We always hear rumors that breakfast is the most important meal of the day and to avoid big meals. Is this true? Yes and no. Let me explain. Nutrition is about timing and getting in large amounts of nutrients when the body requires it. Typically in the morning and whenever we are active.

When we wake up in the morning we have a 60 minute window to restore muscle/liver glycogen, which pretty much means eating carbohydrates in order to jump start your metabolism. What happens is when you wait say two hours to eat upon waking, the body goes in to a protective mode and stores the carbohydrates as body fat, instead of glycogen(energy). This is why when we do eat within 60 minutes upon waking that we tend to be hungrier throughout the day which is an indication that your metabolism is speeding up and using the nutrients for energy.

Try to eat a sufficient amount of complex carbohydrates(Like Oats, sweet potatoes, brown rice, eilzikle bread, and quinoa) in your first meal of the day and before activities or workouts.

Try to not yet your self go longer than 3-4 hours without eating, even if its a small snack like a handful of almonds, this will ensure that your metabolism will not slow down and use the nutrients as energy.

Do not eat large portions of carbohydrates two hours prior to sleep. It is ok to eat before bed, however you want to avoid large portions of carbohydrates before bed since you are going to be resting and not utilizing the carbohydrates as energy they are more likely to convert to body fat.