Changing Breakfast Changed My Life... From XL to M in Five Months

Protein-Based Breakfast Instead of Cereal and Toast
Expert: "Sugar Rapidly Raises Blood Sugar, Leading to Weight Gain"

A mother of two in the United Kingdom has revealed how she dropped from an XL size to an M size in just five months. Her secret was simply changing her sugar-laden breakfast routine.

Recently, the British newspaper Mirror reported on the story of Jodie Travers, 34, from Burnley, Lancashire. In the past, she used to start her day with a bowl of cereal and a slice of toast every morning. Although convenient and simple, these foods were loaded with sugar. Travers recalled, "Within less than an hour, I would crave biscuits, and by mid-morning, I would feel bloated and exhausted."

Cereal. Pixabay

Travers decided to change her diet. She replaced carbohydrates with protein-focused foods, mainly eating eggs, avocados, yogurt, and sometimes bacon and spinach. Nutrition experts say that switching to a low-sugar breakfast naturally leads to weight loss. Nutrition therapist and health coach Jodie Brandman told the Mirror, "It's all about blood sugar. Protein raises blood sugar slowly, but cereal is packed with sugar that spikes blood sugar rapidly, which can lead to weight gain in the long term."

Travers said her world changed after altering her diet. She admitted, "Honestly, I didn't expect things to change this much. Once I gave up snacks, I felt lighter and started losing weight. I feel like a completely different person." Previously, she used to hide her body under loose clothing and avoided looking at herself in the mirror, but now she has rediscovered her love for fashion and is trying styles she never dared to attempt before. As she lost weight, she also became more active. At first, she could only manage a walk around her neighborhood, but with consistency, she gradually added short runs and increased her exercise. Now, Travers jogs three times a week and is even training for a half marathon.

She also revamped her children's breakfast routine. Her six-year-old and four-year-old now eat protein-rich breakfasts such as eggs, yogurt, and omelets with fruit, instead of sugar-heavy cereal and jam-covered toast. Travers said, "The kids are more focused at school and don't get cranky in the mornings. I'm proud to show them a better way."

According to a 2020 study by Action on Sugar, the average sugar content in cereal was 20.7g per 100g, and more than one-third of cereals were found to be high-sugar products. A 2021 study by the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) also showed that the average sugar content in cereal was 19.9g per 100g, and less than 10% of products met the national standard of 5g per 100g. Experts advise that if you want to eat cereal for breakfast, you should choose low-sugar options such as homemade granola or muesli.