“No matter what exercise you do, you won’t get where you need to be without proper nutrition. And that starts with breakfast.” – Me
When I give lectures over here in Japan regarding lean living, I always stress the importance of a good breakfast. Because I give my lectures in Japanese, I explain what the meaning of breakfast is in English.
I divide the word and explain that this is the first meal that ‘breaks’ the ‘fast’ from the meal last night. Pretty obvious.
What isn’t so obvious to everyone is just how important this first meal of the day is…
I find it funny that I am here in Japanese yet most Japanese eat like an American. Toast, coffee, then out the door to be on with their day. No wonder no one has any energy throughout the day and stuff themselves at dinner!
Treat your first meal of the day as the most important one and I can tell you that you will see some serious changes in your energy and even physique.
I eat a hearty breakfast everyday. In fact my wife always laughs at how I can eat what I do everyday. He’s an example of a typical breakfast for me.
1 cup oatmeal
1 small avocado
3 scrambled eggs
1/2 cup plain yogurt
1 cup mixed veggies
1/2 cup salsa
I could eat this everyday. And I sometimes do.
I will leave you with a post from my Live Lean, Live Well September Newsletter from 2008.
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Oatmeal: The Ultimate Food.
If you have read any of my nutrition articles you will find that I absolutely rave about oatmeal. If you want to become lean and healthy, you should be eating oatmeal! Ask me what my ultimate breakfast is, and you will find me eating scrambled eggs with tomato, avocado, and sugar-free yogurt over a bed of oatmeal. I get hungry just thinking of the energy and nutrients this meal packs!
In my diet I eat no rice, no breads, no starches, and no simple sugars. I’m all about complex carbs and oatmeal is the only complex carb that I really care to eat. So what’s with my big love affair with oatmeal?
Here are the top 5 reasons why I love oatmeal.
1. Oatmeal is packed full of soluble fiber. More than whole wheat, rice, or corn! This fiber absorbs a great amount of water, thus slowing the digestive process and provides longer lasting energy. And because you will feel full for a longer period of time, you won’t be reaching for that candy bar when break time comes around! Plus, the fiber in oatmeal will also help in keeping your bowel movements regular.
2. Oatmeal can also help lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart disease. Those who eat more oats are less likely to develop heart disease. Studies have shown that oatmeal can regulate your balance of good and bad cholesterol, thanks in part to the soluble fiber found in the oat. What this means is that you can continue doing the activities you love doing because your ticker will keep on ticking longer!
3. Oatmeal can be considered a cancer killer as it is full of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants! The phytochemicals in oat may also have cancer-fighting properties. Not to mention that oatmeal contains complex carbs (the good kind), iron, and is also a source of protein.
4. Oatmeal can be found and bought cheaply anywhere! This is especially good in my situation. It is sometimes hard to come by a good carbohydrate product over here in Japan. While there are bakeries everywhere you turn, you will be lucky to find anything 100% natural, or made with whole wheat. And if you do, I am willing to bet that sugar has been added. Sure, you can get your hands on brown rice. However, brown rice eaten by itself is extremely hard on the digestive system. If you are lucky enough to find 100% whole wheat products over here you will pay a pretty yen for a very small amount. Although with oatmeal, I can just head down to my local supermarket and find it sitting on the shelves. 100% natural and inexpensive.
5. My favorite part of oatmeal is that it is easy to prepare and goes with anything! Eggs, bananas, berries, yogurt, avocado, or chicken. You name it, you can eat oatmeal with it. Heck, you can even eat it raw as I do in my daily shake!
So open up a pack of oatmeal today and start living lean!
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Live Lean, Live Well
