[bigdee]

What is better in terms of losing weight... Eating a meal high in fat and sodium but lower calories OR eating a healthier meal lower in fat and sodium but more calories?

Basically I have noticed the following about myself. I like to eat a relatively unhealthy breakfast (McDonalds, etc). But once I do, I feel pretty satisfied so that I can get by with a minimal lunch and a healthy dinner. When I try to be totally healthy all day with my meals, I will eat more calories because I will constantly be unsatisfied and a little hungry and will snack more and eat more at my meals. Even though the snacks and meals are all very healthy, I realize that I have taken in more total calories than when I eat a fatty breakfast that holds me over.

I'm thinking that maybe I should stick with the unhealthy breakfast since it holds me over the rest of the day and my total calorie intake is lower. But that breakfast is high in fat and sodium so I wonder if it is worse in the long run.

[XOXOlove]

I think the unhealthy breakfast is worse in the long run. I mean calories isn't the only thing about eating healthy. Eating unhealthy food (especially Mcdonald's!) every day has other consequences like high cholesterol, high blood pressure etc. Maybe you could try eating more healthy foods that fill you. Try replacing your breakfast with a smoothie made of fresh fruits, milk, and yogurt and see if it makes you full.

[Fr_Chuck]

Part of it is learning and allowing your body to get used to proper foods. And if needed good healthy snacks if needed.

[bigdee]

Yeah I agree that the high cholesterol, sodium and sat. fats cannot be good. But The calorie difference between my two eating styles are quite large... I mean I did the unhealthy breakfast and ate just 1300 calories today and feel great. When I do the other "healthy diet", I take in close to 2000 calories. But the fat and sodium intake is 1/3 less. But 700 calories is a lot...

[joypulv]

A breakfast that keeps me going is oatmeal, and I add to it (pre-mix a batch of wheat germ, chopped nuts, raisins, and cranberries which I keep in the freezer because I can only find the fresh ones once a year). Second on my list is an egg on healthy toast. You need some carbs to burn in the morning.
In the hot months, just dry cereal.
I'd go with the higher calories too, if you feel you have to choose between the 2.
1300 calories of which how many were the McD breakfast? Ouch. And what exactly is that breakfast?

[bigdee]

I like to eat two egg mcmuffins (300 calories each) which comes out to 600 calories. It satisfies me so well that I just eat healthy snacks for lunch (300 calorie health shake) and dinner (400 calorie healthy meal)

[DoulaLC]

I agree, why limit to either one or the other? The choices for low cal, high nutrient meals/snacks are huge! You just need to do a little more searching and trying different things to increase your repertoire of choices so that you don't get bored or feel unsatisfied... :)

Do a search for healthy low calorie foods as a starting place.

If you are able to bump up your fitness level, the close to 2000 calories won't be as much of an issue, but even still, you should be able to get that down with some different choices.

Going with the higher fat, sodium, and cholesterol defeats the whole purpose of trying to get fit and healthy. Even if you did lose some weight faster, you would actually be less healthy in the long run.