anyone given up bread?

With the plan I am using I do not crave bread, sugar or chips.....trust me those were my three main staples. So yes I have given up bread. You can do it, it is hard but faith in yourself will help you.

I've practically 'given it up' myself. I'm not saying I don't eat it, it's just not an every-day occurrence now. Maybe once or twice a week I'll have a toasted sandwich or something slathered on toast there's healthier options out there, you just have to look a little harder for them

I've not had bread, pasta, potatoes, or rice in almost 4 months- trying to keep my carbs as low as I can.

I do still have crackers though.

Can't really say I feel better because of it as my overall health, eating, and exercise have improved over the last 4 months, bread was only a small part of it.

It hasn't really been a problem (though I do love bread) but I was out with someone this morning and they ordered toast and OH MY it smelled so good!

Pretty much. Since each slice is 100+ calories, I rarely use any right now.

I quit wheat in January when I did the Wild Rose Cleanse. I didn't eat wheat after I was done the cleanse and just recently have introduced it (in very small amounts) into my diet and truthfully...I feel like crap after I eat it. Wheat is not my friend. I feel so much better not eating it that it really isn't worth it for me to have it.

Another thing which may be helpful: Make sure to have a lot of protein with your bread! Stack the slices with meats or fish. Protein gives a better sense of being full, and it's easier to keep from over-eating.

Er... it went away from my regular shopping somehow, no special efforts. When I go see my parents on weekends, I might enjoy a slice with butter every now and then, but I really don't like the effect on my system (bloating) and I don't realy miss it, so that's going away, too. I think the point is, I'm not telling myself 'never again', just eat stuff and watch what it does to me.
I still keep buying rye crisps though - need some carbs after all.

I gave up wheat in general 2 1/2 months ago and feel so much better. No more bloating in my belly, decreased waistline, and most importantly no more food cravings! I, too, would recommend reading "Wheat Belly" if you can. I read the book after I decided to go wheat-free and reading cemented my decision. I don't see myself going back to wheat at all. I do eat 1-2 slices gluten free bread/week without a problem.

I find I can't give up bread. So I usually eat one slice at the END of a meal. It makes me feel good energy wise to eat it. But I can tell you I always want MORE. I limit to usually one piece and I lost all my weight having my beloved one piece of of Truckee Sourdough company bread even during my big weight loss phase for two years. I helped keep me sane. I always knew I could have another piece tomorrow and kept my mind fixated on the victory of the scale trend going down, one victory to the next, constantly riding the victory and the fact that my weight was going down if I kept within my calorie budget. Even now in maintenance mode I can't eat as much bread as I would like. I can only eat one half of a caibatta roll.

Never! I love my bread! just eat the right kinds and in small portions.

Problem with some people is even with the right kinds, they can't eat small portions.

yep, ok, back to the OP - if you don't do your own shopping, can you enroll family's help in portioning your food?

Also, as follow-up to my last post:

If you're feeling like eating bread or anything else with gluten affects you emotionally, that's something you should bring up with your doctor. Some medical conditions can make you intolerant to gluten, and that can affect your mood. In my case, I was told for years that I had depression, anxiety, even bipolar disorder! I always felt like that didn't make sense, and the medications I was on just made things worse. Recently I was diagnosed with hashimoto's thyroiditis (which is often misdiagnosed as depression or something else), and was told that avoiding gluten would help with a lot of the symptoms. Nothing could be more true. I cut out gluten and my mood and energy levels improved almost instantly.

If eating gluten affects your mood/makes you feel awful, or if it gives you terrible cravings (especially for bread and sugary things), then it's worth bringing that up with a doctor or nutritionist.

Bread elicits a very, very strong glycemic response (bread-->starch-->sugar) from my body and it actually makes me hungrier and the people who commented that they can eat a half a loaf+... probably you too. There comes a point where you have gone past a lack willpower or inner strength and are responding to a very strong biological urge. It's not that you are weak, it's the sugar cycle. I love bread and I used to eat a lot of pasta too. A holistic nutritionist challenged me to go 10 days without sugar, wheat or dairy and the first couple of days were miserable but then around day 5, wow. Suddenly I didn't feel crazy-stupid-hungry anymore, I had less bloating and gas and less knee pain. Since then, whenever I've gone back to bread, it all comes back. Turns out chronic joint pain is a symptom of wheat and gluten sensitivity. Now, if I had the 10 years back where my doctor told me it was arthritis and too lose weight, I'd probably have a few less pounds to lose today. I have no middle ground or wiggle room (at least right now, maybe in the future) so I have to be all or nothing. When I do eat bread, I go for Silver Mills sprouteds grain bread, it digests easier than regular grains and has more protein because the grains are sprouted first.

I'm going Paleo myself. Experimental stages at present, plus I have a bit of a "what is in the house" thing happening too.

That said, I am wondering if it is carb distribution .... ie the times of the day we eat it.

Perhaps the body wants to binge for not making up for our minimum carbs for the day ? Sometimes a binge comes from cravings, cravings can possibly come from lack.

I know some days I get the same thing - started becoming "bingey" into the evening this evening and looked at my carb distribution throughout the day (I don't base it on meal times, just "meal events" ).

I'll see how it goes for myself.

PS Bread free for several days and it IS hard .... trying to be "wheat-free", not "low carb".

The idea that a craving comes from a lack of something is probably right, although, the things that we think we crave for a certain reason isn't what our bodies are trying to tell us we crave at all. Sometimes we just want it and that one reason defends our bad behavior. In actuality, the body is asking for something it needs, usually that thing is water because most people don't drink enough water. Our bodies are composed of 70% water.... we need it. Also, your body may be asking for some sleep or exercise. Could be a number of things. So, maybe before you go on that binge that will make you regret it later, try to treat your body to something else that it may be asking for.

I eat according to the Primal Blueprint. No breads, pasta, starchy veggies or legumes. Since I have been eating like this I rarely crave them. I don't have the sugar highs and lows and when i do "cheat" I feel sick.