Breakfast has been called the most important meal of the day, and that phrase certainly rings true with bodybuilders. After going overnight without eating, getting in a solid meal should be the first thing on your morning agenda if you regularly work out. You need a meal that not only cures your hunger but also sets you up for whatever training regimen is on your schedule.
A Good Egg
Eggs are a favorite breakfast food among bodybuilders the world over. The main bodybuilding benefit of eggs is their protein content, with 6 grams of protein per large egg. Have your eggs boiled, scrambled, poached or fried in a little coconut oil. If you're in bulking mode, add some cheese or serve your eggs with toast or a whole-grain tortilla. Alternatively, if you're attempting to shed some fat, Devin Alexander of the website Flex recommends only using egg whites to reduce the calorie content.
Smooth Operator
When you're in a rush, sometimes you just want a breakfast you can eat on the go. This is when a blender becomes your best breakfast companion. For the ultimate muscle-building smoothie, coach Nate Green of Scrawny to Brawny recommends following a seven-step process. First you need ice -- the more you use, the thicker your drink. Ingredients two, three and four are a type of fruit, either spinach or celery, and a scoop of protein powder. For step five, pick a nut or seed. Add some sort of liquid -- either water, green tea, milk, almond milk or coffee -- for step six, and top your smoothie with dark chocolate, ground coffee beans, chopped nuts or coconut. The variations are endless.
A Meaty Morning
If the idea of a conventional breakfast bores you to tears and makes you want to crawl back under the covers, try the meat and nuts breakfast. Eating meat and nuts will provide you with sustained energy and help manage insulin levels, claims personal trainer and nutritional therapist Steve Grant. Try lean beef or pork combined with almonds, a chicken breast and macadamias, or venison accompanied by cashews.
The Deal with Breakfast
Regardless of what foods you choose for breakfast, the most important issue is to make sure your meal fits your goals and what you're eating the rest of the day. A more drastic idea for breakfast is to skip it altogether. This may not be the norm, but it does have its advantages for bodybuilders, according to nutritionist John Kiefer. Fasting through the morning leads to elevated growth hormone and lower insulin levels, which can accelerate muscle gain and fat loss, notes Kiefer. Stick to your regular breakfast is you like, but this certainly provides some food for thought.
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