Breakfast As A Pre-Training Meal

Elite Athletes don’t think of breakfast as a chore in the morning, they see it as a pre-training meal and an opportunity to fuel their body for peak performance.

Along with competing at a high level, eating a nutritious breakfast will increase mental focus and help build a lean strong body. Skipping breakfast, on the other hand, can put athletes in “catch-up mode” all day and create lack-luster performance in the classroom and on the field.

When athletes say “I’m not hungry in the morning” we have to look at the behaviors they’ve ingrained leading up to that point. How many months (or years) have they gone without eating a nutritious breakfast, or worse skipping it altogether?

Taking an athlete to the top of their sport is as much about training the mental game as it is about workouts, nutrition planning and practice.

The word “breakfast” literally means to break the fast. In its simplest terms, fasting is the act of not eating for a long period of time. When you fall asleep for the 6-8 hours every night, you’re in a virtual fast. Often times it’s a growling belly that gets you out of bed in the morning. What you choose to eat is one of the most important decisions you’ll make all day.

Since your fuel tank is empty in the morning, your body is highly receptive to nutrients. Eating a nutritious breakfast will jumpstart protein synthesis and create a rich muscle building environment. Undersized athletes who switch to a breakfast containing 3-4 eggs with 1-2 servings of oatmeal report a relatively quick 5-10 pound weight gain in the first month.

For the athletes who don’t have an appetite in the morning, they have to find a way to consume something. Here are some options from worst-case to best:

• Option #1 “Impending Disaster Scenario” – 2 glasses of chocolate milk
• Option #2 “The Fast Food Junkie” – 2 egg McMuffin with low-fat milk from McDonalds
• Option #3 “Lazy Man’s Shake” –  Fruit juice spiked with a full serving of whey protein
• Option #4 “The Champion” – 4 egg omelet, 2 servings of oatmeal, and 1 piece of fruit

Whatever sport you play, it’s the little things you do everyday [on a consistent basis] that will set you apart from the rest of the competition. Begin your morning with a nutritious breakfast, and a BIG game is right around the corner!