Is this a P90X friendly breakfast?

[MSgherzi]

So this is what my breakfast has been looking like for the past couple of weeks (I just finished P90X Day 31 last night).

1 Bowl of Wheaties w/ a handful of blueberries and a cup of fat free milk w/ a 100 calorie packet of almonds and a string cheese w/ a banana.

Sometimes I actually cut one of those out, such as the string cheese. Which leads me to another question: is what wheaties claims true? They claim that if you eat wheaties in the morning, then it jump starts your metabolism.

This whole breakfast ends up being almost 700 calories. Just wondering if that's too much for breakfast.

I'm thinking of buying Shakeology, but just assume I don't have to for the time being.

Thanks.

[Sterling]

I'd stick to whole foods like eggs, real cheese, butter, bacon, chicken, and veggies, etc. for breakfast. I'm assuming this is a 'pre-workout' meal. You might want to consider intermittent fasting (If). I never eat breakfast and feel so much better eating my first meal later in the day.

[FitRunner]

I don't know for a fact, but I doubt the Wheaties claim is true as you have taken it to be. I'd buy that eating anything, including but not limited to Wheaties, in the morning might jump-start your metabolism. Or at least kick it up a bit compared to sleeping. But I just don't buy that there are magic products that work in mysterious ways to make you slimmer or faster or stronger, including Wheaties being awesome for metabolism. In fact, I'd bet money on that any such effect is dwarfed by the effect of lean muscle mass on metabolism.

That's a big breakfast but that's not necessarily a bad thing. I don't think you can ask if a single meal out of your day is good or not good - because what is "okay" will also depend on what else you eat during the rest of the day, and other days. Nutrition "averages out". If you have a 700 calorie breakfast, that's fine if you eat relatively small meals for lunch and dinner and don't snack much. Or if you have very large calorie needs. Apologies, but I don't remember your height or weight :)

And then only you can answer the question "how do you feel?" For me, breakfast is very important. It obviously isn't for Sterling. We can't tell you what makes you feel good. Only you can decide what is best for you.

Teresa

[scourtney7]

I agree with Teresa, there are many factors that should influence your caloric needs not just as an individual but also throughout the days for various meals. I find that eating 5 meals a day evenly spaced out with an adequate balance of carbs/protein/healthy fats for the workout program that I am doing is what works for me. I am not an advocate for skipping breakfast, particularly when doing intense workout programs like P90X. I have learned a lot over the past several years and definitely as I have progressed and successfully finished P90X and Insanity over the past year. For me, breakfast is crucial to giving me ample energy for the rest of my day and it keeps my metabolism and insulin levels from going bonkers and increasing the likelihood that I will either a) overeat later in the day or b) bonk during workouts. My typical breakfast these days is b/n 300 and 400 calories so you could probably get away with 100 or so more calories than I consume (given you are a male and have higher caloric needs than I do as a woman). Try to follow the nutrition plan that comes with P90X. I'd go with a whole wheat, high protein cereal rather than wheaties. Examples include Kashi Go Lean and other Kashi cereals. You might also try substituting almond milk for the dairy. It will cut down on the calories and sugars in the meal and give you added energy.

Shannon