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Original poster

to wonder how the hell she stays so slim??

708 replies

SequinsAndSparkles · 15/03/2011 13:41

My BIL is engaged to a spanish woman, and we spent the weekend at MIL's, all of us together.

She is very slim, I'd guess a size 6/8. Her skin is glowing and she is stunning, yet her diet perplexes me?

On the first morning, we were all having breakfast, MIL made a fry up for everyone, but I am on a diet so I had special K and some toast. SIL prepared her own breakfast (they are currently staying at MILs while they have some work done on their house), and she had some kind of cheese, can't remember what she said it was, about 10 olives and a slice of ham! Yet she said that my breakfast of Special K and toast was stodgy and apparently English women have 'very strange ideas about nutrition'.

For lunch, she had a chicken salad, but it involved lots of extra virgin olive oil, all over the peppers and a big dollop of salsa. And then for dinner she had chicken smeared in pesto, with green beans in salt, more salsa and a slice of cheese.

How is she so slim??

I didn't have a particuarly healthy weekend in the end, we ended up having a takeaway on the Saturday evening, and SIL wouldn't eat any of it, she wasn't rude, she politely declined but I just find it hypocrytical that she eats all this fatty stuff and made the comment about England having strange ideas about nutrition when I was eating Special K and toast!!

OP posts:
BettyCash · 15/03/2011 13:42

No carbs? You didn't mention how much she exercises, or whether she drinks, or whether you snack.

Pagwatch · 15/03/2011 13:43

She is slim because her diet is excellent.

Good fats, lots of protein, few shitty carbs.

Low fat diets make you fat. White carbs make you fat. Cereal is shit in a box.

supadupapupascupa · 15/03/2011 13:44

i guess the difference is that you hard carbs for breakfast and she had protein. it is well known that protein fills you up for longer and that cutting carbs can reduce weight gain

Original poster
SequinsAndSparkles · 15/03/2011 13:44

I think she does eat carbs, she had a big piece of crusty bread with her evening meal. She drinks wine, she doesn't drink a lot though, but she does drink.

OP posts:
Pagwatch · 15/03/2011 13:44

Special k and toast is a breakfast entirely consisting of carb. I would be huge if I ate that for breakfast every day.

NightLark · 15/03/2011 13:44

yep, no carbs in that list. And it sounds delicious.

PandaNot · 15/03/2011 13:44

Diets are not all about cutting out fat. It sounds like she has a really healthy 'mediterranean' diet and that probably contributes to her glowing skin. The protein will be keeping her feeling full for longer so she'll eat less calories overall I would think.

ragged · 15/03/2011 13:45

I think she has a point, but I find it difficult to explain properly. Starchy stodgy foods are potentially more fattening. High protein & high veg diets are more satisfying.

Of course, she could just be a lot younger than you & lives on coffee, wine & fags (like many young Italian/Spanish women) when she's not on holiday!!

Original poster
SequinsAndSparkles · 15/03/2011 13:45

pagwatch how is her diet excellent? there was lots of olive oil and quite a bit of cheese. Maybe she's right, maybe I do have no idea!

OP posts:
BaronessBomburst · 15/03/2011 13:45

Totally agree with Pagwatch.

Desperateforthinnerthighs · 15/03/2011 13:45

The Mediterranean diet is a lot healthier generally than ours - her breakfast sounds great.........you had a take away, she didnt - I guess she is very controlled about what she eats hence she is slim.

myredcardigan · 15/03/2011 13:45

It sounds like she doesn't eat many carbs. I know quite a few women who dieted for years through calorie counting and it never really cam eoff until they cut right down on the carbs.

Special K and toast may seem healthy but has high carbs count. And isn't Special K full of sugar?

Her diet actually sounds very healthy to me and I can clearly see why it helps keep weight off her. It wouldn't be for me though as I'm not a big meat eater and I like toast too much!

Tee2072 · 15/03/2011 13:45

No carbs, olive oil is mostly 'good' fat and she's right about Special K.

ashamedandconfused · 15/03/2011 13:45

olive oil is a healthy fat, and she is eating proteins and plenty of salads/veg

you were eating cereal and bread - so, yes, very stodgy in comparison (also its low fat but high sugar in the special K) - she probably felt fuller for longer too, and may well eat less calories overall even with the oil as she was on low carbs

what about exercise?

Hammy02 · 15/03/2011 13:46

There are virtually no carbs in the food you have listed that she had. Probably that. I find bread, pasta and white rice very fattening and bloating. I am trying to lose weight so I know what you mean when you see slim women that seem to eat lots but if you look at what they are actually eating, you can see why.

Desperateforthinnerthighs · 15/03/2011 13:46

........but take heart, a lot of the older spanish ladies gain moustaches as they grow older Grin

GwendolineMaryLacey · 15/03/2011 13:46

If she's not eating carbs then that explains it. I'm a size 20 because of the carbs that I am addicted to. If I didn't exist on bread and pasta then I'd be a 6/8 too!

mrsravelstein · 15/03/2011 13:46

i am a size 6/8 and i never diet though sometimes i have to cut back a bit on the mini eggs. i eat healthy home cooked food, and do lots of daily exercise (walking, pilates, yoga). my mum is a size 20 so i would guess there's a bit of luck in there, but mainly just sensible eating and exercise like all the books say.

Original poster
SequinsAndSparkles · 15/03/2011 13:46

Ah, it seems she had a point then Blush

No, I'm not older, I'm 2 years younger! Grin

OP posts:
EmmaBGoode · 15/03/2011 13:46

I'm not surprised she's slim! That is a healthy, balanced diet.

myredcardigan · 15/03/2011 13:46

I agree that her diet sounds excellent.

Mamaz0n · 15/03/2011 13:46

I think her diet sounds pretty great to be honest.

rickymummy · 15/03/2011 13:47

I don't think her diet sounds bad at all. If she's not snacking, three meals a day, lots of fresh veg and protein, with some fat is fine. I always think the problem is all the "empty" calories, like fizzy drinks, crisps, etc.

notrightnow · 15/03/2011 13:47

It sounds like a sensible day of eating to me. Special K and toast is a rubbish breakfast. It's refined carbs - goes straight on the hips, doesn't give you long lasting energy and doesn't fill you up. Your SIL spend all day eating non-processed protein, vegetable and non-saturated fats - sounds like a perfect recipe for thinness.

The other thing though, I think, is the politely declining stuff you don't want to eat. Too often in the UK we say yes to food to be polite, must finish your plate etc etc. I have noticed often in France that people just say 'no thanks' to stuff they don't want to eat and no-one thinks any more of it.

bitbitchy · 15/03/2011 13:47

I wouldn't say her diet was excellent but it is low in carbs. But, chicken for two meals running?, and an awful lot of salt.