Breakfast Cereal Diet

[missprim]

A friend of mine told me she is just going to eat breakfast cereals with SS milk for the next two weeks.
Will she be missing out on certain nutrients/vitamins and is she likely to lose weight?

[daffy654]

Most packet cereals are full of sugar and salt, they lack many essential nutrients. She would be a fool to do this 'diet'.

[Paulsy]

I agree. They have loads of added vitamins and minerals as a good start to the day but can't replace a proper balanced diet with protein, fresh fruit and vegetables. Any 'fad' or quick fix diet isn't recommend for long but wouldn't do any real harm short term

[sophie_1003]

I tried this in August, the 2 bowls, 2 meals, 2 weeks thing, after a week the sight of a bowl of cereal made me want to weep, I hadn't lost any weight and I was constipated. So I have that up and the following two weeks I ate cereal for breakfast, a salad with a portion of protein for lunch and evening meals the same as I would have done usually, in that period I lost 3 pounds and felt brilliant.

[sophie_1003]

*gave not have

[Maydup]

Silly idea, and yes she will be missing out on certain nutrients. It depends which cereals she's going to eat as to whether she'll lose weight. Porridge wouldn't be a bad cereal to eat plenty of, but she'd be wise to have some fruit with it.

[Maydup]

Semi skimmed?

[missprim]

I think the idea is to eat high fibre cereals like porridge, fruit and fibre, weetabix etc but to be honest I can't see her sticking with this for a week never mind 2. If she did it and lost weight I was going to try it myself but I wouldn't want to suffer any side effects from it.

[missprim]

Sorry, yes semi skimmed.

[Paulsy]

Any weight lost would prob be put back on quickly. As someone who has dieted on and off for years I can tell you the only long lasting way is eat less fat/calories and exercise. Must start to practice that again soon ;-)

[craft1948]

Whenever I put a bit of weight on I use this diet to get back down to normal. Cereal and fruit for breakfast and lunch, then chicken or fish plus vegetables (no potato) for 2 weeks. I can usually shift half a stone.

[missprim]

That sounds ok craft, might try that if you can lose that much.

[Paulsy]

crafts sounds better to me, balanced rather than a quick fix but with realistic results

[Maydup]

No don't follow any fad diet Miss Prim

Instead, have porridge and fruit for breakfast. Salad or soup for lunch and a healthy evening meal with plenty of vegetables.

No cakes, biscuits, or fatty food. No bread, very little cheese and only lean meat. No chocolate , no sweets but plenty of fresh fruit and veg.

I've lost over 2 stone in the last few months and have more to go, but I have done it by eating a balanced diet and cutting out the bad things.

[Maydup]

Oh and no sugar. Be careful of low fat food as it can be laden with added sugar.
Read the ingredients list before buying anything that you're not sure of.

A smoothy for example can sound like the healthy option but many are very high in sugar and calories.

[missprim]

I've tried the balanced diet before but unfortunately I always want something sweet after something savoury. Just thought the cereal being a bit sweet would stop me from craving cake etc. This is the reason my friend wants to try it as she feels she won't want anything else after cereal. I can see where she's coming from as I know I never want cake or pudding after my cereal in the mornings.

[Paulsy]

Well done maidup. You are right, I went to weightwatchers years ago and it does educate you and get you into the right habits.

[Ann]

I wonder how Special K can advertise this "diet" they say drop 2 jeans sizes - I think they advise eating bowls of their cereal more than once a day?

[Maydup]

But some cereals are full of sugar Miss Prim and as bad as cake. (Not all of course)

I have a low fat, low sugar yoghurt and a satsuma. The sweet tooth lessons in the end, beleive me. And its worth the agony of the first few days when in a few weeks you're having to buy new jeans!!

[Paulsy]

I know Ann, special K has about the same cals as rice krispies or cornflakes! A con. And as for a sweet tooth missprim, I have one too and its cold turkey! After a few days/weeks it gets easier, especially when you start to lose a few lbs