06/17/2026
There is extensive support that skipping breakfast and pushing the first meal to 2PM as a busy woman creates a severe physiologic stressor (1). Metabolism is regulated by light-dark cycles and food intake (2). Cortisol naturally peaks in the early morning…this is GOOD, we want this! But skipping or skimping on food drops blood sugar and signals crisis in the brain. This causes a prolonged cortisol activation, triggering chronic exhaustion and systemic inflammation…we do NOT want this.
Ok, so…great news! WE can change the habit of not eating. AND…NO time to eat or no appetite for food cannot be a reason not to eat, because you have to change the habit to have a better outcome.
WHY you may not be hungry in the morning…
1. Eating too much, too late in the evening.
2. Inefficient elimination…are you constipated?
3. Poor digestion…do you feel bloated after meals?
4. Low muscle mass or low physical activity…there is a difference between running around like a crazy person, stressed, and performing physical exercise.
5. Self labeling…”I am just not a morning person”
6. Caffeine before food driving down appetite.
WHAT TO DO…
1. Eat on a schedule…get your body in the groove, plan to eat breakfast even if you are not hungry.
2. Meal prep…have it ready to go so you don’t have to think in the morning.
3. Center your meal around protein; skip the bars and go for a whole food meal!
4. Move at night after dinner…something that involves all of you moving for 20 min.
(1) PMID: 39027820; (2) PMID: 33413444 (3)