Hi everyone,

I just joined the forum and it looks like a good place to hang out. I'm just starting working out, and right now I'm just trying to lose fat and build up some cardio health. I've just joined a gym and I'm swimming on weekdays around 4pm, at this point only for about 30 mins as I can't take much more right now (I'm in pretty poor shape, 5' 11", 190, gut, double chin and love handles).

I've never been a breakfast eater, usually just black coffee (and cigarettes a few years ago). Recently I've been drinking a glass of OJ with Metamucil just to up my fiber intake.

I eat a light lunch at 11:30 - can of tuna or salmon, baked pita chips, fat free yogurt and a piece of fruit.

Dinner (around 5:30 - 6:00) is whatever we cook. My wife and I steer clear of high fat, only eat red meat every two or three weeks, include fresh veggies etc. We subscribe to Cooking Light.

I tend also to have a glass or two of wine most evenings.

Bedtime is 9pm, I'm up again at 5am.

So my question, after this lengthy intro is... should I be eating more for breakfast? I really don't feel like eating, but I'm guessing that I may be screwing up my metabolism and reducing the effectiveness of my fat loss program.

Any advice greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Alistair

I'm sure you've heard the old saying, "Breakfast is the most important meal of the day". It's true, it is, and you really must start eating something.

Think of it this way. You've just fasted for 8 hours; your body is in need of substance to fuel it for the day. 1 glass of OJ and nothing before lunch isn't healthy. You should incorporate some whole-wheat toast, oatmeal, and clean healthy foods. It will boost your metabolism and energize you for your day as well as aid you in your weightloss goals.

I was a no breakfast type of person for years before I started becoming conscious of my health and diet. It used to make me nauseous to have any solid food in the morning. But after a week or so, things changed in a hurry and now I LOVE breakfast and could never go without it.

:gl:

Having a good breakfast also contols the urge for binge eating later in the day.

There are so many easy things you can do to catch a quick breakfast. If I've done cardio in the morning (usually from 6~6:45am), I like to keep carbs low for the first couple of hours in the morning to keep fat burning higher. I'll have a protein/meal replacement shake that's low in the carb department somewhere around 30~45 minutes after finishing cardio when I get to the office for work. I'll have a yogurt about 1~2 hours after that, sometime mid-morning, and throw in a cup of black coffee for the caffeine. Before you know it, lunch is upon you. You'll perform better throughout the day and won't be hungry and better still, those donuts that always end up in the breakroom won't tempt you either.

It's so quick and easy to eat something wholesome for breakfast, there's really no excuse outside pure and simple laziness stopping you from doing it.

It's so quick and easy to eat something wholesome for breakfast, there's really no excuse outside pure and simple laziness stopping you from doing it.

Well, as I said in my post, its more a case that I don't feel like eating in the morning rather than pure and simple laziness. ;) But it looks like a good healthy breakfast is in my future.

Thanks everyone for the advice.

Alistair

Well, as I said in my post, its more a case that I don't feel like eating in the morning rather than pure and simple laziness. ;) You'll get used to it ;)

If breakfast leaves you feeling sick, change what you eat (e.g. mostly carbs, or mostly fat, or mostly protein). That usually only happens to people who eat right after their workout, though. Swimming @ 4:00 PM shouldn't affect breakfast too much.

Three months from now you'll be wondering how you ever existed without breakfast. :nod:

I have a friend who used to skip breakfast and was gaining weight. He recently lost 20 lbs and the way he did it was he simply started eating a healthy breakfast. No special diet. No change in exercise (he plays basketball occasionally but doesn't go to the gym).

Losing fat is all about the metabolism. Your metabolism suffers without breakfast.

Is it good eating like this for breakfast and ofcourse this isnt all at once


grits
egg whites
eggwhites with tuna filling
whole wheat/grain cereal


I gotta pick some oatmeal up :d

Cool! Eat more, lose weight. I love that kinda deal :nod:

Is it good eating like this for breakfast and ofcourse this isnt all at once

grits
egg whites
eggwhites with tuna filling
whole wheat/grain cereal

I gotta pick some oatmeal up :d

I would think egg whites (or any high-protein meal) are only where you're trying to keep carbs low. This would be the case if you're trying to burn fat as the major energy source, especially after a good cardio session. I would only eat that way for the first couple of hours after a cardio session where you'd need to keep insulin levels low. Otherwise, egg whites with tuna (yuck!) would be fine. Personally, I'd prefer a half a protein shake and some good cereal 'n lowfat/fat free milk.