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AIBU?

To think that slim people have different habits re food and exercise

703 replies

WhatWillSantaBring · 15/07/2020 16:24

I've been overweight most of my adult life, and find I put on weight very easily. BUT I also think I have had very unhealthy food habits - I think of food as treats, I avoid the scales, I eat when I'm not hungry, I always have the cake, emotional eating etc. I know all the things I do wrong (and that I'm sure a lot of overweight people do) but what I want to know is what do thin people do "right". i.e. what are the habits of people who are consistently a healthy weight (i.e. BMI of 20-25).

I've got some very petite friends who will do things like:

  • weigh every day and take immediate action if their weight goes up by more than 5lbs;
  • never accept a biscuit
  • only drink one glass of wine (unless its a very special occasion when they may have two)
  • never order themselves a dessert/ice cream etc (will just eat whatever their kids leave)

- exercise 5-6 days a week without fail, including Christmas Day
  • never have seconds


If you're slender, and have maintained a healthy weight for years, what habits do you have that you think help you?
OP posts:
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dontdisturbmenow · 15/07/2020 16:29

I adhere to this except I will have a biscuit there and then.

The most i.pirtsbt part for is to weight myself, certainly not daily but weekly or so and will indeed take action as soon as over 5lbs. That's because it is so much easier to mentally prepare to lose 5lbs than contemplating having to lose a stone or more.

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ShoesJerry · 15/07/2020 16:31

I have a BMI of 22 and have been roughly the same weight all my adult life barring pregnancy (am early 40s).

I don't eat between meals and am not a big drinker, both of which probably make it quite easy for me to stay the same weight. I have a dog and really like walking, so I usually cover at least 10,000 steps per day. I don't think of it as "exercise" like a chore, but as something I enjoy doing, so we would go for a walk on Xmas day as a nice thing to do.

I do eat cakes or biscuits or chocolate or whatever, but would eat them as part of a meal rather than between meals.

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Sosososotired · 15/07/2020 16:31

In my adult years I’ve always been a healthy weight, but must admit I don’t have the healthiest diet. But I would say I don’t have big portions, and don’t eat if I’m full. I do snack a lot which apparently is a big MN no. Exercise wise I guess I’m pretty active, bike rides with the kids, walking etc but I can do sport due to a terrible back.

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Crunchymum · 15/07/2020 16:32

I am fat, and I mean massively so

I am starting to do something about it and there is along way to go BUT:

  • weigh every day and take immediate action if their weight goes up by more than 5lbs;
  • never accept a biscuit
  • only drink one glass of wine (unless its a very special occasion when they may have two)
  • never order themselves a dessert/ice cream etc (will just eat whatever their kids leave)
  • exercise 5-6 days a week without fail, including Christmas Day
  • never have seconds


Just sounds joyless and extreme.

Sadly I expect most of MN adhere to these rules !
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MikeUniformMike · 15/07/2020 16:32

The 5-a-day is a pile of . You should be aiming for at least 9 a day.

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AnnaNimmity · 15/07/2020 16:33

But those petite friends are not naturally slim, they are just more rigidly controlling what they eat.

It's easy to maintain your weight if you can control what you eat and exercise.

The key is those people who don't consciously control what they eat, but have naturally good habits and/or appetite control. Those that can eat desserts, and take a biscuit. You can do that and not be overweight.

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Hangingover · 15/07/2020 16:33

I have two meals a day and don't snack between. I've got an unfair advantage though because I don't like sweet stuff.

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JizzPigeon22 · 15/07/2020 16:34

I eat one meal a day and I never sit down. I’m always moving.

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NiceLegsShameAboutTheFace · 15/07/2020 16:35

I'm very slim, having being obese in my 40s. I do pretty much what you've suggested, so:

  • never drink
  • very rarely eat anything sweet
  • eat lots of lean protein and vegetables
  • keep no snack foods in the house
  • track my food intake a couple of times a week

    I get regular comments that it doesn't sound like fun. Well from someone who's been there, dragging 40kg of fat around on a daily basis wasn't a barrel of laughs either.

    I'm a competitive sportswoman and the diet does relax a little in the off season. But in the run up to an event, it's strict. And brutal.

    I'm WAAAY happier now than I was when I was overweight.

    Each to her own. But that's my truth.
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fitzbilly · 15/07/2020 16:36

Yep. My husband has taught me good habits as he has a very healthy relationship with food and is slim. I have had to relearn not too see food as a treat and emotionally eat. It's been hard!!

It wouldn't even occur to him to eat if he wasn't hungry, he doesn't view food as a treat.

We don't own scales but if my clothes feel a bit tight I immediately take action, with smaller portions, more veg and less carbs, within a week the clothes fit fine again. My husband does the same, a bit of self control early on stops or getting our of hand.

We don't eat a lot of snacks, we don't eat for treats, it's ok to say no to food offered. We move a lot. We don't drink much.

We rarely eat fatty foods either. Mostly veg, lots of it.

And yeah, I run on Christmas Day, it wouldn't occur to me not to, but running isn't a chore that I want a break from, it makes me feel alive!

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Wither · 15/07/2020 16:36

Well pre children I ate whatever I wanted. I was 7 stone until I went to uni. I was about 7 and a half stone until I had children. Never exercised although I have a job that requires me being on my feet all day.

Portion size is key, also we don’t have puddings, they are a treat.

Post children I struggle more, I also have thyroid problems so that doesn’t help. I have to watch what I eat now. If I ate rubbish I would put on weight, as do we all. I’ve had to make a conscious effort to lose weight post DC, I also try and run and do yoga.

I weigh myself once a week. I follow SW but have the weekends off. I rarely buy takeaways, I don’t buy cake. If I want wine I’ll drink wine, but only on a Friday or Saturday evening. I eat a lot of fruit and veg. I weigh 8st 5 now.

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Ardnassa · 15/07/2020 16:36

Biggest difference between me (5ft 7, 57kg - have been this way for past 15 years) and friends who struggle with their weight seems to be two things in terms if mindset:

  1. is seeing a walk or pilates as a treat. Walking between places as much as possible over taking public transport.

  2. eating when I am hungry. Stopping when I am full. I very rarely eat all the food I am given in a restaurant. A takeaway meal for one person will often last me 2 or 3 meals.

    I don't do 2) deliberately, I just stop eating when I am no longer hungry.

    But I do think in large part differences are due to different metabolism and builds.
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custodiandiscount · 15/07/2020 16:36

Size 8 person.
I don't own scales
I'll have a couple of biscuits with a cuppa
Drink a couple of glasses of wine most weekends (nothing to do with calories, I just fall asleep first)
Have a small pud every day + kit kat or small cake every lunchtime
Move around a lot to avoid back and joint pain, can't afford a car so I walk fast / cycle
Rarely have seconds as I eat enough for my firsts.

Just everything in moderation, no huge portions (medium size dinner plates help), regular meal times and no need for big snacks. I don't see that as joyless when you can have tasty food and some treats. I don't see junk food / greasy food / really fatty food or takeaways as good quality or nice food, they're usually crap ingredients and pretty bad for you, by that I don't mean flab but heart disease, diabetes etc.

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Snigletted · 15/07/2020 16:37

weigh every day and take immediate action if their weight goes up by more than 5lbs; no, I weigh myself once or twice a year.
never accept a biscuit always! (Unless I don't like them. Don't have them at home though)
only drink one glass of wine (unless its a very special occasion when they may have two) I usually have one, sometimes two. I fall asleep after the second so only have two if I'm at home.
never order themselves a dessert/ice cream etc (will just eat whatever their kids leave) I don't usually order dessert, not in an I'm watching what I eat way, but because I don't usually like them.
exercise 5-6 days a week without fail, including Christmas Day 🤣🤣 nope.
never have seconds rarely because I'm full after a standard main course. Will have seconds if there's a spoonful to finish off or MIL cooked (but only take veg, occasionally meat) so I don't offend her.

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Badmemorieshouse · 15/07/2020 16:38

I have half a cracker and 1 grape a day

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hopingtobedally · 15/07/2020 16:40

Nope
My mate eats far more than me and has a sedentary lifestyle- she's a good four stone lighter than me

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Livy178 · 15/07/2020 16:40

This may be correct for some slim petite people but not all. I love to eat and have big portions , never weigh myself . I do not really eat between meals much but that is because I am not hungry due to portion sizes. I have not been inside a gym since 1993 and would not ever refuse a second glass of wine. I am not sweet toothed so I suppose that helps.

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bee222 · 15/07/2020 16:40

I exercise about 5 days a week but I don’t see it as a chore. I’ve created a healthy relationship where I do it because I like to move and how it makes me feel. It’s part of my lifestyle and I incorporate it into social activities (going for hikes in the Peaks with a group of friends. Running with a running club so I can have a chat at the same time)
I don’t use exercise as a reward for food. Thinking things like “if I run for an hour I can have this chocolate bar” is toxic. I eat a chocolate bar when I feel like it

I don’t really drink unless I’m going out for a meal. I probably have a glass of wine at home a couple times a month at most.
When I cook I make sure half of the plate is vegetables.

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NiceLegsShameAboutTheFace · 15/07/2020 16:40

'having been obese'

Fat fingers: the rest of me's ripped Grin

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MikeUniformMike · 15/07/2020 16:41

I eat one meal a day and I never sit down. I’m always moving.
That's me

I'm also one who doesn't have a sweet tooth and I find carbs a bit of a chore. Pasta and rice are so boring and I'll be hungry again in a few hours.

I have treats, and if someone offered me a biscuit, I'd probably want two. Cakes are rarely as nice as you think, some are better, so why bother unless you know it's going to be amazing.

If you find an exercise you like, it's fun.

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Barbie222 · 15/07/2020 16:42

I think a big difference I've seen between fat people and thin people I know is that the thin people are only responsible for their own food and don't sort food for a family.

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MaskingForIt · 15/07/2020 16:42

90 % of what I eat is fruit or vegetables.

Would only have cake etc once a week-ish. It is an exception not a daily staple. Let’s face it, if you’re eating it daily, it isn’t a treat.

I don’t keep cake, crisps, chocolate etc in the house. I keep ingredients, so if I want to eat something I have to want it enough to be willing to prepare it, cook it and deal with the washing up it creates.

Don’t drink calories. I have a glass of wine or two at the weekend, otherwise it is water, fruit tea, a splash of juice topped up with water.

And walk. A lot. Humans are meant to be on the move.

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user1493413286 · 15/07/2020 16:42

I wouldn’t say I do all those things as I drink more than one glass of wine and I don’t exercise very much (at all really). I don’t weigh myself often but if my jeans start feeling tight I take action and I’d do something if I put on 2ib as 5ib would be a lot for me.
I don’t have seconds and I rarely order desserts when I go out for meals as I’m full and I often find that puddings aren’t as good as I hope they’ll be (despite having a sweet tooth). I do like to have tea and cake out though.
However I don’t eat if I’m not hungry (unless I’m out for tea and cake), I try to make each day or a weekend balanced so I won’t have a weekend of eating badly more like one meal. I do use food as a treat and I do emotionally eat but in quite small amounts so if I might have a biscuit rather than several. I think as well as I’ve worked out over the years how much I can eat and how many treats I can have without putting in weight.

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MissHemsworth · 15/07/2020 16:43

Hi OP I am a size 8/10 (more of a 10 atm due to a couple of extra lockdown pounds). I also put on weight very easily. I exercise a lot. I run half marathons regularly & I would say my average steps per day is 20-25k (I have a very active job). I do however absolutely love food, wine & chocolate & find it hard to resist. I find that I can manage on coffee during the day & a few light bites.

In the evening I'll have whatever I want for dinner, sometimes wine, sometimes choc, sometimes both. Not loads though. I don't eat when not hungry & when I do eat it absolutely has to be worth the calories.

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megletthesecond · 15/07/2020 16:43

I run on Xmas day. It's nice.
I rarely weigh myself, although I do check it if my clothes feel tight and eat a bit less for a few days.

I have had a pudding for every meal in my life. Although I count weekday pudding as nice dark chocolate.

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