Are oats for breakfast actually good for weight loss?

clafairy1984

Is oatmeal a good choice for breakfast when trying to lose weight? I tend to avoid carbs until after I've worked out, so breakfast is usually some kind of eggs with spinach or similar. However, I keep reading places that oats are a great start to the day, but don't want to jeaporsise my low carb eating. I'm thinking of prepping overnight oats, with almond milk, protein, chai seeds, PB2 and berries for a grab and go breakfast on work mornings. After some thoughts on whether this would be a good breakfast choice or whether I'm better off sticking to eggs.

Old_Cat_Lady

I am high "good carbs" and losing. It's all about staying within my daily calorie goal.

TavistockToad

not for me, as i don't find it very filling.

depends if it fits your calories and macros for the day?

BananaJoanna

I find a good-sized portion of Overnight Oats (which I am eating right now!) will usually keep me satisfied right until lunch, cutting out the need for a mid-morning snack. I don't experience the same with eggs.

Francl27

Depends on whether you find them filling or not. I don't (and I have to put 300 calories of stuff to make them taste like something else than cardboard too).

And for some reason overnight oats fill me up even less.

janejellyroll

If it fits your calories and macro goals and you find it satisfying, why not?

But if your goal is to be low carbohydrate, oats aren't necessarily compatible with that (unless you're okay with reducing carbohydrates elsewhere in your meals to make room for them).

lemurcat12

Neither good nor bad, depends on if you like them and find them satisfying, what your carb goal is, and how important it is to you.

I have them occasionally, but not often, as other breakfasts more often appeal to me/fit my goals.

Lillymoo01

Oats, almond milk, fruit, some walnuts and greek yogurt are a great way for me to start the day. I even add cinnamon or cocao powder for a bit more flavour. Around 400 calories and I am full until lunch. However, others would not find this filling or enjoyable. You really have to find what works for you.

Joanna2012B

I eat steel cut oats almost everyday for breakfast. I find it fills me up nicely and they taste oh so good!! I have successfully lost 49lbs.

MegaMooseEsq

There really is no such thing as "good breakfast food for weight loss" except for whatever food or lack of food gets you off to a start in keeping to a deficit. That might be an egg mcmuffin, fasting, or anything in between.

SezxyStef

It depends on how many oats you are eating..what you are adding to them and if it fits in and if you stay in a deficit.

I don't eat them at all anymore (and I love oatmeal) because I don't find I hit my protein goal as easy if I do and I find the more protein I eat the easier it is for me to adhere to my goals.

CaliMomTeach

About a year ago, I started eating oatmeal every morning (steel cut) in an attempt to lower my cholesterol. My doctor wanted to put me on medication. Since then, I have lost over 50 pounds and according to a non fasting cholesterol test taken at Kaiser wellness check, my overall cholesterol is in the normal range. Is it the oatmeal or just eating fewer calories? I can't say for sure, but oatmeal definitely makes me feel fuller in the morning than other foods. I usually just mix in a banana with it.

JackieMarie1989jgw

I think so. People always say protein is most filling, but personally I find a high fiber, lower protein breakfast like oatmeal, or even mini wheats keeps me full much longer than a high protein, low fiber breakfast like eggs. Of course, both protein and fiber is best if you have the time (oatmeal +hardboiled egg is the best). But I think this is one of those things where everyone is different. I see some posters saying that oatmeal doesn't keep them full, so it varies from person to person.

Bottom line, what makes it a good thing for weight loss, besides being within your calorie goal, is satiety. If it keeps you full and therefore keeps you from other mindless eating, it's good for weight loss

JackieMarie1989jgw

Lillymoo01 wrote: »

Oats, almond milk, fruit, some walnuts and greek yogurt are a great way for me to start the day. I even add cinnamon or cocao powder for a bit more flavour. Around 400 calories and I am full until lunch. However, others would not find this filling or enjoyable. You really have to find what works for you.

Agree, I recently started adding walnuts and fruit to Greek yogurt, it's a very good filling breakfast between the fats in the nuts and the protein in the yogurt

susanp57

I eat oats M-F with nuts and raisins or craisins. I about 2 lbs from goal.

Lillymoo01

SezxyStef wrote: »

It depends on how many oats you are eating..what you are adding to them and if it fits in and if you stay in a deficit.

I don't eat them at all anymore (and I love oatmeal) because I don't find I hit my protein goal as easy if I do and I find the more protein I eat the easier it is for me to adhere to my goals.

Have you tried savoury oats? Cooked pretty much the same but with an egg or two added. I also add mushrooms and spinich. Slightly higher in calories but high in fibre, protein and fats.

mazdauk

I have porridge in the winter sometimes with a tablespoon of maple syrup, and it does fill me up for longer than granola. But ist more calories and I prefer granola.
As others have said its about your overall calories - if that fills you up for longer than the eggs so you don't need a snack (or can have a smaller one) then its "good" for weight loss. Carbs are not evil, unless you have a specific health reason to reduce carbs - i.e. the Dr told you to! - then don't worry about the carbs.

ninerbuff

Personal preference. For me, if I eat before 12pm, it seems like I keep wanting to eat. When I track myself those days, I tend to snack more every couple of hours.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

Stationagentjules

Morning carbs make me want to eat carb heavy all day. I enjoy oats occasionally but I eat them late in the day and not specifically for weight loss. Everyone is different though.

Joanna2012B

Lillymoo01 wrote: »

SezxyStef wrote: »

It depends on how many oats you are eating..what you are adding to them and if it fits in and if you stay in a deficit.

I don't eat them at all anymore (and I love oatmeal) because I don't find I hit my protein goal as easy if I do and I find the more protein I eat the easier it is for me to adhere to my goals.

Have you tried savoury oats? Cooked pretty much the same but with an egg or two added. I also add mushrooms and spinich. Slightly higher in calories but high in fibre, protein and fats.

I think I may need to try this!!

lmew91

I make overnight oats with protein powder, milk of choice (usually unsweetened cashew for me,) 40g quick cook oatmeal. Sometimes I add a little peanut butter, or fruit, or low sugar jam, etc. Sometimes grated zucchini if I have it. Sometimes I just mix the powder, oats and milk up, then let it sit overnight. This is a common breakfast for me, and it easily fits within my caloric goals.

I think it's personal preference. I just eat food and look at my totals for the whole day- I don't purposely eat certain macros only at certain times of the day. I don't think oatmeal necessarily makes a "better" breakfast than an omelet, or a breakfast sandwich, etc. Just depends on your goals and preferences and how you prepare the breakfast: ingredients, cooking method, etc.

SezxyStef

Lillymoo01 wrote: »

SezxyStef wrote: »

It depends on how many oats you are eating..what you are adding to them and if it fits in and if you stay in a deficit.

I don't eat them at all anymore (and I love oatmeal) because I don't find I hit my protein goal as easy if I do and I find the more protein I eat the easier it is for me to adhere to my goals.

Have you tried savoury oats? Cooked pretty much the same but with an egg or two added. I also add mushrooms and spinich. Slightly higher in calories but high in fibre, protein and fats.

no...because I like oatmeal slathered with butter and brown sugar...that's it... another reason I dno't eat it often...

JeromeBarry1

I did overnight oats for a week recently and it was ok for satiety and regularity, but I ended up having to try harder to get protein later in the day.

TheSunAndTheRainfall

About an hour before a workout, I have oatmeal, just made with water, with a spoon of crunchy peanut butter swirled in for a little protein and fat, and some chia seeds for added benefits. Roughly 350 calories, gives me the energy to make a decent job of cardio, and keeps me full for hours.

ISweat4This

For breakfast I'll have eggs or steel cut oatmeal with soy milk, peanut butter & raisins. I prefer oatmeal, its about 430 calories, keeps me full until lunch time and I have been losing weight.

VintageFeline

I have oatmeal in some way most days. I workout about an hour after and it's good fuel. At the moment I'm obsessed with PB&J porridge made with PB2 to keep the calories down. I also do overnight oats and use a combo of Greek yoghurt/skyr and milk or almond milk then whatever fruit I have lying around (I keep frozen too for this purpose) so that gives a good protein punch.

It works for me. Keeps me going for quite a while in combination with my coffees.

But I also enjoy a muffin with grilled bacon or smoked salmon and poached eggs. Not vastly different for the calories. Just depends what I can be bothered making and what I have in.

I happen to find starchy carbs satisfying as well as protein and fat so any combination of the three keeps me happy.

It just comes down to personal preference, there are no good or bad foods for weight loss strictly speaking.

kristen8000

Any food that doesn't leave you hungry all day is great for breakfast. Totally personal preference. I feel eggs/sausage/bacon tends to fill me up and keep me filled more than Oats.

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SaraydaB

OP: Oats work for me... I make Overnight Oats:

1/2 cup of oats
1 tbsp. of chia
Cinnamon (1 tbsp.)
1 cup almond milk
357 cals

I have that for breakfast every week day... It works for me because it keeps me full until lunch, It´s delicious and easy to make at home...

mnfarmgal

so.. are you eating these overnight oat combinations cold or are you warming them up?? i'm so baffled by it.

cwolfman13

Depending on how low carb you are wanting to go, they may not be the best choice...but it's also not necessary to go low carb to lose weight. I eat oats frequently.