Oh I wouldn't claim it was a great diet at all, but it worked. Also this was several years ago and I would do things differently now in the same situation. The bread is of course not essential but it made the meal seem more complete. I kept my diet bland for a couple of years until I was in the range I wanted to be, and there were many variations. For example, I would also use chicken and steamed vegetables for dinner. Or for breakfast, I would have granola, whey protein and yogurt with some jam -- it was certainly the case that fiber acted as an appetite suppressant.

Not a great diet but it wasn't meant to be, it was just a means to an end.