MYTH: Skipping breakfast will boost weight loss.
FACT: Skipping breakfast will lead to weight gain, elevated cholesterol & a slower metabolism.
If you’re not a breakfast person, you might want to change your mind (… or stomach? ) When you skip meals, it causes stress and you think more about food which is a slippery slope of negative feelings…
Research shows that skipping breakfast can actually cause weight gain & elevate your cholesterol levels. Skipping meals will catch up with you later on (just like those bills from As Seen On TV products that I bought in the middle of the night). You may eat fewer calories during the day by doing so, but in the long run, it’ll slow down your metabolism by putting it into starvation mode.
Starvation mode… What does that mean? Starvation mode is a state in which the body responds to prolonged periods of low energy intake. After prolonged periods of starvation, the body has depleted its body fat and begins to burn primarily lean tissue and muscle as a fuel source. No one wants that! You won’t be losing fat, but essential lean tissue and hard earned muscle. The less muscle you have, the slower your metabolism.
Next time you’re running out the door in the morning, make sure to grab a quick bite to eat! And don’t grab a bowl of cereal, get some protein. Protein is the real breakfast of champions. Protein will help you feel full. Science says, protein activates the body’s signals that curb appetite, which reduces cravings and overeating. Eating a high-protein breakfast drops the hunger hormone ghrelin and increases the fullness hormones peptide YY, GLP-1 and cholecystokinin. Eating protein also helps protect your lean muscle mass, which in turn keeps your metabolism running fast.
Here are a few spectacular breakfasts high in protein:
- Scrambled eggs with veggies
- An omelet with cottage cheese & spinachÂ
- Boiled Eggs (hack: boil a dozen eggs at a time for a quick to go breakfast)
- Really any form of eggs
- Greek yogurt & a little granola (make sure it’s high in protein, low in carbs & sugar)
- Protein shake
- Protein pancakes
I personally tried this hack out last week and lost 3 pounds by JUST changing what I eat for breakfast. Don’t just take our word for it, give it a try yourself and see what happens. You might be surprised at the results.
Want more weight loss tips? Call (801) 293-3100 to speak with one of our nutritionists.