Some describe it as the most important meal of the day. To others it is something that is better left skipped in an effort to lose weight. But which is the truth? Is breakfast a must eat or something you can safely ignore?
This may surprise you by fat loss studies have shown that eating breakfast will actually help you to lose weight! Obviously we are not talking about a calorie and fat laden fry up here, but a healthy cereal or some yoghurt and fruit can set you up for the day, help stop you from feeling hungry.
Why does this work?
How a Breakfast Helps You Lose Weight
1. When you sleep your body’s metabolism also sleeps. Your calorie burning slows down. To bump start it you need to eat, otherwise your body will be in permanent ‘starvation mode’ and you will be using less calories to do simple things. This can add up to make a big difference.
2. By eating when you get up and before you are hungry you are less likely to eat a lot at lunch time – as your body will already have been provided with some of the fuel that it needs. By having breakfast you stop yourself from needing to ‘pig out’ at lunch, which is often the hardest meal to do healthy – with eating out when in the office etc.
3. You stop yourself snacking. Having an instant hit of energy that continues throughout the day you are far less likely to snack than if you skip and start feeling peckish. Considering how unhealthy many snacks are that is an important difference.
4. A good size breakfast stops you thinking from about food. You eat more when you think about food – that is why dieting can be so hard, it is always on your mind. If you eat breakfast it is far less likely to be playing on your mind throughout the day.
