Hello NEXT LEVEL clients!
A lot of mornings I ask you all what you've had for breakfast. A lot of you answer: cereal. Cereal in general not bad for you...but some kinds are! What I've noticed is that you've also talked about how tired you are in the morning, even though you've had breakfast to fuel yourself before the workout. Sleep hours aside, this got me thinking... what kinds of cereals are you eating and how much? If you are eating the wrong kind/amount, the cereal could be the source of your exhaustion!
What size is your portion of cereal? If you're not measuring with the appropriate measuring cups, then you probably don't know! If you eat too much of anything it will cause you to feel sluggish, not to mention uncomfortable while you are working out. Read the labels and serve yourself 1 serving! Balance out the calories for the meal with 1/2-1cup low fat milk/yogurt, and a piece of fruit, sprinkle 1 tbs of chopped nuts or sunflower seeds if desired. Voila! Healthy portions for your morning meal!
Have you checked the grams of sugar in one serving of cereal? Depending on the kind you buy, you could be fueling yourself with pure sugar for breakfast (causing a sudden crash later) instead of eating healthy, energizing calories! Check out the comparing amounts of sugar in these popular cereals (listed from high to low). Even the ones that boast the most health benefits can be high in sugar!
--General Mills Raisin Total Raisin Bran: 17 grams (partly fruit sugars as opposed to added sugars but still very high!)
--Kashi GoLean Crunch: 13 grams
--Kellogg's Frosted Mini Wheat's: 12 grams (less than some of the cereals that are supposed to be "healthy", even though you can see the added sugar coating it!)
--Quaker Maple and Brown Sugar Flavored Instant Oatmeal: 12 grams
--Kashi Heart to Heart Honey Toasted Oat Cereal/Kashi 7 Whole Grain Flakes : 5 grams
--Quaker Regular Oatmeal: 1 gram (great choice! High in protein and fiber too!)
--General Mills Cheerios: 1 gram
Amazing, isn't it?! The presence of sugar can be masked by a cereal's good reputation! Don't be oblivious to the facts, folks, read the label! Try to limit the amount of cereal to 1 serving with around 9g of sugar maximum (not including added sugars from fruit that you add to your breakfast). It could make a big difference in the way you feel throughout the day!
So next time you come in at 6am saying your tired.... be prepared for me to ask about your breakfast! No excuses! You have all the information you need to make healthy breakfast choices from here on out at your finger tips :)
Wishing you a happy and healthy life!
Dr. Abu Pigott
Aurora
