Have I been getting it wrong all this time?

[user87899]

I just thought I'd share this in case anyone else has experienced the same, because I'm quite baffled by it!

I am one of life's eternal dieters. From the age of 15 (I'm now early 50s), my weight has yo-yoed and there isn't a diet I haven't tried. Like lots of us, I have subscribed to the low-carb/high protein way of eating and breakfast is usually Greek yoghurt and blueberries. My weight has been stuck for about three years though, so I thought it must be menopause-related (I'm on HRT) or I've screwed up my metabolism.

A few weeks ago I decided to have a break from obsessing about my weight and treated myself some cereal for breakfast - I have Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity, so it was a GF knock-off combination of Bran Flakes and Special K. Lots of buckwheat and very high fibre, but high calorie and with added raw sugar cane. Honestly, the first mouthful was the most amazing thing I'd tasted in yonks!

Since then, I've been having 40g with semi-skimmed milk every day and the weirdest thing has happened. I am no longer peckish mid-morning. I can get to lunch without needing to snack. I'm not having massive sugar/junk food cravings throughout the day. I'm losing weight – 5lbs in three weeks – and my mood has lifted, so I'm making better food choices the rest of the time and I'm motivated to go for walks.

It has to be the high fibre, no? I have changed nothing else about my diet – still drinking wine! No HRT medication change either. All I've done is re-introduce the cereal I have avoided for well over a decade because I was convinced by the low-carb mantra that cereal for breakfast is really bad. Now I'm kicking myself I might've been getting it wrong all these years!

Anyone else experienced similar?

Yes, I'm definitely not seeking weight loss advice!

cardibach there's many discussions here about what to eat and when so i suggested it in that context - as another option which is cutting out breakfast completely - simply sharing what worked for me - then no need to discuss all these options :)

Bookworm1111 understood now - this is in the Weight Loss chat section which came up for me in my app....which does imply that might be an aim. anyway, i'm enjoying the chat and feedback :) glad you've found something that works for you.

Yoghurt and fruit is not low carb.

Congratulations on your weight loss. I'm sure individual bodies react differently. When I was first diagnosed with type 2 diabetes I used a Libra 2 glucose monitor - you wear it for 2 weeks and what 'spiked' me was interesting, a banana cause a huge spike.

But I had Greek yoghurt with a few blueberries and that's advocated everywhere as a low carb breakfast!

@Bookworm1111 - yep - Greek yoghurt and blueberries here too. With a sprinkle of some seeds and a few flaked almonds. Definitely classed as a low carb breakfast. @sashh - yoghurt and fruit can be low carb but it obviously completely depends on the yoghurt - Greek yoghurt is low in carbs and berries are lower in carbs than other fruits. A fruit flavoured yoghurt and a banana wouldn’t be low in carbs but full fat Greek yoghurt and some berries is low in carbs. Also filling.

Interesting discussion! The fibre must be helping, great to hear that it is working for you, OP! I suppose it will help you to maintain as well in the longer term

Fibre is also meant to help with gut health, which in turn can help with the weight loss.

But, that you are full and not tempted to snack has another aspect to it, I think: not having to fight the temptation and the general stress that we put ourselves through when we are on a "diet" or way-of-eating, whatever you call it..
So, the diet-related stress component could be reduced, because of your new eating regimen and that can also be a contributing factor to your weight loss.

There is a great book about this 'Fibre fuelled' showing the multitude of benefits fibre has for your health.

The fibre will reduce the sugar spike from the carbs. If you have refined carbs without fibre you will get a big blood sugar spike followed by a crash which is when you feel hungry. The fibre will be keeping you blood sugar stable. Also it is great for building a healthy gut microbiome as the good bacteria which support your health love it.

I think high fibre is the way to go for easy weight loss without calorie counting.

I think you're absolutely spot-on about the stress. When you're not wasting brain space thinking about food all the time you just get on with your day. It must have a knock-on effect - lower cortisol etc.

Thanks for the recommendation - will definitely check the book out.

as to the is yogurt and fruit low carb I'd say it could be it depends
2 sample yogurts:
alpro no sugar plain soya yogurt is 0g carbs 0g sugar per 100g
Rachel's organic greek style with honey is 12.0g of carbs and 11.3g of sugar per 100g

e.g. a bowl of 200g of the Rachel's greek style yogurt and 50g of blueberries
would have 27g of sugar, and 32g of carbs

Whereas 200g of the alpro with 25g blueberries has 2.5g of sugar and 4g of carbs.

The difference can be huge