Has anyone here cut out dairy?

Ral263

I'm curious as to what your experiences (good or bad) are. The only dairy product I eat is Greek yogurt, so it's not like it would be a huge sacrifice, but I'm just curious as to whether it has made a difference in your results.

Iam918

I cut out most dairy back in 2009. I'll have some Greek/Carb Master yogurt or cheese 2-3x a month perhaps. When I want milk I drink Unsweetened Almond Milk although that's just a few times a month now as well.

I didn't cut out the dairy for health related issues, I just deemed the calories unneeded and figured I could get them from other more filling sources. I don't miss them, no cravings for them and not sure cutting them helped with my weight loss.

FatGirlSlim899

I have a very severe dairy allergy, I have to carry an epi pen with me at all times, as even a trace puts me into anaphylactic (spelling) shock. I haven't eaten dairy for something like 4 years. I guess dieting is a little easier for me, as I can't eat cakes, pizza, etc.

I think if you already eat it, just have it in moderation- or have 'light' versions of cheese etc. I can't believe anyone would willingly cut out dairy from their lives! I would eat block upon block of cheese if I could mmmmm!

lilRicki

I have absolutely no dairy in my diet...but I do have almond milk and soy cheese

run_momma_run

I don't think you need to worry about dairy - it's not the enemy. I eat yogurt, drink milk and eat cheese - and often all three, every single day. I'm still losing!

mandylooo

Except for ethical (treatment of animals) or allergy/intolerance reasons, why would you cut out dairy?

Kekibird

I find my system is happier without it. Less bloating and gas/tummy cramps.

I stick with almond milk and soy yogurt.

The only dairy that I might splurge on is cheese and it's not everyday I do that.

ljcatch22

I'm lactose intolerant and finally cut out most of my dairy a few months ago (I LOVE milk), but even I still eat a greek yogurt everyday and maybe a 1/4 cup of cheese every now and then. Going from lots of dairy to minimal dairy made a huge difference in the way I feel, but I'm not sure what the point of cutting out dairy completely would be.

chefkev

I don't eat dairy that isn't digested in some way, like yogurt or cheese. Raw dairy just stalls out my body. Not really lactose intollerant, just doesn't sit well with me. I just avoid as much dairy as possible.

DKev

I don't think you need to worry about dairy - it's not the enemy. I eat yogurt, drink milk and eat cheese - and often all three, every single day. I'm still losing!

This. It's all about moderation.

ReverendJim

Cut most of it out. IBS sufferer.

speedycakes

I cut out meat and dairy for about a month now, not counting a few drunken binges. I haven't noticed a difference at all. No weight loss, my skin is actually worse right now and i don't have more energy or just feel better like i expected.

The hardest part is cheese for me, i hate milk so that was easy. I love cheese and cheesecake.

ImKindOfABigDeal40

Not cut but minimized. I don't make a habit of drinking milk but I have it occassionally. I use cheese lightly on salad and I eat greek yogurt with fruit for breakfast.

CakeFit21

Except for ethical (treatment of animals) or allergy/intolerance reasons, why would you cut out dairy?

Why does she need a reason? And if she has a reason why does it have to be one of those?

RTricia

I have a type b dairy allergy - not anaphlactic shock but inflammation and swelling.

Lots of really good alternatives - coconut milk for one :happy:

Amayrial

I don't do a lot of dairy, I just can't tolerate it. I use So Delicious Coconut milk or Almond milk instead.

fimary

I am dairy intolerant and can only have fat free yogurt and skimmed milk and then in moderation never found it to affect my weight either way.

bubblybabeuk

I did it as part of an 8 week diet plan in 2010 and wow what a difference. All those digestive issues disappeared and I felt so much better. Have not eaten it since, I use soya milk, spread and yogurt. Though I have to admit I do miss chesse. Had some at Christmas at a friend's house and regretted it badly!

erin023

I wish I could cut out dairy. Dairy is full of unnecessary calories and I don't believe it to be a healthy choice. A lot of people fight me on that, but give 'Skinny *****' a read and you'll see what I'm talking about. Unfortunately, I love yogurt, ice cream, chocolate milk, pizza, etc too much to give up dairy. My city doesn't accommodate vegans in restaurants and I don't have the money to pay that extra money for vegan choices at the grocery store as there is quite a difference in price where I live.

killagb

donbet69

I cut down a year ago because of high cholesterol. I love Silk milk with my cereal. But have to admit Half & Half in my coffee tastes sooooo good.

Ral263

Except for ethical (treatment of animals) or allergy/intolerance reasons, why would you cut out dairy?

Why does she need a reason? And if she has a reason why does it have to be one of those?

Haha exactly, didn't know I needed to justify it..... I am lactose intolerant, but like I said, I still have a Greek yogurt daily.

Humans are actually not meant to digest cows (or other animals for that matter) milks-- it is a genetic mutation that allows us to do so today. As it is very difficult for the body to digest, I was curious as to what experiences people had with cutting it out. I know that I feel less bloated when I do. Same thing with grain of any kind-- I am by no means allergic, but I certainly feel better without it.

ShapeUpSidney

Haha exactly, didn't know I needed to justify it..... I am lactose intolerant, but like I said, I still have a Greek yogurt daily.

Humans are actually not meant to digest cows (or other animals for that matter) milks-- it is a genetic mutation that allows us to do so today. As it is very difficult for the body to digest, I was curious as to what experiences people had with cutting it out. I know that I feel less bloated when I do. Same thing with grain of any kind-- I am by no means allergic, but I certainly feel better without it.

What you're speaking about is the lac operon. There are many other functions our bodies weren't "meant" to do, but we evolved to perform them over time. Evolution by genetic mutation is a part of life for all organisms, so what makes that bad?

If you have digestive symptoms due to an allergy, and want to alleviate them by cutting out dairy...go for it. I mean, do whatever you feel like and don't let me stop you. But just know that genetic mutations can be advantageous, and those that are will survive for generations through competitive advantage. Someone in here is eating a baked potato with all the trimmings, btw, and it completely derailed my train of though. Lol.

mandylooo

Except for ethical (treatment of animals) or allergy/intolerance reasons, why would you cut out dairy?

Why does she need a reason? And if she has a reason why does it have to be one of those?

I mean, what's supposed to be wrong with eating dairy. I jut don't understand why you would just decide to cut it out.

CakeFit21

Except for ethical (treatment of animals) or allergy/intolerance reasons, why would you cut out dairy?

Why does she need a reason? And if she has a reason why does it have to be one of those?

I mean, what's supposed to be wrong with eating dairy. I jut don't understand why you would just decide to cut it out.

Because we all get to make choices. She didn't say anything was wrong with it. She just said she didn't want to eat it anymore.

SergeantSunshine_reused

Except for ethical (treatment of animals) or allergy/intolerance reasons, why would you cut out dairy?

Why does she need a reason? And if she has a reason why does it have to be one of those?

I mean, what's supposed to be wrong with eating dairy. I jut don't understand why you would just decide to cut it out.

Because we all get to make choices. She didn't say anything was wrong with it. She just said she didn't want to eat it anymore.

She was probably just curious if the OP was thinking of a myth or something that could be disputed. Nothing wrong with being curious and asking why :P

Elizabeth_C34

I almost have. The only dairy I have is a small amount of nonfat milk in when I cook and plain nonfat yogurt in the morning.

I did go dairy-free for a year or so to curb some digestive issues, but I seem to handle small amounts okay. 28 total lbs down and 20 here on MFP, so I don't think it really makes much difference as long as you control your calories.

jacobsonmandy

I am lactose intolerant so I have no choice but to cut out dairy (lactaid never really worked for me) My body can handle hard cheeses with 0.5 lactose in it, like swiss cheeses or parm if I chose to have it. When I first became lactose intolerant I dropped about 10lbs from cutting dairy out of the picture. If you're looking to cut dairy out of the picture make sure it's something you won't miss, I don't even remember what ice cream tastes like - not joking. But, it's a good way to cut calories if it's something you can go without. At first this was very hard for me, I became lactose intolerant as an adult 21/22, I'm 27 now so I've been without it for years. Dairy is something you can go without, just I'd cut out the heavy hitters rather than eliminations. There's alternatives like soy/rice milks, greek yogurts etc. For me, I pass on them because the thought of having it makes my skin scrawl because of the pain I get when eating dairy.

stylistchik

I cut out dairy last summer when I realized I would get a migraine within 24 hours of eating dairy. No more dairy = no more headaches for me! My skin has also been clearer, I'm not sure if it's related but I like to think so.

chubbybunnee

Hi My doctor put me on an allergen free diet meaning no dairy, soy, wheat, eggs, cane sugar, etc.... I am slowly adding them back in one at a time and I can tell you that even if I am allowed to have dairy again, I have been living off of Almond milk and Almond cheese and I like it so much that I am not going back.

Most milk has hormones in it and a lot of people have been affected by them. I avoid dairy now not only for that reason, but also the calories and fat. I even prefer vanilla almond milk over fat free milk.

I used to get bloated when I ate dairy especially ice cream and I can't say that dairy was the only cause, but since I have cut it out with some of the other foods, I have felt way better and have more energy. Of all of them, egss and soy are the hardest ones for me to live without but the dairy wasn't tough at all since there are substitutions.

I would recommend that you try it for a week and see how you feel. Now, my Dr also said that greek yogurt was ok even on a dairy free diet because it is different. It has the bacteria in it to help break down in your gi tract. I still don't eat yogurt, but I guess that it is better for you then milk or cheese.

lauramonster

Except for ethical (treatment of animals) or allergy/intolerance reasons, why would you cut out dairy?

Why does she need a reason? And if she has a reason why does it have to be one of those?

I mean, what's supposed to be wrong with eating dairy. I jut don't understand why you would just decide to cut it out.

The main reasons for going vegan are ethical and/or environmental (aside from being bad for animals, the meat and dairy industries are terrible for the environment, and they contribute to food shortages worldwide). But it's a personal decision, and obviously health issues play a role.

Anyway, I went vegan this summer, and I lost about 15 pounds within the first few months. Since then, I've been doing better. It's hard to tell, though, as there are a lot of factors that could account for a change.