Intermittent fasting for Weight loss: Should you miss your breakfast or dinner? | The Times of India (2024)

FAQs

Should I skip breakfast or dinner in intermittent fasting? ›

She says human metabolism works more efficiently in the morning, and suggests not skipping breakfast, eating dinner early and starting the fast at night time instead. “We are not meant to eat late in the night. It is against our body's circadian rhythm,” she says, referring to people's natural body clock.

Studies have shown that foregoing the first meal doesn't lead to weight loss. Instead, a literature review of nine studies in 2021 found that “All nine studies included in the review reported a statistically significant association between breakfast skipping and ... weight gain.”

Can a morning meal be good for your waistline? Some studies say yes. Researchers have found that on average, people who eat breakfast are thinner than those who don't. That could be because eating foods with protein and fiber in the morning keeps your appetite in check the rest of the day.

A 2023 review of research found that the 16/8 method and 16/8 combined with restricting calories were effective strategies for weight control in adults with overweight or obesity. An eating window starting before noon led to greater weight loss than one that began after noon.

To reap benefits that facilitate weight loss, fat burning, metabolism and management of appetite and cravings, make sure there are at least 12 hours between dinner and the next day's breakfast. An easy way to achieve this is to push dinner a little earlier or skip the late-night snacks.

The results show that skipping a meal reduced daily caloric intake between 252 calories (breakfast) and 350 calories (dinner). However, skipping breakfast or lunch decreased diet quality by about 2.2 points (about 4.3 percent), while skipping dinner lowered diet quality by 1.4 points (2.6 percent).

Eat a higher-protein, low-carb breakfast instead, like meat and nuts, an omelet, or a low-carb protein shake. Just don't knock the intermittent fasting unless you've really tried it.

08/12​Myth: Skipping meals leads to a flat stomach​

Fact: Skipping meals slows metabolism and can lead to overeating later, hindering fat loss goals.

According to some researchers, fasting for 10–16 hours can cause the body to turn its fat stores into energy, which releases ketones into the bloodstream. This should encourage weight loss.

Is it better to eat in the morning or evening intermittent fasting? ›

Limit the hours of the day when you eat, and for best effect, make it earlier in the day (between 7 am to 3 pm, or even 10 am to 6 pm, but definitely not in the evening before bed). Avoid snacking or eating at nighttime, all the time.

Some individuals may experience negative side effects, such as fatigue, irritability, or headaches from intermittent fasting. Breakfast: On the other hand, breakfast is often referred to as the most important meal of the day.

Eat a normal, healthy diet one day and then completely fast or have one small meal the next day. Usually, the small meal is fewer than 500 calories. Eat a normal diet five days a week and fast two days per week. Eat normally but only within an eight-hour window each day.

If you consistently stay active while following intermittent fasting, you can lose as much as 6-8 pounds per month. This estimation is shockingly high when you consider that all you have to do is not eat for select hours throughout the day.

You can repeat this cycle as frequently as you'd like — from just once or twice per week to every day, depending on your preference. The popularity of this fasting method has grown widely among those looking to lose weight and burn fat.

Consider a simple form of intermittent fasting.

Limit the hours of the day when you eat, and for best effect, make it earlier in the day (between 7 am to 3 pm, or even 10 am to 6 pm, but definitely not in the evening before bed). Avoid snacking or eating at nighttime, all the time.

Research Highlights: Eating less overall and fewer large meals may be a more effective weight management strategy than restricting meals to a narrow time window, such as intermittent fasting, according to a study that analyzed the electronic health records of about 550 adults who were followed for six years.

A person can eat what they want when following an intermittent fasting plan. However, following a balanced diet during the eating periods may help people reach health and weight management goals.

With 16/8 time-restricted eating, you can eat what you choose during an 8-hour window and fast for the other 16 hours. For example, you could eat between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. and then fast from 5 p.m. until 9 a.m. the next day. You can repeat this cycle daily or as often as you'd like throughout the week.