Keto Means
Photo by Tim  Samuel Pexels Logo Photo: Tim Samuel

Is oatmeal OK to break a fast?

When compared to other break-fast meals, oatmeal doesn't do a great job of keeping you feeling full or of minimizing the insulin response. Because of this, oatmeal is not a great option to break your fast if you're using Intermittent Fasting to achieve a weight loss goal.

What drinks make you sleepy?
What drinks make you sleepy?

10 Drinks to Help You Sleep at Night Warm Milk. ... Almond Milk. ... Malted Milk. ... Valerian Tea. ... Decaffeinated Green Tea. ... Chamomile Tea....

Read More »
Who should not do ketosis?
Who should not do ketosis?

Considering these risks, people who have kidney damage, individuals at risk for heart disease, pregnant or nursing women, people with type 1...

Read More »

Affiliate Disclosure

If you're looking to achieve a weight loss goal with Intermittent Fasting, should you be breaking your fast with oatmeal? In other words, is oatmeal a good option to break your Intermittent Fast? Today, I'm breaking down the details of if you should break your fast with oatmeal in order to maximize fat burning AND which foods are BEST for your weight loss goals.

Can You Break Your Fast With Oatmeal?

Oatmeal is typically deemed a "heart healthy" breakfast option. But if you're looking to lose weight, it might not actually be your best option, especially if you're using Intermittent Fasting. One of the main goals with Intermittent Fasting is to reduce the frequency that you're eating throughout the day in order to keep insulin (our fat storing hormone) lower. This allows your body to turn on the fat burning process called lipolysis and start burning fat as fuel. In order to maximize your fat burning results with Intermittent Fasting, it's important to eat foods that support a more stable blood glucose level and reduced insulin release. When compared to other break-fast meals, oatmeal doesn't do a great job of keeping you feeling full or of minimizing the insulin response. Because of this, oatmeal is not a great option to break your fast if you're using Intermittent Fasting to achieve a weight loss goal. Of course, this also depends on your carbohydrate sensitivity, which you can find out how carbohydrate sensitive you are with my article HERE . Pssst - wondering what type of fasting is best for your goals? Click below for my free Intermittent Fasting Schedule quiz to find out!

Is Oatmeal Good For Weight Loss?

The two top priorities when it comes to achieving lasting weight loss success includes a reduced insulin level (fat storing hormone) and increased satiety (meaning feeling full and not feeling hungry). Some studies suggest that oatmeal helps to decrease the hunger hormone, which is a key aspect of weight loss.(1) However, when you dive into the details of these studies, oatmeal is typically being compared to sugary cereals (in this case, Honey Nut Cheerios) which can significantly spike our storing hormone insulin and result in feeling hungry fairly quickly after the meal.(1) So yes, when comparing oatmeal to a sugary cereal, oatmeal will certainly win out (at least, before maple syrup, honey and jam are added in). But is oatmeal truly a great option for your weight loss goals?

When we start comparing oatmeal to other breakfast food options, it starts to fall a bit short. For example, one study compared having oatmeal or eggs for breakfast and found that eggs resulted in increased satiety and decreased hunger hormone, ghrelin.

How often can you have a cheat day on keto?
How often can you have a cheat day on keto?

If your goal is calorie control, aim to cheat no more than once or twice a week. But if ketosis is important for your progress, consider cheating...

Read More »
What drinks can you have on the egg diet?
What drinks can you have on the egg diet?

The boiled egg diet consists mostly of eggs, lean proteins, and low carb fruits and vegetables. Calorie-free beverages are also permitted,...

Read More »

When we start to look at oatmeal specifically, we find that it might actually not be a great weight loss food at all. Oatmeal ranks middle of the lane when it comes to the glycemic index, which is often a sign of how much insulin (the storing hormone) will be released.(3) Quick oats, however, are high glycemic meaning it likely causes a big secretion of the fat storing hormone insulin and completely shuts off fat burning (aka lipolysis). Not to mention, oatmeal is low in the nutrients that prevent hunger and snacking. In order to prevent hunger, we need to stimulate key satiety hormones: peptide YY and CCK. These are both secreted when we eat foods rich in protein and fat. Oats are very low in both of these key nutrients. A 1 cup cooked serving of oatmeal only comes in at about 5g of protein and 3g of fat. Compare that to the two egg breakfast and you're looking at 9g of fat and 11g of protein. No wonder you feel more satisfied when you eat eggs vs. oatmeal!

Related: 10 Surprising Reasons You Aren't Losing Weight

The Best Foods to Break An Intermittent Fast

If your goal with Intermittent Fasting is to lose weight, then maximizing meals that boost satiety and decrease insulin secretion is extremely important. This means focusing on foods rich in protein, fat and fiber. Here are some of my favorite recipes that maximize protein, fat and fiber:

Greek Berry and Cream Smoothie

The OG Cauliflower Rice Burrito Bowl

Chia Brekky Bowl + Raspberry Compote

You can also find my favorite "grain-free oatmeal" recipe in the Complete Intermittent Fasting Bundle as a great swap to a traditional oatmeal breakfast. Get the step-by-step, meal-by-meal deets on how to use Intermittent Fasting to achieve your weight loss goals with the Complete Intermittent Fasting Bundle Tap into fat burning mechanisms, eat meals you LOVE and FINALLY feel GOOD again! Head over HERE to get started!

Your Nutritionist,

Autumn

Autumn Elle Nutrition

How many days before I lose weight on keto?
How many days before I lose weight on keto?

Generally, you'll need to adhere to a caloric deficit of around 500 calories per day. At this rate, you should start to see noticeable weight loss...

Read More »
Why do people soak their potatoes before frying?
Why do people soak their potatoes before frying?

The soaking, Mr. Nasr said, is the secret to the crisp texture of the fries. It draws out the starch, making them more rigid and less likely to...

Read More »
How do you kick start weight loss?
How do you kick start weight loss?

Top 13 Weight Loss Tips to Kick Start Your Journey Eat What's Right for Your Body. ... Lose Weight by Eating Mindfully. ... Stay Hydrated. ... Farm...

Read More »
What are the 5 foods that burn belly fat?
What are the 5 foods that burn belly fat?

7 Foods that Burn Belly Fat Beans. “Becoming a bean lover can help you lose weight and whittle your middle,” registered dietitian Cynthia Sass told...

Read More »