  I have what I consider a large breakfast (typically 500-800 calories).  It is my biggest meal of the day.  I eat every 2.5-3 hours after that, gradually scaling down the meals.  I'm 6'1" 202lb male, and I shoot for 2000 cals a day.  So as you can see, breakfast makes up 1/4-1/3 of my daily intake.

Once I got my metabolism moving again, the pounds just fell off.  I'm down 38 pounds since April 8th.

I agree with the basic philosophy.  For me, I spent most of 25 years NOT eating breakfast other than just drinking coffee or an occasional doughnut or pastry.  Once I decided to lose weight (going from 215 to 170 in 3 months), I began eating a high protein breakfast after drinking a large glass of water.  It seems to me that all of us have hit on some good ways to lose weight.

Original Post by cc31:

Original Post by ily51:

My approach to this issue is quite logical: if I`m working out in the AM, breakfast will be my most consistent meal; conversely, if I exercise in the afternoon, it`s lunch; and if it`s in the evening, I`ll have a large dinner. If I have my physical activity evenly spread out through the day (for instance, walking around sightseeing) I will also spread out my meals evenly.

Once you think about it, it makes perfect sense. I mean, why have a huge breakfast if you go to the gym after work? By the time you get there, the energy boost will be long gone, and your performance will be affected accordingly.

It`s not that difficult to plan as it sounds, either, especially if you are planning your meals and activity in advance. You can eat the same 3 meals you normally would and just rotate them, like having lunch for dinner and dinner for lunch instead.

^ This is exactly what is recommended for runners and other athletes, btw.  Excellent advice.  Eat in preparation for your coming activities, so that your body has the fuel it needs to be able to perform (if you're working out). 

Oh my god this is so right.

My case in point is everyday before I run my 10k run I have a bigger than normal lunch so I can have the added fuel to help push me through my workout. But yesterday I was so dang busy I couldn't even drink water. I try to drink a cup of water every hour on the hour but like I said I was busy so I couldn't get my water or lunch.

When I got off from work I wasn't hungry so I figured I could still workout and be ok. I drank 1/2 cup of water and went to work out. But the most I could run was justt over 2 miles before my body simple said no.

I was weak a I have ever been in my life cause I had nothing to eat and dehydrated. So I will agree with ily and cc31 on this subject for the rest of my life!

Hi there!

May I ask what you have for breakfast that is high in proteines?

I really have a hard time finding something that I like for breakfast and that can push me through the daY!

Thanks!!

B.

Original Post by mermaid3011:

Hi there!

May I ask what you have for breakfast that is high in proteines?

I really have a hard time finding something that I like for breakfast and that can push me through the daY!

Thanks!!

B.

2 eggs, 2 slices of turkey bacon and a banana.  About 280 cals, loaded with protein and you won't be hungry until lunch.

Dairy also is pretty rich in protein (and the low or no fat kind has less calories).

Even beans on whole wheat toast is yummy with a bit of salsa. Or your own homemade hummus (if you want to make it low cal use as little oil as possible).

Another thing I do is add a lot of soy flour to my morning homemade pancakes/pita bread. I even go as far as 50% soy flour, though it does make things more dense and chewy, so if you`re a fan of fluffness I would recommend sticking to a couple tablespoons per cup of wheat flour or something along those lines.

• four -six egg whites (or you could go for 2-3 whole eggs) with lean bacon bits and 1/4th-1/2 cup nonfat cheese (or you could go for regular cheese) 30 - 40 grams of protein
• 1-2 cups small red beans or black beans with 93% lean ground beef patty  40-55 grams of protein
• 4-6 slices whole wheat bread with 4-6 egg white (or use whole eggs) and skim milk , make french toast   35-45 grams of protein

Thanks to all of you! 

Yes it sounds like I have to eat more eggs... or at least eggwhites! Beans aren't my favourite though and I don't have the time in the morning to make pancakes with soy... I admire you for your energy though! 

Today I had a cup of Kashi Go Lean Crunch (thanks for the tip btw!!) with a cup of 1% milk... yummy! At least the milk had protein...

I find it really hard to make a daily plan with 1700 calories and not go hungry... especially as I LOVE LOVE LOVE carbs ! Guess I have to add more veggies and fruit to my daily plan! Somehow these Weight Watchers people seem to have a point! Eat enough fruits and veggies and it fills you up!

Well... I am trying a combination now... WW recipes but also calorie counting and of course exercising!!

Have a great day you all and keep going!!!!

B.

I do pretty well skipping breakfast and I go well eating a high protein breakfast. BUT if I eat a high car brteakfast like donuts, rolls, pancakes, cereal or oatmeal I am ravenously hungry all morning.

So I either eat nothing or something substantial like ham and eggs and a piece of toast.

I have no rationale for it  but that's just what works best for me...probably a blood sugar thing.

If any of you have the time, inclination, and interest, you may or may not find it informative and interesting to do a Google (and/or other Search Engines) Search in which you go to many web sites researching what health experts (doctors, nutritionists, health-wellness professionals, dietitians, etc) state about the importance of a person eating a good first meal of the day.   Also, look for what they say, if and when they say it, about including healthy protein in that meal.

I would ask you to not give the same credence to a lay person's  answer on Yahoo "Answers" or "Wiki-Answers" as you give to a site like MayoClinic, however.

I have researched this general topic many times; I won't waste my time and yours in listing many of the sites that I found where professionals state the importance of one's having a very healthy meal the first meal of the day. 

I do not think it matters when you do the hardest work out of the day; I think the body needs that first important healthy meal to keep it going throughout the day, regardless. 

But I am just a lay person, so I wouldn't suggest you use my opinion as any sort of proof.

Lunch has always been my biggest meal. I don't think it matters as long as you don't go over the daily calorie quota.