Breadless Diet?

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Replies

  • I'm on a ketogenic diet. <10gr a day carbs I try. Feel amazing and havent looked this good in years, and with intermittent fasting I feel much more alert and active before my eating window.

    Anyways, things get so easy once your body adjusts to things. You become less hungry, more alert and aware of things. A v low carb diet really made a HUGE difference to me. Fat melts off if you couple it with some weight lifting. I built muscle and lost loads of bf in just two months on this diet.

    Bread and pizza were my favourite food. No more, and the few times I try eating it out nowadays I start craving for my meat. Get your body to adjust to things you want it to adjust to, at first it will be difficult but things get much easier past the first slope. Progress will keep you going.

    ^^^^ THIS
  • TheVimFuego
    TheVimFuego Posts: 2,412 Member
    I'm on a ketogenic diet. <10gr a day carbs I try. Feel amazing and havent looked this good in years, and with intermittent fasting I feel much more alert and active before my eating window.

    Anyways, things get so easy once your body adjusts to things. You become less hungry, more alert and aware of things. A v low carb diet really made a HUGE difference to me. Fat melts off if you couple it with some weight lifting. I built muscle and lost loads of bf in just two months on this diet.

    Bread and pizza were my favourite food. No more, and the few times I try eating it out nowadays I start craving for my meat. Get your body to adjust to things you want it to adjust to, at first it will be difficult but things get much easier past the first slope. Progress will keep you going.

    Amen to all that.

    Cut way back on sugar (or anything that metabolises down to glucose, i.e. carbs) and you won't crave the junk.

    Plus you get to appreciate the natural sweetness in something like a Bell Pepper. Bonus :)

    As for bread (and grains in general) not only are they not useful to me nutritionally or from a fat loss perspective but they are potentially harmful to my health in general.

    Check out leaky gut syndrome and auto-immune diseases, grains just don't help whether you have been diagnosed with an intolerance or not. "Healthy Whole Grains" they ain't.
  • j_wilson2012
    j_wilson2012 Posts: 293
    What is cool about where I live, is there are not very many fast food joints where I live. Downtown Sacramento is a very localized place, so it is hard to find fast food in the heart of downtown, or anywhere on the main grid. Most of the places are Mom/Pop Shops. There are 3 subways though, within a 2 mile area, and that is SPLENDID! Plus, I dont have a car, so that makes it easier (i know, oxymoron). This helps me eat better, and stay on track. The Chinese food place/liquor store that is owned by middle easterners is horrible, so I do not go there, and the fish and chips place across the street, run by the orientals, is kind of expensive (that is not a racial slur, I just find that a little ironic). A healthy market is 7 blocks from me, and there are farmer's markets virtually every day down here. It is wonderful. So I am going to be a very active person when school starts up. I think a low carb diet will be the ticket with me. I have already found an alternative to koolaid: V8 Fusion (VERY good and VERY healthy). I am in the beginning stages of finding out what I need/ dont need, as well as like/dont like. Such as, I like chopped potatoes, fried in EV OL (light), and seasoned with garlic. Great side for me, and a ton of potassium.
  • jsabet
    jsabet Posts: 51 Member
    Give up the simple carbs, sugar, starches, grains, flour. Bread only makes you want more bread that makes you want more bread.... After three horrible days, you'll feel completely detached from wanting any starches. Then you just gotta eat protein.
  • SweetxCatastrophe
    SweetxCatastrophe Posts: 593 Member
    I am a (former) bread lover. I could tear into a crusty sourdough loaf and have it gone within an hour. Not anymore. I went primal and I seriously couldn't give a crap about bread anymore. It always made me feel bloated and gross, and even if I thought it tasted "good," it really was only as good as what I put on it (meat or butter). Its bland and nutritionally empty so I personally have no place for it in my life.
  • j_wilson2012
    j_wilson2012 Posts: 293
    I am a (former) bread lover. I could tear into a crusty sourdough loaf and have it gone within an hour. Not anymore. I went primal and I seriously couldn't give a crap about bread anymore. It always made me feel bloated and gross, and even if I thought it tasted "good," it really was only as good as what I put on it (meat or butter). Its bland and nutritionally empty so I personally have no place for it in my life.

    I would binge on french baguettes. Once I started, I could not stop and they would be gone in less than an hour, even though they were like 2500 calories!
  • tishad58
    tishad58 Posts: 110 Member
    Downtown Sac rocks. :) I used to live in Sac back in the 70's- showin' my age.

    I skip the bread except as a rare treat if I am dining out. Otherwise I use tortillas- Sante Fe Tortilla Factory (100 calories each- Sam's club has these- pack of 20 is about 5 bucks) and Mama Lupes low carb (60 calories each- pack of 8 is about 2.50 at WalMart). Most of the other types taste nasty to me- like lawn clippings would probably taste! :) One of my favorite lunches is a BLOAT- bacon (turkey bacon), lettuce, onion, avocado, and tomato- on a tortilla. 183- 223 calories depending on the tortilla.

    Cereals- Kashi is really high in sugar- and expensive. Normally I wasn't eating cereal, but then I found Uncle Sam Original. It is toasted whole wheat flakes and flax seed only- so <1 gram sugar per serving. It's 190 calories per serving and the fat grams are good fats from the flax; it helps you stay full. I get a 13 oz box at WalMart for $2.88 and it lasts about a week eating it daily. One serving keeps me full for several hours- I use stevia to sweeten it and some cinnamon- it's a little plain without it. Depending on the day- I stop there or I might add some fruit. WalMart also has really inexpensive puffed brown rice cereal in a bag- it is with the bulk bagged cereals- and is only about $2.25 for a pound. Again, there is nothing added so you have to dress it up yourself. I use almond milk on my cereal- it is only 40 calories per cup- and I just don't like moo juice anyway.

    Pancakes are easy! Protein pancakes are a good substitute. I have been making mine with 1/2 cup rolled oats, 1/2 cup fat free cottage cheese, and 1/4 cup (+/-) of egg beaters (or an egg). Mix it together with an immersion (stick) blender until it is smooth like pancake batter. If it is too thick add a little more of the egg beaters. I don't bother adding sweetners or even vanilla to the batter, but you sure could. I do add 1/4 cup blueberries to the batter- and use another 1/4 cup blueberries mixed with 1/4 cup sugarfree log cabin syrup. You can even make these ahead and freeze them. These are high protein (26 grams) and only 313 calories even with the blueberries and the syrup. Makes a couple of pancakes and they are filling.

    I have discovered quinoa (which is seed from a type of grass rather than a grain) keeps me so darn full that I am a happy camper for about 4 hours! It's not cheap- but a pound of it ($5.00) lasts a week or more even eating it daily. I have been making lime cilantro quinoa and keeping it in the fridge- then I scoop out a serving, add black beans and corn on top, and then avocado on top of that.

    Hope this helps! :)
  • j_wilson2012
    j_wilson2012 Posts: 293
    Wow, tisha, that is very helpful. that pancake recipe sounds great! I always just put the box stuff in the cup, and add water, having to add more powder and water until it balances out. This would cause me to cram three 8" pancakes, and I know that cant be healthy!

    I get Kashi at my Grocery Outlet, and they are $2.59-2.99 per 11 oz. box. They are a few months to their expiration dates (GO is a liquidation market, so you have to check the dates), but at about 75% off I figured I would try it. Some do have a good amount of sugar, but they also have a lot of grain, which translates into fiber. Protein is about 7 grams per serving.

    I will be honest I looked over a few of the flax seed cereal, and as you stated, it was high in fat, so i was deterred immediately. Never tried any thing majoring in flax, so I dont know how it is used or what it does for you. I did notice that the FS cereal did not have a lot of protein either. Currently, I am focusing on the protein and fiber intake, as well as reducing the fat and carbs intake. I am learning about all of this as a sponge soaks water, so that I can fill my kitchen right. the only things in my freezer are veggies, meat, energy bars, and of course, ice. the closest thing to junk I have in my kitchen right now is cheese, boxes potatoes, and saltines. I forgot what Ice cream tastes like.

    I will be investigating all of this. I keep the posts in the " my posts" file so I will be sure to look on it next time I go shopping. Thank you very much!
  • tishad58
    tishad58 Posts: 110 Member
    I agree- my major gripe about cereal is it often has minimal protein. :) The particular cereal I mentioned has 5 grams of fat, 10grams fiber and 7grams of protein. But- it is definitely bland without some help! You're getting a great deal on Kashi... We have a factory here in the town where I live and it is still about $4.50+ per box.

    Here is a link about flax seed http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/benefits-of-flaxseed which gives some good general info. Quality wise, the fats in flax rank right up there with salmon, almonds, avocado, and olive oil. Here's a great Harvard public health article about fats in general and how they work in the body.... http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/what-should-you-eat/fats-full-story/index.html Warning- it's a little heavy on physiology, but it's good info.

    Welcome to MFP- happy losing! :)
  • Cristofori44
    Cristofori44 Posts: 201
    There's a lot of truth to the assertion that highly-processed grains are not good for the body because they are high in glycemic index and glycemic load. You can eat things like crackers and high-glycemic breads and potato chips and not feel full because they increase blood sugar too quickly and are digested too quickly--hence you are hungry again and can't get enough.

    Some considerations, however:

    1. Not all carbs are created equal, and not all breads are created equal. Pumpernickel, whole-grain breads, fettucine are all relatively low in glycemic load (GL) vs. those baguettes you mentioned which are much higher. Whole grains are also good sources of iron, magnesium and dietary fiber. But: you have to be careful and check the package, because a lot of "wheat" breads are not whole grains and have had the nutrients extracted (gotta love the American food-processing industry) and include added sugar such as in the form of corn syrup.

    2. Substituting whole-grain breads with corn tortillas will probably carry no glycemic benefit--the whole-grain bread is somewhat lower in glycemic load (although corn tortillas are by themselves relatively low in GL). If you substitute, however, a whole-wheat tortilla for white bread, that comparatively is a larger benefit. You can find information on glycemic loads of different foods here:
    http://www.health.harvard.edu/newsweek/Glycemic_index_and_glycemic_load_for_100_foods.htm

    2. To the primal dieters, the Unfrozen Cavemen Clan, realize you are (a) eating a meal plan formulated in the Paleolithic era when the average lifespan was 35 years old (b) depriving yourself of vitamins and minerals found in whole grains and fruits and dairy, such as calcium and A, B and C vitamins. Yeah you're losing weight, probably fast, because you're filled on protein and probably your body is malnourished .... If you want your hair and teeth to resemble that which existed in caveman times, go for it. And by the way, we have no scientific evidence that a Paleo diet is good for anybody long-term because they all died in their 30s from bashing each other's skulls with stones and crude, sharp objects. And not only does the diet lack peer review, bu there are also ethical considerations in eating a diet so dependent on protein, including from cattle, which takes vast amounts of land and energy resources.

    3. As for people with gluten issues, they have to eliminate whole grains. Everyone else, however, does not, and by eliminating whole grains you miss out on some nutritional benefit:
    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-katz-md/gluten-free-diet_b_907027.html

    Latest research on low-GL/GI diets vs. Atkins is here:
    http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/26/which-diet-works/

    Lastly, before eliminating grains, are you pre-diabetic, show signs of it, and how much are you working out? I'm at a tradeoff between wanting to lose some belly fat (and having a history of diabetes in my family) so something like no-bread would help for a week or two, vs. wanting the low-GL breads or grains and fruit at least to fuel long workouts and provide nutrition. I do note that the no-bread, phase 1 of the South Beach Diet lasts only two weeks after which the cardiologist who invented it has the sense to feed people whole grains and fruits and allow them wine (which slows digestion).

    Generally, you're right on the money about the baguettes, though there are shades of differences with breads and carbs. And I think you also have to think about where you are in terms of health and what you're doing in terms of workouts before ditching good forms of carbs such as whole grains.
  • GemskiB
    GemskiB Posts: 95 Member
    I have a bit of a wheat intolerance. Pasta and noodles are a no go for me and I very rarely eat bread either. I still get my carbs in though, brown rice, quinoa, potatoes etc. It won't do you any harm and bread can be a bit empty in terms of calories!
  • jackieatx
    jackieatx Posts: 578 Member
    I wouldn't say bread is empty calories at all. Go for the least processed. Look for whole grain or sprouted grain. Fiber isn't the only nutrient you get from grains. If you want, use lettuce wraps in place of bread, but I personally think moderation is key. On the other hand, deli meat is pretty worthless. Anything smoked or cured is bound to be loaded with sodium. Get organic chicken breast, grill, and slice. Tastes better, IMO. Good luck on your journey!
  • jackieatx
    jackieatx Posts: 578 Member
    Christofor: I am in love with your brain.
  • bathsheba_c
    bathsheba_c Posts: 1,873 Member
    I still eat bread. I just make it count by only eating really good-quality bread and setting portion limits for myself. Hand-baked sourdough, challah, etc.

    As for luncheon meats, see if your butcher sells a turkey log. Turkey log is basically turkey breast tied with string into a log-shape, sort of like a pot roast but turkey. Season it, bake it in the oven, and then slice!
  • I don't eat bread, don't miss it....I've a more varied diet now as I'm not relying on the loaf in the fridge! Diary is open (I think)
  • TheVimFuego
    TheVimFuego Posts: 2,412 Member
    <snip>
    3. As for people with gluten issues, they have to eliminate whole grains. Everyone else, however, does not, and by eliminating whole grains you miss out on some nutritional benefit:
    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-katz-md/gluten-free-diet_b_907027.html
    <snip>

    What about the people who have not been diagnosed as gluten intolerant but still have grain issues that they may not even know about? Many people report improvements in conditions and health when they give the grains up even if they are not 'gluten intolerant'.

    Leaky gut syndrome? Auto-immune diseases?

    And what nutritional benefit that cannot be got better elsewhere?

    Regarding your logic against the Paleo Diet (trotting out the usual, 'they died early' lines, spouting ethics and nutritional deficiencies that don't exist) suffice to say I am not in love with your brain. I am no 'strict Paleo' guy but your offhand dismissal of it is pitiful.
  • george29223
    george29223 Posts: 556 Member
    i pray one day i will see a thread that says braless diet breadless diet was close it was close
  • wendye1960
    wendye1960 Posts: 60 Member
    i pray one day i will see a thread that says braless diet breadless diet was close it was close

    Lol, this made me laugh.

    To answer the OP though. I haven't cut bread out entirely I do still eat it occasionally, I can't say I've noticed any adverse effects like headaches but then I've been getting my carbs elsewhere, veg etc. I've never been a big fan of much bread anyway as I get bored with it I just think I can have a lot more things with the calories that are in a slice of bread.
  • amy1612
    amy1612 Posts: 1,356 Member
    It's risky to cut out a whole food group when you are trying to lose weight. If you just allow yourself a reasonable portion size and fill up with low cal fruits and veggies, then you can satisfy that craving without feeling miserable or guilty. And your body NEEDS CARBS! I hate the low carb. I did it. Then I looked at a potato wrong and gained all the weight back. Look at your default MFP graphs and I know that mine is 55% carbs. We need these quick burning calories to get through, but people just eat too much of them. In moderation is fine. I eat a baked potato almost every day and I'm not shy of a sandwich or pasta and I've lost 50 lbs in a little under four months. I know it will be a lasting change because I'm not eliminating anything from my diet FOREVER! It's better to lose a little more slowly and spend this time learning how to eat properly. Then it won't be such a challenge when we are doing maintenance for the rest of our lives :) Good luck with whatever you decide to do!


    Itd not really 'risky'. I dont eat bread, I follow a pretty much paleo diet, and it was easy for me to transition because with IBS bread was never my biggest fan.

    I dont eat low carb (plenty of veg, fruit, sweet potatos and occasional white potato) and I have plenty of energy. You dont need to eat bread to get carbs, oats, brown rice, potatos are all good sources of carbs.
  • CoderGal
    CoderGal Posts: 6,800 Member
    Just make sure you get your vitamins that are invovled in the things you're cutting out of your diet with something else.
  • jackieatx
    jackieatx Posts: 578 Member
    <snip>
    3. As for people with gluten issues, they have to eliminate whole grains. Everyone else, however, does not, and by eliminating whole grains you miss out on some nutritional benefit:
    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-katz-md/gluten-free-diet_b_907027.html
    <snip>

    What about the people who have not been diagnosed as gluten intolerant but still have grain issues that they may not even know about? Many people report improvements in conditions and health when they give the grains up even if they are not 'gluten intolerant'.

    Leaky gut syndrome? Auto-immune diseases?

    And what nutritional benefit that cannot be got better elsewhere?

    Regarding your logic against the Paleo Diet (trotting out the usual, 'they died early' lines, spouting ethics and nutritional deficiencies that don't exist) suffice to say I am not in love with your brain. I am no 'strict Paleo' guy but your offhand dismissal of it is pitiful.

    I'm sure its just in their head or due to the fact that they are incorporating foods they wouldn't usually touch. For example, choosing a salad instead of a pastrami sandwich. There is no benefit to going gluten free if you do not have celiac disease or some form of gluten intolerance. Point in case:
    http://www.m.webmd.com/diet/features/truth-about-gluten?page=2

    Whole grains have a ton of iron, for example. Yeah, you could get this from eating a steak.. but many on a diet are not in the habit of eating steak every day.

    As for paleo.. lol. A new diet fad comes up every so often. This too will pass.
  • Cristofori44
    Cristofori44 Posts: 201
    <snip>
    3. As for people with gluten issues, they have to eliminate whole grains. Everyone else, however, does not, and by eliminating whole grains you miss out on some nutritional benefit:
    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-katz-md/gluten-free-diet_b_907027.html
    <snip>

    What about the people who have not been diagnosed as gluten intolerant but still have grain issues that they may not even know about? Many people report improvements in conditions and health when they give the grains up even if they are not 'gluten intolerant'.

    Leaky gut syndrome? Auto-immune diseases?

    And what nutritional benefit that cannot be got better elsewhere?

    Regarding your logic against the Paleo Diet (trotting out the usual, 'they died early' lines, spouting ethics and nutritional deficiencies that don't exist) suffice to say I am not in love with your brain. I am no 'strict Paleo' guy but your offhand dismissal of it is pitiful.

    I'm sure its just in their head or due to the fact that they are incorporating foods they wouldn't usually touch. For example, choosing a salad instead of a pastrami sandwich. There is no benefit to going gluten free if you do not have celiac disease or some form of gluten intolerance. Point in case:
    http://www.m.webmd.com/diet/features/truth-about-gluten?page=2

    Whole grains have a ton of iron, for example. Yeah, you could get this from eating a steak.. but many on a diet are not in the habit of eating steak every day.

    As for paleo.. lol. A new diet fad comes up every so often. This too will pass.

    Right. A lot of the fad diets are based on 10 percent truth and 90 percent confirmation bias.
  • stacygayle
    stacygayle Posts: 349 Member
    I have a hard time eating bread because it is hard to find bread that isn't made with some soy product in it and I have allergies to soy. Dave's Killer Bread is great because it is soy free and has lots of whole grains and seeds in it. I love it and it isn't high in calories or carbs like regular breads.
  • TXHunny84
    TXHunny84 Posts: 503 Member
    Read the book, Wheat Belly by William Davis, MD. It totally changed the way I look at bread and wheat products. I am one week wheat free and lost 5.2 this week. The only change was giving up wheat...I feel amazing!

    Thank you! I'll check that out!
  • TXHunny84
    TXHunny84 Posts: 503 Member
    Give up the simple carbs, sugar, starches, grains, flour. Bread only makes you want more bread that makes you want more bread.... After three horrible days, you'll feel completely detached from wanting any starches. Then you just gotta eat protein.

    ^^ This!
  • sunrize_sc
    sunrize_sc Posts: 157 Member
    Check out the Paleo Diet. It will give you all the facts. You will be very surprised.
  • I have decided that I am going to not eat bread in my diet. Rolls, Sandwich bread, Toast. I am looking at the nutrition facts, and on the sandwich bread, I would be eating over 200 calories just in bread, and that is just for one Sandwich! I decide that unless I am eating at Subway, I will not be eating bread. Plus, I feel that there are many other ways to get fiber (regular wheat bread doen't really have anything good in it anyways). Instead, I am going to get fiber out of my Kashi cereal, and when on my cycling rides, I have a protein and fiber packed energy bar. Any opinions on this? Any alternatives?
    I also feel sandwich meat has too many additives in them. Any advice on that?

    I agree with everything you're saying - this is the way I eat, and I love it. Deli meats are full of crap, and grains are empty calories. Veggies, lean (whole meat) proteins and fats are all you need.
  • I personally had great success cutting out wheat from my diet. I was diagnosed with IBS and for me the only somewhat relief is to cut out gluten and dairy (I am lactose intolerant).

    One thing I noticed is that by cutting out bread and grain I have a LOT more room (calorically and physically) for more nutritious foods like vegetables and lean protein. I feel better than ever and my stomach problems have subsided.

    It also gives you a great excuse to pass on the dinner rolls,croutons, snacky foods and other forms of empty calories.

    Just be sure to include new forms of complex carbs in your diet like sweet potatoes and quinoa. Maybe brown rice, though that sometimes makes me feel bad (probably just a me thing though)

    Goodluck!

    Oh, and to answer your question *duh me* there are a lot of gluten free bars out there. ThinkThins aren't bad and fruit and nut bars are usually the way to go. As for the meat, just make your own fresh. It's so much better for you, and really easy if you just cook a bunch up in advance.