The Yorker Cereal Diet Challenge: Did they drop a jeans size?

As summer approaches many of us find ourselves pouring over the magazines in search of a 'quick-fix' diet that will make us drop a jeans size, or at least fit in to that skimpy new bikini. So, seven of our Features writers took on the challenge, and spent a week, eating the very best that cereal had to offer.

The diets were based on the Special K Challenge in which dieters eat a bowl of Special K for breakfast, and have another for lunch or dinner with a third nutritionally balanced meal for two weeks. Instead, we substituted Special K for our favourite cereals and put the diets to the test for just seven days...

The 'standard' option

Special K - Laura Lenkh

Weight lost: 1 kilo or 2.2 pounds

Did you drop a jeans size?: No, but my current jeans feel looser!

Already by day two I was feeling the strain. There is no way you can lead a normal life while eating what is practically just rice and air; and not feel like you want to kill someone. Hunger equals moodiness!

Already by day two I was feeling the strain.
Laura

I also felt faint at times. Special K is the kind of cereal which never fills you up. Let's face it, it's insubstantial and it doesn’t taste like anything on its own. I think that there are better ways to lose weight. It seems unhealthy to try sticking to cereal; I would probably have lost the same amount (and been less grumpy) had I eaten a balanced diet and done more exercise.

The 'budget' option

Morrison's Bran Flakes - Abigail Fenton

Weight lost: 1 kilo or 2.2 pounds

Did you drop a jeans size?: No

Let's face it: Bran Flakes are not the most enthralling taste sensation in the world. What I've discovered, however, is that with the addition of fruit, they are really not that bad. Honest. But what I have also discovered, is that eating bran flakes fourteen times in one short week is dull, with a capital 'D'.

The diet resulted in some of my best cooking attempts since I have been at university.
Abigail

I didn't mind the healthy-eating lark, I could cope with less food than I normally consume, no alcohol and no chocolate chip cookies (just about), but I really missed having a choice at lunchtime. On the bright side, only being allowed one meal per day means that your one meal has to be really amazing (not to mention large) and the diet resulted in some of my best cooking attempts since I have been at university. In fact the only side-effects were feelings of guilt; have you ever desperately rung your housemate to check if they think it's OK that you just ate a salad? I now have.

Morrison's Neat Wheat - Emily Boyd

Weight lost: 1.2 kilos or 2.6 pounds

Did you drop a jeans size?: No

The diet changed my guilty eating habits. Usually I’d feel guilty if I ate too many chocolate-chip cookies, but as they were taboo, fruit and vegetables were the new snack food, and eating extra bowls of salad became my vice! So overall, the diet made me eat much more healthily, and somehow I didn’t ever feel overwhelmingly hungry. As a late night worker, I would have cereal for breakfast, fruit during the day, a proper meal for supper, and save the second bowl of cereal for mid-night munchies. But often I never got round to eating it, as I just didn’t want more Neat Wheat.

The 'sweet childhood favourites' option

Honey Puffs - Selena Dhanak

honey

Weight lost: None

Did you drop a jeans size?: No

It turned out to be a very trying week in which I had to try to resist a homemade cake, a pasta bake and my store of junk food. I stuck to the diet but then lapsed into binge eating. It should be stressed that this diet highlights how much an average person actually needs to eat, and that every individual has their own natural body shape. In addition to not losing any weight, I also experienced toothaches and I learned the hard way: I’d rather have curves than cavities. It’s safe to say that the only thing this diet was good for was putting me off sugary cereals. For life.

Cheerios - Chloe Dean

Weight lost: None

Did you drop a jeans size? No

For this cereal diet, I chose Cheerios to replace my healthy, hearty breakfast, lunch and dinner meals. Cereal has never been my ‘wake up’ food of choice; I am much in favour of Scotch pancakes, toast with a dollop of peanut butter or the mighty English Breakfast. So, when I learnt of this unearthly activity known as the ‘cereal diet’ I was filled with horror.

Faintness, complete lack of concentration and intense anger were the by-products of this diet.
Chloe

The close proximity of my room to vending machines and the machinations of my friends concerning half-price Mondays at Bella Italia ensured that I did not even nearly drop a jean size. For three days, however, I ate my two bowls of Cheerios punctuated with dull cereal bars and the best of Costcutter’s fruit and veg selection.

Faintness, complete lack of concentration and intense anger were the by-products of this diet. It is just another way to reduce calorie intake in a way which will dominate all conversations and social events. Life is too short: exercise, less alcohol and good food is the simple and less soul destroying method of shedding the pounds.

The 'random' option

Raisin Wheats - Lucy Brims

Weight lost: 1.4 kilos or 3 pounds

Did you drop a jeans size? No

I would not recommend this ‘diet’ to anyone. Do not be fooled by the fact that it initially seems amazing; I dropped 3 pounds in the first day and a half. But the diet was not an effective long-term slimming method. Once my body realised (with horror and confusion) that it was only going to get one real meal a day, it began to stubbornly store any food consumed. Admittedly, a few of my ‘healthy and balanced’ meals were a little suspect, with some extending to three courses. This is probably not what the Special K Challenge had in mind. In order not to compensate by going for an ‘all you can eat’ approach towards your one meal, regular snacks are essential. Contemplate this diet only for short-term weight loss. And be prepared to require a long-term break from cereal after you are finished. Side effects included a slower metabolism, constant hunger, an aversion to exercise, a decreased ability to concentrate (apart from intensely on the next proper meal) and hostility towards cereal.

Grape-nuts - Victoria Walvis

Weight lost: 0.5 kilos or 1.1 pound

Did you drop a jeans size? No

Grape-nuts, better known in America than they are over here, are my favourite breakfast cereal and kept me sustained whilst trekking in the Sierra Nevada mountains. So, when asked whether I would partake in a cereal-challenge, I thought why not?

I confess I did steal a piece of marmite toast from my flat mate.
Victoria

I love Grape-nuts and the diet would give me an excuse to eat healthily and not to drink alcohol for a week. These both proved to be quite difficult (ordering lime and sodas instead of alcoholic drinks got me a few odd looks), but it was the hunger that was the hardest part of the diet. I stormed in to the flat kitchen at 4pm to make a baked potato with baked beans, fish fingers and peas because I simply could not wait any longer for my 'balanced meal'. On the plus side, the diet did ensure that I cooked a large meal once a day, instead of just grabbing a sandwich or a chocolate bar. Although I confess I did steal a piece of marmite toast from my flat mate. I would never do the diet again as I think healthy eating and exercise are a better option; but all in all I enjoyed the challenge and relish my back-to-normal snacking much more than before.

So, we gave seven of our writers the challenge of 'dropping a jeans size'. We have now discovered that maybe, just maybe, the cereal diets aren't for you.

However, if you struggle to eat (and indeed drink) healthily at university perhaps a healthy week is not such a bad thing. Some of us even enjoyed preparing that balanced meal; and while the intense hunger is an issue for most, cereal diets are an option to those looking for a framework in which to curb their guilty eating habits (just don't expect to concentrate for too long).

Add Comment

You must log in to submit a comment.