The age-old myth that "breakfast is the most important meal of the day" needs to take a hike. Skipping breakfast can actually help you effortlessly lose weight. It's known as intermittent fasting (IF), and it involves fasting for part of each day or a few times a week (water, black coffee, and unsweetened tea are allowed). One common example of this is known as 16:8, where you skip breakfast, eat from noon until 8 p.m., then fast the rest of the day.
Ferrari and Luiza Petre, MD, a weight-loss specialist and board-certified cardiologist, told POPSUGAR that intermittent fasting raises growth hormone levels and lowers insulin levels, both of which help burn more fat. "Insulin decreases when you fast, and lower levels of insulin results in burning more fat," Ferrari added, especially belly fat.
Eating in a shortened window not only reduces hunger (it's true!), but since you're not eating for long periods of time, there are also fewer opportunities to consume calories, which is why IF helps people eat fewer calories each day. If 16:8 doesn't seem doable for your schedule, experiment with other forms of IF including 5:2, Eat Stop Eat, or alternate day fasting.