giving up cereal?

Sid1988

I am a cereal addict, i usually have two bowls per day and not at the recommended serving, usually x3 that because a 50g serving is not enough! so i'm racking up 500 calories at breakfast before my day has even begun, so i'm switching to brown bread with jam for breakfast for the time being.

I'm going to give cereal a break for a month and see where that takes me because i understand it is high in carbs and i definitely need to lower them.

has anyone had any results from doing the same?

TrailRunner61

Cereal is convenient, but so is anything else that's processed and packaged. I usually eat whole grain or steel cut oats for breakfast because it keeps me full for hours. Other times I'll have overnight refrigerator oatmeal or a yummy veggie omelet if I want fewer carbs.

hardlyhappenstance

I would suggest peanut or almond butter instead of jam. It has a bunch of protein and good fats - and it will help keep you fuller longer.

Nutella91

cereal makes me starve

viragoeap

Oatmeal with berries and a boiled egg have been my replacement to cereal. I also replace the oatmeal with greek yoghurt or the egg with oat biscuits and some cheese just to mix it up a bit. I believe our digestive system gets used to eating the same old stuff everyday and works harder to digest other food types that we don't eat as often. Anyway it's worked for me.

mazdauk

I eat Oatibix with apple and sultana when I'm short of time - but I ALWAYS weigh out the recommended amount. Otherwise I have porridge - 30g oats with 245ml half semi-skimmed milk and half water, served with 1 spoon maple syrup and some cinnamon.

Carbs are not bad for you, but if you're having huge amounts of a cereal the aded sugar and salt is not going to help, never mind the calories! If cereal doesn't fill you up at the recommended level then switch to eggs and toast.

Repeat after me - carbs are not evil!

If you eat at a deficit you will lose weight even if you eat nothing but carbs - you won't be healthy, but you will lose weight.

momzeeee

I've totally cut out wheat and most other grains and there's definitely a noticeable difference in the scale and also how I feel. Cereal also has a lot of hidden sugars and processed junk that's doing nothing positive for your body. Most of them have very high glycemic loads too-causing blood sugar spikes. Cornflakes for instance have a GI of 82, and that's for one serving size!

lambchoplewis

I was having Special K Chocolate Delight cereal as a dessert after dinner. I use a measuring cup so I don't get more than the 3/4 Cup serving size. However, the 1 serving size turned into a heaping serving then 2 etc. so I stopped buying it and have a fat free yogurt for dessert. 60 Calories vs 180 cal. A big drop!!! I do feel better eating protein vs carbs. Cereal is an easy downfall because it is sweet, crunchy and can be snacked out of box!!!

funkythreads2004

I have started eating 40g porridge with water and about as much milk as you would put in your cup of tea. Not the most tasty food, but it helps with hunger pangs and gives enough energy for a gym session. Porridge is all very inexpensive compare to most cerial brands that are full of sugar!

funkythreads2004

I have started eating 40g porridge with water and about as much milk as you would put in your cup of tea. Not the most tasty food, but it helps with hunger pangs and gives enough energy for a gym session. Porridge is all very inexpensive compare to most cerial brands that are full of sugar!

1223345

Yes.... cereal again I see. Cereal is the debil. Pour cereal, pour milk. Eat cereal, milk left.... pour more cereal, needs more milk, eat cereal, milk left over, pour more cereal, needs more milk.... it goes on and one like this.

Have you ever heard of pinhead oats? They are better than regular oatmeal. I can't choke down oatmeal because of the slimy texture. The pin head oats are much more palatable.

tjthegreatone

I am a cereal addict, i usually have two bowls per day and not at the recommended serving, usually x3 that because a 50g serving is not enough! so i'm racking up 500 calories at breakfast before my day has even begun, so i'm switching to brown bread with jam for breakfast for the time being.

I'm going to give cereal a break for a month and see where that takes me because i understand it is high in carbs and i definitely need to lower them.

has anyone had any results from doing the same?

*Rolls around on floor wailing with fingers in ears*

Cereal addict for life here. I tried giving it up for Lent last year, and was moderately successful.

Unfortunately, the cereal addiction never left and it returned with a vengeance. I know it's not filling, and for me a 'serving' is 150g minimum, but life without cereal isn't worth it and I aim to lose weight more slowly :-)

My breakfast easily tops 700-800 calories every day. I eat less at lunch to compensate typically.

One thing I try to do now more often is treat cereal as a snack, so have something else for breakfast, and have cereal late night when I've eaten my dinner and am relatively full. But gotta have my fix most days!

Porridge oats - yuck.
Toast and PB with baked beans is a personal favourite for breakfast.

Some people swear by eggs/bacon but I don't have the luxury of time for a fry-up and I'm not a big protein person, hence the reliance on PB.

ndj1979

everything in moderation ..

if you switch to toast and jam but start having five servings of it in the morning then you are going to have the same problem....

I usually go with eggs, and an english muffin in the morning....or oatmeal...

but you should really learn some self control - then you can have some cereal in the morning or whatever you want - and still be within your calorie/macro goal for the day ...

daisiesinmay

I used to eat an overly large bowl of cereal for breakfast every morning, and usually the fibery ones which are supposed to leave you fuller longer, but I gave it up about 3 months ago. I started doing green smoothies. I put banana, peanut butter, greek yogurt, almond milk/OJ, spinach, and sometimes fresh fruit in them. I find myself staying fuller longer in the mornings. The calories are probably about the same (in my instance, around 350), but peanut butter is high cal so I suppose that could be nixed. But now I look forward to my smoothies everyday.

missdibs1

I have gone gluten free (no bread, no cereal, and gasp no milk) I feel much better and am losing weight with ease.

I used to eat cereal all the time. You cannot believe all of the junk in cereal (yes, even in KASHI).

I highly recommend giving it up.

Unknown

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conniehv40

I absolutely LOVE cereal!

Since I have been trying to lose weight, I started measuring....

I used to have lots and lots of light cream in my coffee--now I am at 2 Tbsp.

I used to just eat whatever cereal and however much. I went to the organic isle to read a higher fiber/protein content.

I now eat 1 cup of Kashi blueberry crunch with .5 cups of skim milk.

My breakfast has really changed! I am not hungry at all. If I am, I add a banana later.

mycupyourcake

I used to eat an overly large bowl of cereal for breakfast every morning, and usually the fibery ones which are supposed to leave you fuller longer, but I gave it up about 3 months ago. I started doing green smoothies. I put banana, peanut butter, greek yogurt, almond milk/OJ, spinach, and sometimes fresh fruit in them. I find myself staying fuller longer in the mornings. The calories are probably about the same (in my instance, around 350), but peanut butter is high cal so I suppose that could be nixed. But now I look forward to my smoothies everyday.

This. I used to crave cereal and coffee for breakfast. Now after my first cup of coffee I prefer to have a protein smoothie with garden of life vegan protein powder (tried whey and I didn't like it), almond milk, strawberries and spinach. I feel much more energized and stay full longer, most likely from the fiber in the berries and spinach.

lambchoplewis

I absolutely LOVE cereal!

Since I have been trying to lose weight, I started measuring....

I used to have lots and lots of light cream in my coffee--now I am at 2 Tbsp.

I used to just eat whatever cereal and however much. I went to the organic isle to read a higher fiber/protein content.

I now eat 1 cup of Kashi blueberry crunch with .5 cups of skim milk.

My breakfast has really changed! I am not hungry at all. If I am, I add a banana later.

I started measuring cereal and realized I was eating too much - I put the measuring cup right in pantry. I also put a teaspoon measuring spoon in creamer to limit creamer.

gamagem

My husband and I are cereal addicts too. We tried giving it up, but weren't successful. Now we try to limit what we buy and only have it as our snack at night. We weigh it and track it with our other food.

AshatanViz

Same problem. It's addictive. What I do, since it's the only breakfast option for me right now (I am currently living with a host family in Spain), is I have ONE bowl, and follow it with a hot cup of coffee. The coffee usually makes my brain realize that breakfast is over and kitchen is closed.

TravelDog14

I am addicted to Cheerios.
But not for breakfast, but as a snack.
I measure out a portion the night before, put it in a small Rubbermaid container and take it to work with me.
It's one of my favorite snacks to graze on during the day.

TedStout

I wouldn't give it up completely if you like it. Just rotate. I eat eggs quite a bit but will have some cereal now and then. Oatmeal sometimes. Just change it out a bit. And yes, measure your portions...takes some discipline.

fShaw86

LOL I'm so happy that there are fellow cereal-eaters out there!!!

I just switched my unsweetened cornflakes to high-fiber, no-sugar muesli. Works like a charm! Add in a couple of chocolate chips if you feel like

micheleld73

I am a cereal addict, i usually have two bowls per day and not at the recommended serving, usually x3 that because a 50g serving is not enough! so i'm racking up 500 calories at breakfast before my day has even begun, so i'm switching to brown bread with jam for breakfast for the time being.

I'm going to give cereal a break for a month and see where that takes me because i understand it is high in carbs and i definitely need to lower them.

has anyone had any results from doing the same?

*Rolls around on floor wailing with fingers in ears*

Cereal addict for life here. I tried giving it up for Lent last year, and was moderately successful.

Unfortunately, the cereal addiction never left and it returned with a vengeance. I know it's not filling, and for me a 'serving' is 150g minimum, but life without cereal isn't worth it and I aim to lose weight more slowly :-)

My breakfast easily tops 700-800 calories every day. I eat less at lunch to compensate typically.

One thing I try to do now more often is treat cereal as a snack, so have something else for breakfast, and have cereal late night when I've eaten my dinner and am relatively full. But gotta have my fix most days!

Porridge oats - yuck.
Toast and PB with baked beans is a personal favourite for breakfast.

Some people swear by eggs/bacon but I don't have the luxury of time for a fry-up and I'm not a big protein person, hence the reliance on PB.

I tried to replace my morning cereal...I couldn't do. I told my coach that it is one thing I will NOT compromise giving up. I do stick to the recommended serving size (I try to find cereals that allow at least a cup as a serving) and I stick to just one bowl a day - and yes for breakfast.

elisa123gal

cereal and peanut butter...no thanks..one bite just leads to ...too many bites.

MizTerry

I love cereal, all kinds.
Health cereal.
Sweet cereal.
Kids cereal.
Oatmeal.

If I lived alone, I think I'd live off the stuff because I truly hate cooking and it's so versatile. I can put it in a cup and go anywhere.

Kklape

You are probably actually a sugar addict. I KNOW that was my problem! I LOVE cereal! But starting my day with a big bowl of carbs loaded with sugar just made me crave the sugar even more. The rest of my day went downhill from there. I have stopped buying cereal, I skip the entire aisle and save myself a lot of money. Cereal is expensive!!! I start my morning with a smoothie. Strawberries, blueberries, mangos, spinach and carrots.

jen_zz

Cereal is dangerous for me.. I can't stop eating it once I start and I used to binge on them.. like the whole friggin box of cereal in one sitting. Now I don't buy them anymore.

pamla77

good luck! It may help, idk...
I LOVE CEREAL. and have a bowl of fiber one EVERY night before bed. 2 no no's..maybe?? but i will not quit.

RECowgill

Yeah it sounds like your problem here is portion control. I have two cereals I will eat on a regular basis, grape nuts and raisin bran with 1% milk. I don't eat it every day but when I do, I just have one serving. Small bowl! Plus, what cereals are you eating? The ones I eat are relatively healthy. And I've been losing weight with that in my diet.

If I had 3+ servings of count chocula with way too much milk I probably be putting on the pounds fast.