Protein for breakfast = faster weight loss?

Ever since I started having a protein drink for breakfast, I have been losing weight alot more quickly than without them. And the day I stop having them for breakfast, my weight goes back up a little bit.

Is this some weight loss secret or could it be something else??

I am about a month into my weight loss and have lost 5kgs so far

Your weight is determined by the difference between the  calories in vs the calories out.  However, as low-carbers discover, if you significantly reduce the carbohydrates in your diet e.g. replacing grain-based meals with proteins, then you can lose the fluid weight associated with the body's carbohydrate/glycogen stores.   Protein is also an appetite suppressant which means that your protein drink breakfast may be stopping you from eating mid-morning snacks quite as often.

Try to balance each of your meals so that you're getting a good range of different foods.  And make sure you're getting the right amount of total calories for your size and activity level.   5kgs in the first month wouldn't be unusual if you're trying to lose more than 10% of your body weight but you should expect that to slow down to 3 - 4kgs ongoing. 

On the day that I DO NOT have protein in the morning I get MUCH more hungry MUCH sooner than the days that I do have protein.

Since I LOVE protein I have little problem with this. 

 

I just went back on Atkins based diet to jump start my weight loss and get back on the wagon.  I usually have a mixture of hardboiled egg, tuna, and a bit of mayo for breakfast.  Or sometimes eggs and ham.  Proteins and low carb vegetables and some nuts make up the bulk of my diet the rest of the day.  My appetite has been much much less voracious.  I feel very satisfied throughout the day, no where near as hungry.

what kind of protein drink?  Sounds interesting.

I LOVE Herbalife Healthy Meals and Personal Protein Powder...have it almost every morning. Check out the website...herbalife.com

 

Do you find that it helps keep your daily totals from going too high?

It may not be the case for you, but I learned some things from the Carbohydrate Addicts Diet by Richard and Rachael Heller which I still apply even though I don't follow the entire plan any more. For some of us, eating carbohydrate stimulates our munchies and makes us keep noshing even when we're not hungry.

Similar to what satyrswoman said.

So when I start the day with a breakfast that's protein-rich and low in carbohydrate, it's easier for me to keep the calorie count under control by refraining from the nibbling binges and second helpings during the rest of the day.

I don't know about it making weight loss faster...but I have noticed that when I eat more carbs for breakfast, I have WAY less energy when I go to the gym (I usually eat and then go to the gym about an hour later). When I have some nice protein (egg whites, turkey bacon, etc) and a bit of whole grains, I feel much better at the gym.

Isn't this journey fun? Learning what makes our body feel its best is exciting!

My personal experience with cutting carbs has been sad. 

 My work involves a lot of mental effort and some serious concentration. 2 days after I cut carbs I was pretty much useless at work, light headed and feeling kind of giggly-silly. Acted like and felt like slightly drunk. 5 days after I gained some weight and my heart was racing.

I figured I had enough of experimenting and went back to high fiber, low fat routine. Started losing weight again + my brain is functioning.