'If I'm not really hungry for lunch, what's the big deal about skipping it?'

Bariatric Dietitian Elizabeth Anderson sheds light on the classic diet technique of skipping meals to save calories.

After decades of dieting—books, programs and classes—the ‘rules’ of dieting can become second nature, perhaps even subconscious.

Following these practices can reap temporary results for dieters, but for weight loss surgery patients, these rules can be unhealthy and even dangerous.

In our hustle-bustle, productivity-obsessed work world, taking time for lunch can seem like a time suck. It’s almost virtuous in this country to skip meals because you’re ‘just too busy to eat.’ Hey, it’s a win-win, right? Your work dedication impresses the boss and, extra bonus--you didn’t consume any of those lunch-time calories! Great for the diet, right? Wrong.

Missing meals isn’t smart for the dieter or the bariatric patient. Skipping meals throws off metabolism and triggers a biological effect in our brains making it almost impossible not to overeat at the next meal.

But before that, a skipped lunch sabotages those ‘saved’ calories if we start justifying grazing with the thought, ‘It’s okay, I didn’t eat lunch, I can have this.’

For bariatric patients, eating three meals and two portioned snacks each day is essential to:

· reach your ideal weight loss

· maintain weight loss

· keep blood sugar balanced

· manage hunger by keeping your pouch or sleeve comfortably full

· fuel your body during the most active part of your day

Bottom line, a missed meal compromises your weight loss and weight management efforts.

I tell my clients to think of skipped meals like missed sleep; your body doesn’t dig it and will let you know! You’ll slog through the day without sleep and you’ll be a starving beast at dinner if you miss lunch.

Tomorrow, dangerous diet tip #2: Low calorie, high volume foods are your best friend.

Question:When do we start eating three meals and two portioned Snacks each day?

Excellent points.

Skipping meals is only one of many ways many obese people have accustomed themselves not to care for themselves.

Ramping up my own self-care skills and the willingness to make myself "number one" are critical to my own obesity recovery.

And just because I now take care of my needs first doesn't mean I don't still care for others in my life. In many ways, I'm learning self-respect for the first time. The changes are subtle, but important.

Skipping meals was one of the reasons I gained so much weight. For some skipping a meal is a gateway to making excuses to over eat or eat the wrong things.

Question:When do we start eating three meals and two portioned Snacks each day?

I tell my clients to work up to that gradually after surgery. I recommend the bariatric serving sized plate as a meal guideline and lean Protein based snacks in the 100 calorie range.