How eating breakfast helped me lose weight: why skipping breakfast didn't work for me and what I learned

For a while, intermittent fasting by skipping breakfast seemed like the perfect solution. It worked—until it didn’t.

It worked until I found myself running on stress hormones every day. Until my blood sugar was chronically high. Until my hormones were a wreck. Until I was completely depleted. Until I burnt out.

When I first started fasting, giving up breakfast seemed like the easiest option. Dinner was the social meal of the day, and there was no way I was going to sacrifice that. At the time, every fasting guide recommended skipping breakfast. And, in the beginning, it felt great. My mornings were productive, my mind was sharp, and I felt on top of the world. But looking back, I realise that high was driven by cortisol and adrenaline—my body’s stress hormones.

What no one was talking about back then was the impact of fasting on female hormones. The research and advice available were all based on studies done on men. But I didn’t question it—why wouldn’t I be able to do the same as men?

I grew up believing that I could achieve anything I wanted if I just worked hard enough. What I wasn’t taught was how to listen to my body, respect its needs, and recognise the consequences of constantly overriding them. I was in my push-my-body-as-hard-as-I-can era. And when things stopped working, I didn’t question my approach—instead, I pushed even harder.

So, I increased my fasting window. I ate less, exercised more, and expected my body to comply. But the harder I pushed, the more my body pushed back. My face became puffier, my clothes felt tighter, and it seemed impossible to lose even a few stubborn pounds. The very approach that was supposed to help me was now holding me back.

When I hit burnout, I knew things had to change. I needed to re-nourish and re-educate myself. Instead of focusing on restriction and intensity, I shifted to healing and nourishment. I began eating a protein-packed breakfast, prioritising my body’s needs and giving it the support it needed to thrive. And slowly but surely, the weight began to drop—naturally and sustainably.

Today, I truly believe breakfast is the most important meal of the day—especially for women and anyone under a lot of stress. My go-to is a protein-packed breakfast smoothie that keeps my blood sugar stable and my energy levels steady throughout the day.

If you’re tired of the confusion and ready for an approach that truly works for you, explore my consultation packages. At holistic her, I’m all about helping you find the balance and nourishment your body needs to thrive—not just survive.

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