This week I decided to be brave and go an entire week without carbs and grains in an effort to lose weight and see if it would make me feel healthier.
I don’t eat white bread or rice. I generally stick to brown rice and whole wheat bread, but this diet (inspired by guruofabs.com) called for no bread at all, brown rice in small quantities, no potatoes, obviously no candy and limited amounts of sugar, as well as a specified workout that targeted the core and waist.
For some people, going without bread probably doesn’t sound like a big deal, but for me bread is practically my life. My food pyramid is made up of 50 percent carbs, 25 percent protein, 15 percent sugars and 10 percent fruits. Notice that vegetables aren’t on there. I will eat spinach, potatoes and carrots- that’s it. Sunday night I made a meal plan for myself and it wasn’t exciting at all. I planned things like chicken and a small sweet potato, or salmon with brown rice and beans. Breakfast was always either an omelet or a green smoothie, and chances are lunch was the previous night’s leftovers.
The hardest part of it was on mornings when I woke up late or had to run out of the house quickly, it wasn’t feasible for me to prepare my carrot snacks or to prepare and pack fruit. All that aside, I did feel better and because I had planned my meals, I was eating actual portions of meals, instead of whatever fits on my plate.
I didn’t last the entire week because of a slip-up and a personal thing that made me give in to my outrageous craving for some Yogurtology, but it would definitely be something I’d try again.
Personally, I don’t believe that cutting out all food groups, with the exception of vegetarian and vegan diets, is a feasible lifestyle change. I’m not in the place to make suggestions for others and I would never suggest that anyone permanently cut out the doughy, chewy goodness that is bread from his or her life. That being said, for legitimate weight-loss solutions and healthy lifestyle changes, the tried and true method of healthy eating and exercising is the best way to go.
"Dani's Brown Bread" by Alexa Clark, used under CC BY-NC 2.0
