Let Them Eat Cake! ...in the morning

MadeOfMagic
MadeOfMagic Posts: 525 Member
edited November 10 in Food and Nutrition
Sweet little article about study, a new study from Tel Aviv University finds that eating a small dessert as part of a balanced breakfast can actually help you shed unwanted pounds!

Article: http://theweek.com/article/index/224214/can-dessert-for-breakfast-help-you-lose-weight



FULL STORY:


A new study from Tel Aviv University finds that eating a small dessert as part of a balanced breakfast can actually help you shed unwanted pounds. Wait, says Madeleine Davies at Jezebel. "Staying skinny and eating chocolate?" Here, a brief guide to what sounds, frankly, impossible:

Dessert with breakfast?
Why not? "Morning is the best time to consume sweets because that's when the body's metabolism is most active," says Britain's Telegraph. And if you indulge in, say, a bit of chocolate after your eggs and bacon, you have the rest of the day to work off the extra calories.

Wouldn't it be better to avoid extra calories altogether?
Apparently not. In this study, researchers split 193 clinically obese, non-diabetic adults into two groups. Men got 1,600 calories a day and women got 1,400. Half the subjects had a 300-calorie, low-carb breakfast, while the other half got 600 calories in the morning, including a small piece of chocolate cake. Halfway through the 32-week study, both groups had lost an average 33 pounds per person. But in the subsequent 16 weeks, people eating the light breakfast gained back 22 pounds each, while the cake eaters lost another 15 pounds apiece, on average.

What's the explanation?
Breakfast is the meal that best helps regulate ghrelin, the hormone that increases hunger, says professor Daniela Jakubowicz, one of the researchers. "The group that consumed a bigger breakfast, including dessert, experienced few if any cravings for these foods later in the day," Jakubowicz says. "The participants in the low-carbohydrate diet group had less satisfaction and felt that they were not full," so their cravings for sugars and carbohydrates were more intense as the day passed. Many broke down and cheated on their diet, so they lost, on average, 40 pounds less than peers who got to have their cake, and lose weight too.
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Replies

  • staceyGO
    staceyGO Posts: 376
    Thats extremely interesting, and something I could def take part in!
  • Psufilmgirl
    Psufilmgirl Posts: 93 Member
    I keep reading that you should eat a large breakfast and then eat less calories at every other meal.

    Anyone do this?
  • oceanchristy
    oceanchristy Posts: 120
    My mom always eats desert before dinner instead of after.
    She says it is incase she dies halfway through supper.
    lol
  • Msjcooper
    Msjcooper Posts: 23 Member
    My nutritionist/personal trainer says if you occasionally eat a small amount of dark chocolate before 10 am, you won't gain weight. She's a nutritionist so doesn't recommend any other types of chocolate or sweets. Dark Chocolate covered almonds are my fav!
  • tgh1914
    tgh1914 Posts: 1,036 Member
    This is directly from an old Bill Cosby routine - "Dad is great.... he gives us chocolate cake!"
  • hiker282
    hiker282 Posts: 983 Member
    This is directly from an old Bill Cosby routine - "Dad is great.... he gives us chocolate cake!"

    I was so totally thinking about this!
  • couponsaver79
    couponsaver79 Posts: 51 Member
    I heard this on the radio and was skeptical. Nice to see someone else post it.
  • killagb
    killagb Posts: 3,280 Member
    A lot of bro-science at play here. Stick to your calorie goals, lose weight. Eat what you want as long as it fits within these goals. End of story.

    eta: Protein is going to make you feel more full for longer than carbs.
  • darlilama
    darlilama Posts: 794 Member
    I keep reading that you should eat a large breakfast and then eat less calories at every other meal.

    Anyone do this?

    The old saying goes: "Eat breakfast like a King, lunch like a Queen, and dinner like a pauper." It really does make sense, but I can't say I follow those rules. I used to be more like that before I got married, but my husband is "Mr. Meat and Potatos for Dinner". Did I mention I didn't have weight problems BEFORE we got married? :ohwell:
  • hpsnickers1
    hpsnickers1 Posts: 2,783 Member
    Yeah and it was the cake that made them lose more weight. Just the cake. I'll have to go through this study thoroughly.

    The breakdown on the carb-restriction due to the carb addiction. When you go from a high-carb diet to a low-carb diet you will go through a "withdrawl". You see, sugar travels the same brain pathways as opiate drugs and grains contain exorphins which are morphine-like compounds. In the beginning the body stops getting its "fix" every couple of hours. Think about a cocaine addict going from 5g a day to 1g a day.

    Give carb restriction (done the right way - getting carbs from fibrous veggies, greens, and occasional berries, nuts and seeds) a few weeks and the "flu" goes away.

    This didn't happen for me, though. I had immediate energy increase, better sleep. My daytime sleepiness disappeared along with my "hunger" every couple of hours. Six months on a high-carb, calorie-restricted diet didn't do this. My belly didn't go away on this either. Removed carbs and lost 4" off my waist in a matter of weeks and got a flat belly for the first time in my life.
  • killagb
    killagb Posts: 3,280 Member
    I keep reading that you should eat a large breakfast and then eat less calories at every other meal.

    Anyone do this?

    The old saying goes: "Eat breakfast like a King, lunch like a Queen, and dinner like a pauper." It really does make sense, but I can't say I follow those rules. I used to be more like that before I got married, but my husband is "Mr. Meat and Potatos for Dinner". Did I mention I didn't have weight problems BEFORE we got married? :ohwell:
    That saying has no merit of factual basis. As I noted above....stick to your goals....and meal timing doesn't matter, as long as you eat in such a way that you are sated(high protein helps this). You can eat right before bed....I promise you'll still lose weight as long as you're at your calorie goal.
  • alohabrie
    alohabrie Posts: 204
    OMG - did anyone ever see the Bill Cosby comedy thing where he was talking about giving the kids chocolate cake for breakfast?! He completely rationalized it (eggs - good, milk - good, flour - good) and he totally got in trouble with his wife. So - Bill was actually right according to this study. Go Bill.

    Apparently while I typed someone typed faster and referenced the routine above. Great minds.
  • jamk1446
    jamk1446 Posts: 5,577 Member
    A lot of bro-science at play here. Stick to your calorie goals, lose weight. Eat what you want as long as it fits within these goals. End of story.

    eta: Protein is going to make you feel more full for longer than carbs.

    True words. Except I would add to "eat what you want WHEN you want as long as it fits within these goals."
  • TheKitsune6
    TheKitsune6 Posts: 5,798 Member
    Correlation =/= Causation

    Frankly, there's a whole lot of variables I would consider sooner than jumping to the conclusion that chocolate cake every day helps you lose weight.
  • MrsCon40
    MrsCon40 Posts: 2,351 Member
    A lot of bro-science at play here. Stick to your calorie goals, lose weight. Eat what you want as long as it fits within these goals. End of story.

    eta: Protein is going to make you feel more full for longer than carbs.

    True words. Except I would add to "eat what you want WHEN you want as long as it fits within these goals."

    Broscience... Hoscience... I prefer real peer reviewed science and the consensus is that nutrient timing is irrelevant.

    I prefer to eat my cake in bed.
  • karinaes
    karinaes Posts: 570 Member
    this is actually why i have most of my fruits (carbs & sugar) in the morning :wink:
  • hiker282
    hiker282 Posts: 983 Member
    I keep reading that you should eat a large breakfast and then eat less calories at every other meal.

    Anyone do this?

    Nope, I do it the pretty much the opposite. Well, not really. I eat a medium breakfast, a small lunch, a large dinner, with a few snacks in between. My rationale is that I eat dinner after I workout in the evening and I need to feed the fire and the calories I just 'burned.'
  • MissyJessy
    MissyJessy Posts: 1,279 Member
    My mom always eats desert before dinner instead of after.
    She says it is incase she dies halfway through supper.
    lol

    this is also a major concern of mine
  • darlilama
    darlilama Posts: 794 Member
    I keep reading that you should eat a large breakfast and then eat less calories at every other meal.

    Anyone do this?

    The old saying goes: "Eat breakfast like a King, lunch like a Queen, and dinner like a pauper." It really does make sense, but I can't say I follow those rules. I used to be more like that before I got married, but my husband is "Mr. Meat and Potatos for Dinner". Did I mention I didn't have weight problems BEFORE we got married? :ohwell:
    That saying has no merit of factual basis. As I noted above....stick to your goals....and meal timing doesn't matter, as long as you eat in such a way that you are sated(high protein helps this). You can eat right before bed....I promise you'll still lose weight as long as you're at your calorie goal.


    OMG.... You are NOT supposed to eat right before bed, but it doesn't necessarily have anything to do with weight-loss. It's about acid reflux. Ask any doctor, really.

    Secondly, not ALL calories are created equal. If you want to optimize your health and weight loss, you need to eat nutritious foods, not cake and doughnuts all day. I have nothing against eating treats... I do it all the time. But, everything in moderation.
  • TheKitsune6
    TheKitsune6 Posts: 5,798 Member
    The cake is a lie!
  • infamousmk
    infamousmk Posts: 6,033 Member
    I may *MAY* be likely to believe that having a small treat in the morning can satisfy a craving that may cause you to binge later, if you can't restrict yourself to a portion that fits in your caloric needs ...

    but there is no science that will tell you that eating cake in the morning is the sole factor in weight loss.
  • killagb
    killagb Posts: 3,280 Member
    I keep reading that you should eat a large breakfast and then eat less calories at every other meal.

    Anyone do this?

    The old saying goes: "Eat breakfast like a King, lunch like a Queen, and dinner like a pauper." It really does make sense, but I can't say I follow those rules. I used to be more like that before I got married, but my husband is "Mr. Meat and Potatos for Dinner". Did I mention I didn't have weight problems BEFORE we got married? :ohwell:
    That saying has no merit of factual basis. As I noted above....stick to your goals....and meal timing doesn't matter, as long as you eat in such a way that you are sated(high protein helps this). You can eat right before bed....I promise you'll still lose weight as long as you're at your calorie goal.


    OMG.... You are NOT supposed to eat right before bed, but it doesn't necessarily have anything to do with weight-loss. It's about acid reflux. Ask any doctor, really.

    Secondly, not ALL calories are created equal. If you want to optimize your health and weight loss, you need to eat nutritious foods, not cake and doughnuts all day. I have nothing against eating treats... I do it all the time. But, everything in moderation.
    OMG...if you have no issues with digestion doing this...it's not a big deal. If it makes you uncomfortable...then give yourself time. Doing it won't magically make acid reflux appear...nutrition vs. weight loss are two different things....you CAN eat what you want to lose weight....getting proper nutrition is another subject.
  • karinaes
    karinaes Posts: 570 Member
    I keep reading that you should eat a large breakfast and then eat less calories at every other meal.

    Anyone do this?

    The old saying goes: "Eat breakfast like a King, lunch like a Queen, and dinner like a pauper." It really does make sense, but I can't say I follow those rules. I used to be more like that before I got married, but my husband is "Mr. Meat and Potatos for Dinner". Did I mention I didn't have weight problems BEFORE we got married? :ohwell:
    That saying has no merit of factual basis. As I noted above....stick to your goals....and meal timing doesn't matter, as long as you eat in such a way that you are sated(high protein helps this). You can eat right before bed....I promise you'll still lose weight as long as you're at your calorie goal.


    OMG.... You are NOT supposed to eat right before bed, but it doesn't necessarily have anything to do with weight-loss. It's about acid reflux. Ask any doctor, really.

    Secondly, not ALL calories are created equal. If you want to optimize your health and weight loss, you need to eat nutritious foods, not cake and doughnuts all day. I have nothing against eating treats... I do it all the time. But, everything in moderation.
    i must agree
  • TurtleRunnerNC
    TurtleRunnerNC Posts: 751 Member
    This is directly from an old Bill Cosby routine - "Dad is great.... he gives us chocolate cake!"

    I was so totally thinking about this!

    Me too! ! I would love to eat cake for breakfast! !
  • BondBomb
    BondBomb Posts: 1,781 Member
    I keep reading that you should eat a large breakfast and then eat less calories at every other meal.

    Anyone do this?

    The old saying goes: "Eat breakfast like a King, lunch like a Queen, and dinner like a pauper." It really does make sense, but I can't say I follow those rules. I used to be more like that before I got married, but my husband is "Mr. Meat and Potatos for Dinner". Did I mention I didn't have weight problems BEFORE we got married? :ohwell:
    That saying has no merit of factual basis. As I noted above....stick to your goals....and meal timing doesn't matter, as long as you eat in such a way that you are sated(high protein helps this). You can eat right before bed....I promise you'll still lose weight as long as you're at your calorie goal.


    OMG.... You are NOT supposed to eat right before bed, but it doesn't necessarily have anything to do with weight-loss. It's about acid reflux. Ask any doctor, really.

    Secondly, not ALL calories are created equal. If you want to optimize your health and weight loss, you need to eat nutritious foods, not cake and doughnuts all day. I have nothing against eating treats... I do it all the time. But, everything in moderation.
    Not everyone suffers from acid reflux. I love getting a few calories befoe bed. I sleep tons better!
  • taso42
    taso42 Posts: 8,980 Member
    Too many variables. I think the conclusion is... non-conclusive.

    "Half the subjects had a 300-calorie, low-carb breakfast, while the other half got 600 calories in the morning, including a small piece of chocolate cake. "

    What if the other half had a 600 calorie including non-cake carbs?
    What if the 300 calorie group a a non-low-carb breakfast?
    What were they eating the rest of the day?
  • BondBomb
    BondBomb Posts: 1,781 Member
    The cake is a lie!
    Lol - grabbing my portal gun!
  • hirensthenameliftinsthegame
    hirensthenameliftinsthegame Posts: 233
    i used to eat cheesecake everymorning :D it worked lol, but im switching to something else now, chocolate mousse :D
  • MissyJessy
    MissyJessy Posts: 1,279 Member
    I keep reading that you should eat a large breakfast and then eat less calories at every other meal.

    Anyone do this?

    The old saying goes: "Eat breakfast like a King, lunch like a Queen, and dinner like a pauper." It really does make sense, but I can't say I follow those rules. I used to be more like that before I got married, but my husband is "Mr. Meat and Potatos for Dinner". Did I mention I didn't have weight problems BEFORE we got married? :ohwell:
    That saying has no merit of factual basis. As I noted above....stick to your goals....and meal timing doesn't matter, as long as you eat in such a way that you are sated(high protein helps this). You can eat right before bed....I promise you'll still lose weight as long as you're at your calorie goal.


    OMG.... You are NOT supposed to eat right before bed, but it doesn't necessarily have anything to do with weight-loss. It's about acid reflux. Ask any doctor, really.

    Secondly, not ALL calories are created equal. If you want to optimize your health and weight loss, you need to eat nutritious foods, not cake and doughnuts all day. I have nothing against eating treats... I do it all the time. But, everything in moderation.

    actually it has been scientifically proven that your metabolism naturally slows down when your body goes into a "rest" phase such as sleeping which means your less likely to burn the calories eaten before bed as quickly as you would have during the day.
  • christinal83
    christinal83 Posts: 84 Member
    I keep reading that you should eat a large breakfast and then eat less calories at every other meal.

    Anyone do this?

    The old saying goes: "Eat breakfast like a King, lunch like a Queen, and dinner like a pauper." It really does make sense, but I can't say I follow those rules. I used to be more like that before I got married, but my husband is "Mr. Meat and Potatos for Dinner". Did I mention I didn't have weight problems BEFORE we got married? :ohwell:
    That saying has no merit of factual basis. As I noted above....stick to your goals....and meal timing doesn't matter, as long as you eat in such a way that you are sated(high protein helps this). You can eat right before bed....I promise you'll still lose weight as long as you're at your calorie goal.


    OMG.... You are NOT supposed to eat right before bed, but it doesn't necessarily have anything to do with weight-loss. It's about acid reflux. Ask any doctor, really.

    Secondly, not ALL calories are created equal. If you want to optimize your health and weight loss, you need to eat nutritious foods, not cake and doughnuts all day. I have nothing against eating treats... I do it all the time. But, everything in moderation.
    Not everyone suffers from acid reflux. I love getting a few calories befoe bed. I sleep tons better!

    I have acid reflux & for ME certain foods bother me before I go to bed. I do eat sometimes right before bed. So not everyone who has acid reflux is affected by eating then going straight to sleep.
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