Life Without Bread

[sugarfreemarie]

Life Without Bread
Has anyone read or follow Life Without Bread? If you've read Gary Taubes' latest book, Why We Get Fat he talks about it briefly. But the premise is that you can eat 72 grams of carbs a day (doesn't matter what kind of carbs) and of course, all the fat and protein you want (incl. veggies).

I am drawn to this plan because
1.) It stays at a 72 gram level
2.) You can basically eat whatever carbs you want, just as long as it stays at 72 grams
3.) Does not discriminate against amount of food you can eat in general, just as long as you do not go over 72 grams of carbs

Hardcore low carbers will argue that you certainly cannot eat whatever and any kind of carbs that you want and still lose weight but if you think outside of the box for a minute, if you can give yourself that leeway and enjoy some carbs but keep a tight reign on the carb grams without worrying about carb ladders, etc then don't you think it would be more of a lifestyle? It's a rhetorical question and I don't know the answer. But this is something I am considering and just wanted to know who else has tried Life Without Bread.

Thanks for listening!

[putthekettleon]

Book lover that I am, I have them all, and I have that one too!

Life Without Bread is a great book. Dr. Lutz, from Austria, was prescribing low carb years and years and years before it became a household word.

The book really educated me about low carbing in a non-faddist way. But I decided on the Glycemic Load Diet because I just don't want to play the numbers game any more. Now I just know what I can/can't eat. But in my humble opinion, if you're going to count carb grams, you can't do better than Life Without Bread. I too liked that you didn't have to count the carb grams in low starch veggies. It always seemed silly to me to monitor even vegetables. If you follow it, good luck. I think it's a great plan.

[Karerose]

I'm confused. If you can eat any carbs you want, why do they call it life without bread? I haven't read the book obviously.

[sugarfreemarie]

Karerose, I am not sure to be honest. Probably the title is a pun but you are allowed your carbs, though he doesn't advocate eating more than 72 grams.

Putt - How much have you lost on your program? And you can have chocolate too on your plan, right?

[stardustshadow]

a LOT of people cannot lose with that many carbs. It is very individual!

A LOT of people cannot lose when they eat certain foods (like bread) because those foods cause too much of a blood sugar reaction. If you ask me, there is a BIG difference in where you get your carbs from. Some are slow acting, some fast acting, and that difference can mean a LOT for some people, weight loss wise. Again, it is very individual!

The only way to find out if it works for you is try it.

[putthekettleon]

marie, so far I'm losing about 1/2 pound a week. It's very slow going, but as long as I see a downward trend, I'm ok. I've lost 10 lbs so far and have about 50 more to go. I'm really not in a race, I just want to eat healthfully and keep my blood sugar normalized, and I don't want to count anything anymore, so this is perfect for me.

Yeah, about the chocolate, it's just a very small amount allowed, which is nice. In his earlier book Dr. Rob said to eat about 100 cal a day piece; in his later books he says the amount you can wrap your fingers around! I'm really loving eating this way, but we all have to find our own way. I'm just grateful my blood sugars are stable now.

[mainemom]

I learned a lot from this book. However, the way I understood it, the 72 gms of carbs limit is intended to improve overall health, not necessarily weight loss. I think many of us trying to lose weight with a restricted carb way of eating would find it hard to do so with that high of a limit. However, we would be healthier than the SAD. I was especially interested in the improvement in gastrointestinal diseases following a carb restricted diet - of course I've felt that happy side effect since I started LC over a year ago!

[snowmop]

I dearly WISH I could get away with 72 grams of carbs a day, but I can't ! First of all, I'm a very small person, and second, I couldn't deal with the cravings I would have.

[jemmi]

I have never heard of the book, and so I know nothing about it at all. But I think many that are on a low-carb plan is because their metabolism is "broken," and the type of carbs that are in breads/grains/pasta, etc., do not "play nice" like the other food groups.

When I eat breads, rice, corn, pasta, it creates not only hunger, but I think about food more often. It reminds me of almost like an allergic reaction.

When I have weaned off of those above items, I basically breeze through the day without lots of hunger, and hours can go by before I even think of food.

It doesn't mean that I don't ever think about, or miss breads, grains, corn, and pasta, I do, but now, especially after watching "Fat Head," I just keep the vicious obesity cycle going if I choose to eat those foods again, because now I realize the chain reaction it causes.

Dr. Atkins book has ladders, so that when your metabolism repairs and rebalances, and works efficiently again, then you slowly add back in foods and see how well you tolerate them, so that eventually you are able to eat a higher amount of carbs and not gain weight, and not get overly hungry, etc.

There are lots of plans out there, so try the ones that you feel suit your needs/personality, and go from there. I've tried some of them, and so far, the one that works best for me is low-carb.

Keep in mind too that many foods here in the U.S. have been tampered with, including our grains/breadstuffs, so that not only is the wheat or corn possibly been altered (GMO's), but the other ingredients, like HFCS, or partially-hydrogenated oils, has also been added, and may create havoc and imbalances, etc. It's tricky business nowadays.

One question I have is why is sugar and HFCS added to breads in this country, whereas in France, a country known for its amazing breads, do not? My thoughts about it are not good ones, so I'll leave it right there, and not say anymore.

Best to you, and take care!

[JustPeachy]

Originally Posted by stardustshadow

a LOT of people cannot lose with that many carbs. It is very individual!

A LOT of people cannot lose when they eat certain foods (like bread) because those foods cause too much of a blood sugar reaction. If you ask me, there is a BIG difference in where you get your carbs from. Some are slow acting, some fast acting, and that difference can mean a LOT for some people, weight loss wise. Again, it is very individual!

The only way to find out if it works for you is try it.

I completely agree because this has been my own experience.

I just purchased Wheat Belly by William Davis on Tues and I'm 1/2 way through it. Man, that's some scarey stuff! I never had an inkling that 2pcs. of wheat bread can cause a blood sugar spike higher than ordinary table sugar, for example. No wonder Americans are facing an obesity crisis! And we won't get into the cascade of illnesses that stem from diabetes and celiac disease. I'm floored! Totally. And I'm also convinced that I'll never put another grain of genetically engineered flour (or gluten) in my mouth.

[Russell1974]

how much is 72 carbs of ice cream.. I could get the rest of my calories from meat, and butter.

I think if you CCLL is 72 or higher, why not go ahead with it.. I think some days you will eat foods that aren't very healthy, but most days you would eat healthy foods.

[jemmi]

Originally Posted by trans4mation2005

how much is 72 carbs of ice cream.. I could get the rest of my calories from meat, and butter.

I think if you CCLL is 72 or higher, why not go ahead with it.. I think some days you will eat foods that aren't very healthy, but most days you would eat healthy foods.

You're funny!

It also shows the potential for obvious abuse of certain select food items, and not necessarily the best for us. I would abuse bagels, and specialty breads, for sure.

[stardustshadow]

Originally Posted by JustPeachy

I completely agree because this has been my own experience.

I just purchased Wheat Belly by William Davis on Tues and I'm 1/2 way through it. Man, that's some scarey stuff! I never had an inkling that 2pcs. of wheat bread can cause a blood sugar spike higher than ordinary table sugar, for example. No wonder Americans are facing an obesity crisis! And we won't get into the cascade of illnesses that stem from diabetes and celiac disease. I'm floored! Totally. And I'm also convinced that I'll never put another grain of genetically engineered flour (or gluten) in my mouth.

Yep! Amazing, isn't it!? I am a diabetic and wheat affects me MUCH more violently than pure sugar.

[clackley]

Originally Posted by mainemom

I learned a lot from this book. However, the way I understood it, the 72 gms of carbs limit is intended to improve overall health, not necessarily weight loss. I think many of us trying to lose weight with a restricted carb way of eating would find it hard to do so with that high of a limit. However, we would be healthier than the SAD. I was especially interested in the improvement in gastrointestinal diseases following a carb restricted diet - of course I've felt that happy side effect since I started LC over a year ago!

^^THIS exactly except for me, it is a bit longer than a year!

[Raqoon]

Resurrecting this thread to add my experience on the Life Without Bread plan.

I lose weight slowly, even when doing Atkins induction. On this plan, I am continuing to lose slowly. But I'm enjoying myself, which is important for me too.

I'm currently experimenting with a kind of up/down carb day with my plan. Like up to 70 gr one day, and then below 30 gr the next. I'm enjoying the experimenting too! Maybe this will have some effect? I'll let you all know.

[MsWoods]

Originally Posted by stardustshadow

Yep! Amazing, isn't it!? I am a diabetic and wheat affects me MUCH more violently than pure sugar.

I'm not diabetic but wheat effects me very badly. I think I'm gluten intolerant, IDK, self diagnosis lol.

I don't agree with the "more of a lifestyle" thing, because the way I eat now is my lifestyle. After 3 years, I'm very happy with the way I eat.

[tulipsandroses]

Originally Posted by sugarfreemarie

if you can give yourself that leeway and enjoy some carbs but keep a tight reign on the carb grams without worrying about carb ladders, etc then don't you think it would be more of a lifestyle? It's a rhetorical question and I don't know the answer. But this is something I am considering and just wanted to know who else has tried Life Without Bread.

Thanks for listening!

No I don't think it would be more of a lifestyle. This is my lifestyle and I truly enjoy it. I eat way better food and better tasting food now than I used to. At this point its a no brainer for me. Its a lifestyle that I don't need to add anything to make it better, except for good Rib Eyes at a better price

In any event, there are all kinds of plans out there that fit better for some than others. If you feel that this one is a better fit for you. Give it a go.

[tulipsandroses]

Originally Posted by Raqoon

Resurrecting this thread to add my experience on the Life Without Bread plan.

I lose weight slowly, even when doing Atkins induction. On this plan, I am continuing to lose slowly. But I'm enjoying myself, which is important for me too.

I'm currently experimenting with a kind of up/down carb day with my plan. Like up to 70 gr one day, and then below 30 gr the next. I'm enjoying the experimenting too! Maybe this will have some effect? I'll let you all know.

Good luck! I think the key to long term success, is enjoying the plan you are doing.

[Raqoon]

Originally Posted by tulipsandroses

Good luck! I think the key to long term success, is enjoying the plan you are doing.

Yes, that's the key, isn't it? Each person has to find the plan that fits her health, goals and personality. We're very lucky that there are so many different plans out there!

A month ago I posted a thread despairing the overwhelming number of choices and how to know which was best, but now I am starting to enjoy the experimentation.

[MargeGunderson]

Originally Posted by jemmi

One question I have is why is sugar and HFCS added to breads in this country, whereas in France, a country known for its amazing breads, do not? My thoughts about it are not good ones, so I'll leave it right there, and not say anymore.

Best to you, and take care!

jemmi, did you know that we're the only country that gets stuck with HFCS in our Coke and Pepsi products? The rest of the world gets the old style cane sugar stuff. Recently I discovered that Costco, and I think Walmart, sell Coke products from/made for Mexico (yes, that sounds disturbing, "coke" from Mexico...) and it tastes soooo much better and feels safer to me.

I don't do sugar anymore as of this WOE life-change, but I do keep it around for when friends are over and they always happily accept a few bottles to take home, as well.

[flatferenghi]

bread/bagel /pita servings. would that i could TOTALLY ABSTAIN from it. but, alas, when i go too long w/o it, i succumb to the dark side and wallow in a starch fest. So, i have no more than 1 serving a day. I have (this month to date)gone w/o, 2 or 3 days a week. Love & Profits: FLATFERENGHI

[dansamy]

Occasionally, I'll have a slice of low-carb or high fiber whole grain bread. That day will usually have higher carb counts.