Breakfast breakfast..

If there is one thing that will get me up in the morning, it would be the thought of me getting to eat a delicious breakfast.  I am not a morning person at all, in fact thinking about getting up before 8:30am makes me pout.  Imagine when I used to work at a gym facility and had to get up at 5am to train clients….. or when I’m training for a fitness competition and have to get my workout in before I start training my morning clients… it’s a pain in my butt get up that early!!  I love my zzz’sss, but I love my breakfast more.

On that note, I have to admit, there is something about a warm, delicious cinnamon roll with gooey frosting, plus a hot cup of coffee topped off with a dollop of fresh whipped cream that always gets me from time to time… but if I had that every morning, I would not feel or look as healthy as I am.  When I travel, that damn smell from Cinnabon at the airport often gets me.  Thankfully, I’ve learned to take healthy snacks with me if I am flying and have the willpower to just enjoy the smell of that gooey toxic goodness.

There are many ways to be satisfied with lots of different options for breakfast, but I find a lot of my clients often SKIP breakfast!  That is a big no-no.  Just think about the word breakfast.  Break. Fast.  You are essentially breaking the fast of 5-9 hours!!  That’s a long time to go without food.  Remember, we should be eating every 3-4 hours to keep our blood sugar levels steady which controls our energy levels, cravings and hunger!  Now if you do end up eating that cina-yum-fatness for breakfast, you will most likely be satisfied for a few minutes, your blood sugar level will spike followed by a big drop.  So now what?  You are hungry again and you have slowed your metabolism down for the day.

I’d opt for a more balanced breakfast.  You don’t have to do egg whites,oatmeal and berries every morning, but you should try to eat a nice balanced satisfying meal.  Try greek yogurt, berries and a little granola or nuts.  Maybe a veggie eggwhite omelet.

I used to work at Circuit Works in Venice, CA on Abbot Kinney- right across from Abbot’s Habit.  One of my favorite surprises in my early AM shifts (5am!!!– ahhh!!!) was when my co-workers (Dusty- who now own DogTown Crossfit) would get us some coffee (ahem, everything in moderation) and some breakfast.  Check out one of my favorites:

Yum-o.  A multi-grain bagel, light cream cheese, sprouts, cucumber, red onion and avocado.  Deeeelish.

I know it’s hard to eat breakfast, or switch it from your Vente Caramel Mochalatta Chill, Extra Whip and Extra Caramel, plus croissant- heated, (dang that sounds good)… but the point is, if you want to be healthy, you gotta start your day healthy.  Your choice.  And mine.  So. Hard. Sometimes!!  Donuts are another vice.  BUT, I could easily be happy with some egg whites, spinach and some fresh salsa wrapped up in a whole wheat tortilla!!!  Try it sometime and you’ll feel a whole lot better though out the day!