how to cure an addiction to bread

jameskane

it may sound weird but i believe i have an addiction to bread. I love bread. whole grain, 12 grain, flax seed, sunflower, it doesn't really matter. i do eat the "healthy" breads,whole grains and such, but i tend to eat alot of it. anywhere from 8-16 slices a day. and at 120 calories per slice it's hard to loose weight. now i say i an addicted cause when i eat bread i actually get a little "rush" or "high" like feeling. Is it just me that suffers from this? anyone know how to beat it? I've tried to just not have it...that didn't work to well. Any psychological advice? ways to think? tricks to help me not think about my next "bread score".

i'm seriously bamboozled

thanks all

neverstray

By lousy bread. I buy the cheapest stuff money can buy, at $.99 per loaf, it tastes like garbage and I only eat it when I really, really want a sandwich or toast. But, it really is poor quality and you will not go around eating it all day.

It works. It's not for everyone.

skoshness

don't eat any at all? bread's one of my triggers so I avoid it as much as I can

jameskane

personally i would be ok with that but i have a 5 year old daughter that we need to have nice healthy bread for. nice thought though

callsitlikeiseeit

when i decided to stop drinking sodas... i stopped buying it.

cant eat (or drink) it, if you dont have it... ?

i love bread, but not to that extent - i might have a couple of pieces in a week...

i dunno what to tell you - maybe try eating a piece of fruit when you are craving bread - it might fill you enough to curb that craving till you wean off it.... ?

EmilyDuby

I'm a sucker for bread too, I could eat a whole loaf in one sitting if I wasn't paying attention, and even when I was trying my hardest to be good I'd find myself going back for more and more. The ONLY thing that worked was I stopped buying it. Now I only get bread maybe once a month or so as a treat. We get tortilla wraps and use them instead for things you would normally buy bread for (you can put anything you'd put into a sandwich in a wrap). I have an almost three year old and an almost one year old. Yes, you need to make sure you have balanced healthy meals for your kids, but you don't HAVE to have bread for them, there are plenty other options. Brown rice, tortillas, and whole grain pasta are all other options to make sure your kids get healthy grains and carbs.

victoria4321

By lousy bread. I buy the cheapest stuff money can buy, at $.99 per loaf, it tastes like garbage and I only eat it when I really, really want a sandwich or toast. But, it really is poor quality and you will not go around eating it all day.

It works. It's not for everyone.

Wtf? Why not avoid bread all together then? Forcing yourself to eat garbage is the most ridiculous thing I ever heard.

Just don't buy bread and don't keep it in your house. Its not a necessity. If you want a sandwich you can make a lettuce wrap.

victoria4321

personally i would be ok with that but i have a 5 year old daughter that we need to have nice healthy bread for. nice thought though

Your daughter doesn't need bread to be healthy either. Its not even a health food. Its basically a vehicle for other foods.

Howbouto

personally i would be ok with that but i have a 5 year old daughter that we need to have nice healthy bread for. nice thought though

But that doesn't mean you have to eat it. My weakness is candy and sugar. I've learned if I give in to a little, a have stronger unresistable craving the rest of the day. I'm better off not eating any than I am trying to have a little. It easier to say no to the first piece than it is to keep saying no.

chantels1

Buy your daughter bread, and remember it is her bread and if you eat it, you are basically taking food away from your daughter. I had at least 24 oz of soda a day, but quit cold turkey. My kids still have soda, but every time I want one, I remember how bloated it makes me, and also the calories it costs me. Because it does not fit into my goals, I cut it out. You can too. Quit giving into the cravings. Bread is like sugar and you have to just force yourself to quit. The longer you go without, the easier it is! Good luck!

fatguyweightloss

personally i would be ok with that but i have a 5 year old daughter that we need to have nice healthy bread for. nice thought though

Not sure how "healthy" I would consider bread. It is a cheap source but nearly all micronutrients are added with same chemicals that are in cheap multivitmins. Check out the nutrient breakdown here: http://www.fatguyweightloss.com/why-i-eat-sweet-potatoes-and-not-rice/

Mindmovesbody

I'm a sucker for bread too, I could eat a whole loaf in one sitting if I wasn't paying attention, and even when I was trying my hardest to be good I'd find myself going back for more and more. The ONLY thing that worked was I stopped buying it. Now I only get bread maybe once a month or so as a treat. We get tortilla wraps and use them instead for things you would normally buy bread for (you can put anything you'd put into a sandwich in a wrap). I have an almost three year old and an almost one year old. Yes, you need to make sure you have balanced healthy meals for your kids, but you don't HAVE to have bread for them, there are plenty other options. Brown rice, tortillas, and whole grain pasta are all other options to make sure your kids get healthy grains and carbs.

I'm with this response. My kids do fine with wraps. I keep one loaf of light whole wheat low cal bread in the house and that is it.

If you feel it is something psychological, I would suggest starting with your primary care physician. You may be lacking a specific nutrient/vitamin or something from your diet that is causing you to crave bread. I would definitely bring this to a doctors attention no matter what.

If you don't want to see the doc or stop buying bread then I would suggest that you buy a brand like Sarah lee delightful whole wheat which is only 45 calories a slice and then limit how many you can have a day.

I suggest seeing you doctor above all else!

mfpcopine

Normally, I would say not to buy it, but you've explained the problem. Could you try going to a nice bakery and buying a small loaf of bread that could be used for your daughter's sandwiches and one or two slices for yourself? Enjoy the experience in the bakery; inhale the baking bread smell.

Given your affinity, you have to treat bread like a treat food.

When you eat the bread, have it alone or with something healthy like a schmear (very think layer) of peanut butter. Eat calmly and deliberately and very slowly. Really savor the bread. You might want to slice it thinly; at times, food tastes better that way.

You could also try storing the bread in separate mini-fridge and putting a lock on it if you really can't help yourself. As someone else said, it never hurts to check if there's a physical explanation for your craving.

mfpcopine

it may sound weird but i believe i have an addiction to bread.

At times, I've had cravings for raw pasta. How weird is that? I stopped a little before beginning to log here, but if I resumed I would hate to calculate all the calories.

grubb1019

My husband is the same way, he can eat a good loaf of bread in one sitting. I used to make homemade bread, but I don't any more because then I want to eat it too. Now we use Heiners low cal wheat, its 35 calories a slice. And I think it is pretty darn good.

AlwaysInMotion

Well, here goes... Here are my (humble and decidedly non-scientific) suggestions for combating any specific food addiction:
1) if you absolutely must have bread in the house for others, ask them to put it out of sight. You don't need to be tormented with the temptation. Explain to them how much their support will help you reach your goal. I hope they will understand!
2) Give yourself a 2-slice allotment each day. Plan it in your food journal. Allow yourself to fully enjoy eating those 2 slices (truly savor them however it makes you happy), but when you are finished with those 2 slices, THAT'S IT for the day. It's helps if you remind yourself that there's 2 more slices waiting for you tomorrow.
3) If you slip up, don't abandon the whole process. Forgive yourself and just start over.
4) After so many days of compliance, reward yourself with something nice. (preferrably NOT a bread machine. :bigsmile: )
After about 14-21 days of consistent behavior (depends on who's school of thought you subscribe to), hopefully you have created a new healthier eating habit to replace the old one.

Good luck!!!

Edited for typo. :blushing:

CoryIda

Hot to cure an addiction to bread?

Develop a severe gluten intolerance or allergy.

Worked like a charm for me.



In reality, however, it is simply a matter of self-control. Bread is not bad for you. Just make the decision not to overindulge and stick to it. Have a slice or two. Don't have 10.

xtine4ever

There's a brand of bread called Bakers Deluxe that is low carb and high fiber. I find that I eat one or two slices of it and I'm full up to my throat. That might help?

LiddyBit

OMG bread. Sometimes I huff the bread aisle at the grocery store. Because I cannot eat bread or I will eat the whole loaf.

MinkyMoo13

By lousy bread. I buy the cheapest stuff money can buy, at $.99 per loaf, it tastes like garbage and I only eat it when I really, really want a sandwich or toast. But, it really is poor quality and you will not go around eating it all day.

It works. It's not for everyone.

I do this too! I can't not have bread in the house as my husband eats it so i tend to buy the only one i don't really like and i then eat a whole lot less of it.. I agree with the above post s also try the kids on wraps. You can get wholemeal ones too! Sometimes more fun then a sandwich

islandnutshel

Wheat addiction is real, and most that have it also have an allergy to it. I would try going off of gluten all together. This will be hard, but when you have made it passed a few weeks I would add gluten free bread back in. and if you want to see if it is wheat or gluten, then try a spelt bread and see what happens.
Good Read : Wheat Belly

davidmcgowan1987

let some bread go really mouldy, then force yourself to eat the whole loaf... dry...

$10 says you never want to see another crumb

spngebobmyhero

wheat addiction! It is pretty common and wheat does have addictive qualities. I would try cutting it and all forms of wheat (gluten) out for 30 days and see if your cravings go away. It will take a lot of willpower, especially if you are going to keep bread in the house for your daughter, but you can do it! Replace the calories with healthy fats and protein. Try some avocado, coconut oil, grassfed meats, whole fat dairy, etc.

skoshness

personally i would be ok with that but i have a 5 year old daughter that we need to have nice healthy bread for. nice thought though

yeah i have to have bread in the house for my son, i just have to try and avoid it myself

Papillon22

Hi, I'm also crazy about bread and can eat a whole loaf if I don't pay attention.
Right now, I only buy real bread (not packaged) on the weekends, and eat 100 calories sandwich thins during the week.
What has helped me cut down on how much I eat is to slice the bread instead of just taking a piece, weigh it always and log every crumb. Once you see how many calories it has, it helps cut down. I still eat a lot, but a lot less than before.
Good luck!

PS: there's a connection between carbs and the release of serotonin, so what you're feeling is real!
http://www.livestrong.com/article/458114-carbohydrates-and-serotonin/

sweetsarahj

How much sugar do you eat? I'm wondering, because people are known to have sugar addictions, and once your body processes the carb in bread, it's the same fuel. Have you thought about trying the South Beach diet? It has you right off sugar and carbs for 2 weeks to 'break the addiction' and then slowly introducing healthy carbs back into your diet. My sister had great results with it. Good luck!

Natihilator

Is bread that vital to your daughter's diet? I never really cared much for bread as a kid and ate sandwiches on pitas and tortillas instead. I don't know if it's all bread that's addictive for you, but if it's not, I would suggest just not having bread in the house at all and using alternative "breads" if they don't trigger your addiction.

But really the only way to break a bread addiction is to go cold turkey, after you stop eating it for a few weeks the cravings should dissipate.

kokaneesailor

I used to love bread, and I couldn't imagine living without it. That all changed when I became more aware of the negative effects it was having on my body. I would eat an entire loaf in a day, constantly craving it every couple of hours, a never ending cycle.

The fact I had ballooned up to my heaviest weight was an alarm bell for me. I slowly started cutting out the item's associated with bread. Jam's, cheesewhiz, processed meats, butter, peanut butter, and started reducing the size of my serving's. It took about 3-4 months. I'm not 100 percent bread free yet, but I slowly reaching that point.

I do make my own pita bread and pizza, but am looking at ways to reduce how many times I have it in a month.

I think if you do something gradual it isn't as hard as going cold turkey when changing your diet. The healthier you eat, the lest cravings you appear to get. It has worked for me anyways.

Hope that your able to jump off the carb train and get gluten free, just try baby steps.

Good luck

mom2mozart

I have been buying Nature's Own Honey Wheat 40 calorie per slice bread. My kids eat it without complaint. It has plenty of fiber. I also switched to Thomas's Light Whole Grain English Muffins - they are 100 calories each and packed with fiber. I usually only eat 1 muffin per day and maybe 2 slices of bread. But they are much lower in calories and a good source of fiber.

kayemme

one thing that helped me considerably was to start making it myself. not only was i learning a good skill, but I could give them away to friends, keeping just a little for myself.

I almost never bake in the summertime, so immediately my bread consumption goes way down after March or April.

Also, I can bulk up the breads with all kinds of fibery goodness like oats, wheat germ, flax, sunflower seeds or whatever it is I feel like having that day!

It's also a bit of a workout to knead bread by hand, which I did for the first 4 years I baked my own. Last year I got a mixer, so I only knead a little by hand at the finish.

You can also make several batches and freeze the unbaked or parbaked loaves.

All of this helped me put into perspective the gift of bread: it can be a lot of work and I don't want to gobble down that work disrespectfully.

hth,
k

kayemme

I do make my own pita bread and pizza, but am looking at ways to reduce how many times I have it in a month.

have you tried the cauliflower crust yet? holy moses: it's delicious. not a huge savings in calories, but enormous savings in simple carbs.

edit: i made it last night, so you can check out the numbers on my diary.