We all grew up hearing the advice to “never skip breakfast” being thrown around, if not drilled into our heads. We were told a combination of things like it “kick starts” our metabolism, makes us smarter by helping us become sharper and more alert, and that it promotes weight loss by keeping us full and undistracted by food during the morning hours.

While all or some of these reasons could hold truth for some people, they are not backed by enough science and research to be used as blanket statement facts for everyone. The truth is that everyone is different and different truths apply to them at different times. A lot of it also comes down to preference. Some people feel hungry in the morning therefore feel better having had breakfast, while others feel nauseous at the thought of food until a couple hours after waking. If you’re someone who feels uneasy at the mere thought of food first thing in the morning, then there is no reason to force a meal. Your metabolism will not “slow down” and you will not underperform at school or work due to a perceived lack of nutrients, as long as you’re eating nutritious foods throughout the day when you’re ready.

When it comes to breakfast or any meal for that matter, as well as workouts and training, my advice is always to listen to your body. I know it sounds cliché and some people have trouble really understanding what this means and how to apply it, but it is so important for optimal performance not only in the context of training, but just going about your day-to-day life. Listening to your body means never forcing anything; recognizing the difference between when you’re making a forced decision due to some sort of external pressure, (this could even be just that little voice in your head or something you read) and really feeling like a decision feels right. It’s being in tune with what you really need versus what you think you need.

So if you enjoy breakfast, feel hungry in the morning and most importantly you feel good after eating it then eat breakfast. If you don’t, then don’t. Just like you should listen to your body when it needs something whether that be food or movement or rest, you should listen to the signs when it’s telling you it doesn’t need something quite yet.