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Eat Breakfast, Lose Weight!

You know how mom used to always say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day? Well, guess what? She was right! Mom knows best when it comes to realizing that breakfast is the fuel that keeps us running throughout the day. Let's talk about the importance of breakfast and some alternatives for anti-breakfast folks.

So, why do we do it? Sometimes it's just too easy to skip breakfast. You're in a rush, you'd prefer to sleep a little later rather than prepare a meal, or it's so hectic getting the kids off, you just can't seem to make the effort or find the time. Slow down or resist that snooze button!

Eat it on the way to work or, pack it and eat it once you get there and get settled in. How about fixing the whole family a healthy breakfast instead of setting for Pop Tarts or donuts for the kids? Or perhaps you're taking the (unwise) meal-skipping approach to losing weight. Chances are this is going to backfire on you because skipping meals almost always leads us to overeating. This is especially true in the case of breakfast, because you've just been asleep for 7 or 8 hours and your body needs to recover from this brief period of starvation.

If you don't eat something in the morning, you are literally forcing yourself into running on empty. Say the last time you ate was 8 p.m. last night. If you didn't eat lunch until noon today, that's sixteen hours of no refueling! Your body is screaming out, "Give me some help here!"

Your metabolism is like a fireplace and it fizzles out as you sleep at night, if you don't throw some fuel on it when you wake up, your metabolism will not burn efficiently the rest of the day. It is like throwing logs into a fireplace with no fire in it and so the logs just sit there.

But... there's a problem. So you don't like traditional breakfast foods. Don't worry! There are alternatives to traditional breakfast fare that you may not have considered!

Go global! Did you know that in Japan it is common to eat rice, soup or steamed vegetables in the morning? It may take some getting used to, but the benefits are certainly there -- reduced fat and added nutrients from the veggies.

Getting a late start? Prefer "lunch-ish" foods? Melt low-fat cheese, goat cheese, light cream cheese, or natural peanut butter onto a slice of toasted whole wheat bread.

Did you learn about the Native Americans eating popcorn for breakfast in elementary school? Well, it's true. What an interesting way to start the day. There are many delicious "light" types of popcorn out there. I went 30 years without eating breakfast and so to eat it, made me feel quite queasy at first. It took training and starting out with something light did the trick.

Oatmeal or steel cut oats may have made you cringe as a kid, but you can add fruit, nuts or honey to give it more flavor. Oatmeal is a perfect food for winter mornings and will probably keep you feeling full a little longer than cold cereal.

Prefer a protein punch at breakfast? Eggs are a great protein-rich breakfast, and contrary to popular belief, they are not diet-disaster… their neighbors on your plate are. Eggs are nutrient-rich with vitamins like B and K as well as folic acid, which is especially important to women's health. Some years ago, people thought eggs contributed to health risks, but it has since been proven that they do not significantly contribute to high cholesterol or increase the chance of heart disease. I like to use 2 eggs and 2-3 egg whites so I have a much larger serving, but little calories.

If you find that cereal and milk just don't tide you over, try yogurt instead. It is more filling and also includes live bacteria cultures that are good for you. You can add a healthy cereal to it for added crunch. Or, supplement your favorite cereal with fruit sliced into it. Watch out for the high-sugar types (if your kids love it, it's probably one of them!). Not only does the extra sugar harm your diet, those cereals also tend to be less filling. You may even wish to think of your cereal as an appetizer -- eat it first thing, but then mid-morning have a larger snack with some healthy fat and protein in it.

Studies show that not only does eating a healthy balanced breakfast each morning help weight loss, but it adds years to your life. Skipping breakfast can take as much as 7 years off your life span!

Several of our clients who have come to us wanting to lose weight, followed this advice and saw immediate results AND had more energy, less headaches, ate less at night and felt amazing!

So what are you waiting for! Make breakfast a priority! :o)