'Brunch And Burn' With Personal Trainer Meriah McCauley
Love splurging at brunch but feel a twinge of guilt for all your working out during the week going to waste? Enter Meriah: a certified Personal Trainer and holistic Health Coach. With a passion for fitness and wellness, but a love of delicious eats, Meriah shares her healthy brunch tips - and some favorite moves you can do to burn calories before brunch. And read on - if you like what you see, Meriah is offering complimentary consultations to BrunchUponATime.com visitors!
What are some tips for healthy brunching without feeling deprived?
Try to get in a pre-brunch workout on an empty stomach, when your body's glucose energy levels will be low, and you will put your body into fat-burning mode. Even just 20 minutes of cardio intervals is enough, but make sure to push it and get that heart rate up. Check out Meriah's pre-brunch workout plan exclusively for BrunchUponATime.com - just three exercises can make a difference!
What is your favorite brunch spot?
My favorite brunch spot is Sanford's in Astoria. It was first established as a diner, and has stuck around forever... but with an updated, modern feel (open 24 hours). Plus, a great menu, with fresh, organic ingredients and cage-free eggs, which is a major draw to me. I'm never disappointed!
Favorite healthy brunch food?
I think it's pretty easy to have a healthy brunch without feeling deprived. The key is to avoid refined carbohydrates and sugar (like bread, waffles, pancakes - but don't fret i will come back to this). My go-to brunch is a garden omelet, full of different colored veggies, like broccoli, peppers, mushrooms, onions, or spinach.
Forget egg whites - the whole egg is 100x more nutritious. And you don't have to worry about the fat or cholesterol... Fat is your friend! What you should leave out, however, is the cheese. Dairy (and its sugar lactose) is inflammatory or problematic for most people... and you will save a couple 100 calories! A great option instead is to add avocado, which is not only creamy and delicious, but balances you out with the healthy omega-3 fats, and helps to lose body fat! You should also skip the ketchup... it's really just sugar or high-fructose corn syrup (even worse), so use real tomatoes instead! Remember as well, no need to stuff yourself with a bulging belly - most portions are BIG so leave something on the plate, or bring some home for breakfast tomorrow.
If you have a sweet tooth...
If you really have a sweet tooth (like me), try ordering just a side of French toast or a short stack, with banana or some other fruit (so you don't need the added sweetness of maple syrup). Sugar is NOT your friend, more like arch-nemesis. So be sure to keep your serving small, sharing with your friends as a dessert. You will all get to enjoy a couple bites, without it being your entire meal and having such a drastic impact on your blood-sugar levels (which triggers the hormone insulin and fat storage).
Bottom line:
Always go with a meal that is mostly protein and vegetables, rather than one that is all refined carbohydrate and sugars. Of course a side of fresh fruit is always a healthy, sweet option, too! Be sure to go for a nice, brisk walk after you've digested your yummy meal, to get that metabolism back to work.
What are some tips for healthy brunching without feeling deprived?
Try to get in a pre-brunch workout on an empty stomach, when your body's glucose energy levels will be low, and you will put your body into fat-burning mode. Even just 20 minutes of cardio intervals is enough, but make sure to push it and get that heart rate up. Check out Meriah's pre-brunch workout plan exclusively for BrunchUponATime.com - just three exercises can make a difference!
What is your favorite brunch spot?
My favorite brunch spot is Sanford's in Astoria. It was first established as a diner, and has stuck around forever... but with an updated, modern feel (open 24 hours). Plus, a great menu, with fresh, organic ingredients and cage-free eggs, which is a major draw to me. I'm never disappointed!
Favorite healthy brunch food?
I think it's pretty easy to have a healthy brunch without feeling deprived. The key is to avoid refined carbohydrates and sugar (like bread, waffles, pancakes - but don't fret i will come back to this). My go-to brunch is a garden omelet, full of different colored veggies, like broccoli, peppers, mushrooms, onions, or spinach.
Forget egg whites - the whole egg is 100x more nutritious. And you don't have to worry about the fat or cholesterol... Fat is your friend! What you should leave out, however, is the cheese. Dairy (and its sugar lactose) is inflammatory or problematic for most people... and you will save a couple 100 calories! A great option instead is to add avocado, which is not only creamy and delicious, but balances you out with the healthy omega-3 fats, and helps to lose body fat! You should also skip the ketchup... it's really just sugar or high-fructose corn syrup (even worse), so use real tomatoes instead! Remember as well, no need to stuff yourself with a bulging belly - most portions are BIG so leave something on the plate, or bring some home for breakfast tomorrow.
If you have a sweet tooth...
If you really have a sweet tooth (like me), try ordering just a side of French toast or a short stack, with banana or some other fruit (so you don't need the added sweetness of maple syrup). Sugar is NOT your friend, more like arch-nemesis. So be sure to keep your serving small, sharing with your friends as a dessert. You will all get to enjoy a couple bites, without it being your entire meal and having such a drastic impact on your blood-sugar levels (which triggers the hormone insulin and fat storage).
Bottom line:
Always go with a meal that is mostly protein and vegetables, rather than one that is all refined carbohydrate and sugars. Of course a side of fresh fruit is always a healthy, sweet option, too! Be sure to go for a nice, brisk walk after you've digested your yummy meal, to get that metabolism back to work.
"Could one conversation change your life?" - Get a complimentary fitness consult with Meriah!
If you found this information relevant or useful, and would like more tips or are serious about getting support to reach your goals, contact Meriah for a complimentary hour fitness consultation and health history session.
Click here for more information about Meriah and her health and fitness services and "Like" Meriah on Facebook
If you found this information relevant or useful, and would like more tips or are serious about getting support to reach your goals, contact Meriah for a complimentary hour fitness consultation and health history session.
Click here for more information about Meriah and her health and fitness services and "Like" Meriah on Facebook
More about Meriah: I'm a certified Personal Trainer and holistic Health Coach, born and raised vegetarian, grew up in Queens, and currently living in Astoria. I work all over the city, including New York Sports Club locations, as well as providing private training and nutrition counseling. I have a diverse background, including figure competition, weightlifting, TRX, kettlebells, yoga, kickboxing, CrossFit - and I am also certified in group instruction, training pregnant and post-natal, and hold a flexibility specialty. I develop a balanced program for my clients in order to get them to reach their goals in a fun, supported, integrated, and progressively challenging way. I love what I do!