If I want to lose weight, do I have to stop?

Question

I'm used to eating a large breakfast.  I don't eat that unhealthy, but I enjoy pancakes with eggs and fruit juice, or potatoes and bacon with cereal.

nomnomchompsky · Accepted Answer

Alright. I'm pretty fat. I've been putting forward the effort to lose weight for the first time in my life. A bunch of people here are telling you to go low carb, and I'm sure other people have been telling you about all the other diets they have tried and blah blah blah. If you want it simply explained to you (by all them highfalutin medical doctors) check out the CDC website.

The basic thing you have to understand is that if you're just trying to lose weight, the bottom line is calories in calories out. Yes, macronutrient balance (carbs, protein, fat) matter when decided what KIND of body you want, but if you're fat and just trying to get rid of the excess bodyfat, calories are key. You need to eat less calories than you burn. I know this works because I've been at it for a few months and it has worked, I have dropped weight. Your body is subject to the law of thermodynamics just like everyone else.

As far as the actual food you eat goes, stay away from sugary stuff. High fructose corn syrup and sugar have been linked to obesity in every study ever done on them. Cut fast food and soda out of your diet completely if possible, and probably lay back on the fruit juice. Watch the sugar content. Get your carbohydrates from mostly healthy sources (vegetables, whole grain breads, brown rice, quinoa, etc). Make sure you get enough protein during the day, particularly if you are working out. If you're doing a combination of strength exercise and cardio (which you should be) the protein will be instrumental in sparing your lean body mass being burned for fuel during your caloric deficit.

Now, how many calories to eat? Google "Bmr calculator" and go to the first link.

Figure out your BMR. That will tell you how many calories you burn per day by basically just being alive. Find out your caloric maintenance goal, and eat 500 calories less than that a day. You maybe can stretch it to 1000 calories less a day if you're mostly sedentary outside of exercise (like me). But I wouldn't advise a huge calorie deficit unless you've consulted a doctor. If you're a dude, don't eat less than 1500 calories a day, if you're a girl, no less than 1200.

The basic formula is the same as it has always been. To lose weight, eat less, and exercise. The reason we see all these types of diets (low carb, high carb, high protein, low protein, no protein!) is because we, as people in the Western world, are in a position that is unique to humanity on a historical level. We can choose what we want to eat. Most people on earth don't have that choice. Most of those people also eat grains (carbs) and meat (protein/fat) a lot (which the low carb/paleo people are all too willing to ignore). Because we can choose our food, it lets people experiment with macronutrient balances. Studies have shown most diets to be effective, regardless, because all of the people are doing one thing: cutting caloric intake.

Find a diet that works for you forever, and not just a quick fix. Good luck!

martyfellow · Accepted Answer

Usually just a few mnor adjustments are necessary:  cut out the bacon, for example, substittue lean meat like ham or lean sausage in small amounts.   Tea occasionally instead of fruit juice.  But if you're acive, a fairly large breakfast keeps you from temptation the rest off the day when you're out and about and not making your own meals, probably.

Tamikaze · Accepted Answer

If you keep doing what you are doing, you will keep getting what you are getting. So, yes, if you want to lose weight, you need to make changes.

You say you don't eat that unhealthy but then you say you enjoy pancakes or bacon. You also mention eggs and potatoes. Pancakes and bacon, without a doubt, are not healthy. In moderation they are fine, but I mean once a month, not several times a week. Eggs and potatoes can be good or okay or they can be a disaster, depending on how you prepare them. Usually breakfast potatoes are cooked in large amounts of oil to make them crisp and that is like eating french fries, just not healthy. Eggs can be healthy, in my opinion, but not if you cook them in butter, especially more than a teaspoon of butter. One tablespoon of butter contains 100 calories of pure fat. Again, not healthy.

In my experience people that want to lose weight have usually developed eating habits that need to change but the person underestimates the harm those eating habits are causing them. I can say I have certain eating habits that help me out (others I continue to work on). For instance, my portions are really good. However, other people see my portions and they think they are too small. I tell them if they were too small I would be emaciated and I am not. The problem is that most Americans eat out too much and think that the portions served at restaurants are a good portion or at least just a little too big. If they ever get introduced to what portions should be, they have a hard time accepting it.

I could write a lot more, but overall, diet is a big, big part of losing weight. Exercise can help but without changing eating habits, you would have to exercise like a professional athlete to burn up enough calories to leave your eating habits the way they are. So, make some small changes to how you eat, and see what happens. If that isn't enough, a month later, make a few more changes. Keep removing unnecessary unhealthy foods and substituting some healthy foods instead (plain veggies and fruit) and keep tweaking your eating habits until the results you want happen. Good luck!

madmisskelly · Accepted Answer

You can still have a big breakfast, but you will want to change what you have.

Kudos on the eggs, but limit it to maybe 1-2 eggs and no more

If you are going to eat pancakes, try making whole wheat or Buckwheat pancakes so you have something with fiber. Do limit syrup as its is dense and high in calories which means it adds up really fast.

Id say cut out the fruit juice and replace it with actual fruit. In a cup of fruit juice you are consuming a high amount of sugar and several times the amount of fruit you would normally consume.

The bacon is high in saturated fat, high in calories, and is not very good for you. I would NOT eat bacon on a regular basis if you want to lose weight and be healthy.

Ideally, you breakfast would be about 300-400 cals, so you have enough room for 2 other meals and 2 small snacks the rest of the day.

This is what I would recommend most:

1 cup of high fiber low sugar cereal (Kashi Go-Lean Crunch) with 1/2 cup milk

1 egg over easy

1 piece of fruit

Then, a few hours later have a snack, maybe a cheese stick, some fiber crackers.

Then lunch- whole grain bread, lean meat, veggies, fruit

then a snack a few hours later

then dinner

That works out to be about 400 or so calories.

youmakemyheartbeat · Accepted Answer

Breakfast should be a bigger meal, your metabolism gets a jump start and works faster early in the day. However, what you are eating for breakfast may not b right for you.

Pancakes with eggs and fruit juice...high in carbs and fat. Substitute the pancakes for a slice of whole wheat or whole grain bread with maybe a tiny bit of jam or cream cheese. Eggs-depends how you have them. Eggs are okay but if you are loading them with tons of cheese that is very fattening. Fruit juice is high in sugar, I would recommend water instead or maybe a cup of coffee with low fat milk and try to avoid sweeteners/sugar as much as possible but morning is when I have my artificial sweetener. It's better not to have it though, but yeah. Instead of the fruit juice I would recommend fruit.

Potatoes and bacon with cereal-yeah the bacon is fattening, and between potatoes and cereal that is a LOT of carb.

Carbs make you gain weight if they are processed and white flour, which these kinds are. Potatoes are fattening. Bacon is too. I think a better option would be eggs and a slice of toast on whole wheat or whole grain bread, with some fruit and maybe a little cottage cheese on the side.

india101 · Answer

Breakfast: eat like a king, Lunch: eat like a prince/duke, Dinner: eat like a peasant.

For breakfast, what you have going on right now is fine, except, do you have potatoes and bacon everyday? 'cause I don't think that's healthy; once in a while is fine though. The size of your breakfast is okay as long as lunch and dinner are not that big. Especially dinner, where in the evening you slow down, and then go to bed with all that food in your stomach with no other choice but to be converted to fat.

I go on this website, livestrong.com. Along with other health related stuff, It tells you your recommended daily caloric intake whether it be to lose/gain/maintain body mass. I like it. You put in what you ate, or are going to eat, and it tells you how many calories you had. Though I don't follow it by the book all the time, it's there as a guide. If not this website, another website.

And another thing, EXERCISE, unless you have a wickedly fast metabolism. And drink 2 liter of water, about 8 cups, give or take.

Also give yourself a time goal: "by this time I will lose __ lbs/kg"

WeaponZero · Answer

There's whole grain pancake mix. Get it. Don't cook your eggs in a manner that's unhealthy. Fruit juice is bad because it's basically the sugar content of the fruit concentrated. Don't use syrup on your pancakes, instead top them with real fruit spread such as Smuckers' Just Fruit jelly.

In general eating a large breakfast is a good idea because it helps keep you full throughout the rest of the day. You want to eat a hearty breakfast that keeps you feeling satisfied because then it's easier to keep your appetite under control throughout the rest of the day by only "topping yourself off" with small portions.

glamphotog · Answer

Large breakfasts are actually very good for losing weight because the calories you eat during breakfast will be burned throughout the day.

Large breakfasts, good lunch, and a small dinner will help you lose weight.

But obviously, you still have to count your calories because losing weight is all about having a daily caloric deficit.

BCRanger10 · Answer

Don't overdo the pancakes unless you work out a lot.  Pancakes have a lot of carbs in them and if you have a lot of those and are not active, they will store fat.  Might help if you cut back on the bacon a bit too, difficult as that is for me to say because I love bacon.

EverythingReal · Answer

Eating a large breakfast is far better than eating a large dinner! You have a large portion of the day to work it off.

Although, something that my coach always said was to make sure whatever fruit juice you drink is more than 50% actual juice. Water would be the best drink, but everything is fine in moderation.

I would be more worried about what else you eat during the day.

saphirasilverwings · Answer

Eating a substantial breakfast is actually very healthy, and according to some studies people who skip breakfast or skimp on it actually tend to weigh more. What you've described sounds fine to me. Protein is good!

Deft_maiden · Answer

No. Breakfast should be your biggest meal. Next lunch then a very small dinner. Eat It at least 3 hours before bedtime. Minimize processed food and sweets. Add regular excersice and you will loose weight.

WoIIie · Answer

As long as you work off that breakfast you're fine.

If you want to lose weight, cut down dinner and other meals. You can have a mighty breakfast if you're perfect for the rest of the day. The thing is, I strongly doubt the rest of your meals are perfect.

kheserthorpe · Answer

Kill the carbs unless you are doing huge amounts of exercise in the morning. Keep the protein.

Eggs with cooked tomato and a slice of bacon. No juice, toast, pancakes unless you're about to go lift weights or something like that.

xzinax2 · Answer

having a big breakfast is actually good,but you should pick healthier foods. replace eggs with an egg-white omelet,the juice with water or lemonade without sugar,skip the bacon and pick a healthy brand of cereal

angad_12 · Answer

No you don't have to. infact for loosing weight you don;t have to stop eating but reduce the bad calories in your diet(the bad stuff like white bread,flour items,sugar,etc

TerranceMurphy · Answer

That breakfast is much healthier than most people eat. You don't have to sacrifice anything, just make sure to always give it your all in the gym, and say goodbye to your pounds!

AndyWes · Answer

You have to cut out carbs, yeah. Try to eat more protein, fruits and veggies, and plenty of green tea and water. Also try to walk at least 10,000 steps a day.

FierceMegan · Answer

You can eat a big breakfast, but you have to lay off the foods that have calories from fat. like pancakes. Stick to omelets.

ixi10 · Answer

yeah...you're going to have to cut those out. those are really fatty

Stacyzee · Answer

You're going to have to try to control your portion.

If I want to lose weight, do I have to stop?

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