Wondering If Skipping Breakfast Aids Weight Loss?

September 5, 2025

In this blog

What is GLP-1 and how does it work?

Week-by-Week breakdown

Tips and lessons from real users

The EARLY Perspective

Conclusion

About the Author

References

Ready to lose weight for good?

I always used to think about skipping breakfast for weight loss, and if you are doing so, you’re not the only one. Intermittent fasting is all over the gym forums, wellness influencers, and social media. But if you’re a person with thyroid problems, PCOS, or hormonal rollercoasters, fasting may seem like a recipe for disaster.

Perhaps you’ve already attempted “clean eating,” eliminating carbs, or going to the gym every day, but belly fat isn’t going away and it’s still there.

So what’s the solution– could intermittent fasting (IF) actually be the missing link? And more importantly, is it safe, especially if you’re juggling hormone imbalances or thyroid conditions?

Let’s dive into what fasting really is, how it works, and whether it could help your body finally shift into fat-burning mode.

What Is Intermittent Fasting (IF)?

Let’s clear something up right away:
Intermittent fasting isn’t about reducing your intake; it’s about reducing how often you eat. It’s a kind of eating pattern that cycles between 2 periods– eating and fasting (no food, only water or non-caloric beverages).

Unlike most diets, IF doesn’t prescribe what to eat; it dictates when you eat.

Most Popular Intermittent Fasting Methods:

16:8 method – You fast for 16 hours, eat during an 8-hour window (e.g., 12 pm–8 pm).
5:2 approach – Consume normally 5 days per week; limit calories (~500–600) on 2 non-consecutive days.
Eat-Stop-Eat – One to two 24-hour fasts a week.

A Real-Life Example:

Consider Himanshi, age 33 (name changed to protect privacy), a graphic designer with PCOS. No matter that she was counting calories and doing HIIT five days a week, the scale would not move. She gave 16:8 fasting a whirl, not strict keto, not extreme restriction. Within weeks, she observed:

Less bloating
Fewer cravings for sugar
A more even energy level throughout the day

No, it wasn’t magic. But for the first time, her body felt like it was cooperating with her, not working against her.

How Intermittent Fasting Works for Weight Loss

When you eat all the time, your body continues to produce insulin, a hormone that assists your cells in absorbing glucose from food. But here’s the surprise: High insulin = fat storage mode.

Fasting flips the switch. During a fast, insulin drops, and your body starts using stored fat for energy. This process is called metabolic switching, and it’s one of the key reasons IF can support weight loss.

Benefits Beyond the Scale:

You get improved insulin sensitivity (especially crucial for PCOS and prediabetes)
You will have fewer cravings, especially for sugar and refined carbs
You can have better focus and mental clarity
You will be more consistent energy, without the 3 p.m. crash

And no, this doesn’t mean you’ll “starve” or “slow your metabolism.” In fact, short-term fasting has been shown to support metabolic health when done correctly.

But What About Hormones?

If you’re dealing with hormonal imbalances, fasting isn’t a simple plug-and-play. Let’s break it down:

Estrogen & Progesterone: Women’s bodies are hardwired differently. Hormones change throughout the menstrual cycle, and prolonged fasts can put the system under stress, particularly during the latter half of your cycle when progesterone increases.

That’s why some women love IF, but others get cranky, tired, or develop insomnia. Timing is everything.

Cortisol (Your Stress Hormone): Fasting is a gentle stressor. If you’re already stressed, fasting will probably further jack up cortisol, which can defeat the purpose of weight loss and interfere with sleep or digestion.

Fasting and Thyroid Health: If you have hypothyroidism, be careful.

Fasting decreases active thyroid hormone (T3) when done excessively, particularly in combination with calorie restriction or extreme exercising. But when done gently and empathetically, it can remain beneficial.

Suggestions if you have thyroid problems:

Begin with a 12:12 window (fast for 12 hours, eat 12 hours)
Steer clear of aggressive cutting calories
Focus on nutrient-dense food during the eating window
Observe your body’s reaction, fatigue, hair loss, or cold hands may indicate something is off

Real-Life Stories + Common Mistakes

Say hello to Vedika, a 29-year-old woman who has estrogen dominance and insulin resistance. She believed she was doing IF correctly by skipping breakfast, sipping black coffee till lunch.

But by 4 p.m.? Starving. By 6 p.m.? Overindulging in everything in sight.

Her error: missing meals without fueling her body adequately in her eating window is dangerous.

Solution: After tweaking to incorporate high-protein, balanced meals and cutting back on caffeine, her fasting window actually felt more manageable, and energy increased.

Fasting Mistakes:

Fasting throughout the day, then night-time binging
Exercising too much + fasting = hormonal upheaval
Not consuming adequate water or electrolytes
Not taking sleep quality into account (fasting is helpful, but it’s not a magic bullet)

Is Intermittent Fasting for You?

Fasting Might Be Useful If You:

Have trouble with insulin resistance, PCOS, or weight plateau
Wake up without a hunger instinctively
Desire greater control of cravings and energy crashes
Are seeking a long-term rhythm vs. calorie restriction

Fasting Might Not Be Suitable If You:

Have a history of eating disorders or disordered eating
Have adrenal fatigue or elevated cortisol
Are pregnant, breastfeeding, or recovering from sickness
Feel worse (sluggish, nervous, cranky) after attempting it

Listen to your body! Start slowly, test, and observe how your sleep, mood, and energy react, not only the scale number.

Best Advice

Intermittent fasting isn’t about starving your body. It’s about making space for rest, for balance, for healing. If approached with care, it can aid in weight loss, balance hormones, and even streamline your daily life.

But it must be your fit, your biology, and your energy.
You don’t have to “win” at fasting. You just have to find a flow that feels good.

If you are still unsure about the benefits of fasting, let’s sort it out together. Book our Metabolic Diagnosis and our experienced team will connect with you.