Refined foods, flours and sugars

Have any of you cut out foods made from white flour and refined sugars from your daily diets altogether? If so, has it helped you lose a lot of weight or helped you maintain your goal weight?

I think my biggest problem in the past is that I have eaten a LOT of white bread every day, plus I liked the cakes ; - (. And, normally it is not just the bread, most of the stuff that goes into the sandwiches has been unhealthy or processed foods like mayo, butter, processed meats, cheeses, etc.

I have already cut right down on the bread and cakes items but only for 3 months, was wondering if anyone has cut them out for much longer, and have had good results by not eating them.

I think your biggest problem in the past was that you were eating at a caloric surplus...because that is what causes weight gain.

Eating at a deficit will result in weight loss.

I don't cut out any foods except for the ones I do not like.

Yes, I cut it out awhile ago because I feel it is bad for me, then after I started having chronic pain and inflammation issues, I cut out all processed and refined food and my pain levels decreased dramatically. It has been suggested that it is in my head but my neighbor tested this theory by giving me something processed under the disguise that it was not, with in 45 minutes my pain levels were not tolerable, she felt like crap to say the least.

Please feel free to take a look at my pictures to see how I look now. I am down from 33% body fat to 19. I am also almost 45 years old and look younger now than when I was in my 30s. So no one can convince me that there is nothing that not eating processed food will do for you. I am all the proof I need.

I cut out adding refined sugar to items like coffee and healthy(er) cereals. I cut out white bread, which I love, and use a light, whole wheat variety for everyday....same with wraps. I refuse to completely give up anything, but just eat the things I know are 'trigger foods' with far less frequency. I'm eating at a deficit and exercise, and I feel better. I have about 70# to go...a long journey, but I feel better most days.

It's hard to narrow down my weight loss to a particular reason, but I know less sugar in my diet means less likelihood of diabetes, and I hope the weight loss and exercise push me to a state of health where I no longer require a med for my High Blood Pressure.

Fee free to add me as a friend if you want to review my diary...it's open to friends.

Have any of you cut out foods made from white flour and refined sugars from your daily diets altogether? If so, has it helped you lose a lot of weight or helped you maintain your goal weight?

Yes, I tried it for about 4 weeks or so as an experiment and yes, it helped with weight loss. Not total elimination but avoidance to as much as I could manage.

The issue for me (aside from a low level yeast intolerance it seems) was about portion control. I was at a point where if I had one slice of bread in particular it set off a cascade of cravings for other things, particularly high calorie food items.

After about 4 weeks I slowly began re introducing them back into my diet and I found my body was far more able to cope with them and I automatically eat moderate rather than large amounts of them. I don't know if this was physiological, psychological or both.

Good luck whatever you try.

There is nothing healthy about the foods you are looking to cut out, so everything to gain from doing so. Some people's bodies tolerate those items better but there is still no benefit to consuming them. Many people have issues with items in question that they are not even aware of. The best thing you can do is eliminate the offenders and see how such affects you.

find a primal/paleo forum and ask there, you'll get thoughtful responses

Yes, I tried it for about 4 weeks or so as an experiment and yes, it helped with weight loss. Not total elimination but avoidance to as much as I could manage.

The issue for me (aside from a low level yeast intolerance it seems) was about portion control. I was at a point where if I had one slice of bread in particular it set off a cascade of cravings for other things, particularly high calorie food items.

After about 4 weeks I slowly began re introducing them back into my diet and I found my body was far more able to cope with them and I automatically eat moderate rather than large amounts of them. I don't know if this was physiological, psychological or both.

Good luck whatever you try.

^ I like this.

I have done it in the past and it made me miserable. I don't do it any more because, in addition to making me miserable, it isn't necessary. I do pay careful attention to what I'm eating and get quite strict for the last few pounds of a cut, but if I have to have a donut, I'm having a donut. That said, I'm having 1, single, donut. Portion control is everything.

find a primal/paleo forum and ask there, you'll get thoughtful responses

Rude.

And you'll get biased responses, actually.

Just because you don't agree with someone else doesn't mean their response wasn't "thoughtful" or that they're wrong.

To be fair, this is a weight loss forum more than a health forum.

Just a thought.

I have found that it is the yeast in the bread which gives me the problem not the flour itself. Bread which has been "proved" for longer could be less problematical.

all the best

Back in January, I began eating the Paleo way. I eat Paleo 100% , 95% of the time. The exception being tuna & artichoke hearts. I lost 10 lbs (after losing 60lbs & maintaining the loss for over 2 years) & my cholesterol dropped 24 points. I didn't cut out processed/refined foods to lose more weight - I did it after extensive testing & doctors recommendations. Body was not processing Gluten very well & the sugar/carb spikes were killing me.

You eat paleo? Do you eat raw meat?

I cut out 90% of my previous refined sugar and white flour intake and have lost 66 pounds since Jan 1, 2013.

find a primal/paleo forum and ask there, you'll get thoughtful responses

Rude.

And you'll get biased responses, actually.

Just because you don't agree with someone else doesn't mean their response wasn't "thoughtful" or that they're wrong.

To be fair, this is a weight loss forum more than a health forum.

Says who, exactly? My FITNESS Pal.

Says me. If you want to try to derive health information from these forums, that's perfectly fine. But the signal to noise ratio on anything other than simple weight loss is extreme.

Have any of you cut out foods made from white flour and refined sugars from your daily diets altogether? If so, has it helped you lose a lot of weight or helped you maintain your goal weight?

I think my biggest problem in the past is that I have eaten a LOT of white bread every day, plus I liked the cakes ; - (. And, normally it is not just the bread, most of the stuff that goes into the sandwiches has been unhealthy or processed foods like mayo, butter, processed meats, cheeses, etc.

I have already cut right down on the bread and cakes items but only for 3 months, was wondering if anyone has cut them out for much longer, and have had good results by not eating them.

No, not entirely. I have cut sugar down when I can and I use more whole wheat flour than white but I still use both to some degree. Losing weight is hard enough so why make it harder by eliminating gigantic groups of foods. I have only been actively trying to lose weight for about 8 weeks at this point but I think I am doing pretty well thus far without getting overly obsessive with my food choices.

find a primal/paleo forum and ask there, you'll get thoughtful responses

Quoting for reference when clean eaters/paleo peeps complain about people being negative towards them, claim that no clean eater here has acted like an elitist or insulted others for not eating like them.

Carry on.

I actually thought she was being sarcastic, especially since she has a beer in her picture. I guess that says a lot about me!

find a primal/paleo forum and ask there, you'll get thoughtful responses

Quoting for reference when clean eaters/paleo peeps complain about people being negative towards them, claim that no clean eater here has acted like an elitist or insulted others for not eating like them.

Carry on.

I actually thought she was being sarcastic, especially since she has a beer in her picture. I guess that says a lot about me!

Doesn't matter what she has in her hand while she's insulting people.