If I skip breakfast and launch myself headfirst into my day, I often don't get hungry until 2 or 3 in the afternoon. Though it's tempting to think that I'm doing myself a favor by avoiding all those calories, the truth is that when I do skip breakfast, I usually end up making up for it...and then some. I make poor food choices because I'm so hungry in the afternoon, and find myself snacking late into the evening.

Breakfast really is important, especially if you're trying to lose weight. "But I feel hungrier at lunch if I eat breakfast than if I don't," you might be thinking. That's probably true, but the reason you are is because that breakfast you ate revved up your metabolism and told your body to start burning calories.

Here's a list of ten reasons why breakfast really is the most important of the day. Eating a healthy breakfast (skip the donuts and high sugar cereals) will not only help you lose weight, it will also help you feel better and perform better at work or school. And remember, though oatmeal and whole grain cereals certainly are great choices for your morning meal, you can always make things more interesting. What's your favorite breakfast?