WE’RE THREE weeks into the New Year and I imagine that some of you will be sticking to those resolutions.

Some of you will be sticking to some of them but losing the will. And some of you just won’t have bothered making them because you knew that you wouldn’t stick with it.

One of the most popular resolutions is to lose weight. I look on social media and my timeline is filled with reports on people’s success and what new diets they’re following or what diet club they’ve joined to help them fulfil their goal.

Working in the industry I do we get an influx of people at this time of year, some returning and some new to exercise and fitness. Most personal trainers will discuss diet and nutrition with their clients and guide them to make the right choices.

The biggest mistake, or rather bad habit that’s developed, is that many people skip breakfast. The reason? Well there’s a whole host of reasons people give:

• “I haven’t eaten breakfast for years.”

• “I couldn’t face food in the morning.”

• “I haven’t got time.”

• “I don’t like cereal.”

It won’t surprise you to hear that I think all of these are just poor excuses.

Why should you eat breakfast? Well, it may sound like a cliché but it really is the most important meal of the day.

It kickstarts your metabolism and raises your blood sugar levels. Remember you probably haven’t eaten for up to 12 hours so your body needs restarting.

If you don’t eat as you get up, you will crave sugar later in the morning. And what the body craves, the body tends to make the mind get for it.

What happens after you’ve appeased that sugar craving? Well a couple of hours later you’ll end up with a sugar crash which leads to another, yep you guessed it, sugar craving.

Remember what I said about the body getting what it wants to get? Well the cycle starts again.

For those of you who have skipped breakfast for years, it’s just your mind telling you that you can’t eat in the morning. Once you get into the habit and eat a regular breakfast, you’ll wonder how you managed without.

In the first instance I wouldn’t even worry too much about what you have as long as you have something. Then when it’s a habit make it a healthier habit.

The time issue doesn’t wash with me either, get up 10 minutes earlier and have your breakfast prepared the night before-you can reheat an omelette or pancakes that have been prepared, porridge can be sorted and eaten in less than 15 minutes.

I know, I do it!

Not only will eating breakfast assist with any weight loss goals it will help in your overall health.

So stop skipping it and make it a habit. If you need ideas on nutritious and easy breakfast options feel free to get in touch.