Eliminating White Bread and White Sugar
Replies
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I don't eat any of the 'whites' and haven't since I was diagnosed insulin resistant in Feb. Until that point I did eat a lot of simple carbs. It really isn't that difficult to do. The hardest, and it really isn't all that hard, is giving up rice and potatoes. I cannot eat brown rice as well, because it also turns to sugar quickly. I've found a whole world of low glycemic whole grains that are better than what I thought I would miss so much and the added fiber has really helped my digestive system. Giving up the whites does not mean giving up carbs. Sustained energy comes from the complex carbs which are slowly turned into glucose during the course of the day, rather than the simple carbs that become sugar immediately, resulting in a sugar rush followed by a crash.
It made it a very easy choice for me, considering my health is on the line.0 -
Whole grains are generally better for you than processed grains, so you might want to think about leaving behind white bread and white rice on a permanent basis, in favor of whole grain bread and brown rice.
Personally, while I recognize that what matters in losing weight is the caloric deficit, I find that white bread, pasta, and white potatoes (while soooooo good) are big trigger foods for me, so as much as I would love to have that baked potato, I avoid it because if I ate it, someone might find me a week later in the gutter defending my pint of Ben and Jerry's from imaginary demons with a spoon.
Anyway, in answer to your specific question, I find that lentils are extremely helpful in satisfying me. They're very high in fiber, they're tasty, and they cook in about the same amount of time as brown rice. You can also make a really good lentil soup (add plenty of diced veggies) and keep it in the refrigerator or freeze it in portions. It's very satisfying but relatively low in calories.0 -
I have mainly because my doctor eluded that it related to my lack of weight loss success and higher cholesterol levels. Have been simple sugar, white bread, pasta, rice free for about 18 days now and actually feel a lot better. I had what you call a bit of an addiction to simple sugars and ate way beyond what was supposed to be successful. My highest weight was 265lbs and I was 248.4lbs this morning. It really isn't too bad and my cravings for sugar aren't really existent. My diary is open if you would like to look.0
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You find that as you eat less sugar, your sense of sweet changes, and you realise just how incredibly over the top the things you used to eat were in terms of sugar content. If someone makes me a cup of tea with a whole teaspoon of sugar now, it's ridiculously sweet to me.
I never ate sugar in a lot of the things people are claiming they are cutting out, like in hot beverages or oatmeal, so I don't think I have a distorted sense of sweet, even though I do still eat ice cream and fancy chocolate, etc. Fruit tastes pretty sweet to me, for example, as do some vegetables (carrots, parsnips). That's why the idea that one must cut out sugar or have some kind of taste disability bothers me. As something that might work for someone on a personal level, sure, of course. People are different and have different issues with food. But as a reason everyone needs to cut or try to eliminate added sugar, no.
What I find intriguing about this thread is not the cutting out sugar (etc.) bit. That's half the threads on MFP lately. It's the idea that there's some benefit to cutting out "white" sugar. It's like brown sugar just seems more virtuous because of how it looks or something, which is bizarre. What's the reason to single out white sugar?As for pasta etc? Good luck. It's the one thing I haven't been able to substitute yet. Not having a buttload of money to try different things instead doesn't help, either.
The funny thing is that I haven't cut out pasta and do have it on occasion, but barely ever make it at home anymore, and it used to be one of my standard home cooked meals (and a reasonably healthy one, just one where it's easy to cut calories by using the sauce differently, since I always pretty much had pasta as a vehicle for my sauces). But have you tried whole wheat pasta? I think it goes really well with some accompaniments and not so much others, so I'd never use it exclusively, but it can be good. Also, what I end up doing more often is just putting pasta sauce on butternut or acorn squash, which is inexpensive around here. Less fussy than trying to create a pasta-like substitute, but often tasty with the same things I enjoy adding to pasta.0 -
The majority of people that i know who have lost a lot of weight gave up white bread , butter and potatoes completley so that probably gives you an idea of the harm to your health that those foods do.
Not really. Care to elaborate?0 -
:drinker:I prefer to stay sane and energetic, there is absolutely no reason to go on crazy diets that wear your body down. If you establish a healthy fat range to keep your hormones in check and other associated functions, enough protein to maintain lean body mass, and simply adjust your carbs accordingly you will have plenty of energy and not destroy your body. If you want your body to completely melt your muscle mass and do praise Allahs to some false low carb Deity, go nuts.
I don't think you understand LBM retention or low carb diets in general as well as you think you do. Your muscles do not just melt away in the absence of carbs, nor do you lack energy when a low carb diet is done properly. Not saying people need to eliminate white bread or white sugar - those foods are fine for the majority of people when consumed in moderation. But perpetuating old myths about low carb diets really gets old.0 -
As for pasta etc? Good luck. It's the one thing I haven't been able to substitute yet. Not having a buttload of money to try different things instead doesn't help, either.
I eat pasta once or twice a week. I buy whole grain and I've found pasta from Italy to be the best, so there goes the small carbon footprint. I have a short pasta with 35 grams of complex carbs and 6 grams of fiber, leaving 29 grams carbs. A long pasta with 41 carbs and 8 fiber, 33 grams actually complex carbs. Joseph's bakery makes really good whole meal pitas and lavash. When I make pasta I use whole wheat pastry flour, it works well. Farro is a wonderful complex grain, high in protein and fiber. I make gnocchi with sweet potato and it is good. Instead of potato latkes I use carrots and zucchini.0 -
Tell that to my 90 year old italian grandmother who never got over 100 lbs and was a size 1 her entire life eating all white carbs every single day.The majority of people that i know who have lost a lot of weight gave up white bread , butter and potatoes completley so that probably gives you an idea of the harm to your health that those foods do.0 -
For me, eliminating most refined sugar was the best thing I ever did because sugar is truly empty calories, in the sense that it does absolutely nothing to fill me up.
And when you are cutting calories, you want to eat foods that fill you up, otherwise you will fail at weight loss.
A two egg ommelette with a little cheese, sautéed onions and mushrooms for breakfast keeps me full for a long time. Two donuts or a pastry with orange juice (OJ is loaded with sugar) does nothing to keep me full. Calorically, they are about the same.
But maybe that's just me.
I'd agree with you that eggs are more filling. But every now and then, I just want a donut. Now, I fully understand that I cannot have a donut every day. But conversely, I don't want to think I can never have one again, either.
I said MOST refined sugar.
I think that's what many people are telling her, though. Sure make different choices most of the time, but there's no reason to subject yourself to an arbitrary "no white foods" rule. I am fine mostly not eating certain things because I know that I can eat them. If I had told myself at the beginning of the ride that I couldn't have something, I guarantee you, I would have got off a long time ago. Because the taboo would make me want it and then when I had it I'd feel like I "failed."
Self control.
Which I have in spades when I don't make unnecessary rules for myself.
You will fail in any diet in that case. going over cals, carbs or what ever.
Counting calories is a necessary rule, I understand why I need that one and have been managing it just fine, thanks.0 -
Was she eating "super market" bought enriched breads?
Tell that to my 90 year old italian grandmother who never got over 100 lbs and was a size 1 her entire life eating all white carbs every single day.The majority of people that i know who have lost a lot of weight gave up white bread , butter and potatoes completley so that probably gives you an idea of the harm to your health that those foods do.0 -
I'm a little disappointed in a lot of these responses. I've also eliminated all of the things in your list, replaced them with whole wheat versions. To me, health is more than calorie intake. I'd rather go over my calorie limit with healthy foods, high in fiber, etc than be under my calorie full of sugar and refined, manufactured food.
It's all personal choice so take all of our opinions with a grain of salt and listen to your body. I totally support what you're doing though, because I've done the same thing and feel so much better.
Just so I understand.
You'd rather gain weight as long as it's "healthy" food?0 -
Was she eating "super market" bought enriched breads?
Tell that to my 90 year old italian grandmother who never got over 100 lbs and was a size 1 her entire life eating all white carbs every single day.The majority of people that i know who have lost a lot of weight gave up white bread , butter and potatoes completley so that probably gives you an idea of the harm to your health that those foods do.
The assertion wasn't limited to "super market" breads, even if there were some difference of note (there's a lot of bread of various kinds at the super market, after all). Some members of my mom's family (going back some generations) had the first mill in their Iowa county, so I'm guessing they ate more bread than I do, and there are some pretty long-lived people in that family. My great grandparents and many of their children were farmers and just from my memory from family visits and so on they ate MUCH more butter and potatoes than I do (and I certainly haven't eliminated either) and seem to have been perfectly healthy and long-lived. They weren't fat, either. I'm assuming this has more to do with activity than magical properties of potatoes and butter (yummy as they are), but the idea that these are foods that are inconsistent with health in any amount is odd.0 -
Yes, it was just white bread that was labeled "vienna" or "italian" bread.
Was she eating "super market" bought enriched breads?
Tell that to my 90 year old italian grandmother who never got over 100 lbs and was a size 1 her entire life eating all white carbs every single day.The majority of people that i know who have lost a lot of weight gave up white bread , butter and potatoes completley so that probably gives you an idea of the harm to your health that those foods do.0 -
Yes, it was just white bread that was labeled "vienna" or "italian" bread.
Was she eating "super market" bought enriched breads?
Tell that to my 90 year old italian grandmother who never got over 100 lbs and was a size 1 her entire life eating all white carbs every single day.The majority of people that i know who have lost a lot of weight gave up white bread , butter and potatoes completley so that probably gives you an idea of the harm to your health that those foods do.
My grandmother was the same way, although not Italian. She was always incredibly thin, yet supermarket bread and potatoes were a staple in her kitchen. Not everyone has a voracious appetite and struggles with portion control on foods like white bread and potatoes.0 -
Oh, my gosh.why do you hate happiness?
First, we hear repeatedly that it's impossible to replace bad habits with healthy ones. Can't be done. Unsustainable. It's IMPOSSIBLE to make healthy lifestyle changes.
Now, we hear that if you even try to give yourself better eating habits, you cannot be happy...No, sorry it is that you HATE HAPPINESS.
There really needs to be a website where people who want to get healthier - not just thinner - can discuss it without all this "It's unsustainable! It can't be done!" silliness.0 -
Arg, I typed a huge response and lost it.
I have found that breads, potatoes, and rice, are almost always sides and I don't need them if I focus on eating enough protein and veggies. If it's a sandwich or burger I immediately toss the top. If it's pizza I don't eat the crust.
I try to replace snacks with a protein drink. If I'm hungry I go for greek yogurt, light cheese stick, nuts, beef jerky, pork rinds, or veggies.
Fruits satisfy my sweet tooth. If desserts are present I have a bite or two and then get away from it quickly!
Water helps tremendously. I drink water before I put anything in my mouth. Fills the belly up. Sometimes it ends up being enough itself.0 -
There really needs to be a website where people who want to get healthier - not just thinner - can discuss it without all this "It's unsustainable! It can't be done!" silliness.
Obviously, getting healthy through diet is perfectly sustainable.
Cutting out "white" potatoes and eating only brown sugar also is perfectly sustainable, I'm sure. I just think the claim that it has anything to do with health is incredibly silly.0 -
with enriched bleached flour and high fructose corn syrup and a 30 item ingredient list?
Yes, it was just white bread that was labeled "vienna" or "italian" bread.
Was she eating "super market" bought enriched breads?
Tell that to my 90 year old italian grandmother who never got over 100 lbs and was a size 1 her entire life eating all white carbs every single day.The majority of people that i know who have lost a lot of weight gave up white bread , butter and potatoes completley so that probably gives you an idea of the harm to your health that those foods do.0 -
I didn't mention anything about butter (yummy as it is).
Was she eating "super market" bought enriched breads?
Tell that to my 90 year old italian grandmother who never got over 100 lbs and was a size 1 her entire life eating all white carbs every single day.The majority of people that i know who have lost a lot of weight gave up white bread , butter and potatoes completley so that probably gives you an idea of the harm to your health that those foods do.
The assertion wasn't limited to "super market" breads, even if there were some difference of note (there's a lot of bread of various kinds at the super market, after all). Some members of my mom's family (going back some generations) had the first mill in their Iowa county, so I'm guessing they ate more bread than I do, and there are some pretty long-lived people in that family. My great grandparents and many of their children were farmers and just from my memory from family visits and so on they ate MUCH more butter and potatoes than I do (and I certainly haven't eliminated either) and seem to have been perfectly healthy and long-lived. They weren't fat, either. I'm assuming this has more to do with activity than magical properties of potatoes and butter (yummy as they are), but the idea that these are foods that are inconsistent with health in any amount is odd.0 -
Didn't count the number of ingredients, but it was a small paragraph like most breads I have seen. Definetly had enriched flour as a main ingredient
with enriched bleached flour and high fructose corn syrup and a 30 item ingredient list?
Yes, it was just white bread that was labeled "vienna" or "italian" bread.
Was she eating "super market" bought enriched breads?
Tell that to my 90 year old italian grandmother who never got over 100 lbs and was a size 1 her entire life eating all white carbs every single day.The majority of people that i know who have lost a lot of weight gave up white bread , butter and potatoes completley so that probably gives you an idea of the harm to your health that those foods do.0 -
Boy, not my grandma's bread.
Didn't count the number of ingredients, but it was a small paragraph like most breads I have seen. Definetly had enriched flour as a main ingredient
with enriched bleached flour and high fructose corn syrup and a 30 item ingredient list?
Yes, it was just white bread that was labeled "vienna" or "italian" bread.
Was she eating "super market" bought enriched breads?
Tell that to my 90 year old italian grandmother who never got over 100 lbs and was a size 1 her entire life eating all white carbs every single day.The majority of people that i know who have lost a lot of weight gave up white bread , butter and potatoes completley so that probably gives you an idea of the harm to your health that those foods do.0 -
Unless you have a condition white bread isn't necessarily bad.
But when I track my calories and try to organise my day's food to be under my calorie goals I do notice that I eat less bread, pasta and rice. These food are fine but they do have more calories than you think. So you end up naturally eating less of them because you get so many extra calories from not so much volume.
If you feel as though you can't have "just a little bit" of white bread and refined sugar then sure, go ahead and don't eat them altogether. But if you can fit them in to your diet and still be under your calorie goal then you're fine.0 -
Boy, not my grandma's bread.
Didn't count the number of ingredients, but it was a small paragraph like most breads I have seen. Definetly had enriched flour as a main ingredient
with enriched bleached flour and high fructose corn syrup and a 30 item ingredient list?
Yes, it was just white bread that was labeled "vienna" or "italian" bread.
Was she eating "super market" bought enriched breads?
Tell that to my 90 year old italian grandmother who never got over 100 lbs and was a size 1 her entire life eating all white carbs every single day.The majority of people that i know who have lost a lot of weight gave up white bread , butter and potatoes completley so that probably gives you an idea of the harm to your health that those foods do.
You may be older then. My grandmother was alive up until the 1990's and I don't really think bread has become much more "processed" since then. Villifying particular foods isn't really the answer. You may choose not to eat them in large amounts or even at all as a personal decision, but that doesn't mean other people can't eat them and remain rail thin. The whole concept of blaming foods for your woes is a bit silly to me, because you can find ample evidence of some of the leanest societies on this planet eating "white" carbs as a staple of their diet. That doesn't mean you have to eat those foods; it just means those foods are almost certainly not the reason peopled gained weight in the first place.0 -
There was a time in my life where I was so dirt poor and broke off my *kitten*, that I couldn't afford anything else other than spaghetti and rice. So for a few months, I LITERALLY lived off of spaghetti and rice. Occasionally I would be able to afford eggs and sausage, so that's what i ate for breakfast, but lunch and dinner was comprised of rationing rice for one meal, and spaghetti for the next. You'd think someone who was living off of nothing but simple carbs would gain all sorts of weight, right?
No. If anything I lost weight. Maybe it was due to stress and lack of nutrients, but maybe not. I was walking a lot during that time because I didn't even have a car, nor wasn't to pay for gas. So I'd walk everywhere, everyday, back and forth.
While yes, simple carbs eventually turn to sugar or fat or something like that, cutting them completely out isn't always the solution. My secret has always been portions, moderation, and exercise.
Good luck.0 -
all I can say is for the past 4 days I have felt like Im gonna die??? I had given up white bread and all the rest,, my lower stomach area has been in agony and I took so many painkillers I lost count. so I think I hit this diet thing too hard and fast that I am now back on bread, for now.. cos I did like how my belly didn't feel bloated, but I think my whole body went into shock. so maybe don't do it all at once is all I can say. Michele. really hope this helps you.0
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My grandmother passed in 1983. The most "commercial" bread she ate was probably Roman Meal.
Boy, not my grandma's bread.
Didn't count the number of ingredients, but it was a small paragraph like most breads I have seen. Definetly had enriched flour as a main ingredient
with enriched bleached flour and high fructose corn syrup and a 30 item ingredient list?
Yes, it was just white bread that was labeled "vienna" or "italian" bread.
Was she eating "super market" bought enriched breads?
Tell that to my 90 year old italian grandmother who never got over 100 lbs and was a size 1 her entire life eating all white carbs every single day.The majority of people that i know who have lost a lot of weight gave up white bread , butter and potatoes completley so that probably gives you an idea of the harm to your health that those foods do.
You may be older then. My grandmother was alive up until the 1990's and I don't really think bread has become much more "processed" since then. Villifying particular foods isn't really the answer. You may choose not to eat them in large amounts or even at all as a personal decision, but that doesn't mean other people can't eat them and remain rail thin. The whole concept of blaming foods for your woes is a bit silly to me, because you can find ample evidence of some of the leanest societies on this planet eating "white" carbs as a staple of their diet. That doesn't mean you have to eat those foods; it just means those foods are almost certainly not the reason peopled gained weight in the first place.
I don't believe in "vilifying" or "blaming", and if you review my earliest post, I suggested that rather than focusing on "eliminating" the OP could focus her attention toward how she chooses to build her diet. For me, that means building a diet with many nutrient dense vegetables, lean proteins, dairy, legumes, nuts and seeds, whole grains and fruit. No vilifying there, just good eats. :drinker:0 -
I treasure and love my 100 caloire bagle in the morning. It makes me happy…and is fewer calories than the healthy sprouted breads people swiitch to when dieting.
I say..why not just limit yourself to one or two helpings of those foods a day…and keep them under 100 calories. so you can enjoy them and lean portion control.
it is all about balance..in my opinion.0 -
This wouldn't quite work, for me. When I have bread, I have two slices of a good, hearty, whole grain bread. More than 100 calories for sure. But not a worse choice...I treasure and love my 100 caloire bagle in the morning. It makes me happy…and is fewer calories than the healthy sprouted breads people swiitch to when dieting.
I say..why not just limit yourself to one or two helpings of those foods a day…and keep them under 100 calories. so you can enjoy them and lean portion control.
it is all about balance..in my opinion.0 -
I didn't mention anything about butter (yummy as it is).
Was she eating "super market" bought enriched breads?
Tell that to my 90 year old italian grandmother who never got over 100 lbs and was a size 1 her entire life eating all white carbs every single day.The majority of people that i know who have lost a lot of weight gave up white bread , butter and potatoes completley so that probably gives you an idea of the harm to your health that those foods do.
The assertion wasn't limited to "super market" breads, even if there were some difference of note (there's a lot of bread of various kinds at the super market, after all). Some members of my mom's family (going back some generations) had the first mill in their Iowa county, so I'm guessing they ate more bread than I do, and there are some pretty long-lived people in that family. My great grandparents and many of their children were farmers and just from my memory from family visits and so on they ate MUCH more butter and potatoes than I do (and I certainly haven't eliminated either) and seem to have been perfectly healthy and long-lived. They weren't fat, either. I'm assuming this has more to do with activity than magical properties of potatoes and butter (yummy as they are), but the idea that these are foods that are inconsistent with health in any amount is odd.
No, but the post that people were objecting to did. The poster asserted that it was self-evident, based on the habits of some dieters he or she knows, that eating butter, potatoes, and white bread (unspecified what kind, so I assume the homemade kind is included) is bad for your health. Period.0 -
Yup. It did. I see that sort of "it works for me/my friend/my trainer therefore it's 'the way'" assertion on here quite a bit. Even on this thread. cheers
I didn't mention anything about butter (yummy as it is).
Was she eating "super market" bought enriched breads?
Tell that to my 90 year old italian grandmother who never got over 100 lbs and was a size 1 her entire life eating all white carbs every single day.The majority of people that i know who have lost a lot of weight gave up white bread , butter and potatoes completley so that probably gives you an idea of the harm to your health that those foods do.
The assertion wasn't limited to "super market" breads, even if there were some difference of note (there's a lot of bread of various kinds at the super market, after all). Some members of my mom's family (going back some generations) had the first mill in their Iowa county, so I'm guessing they ate more bread than I do, and there are some pretty long-lived people in that family. My great grandparents and many of their children were farmers and just from my memory from family visits and so on they ate MUCH more butter and potatoes than I do (and I certainly haven't eliminated either) and seem to have been perfectly healthy and long-lived. They weren't fat, either. I'm assuming this has more to do with activity than magical properties of potatoes and butter (yummy as they are), but the idea that these are foods that are inconsistent with health in any amount is odd.
No, but the post that people were objecting to did. It asserted that it was self-evident, based on the habits of some dieters he or she knows, that eating butter, potatoes, and white bread is bad for your health. Period.0
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