If you’re thin, what does the voice in your head say?

I have some ingrained rules although maybe not a ‘voice’.
I would never have more than 2 biscuits at once as I would consider that greedy this means I have never had a situation of having eaten the whole packet because the rule is stop at 2
I have recently stopped drinking alcohol apart from on special occasions. If I think about it I decide to have a glass of water with ice instead and remind myself I will feel better for it
I always take the stairs never use a lift or escalator. I say to myself people pay for the gym so why pass up free exercise
A lot of stuff that’s bad for you I honestly don’t enjoy so it’s not hard to say no to: fizzy drinks, crisps, chips, McDonalds anything (never set foot in there)
If I have a rule on those it’s you don’t like that so don’t eat it.
I do have a sweet tooth and I like cake, biscuits and chocolate but as I have got older I only really like home made or high quality ones so I do like an M&S chocolate covered biscuit but I would no longer bother about a Hob nob. I guess my rule there is ‘is this worth the calories?’ so I would more likely eat a piece of home made birthday cake (worth it) than a shop bought biscuit. If there a dessert I fancy when eating out I will have it but we rarely do go out to eat and if I do it’s a special occasion not a pizza place.

I have always been a bit underweight but am just average now in my mid life age.

Even as a child I could never stomach breakfast so would maybe eat a sandwich at school and then dinner. This just carried on throughout my life, so I suppose I've naturally done intermittent fasting my whole life.

I don't actually get hunger pangs. Instead I will feel light headed or get a bit shaky. If I get a craving for something, I just go with my body needs a bit of sugar or along those lines.

I don't love food I think it the short answer. It is just something that keeps me alive. I don't think I have ever ordered a slice of cake and I don't buy biscuits and the likes, but I do like salty things like crisps, peanuts etc if I want a nibble.

I suppose we are just all made up differently, some people find food as a priority and others it's a means to survive.

Now I’m old I genuinely just feel shit if I overeat or eat too much fat or sugar. I still sometimes do it but it really doesn’t make me feel good. I do eat a big portion of dinner but it’s generally not massively unhealthy and will have loads of veg. I also eat about 600cals for breakfast but it’s all “healthy” so doesn’t make me feel ill or guilty in any way.

Im newly thin thanks to wli’s but i have maintained since april and im now a few months into maintaining with no jabs. I ignore the voice in my head that wants the biscuit or the dessert and tell myself “you are happier now” because it’s true. I was happy bigger granted, but i am happier now. I can go into shops and try on clothes and like what i see, i can go upstairs without being out of breath, i go the gym 5 times a week and dont feel self conscious etc. Its a constant effort, but i am happier and feel good.

I do still eat the foods i enjoy that are high calorie, but i engage with eating instead of disengaging and mindlessly eating watching tv or chatting. The second i start to feel full i stop eating, instead of eating to the point of being stuff. I also limit myself to one latte a day instead of 5. They are the biggest changes i have made, but i can only stick to them by reminding myself i am happier now, and because that is true.

I lost 5 stone around 2 years ago and have kept it off. I tell myself that I feel so much better and healthier now so do I want to go back to being so much bigger. I still eat biscuits though! It’s about balance.

The voice in my head says "Go on have a biscuit you deserve it" I will then eat several.

I don't keep treats in the house.

I keep really boring and healthy ingredients that I have to put together into a meal myself if I want something. And eat more or less the same thing every day.

That allows me to eat what I like when I go out.

@NewbieSM that's me, i really struggle with waste!

I don’t have an inner food voice telling me what to eat, I just eat whatever I want, I don’t censor myself. However I eat for taste not to feel full so I moderate my portion size so I can try lots of different foods but not over eat. I think a lot of people who struggle with weight often times have the craving for the flavour of the food and satisfy their craving after a few bites but finish off all of it because we are often taught to clean your plate and not waste food etc.

The food voice in my head gets louder if I eat too much carb loaded meals eg risottos/pastas or sweet things like cakes/biscuits. For me, the only thing to keep the food voice relatively quiet is to minimise these sorts of foods in the first place. So I try to select smaller meals and ones that are more protein with veg or salad when eating out at bistros & restaurants. I also avoid ordering multiple courses eg soups, appertisers & desserts. At home I have the pantry stocked with only the essentials and have eliminated flour/rice/pasta, that way I tend to stick with my favourite low carb meals. I simply buy whatever meat & veggies I feel like having, but I do have a few very low carb tricks up my sleeve that can give the impression of a decadent meal!
I will occasionally buy treats/snacks/dips/cheese etc when I know I will be having friends over, as I think items like that are for sharing and not for hopping into when one is bored.

Can't speak for myself but an ex is in great shape and for him, food is fuel. He doesn't eat for pleasure mostly, it's just when he needs it. I eat for pleasure and im very overweight

If I think “do I need this” or “I’m feeling a bit full” I take that hesitation or query as a sign to stop. I know there’s an internal wrestle between my body saying I don’t need it and my mind telling me I want it so I listen to my body every time.

I never deny my body food if it needs it though and I exercise a lot.

If I fancy a treat, I'd eat it. If I've been eating a lot of crap recently, I would make myself to eat healthier choices or I wouldn't fancy it altogether.

I follow intuitive eating and got a big appetite, but I don't necessarily crave unhealthy food all the time. I don't have a sweet tooth either.

"That looks like something I'd regret."

I just look at the salad options when I go out, or at least the option with mainly veg and protein.

I don't think I have a 'food voice'. I just eat what I know is good for me.

"it's very difficult to eat too much real food"

This is something which I heard on a video but think is true and have experienced is, meaning McD's and crisps and coke and kitkats won't fill you up until you have gone waaaay over a sensible amount of calories. A steak and some veg and a jacket potato will fill you up quite quickly without blowing your calorie intake through the roof

I wouldn't say I was thin, but I am fairly happy with my weight and consider myself healthy with out excessive body-fat.

I started putting weight on a few years ago, it was the kit kats and cup of tea after lunch, it became a routine and one became 2, sometimes 3. Then the crap started to sneak into other mealtimes and snacks.

I cut it all out and started walking to work and swimming or gyming at lunchtime. I am back on track, healthy but not thin.

I have no voice in my head over food choices. I grew up on a mainly whole food (unprocessed) diet, very plant heavy and varied with nearly no meat. I eat when hungry and stop when satisfied with no thought to it. We regularly eat sweet and oily stuff too but I guess in moderation? I’m over 40 with 2 very young kids - bmi 19 so just naturally slim.

I stay thin most of the time but every now and then I’ll start to put a bit of weight on and I have to stop it before it goes too far. Once I’ve decided to lose weight then that’s it. It’s almost like I can flick a switch in my head that turns off my appetite and I’ll lose it very quickly. On the odd occasion where I’m tempted, I literally hear the cast of Grange Hill singing “Just Say No!” in my head! It’s actually quite helpful! 😂

You can't really generalise thin. There are people thin by taking huge effort, avoiding temptation with food and a lot of excersize, then there are thin by genetics helping along via great metabolism.
I have always been the 2nd in those types. Until I hit 36 and the weight has slowly crept up. I still appear thin but have the weight I cannot shift around the belly & bum. Did look pregnant so was less paranoid about it but now there are rolls so cant pull that look off. Prior to this there was no voice telling me avoid anything as I didn't need to. Some people really can just eat and minimal excersize will keep weight in control. Not by effort but by luck. Don't think the naturally thin can help as I was that but can't shift the stone around my belly in the 7 months I been trying. Restricting diet makes my arms too weak and skinny so having to just do lots of excersize and hope for the best

I was very slim in my 20s...too slim probably. I'm average now in 40s but that's more to do with lack of exercise and I eat what I want without counting calories (not that I counted calories in my 20s either, but I was a bit more active). I'm not overweight, just not skinny.

But I don't over eat. If I'm full, I'm full, and I don't like that feeling of being 'stuffed'. I'm also not into sweet things, so I wonder if that's partly why? If someone offered me a biscuit or cake I'd most likely say no unless I was hungry and there was nothing else on offer.

when offered a biscuit: 'yes please!'
when reading a menu: 'feeling like pasta tonight so I'll get that'

there is no other voice

I agree. They don't feel hunger as much, get shakey if they don't eat or get cravings/food noise.

Im on MJ and no longer get any of the above, its liberating. But I get side effects and I don't know how long I can continue with nausea etc. Im dreading coming off it though

I love food. When I was younger I could eat anything and stay slim. No longer. I will put on weight steadily if I eat in the same way.

I will take the biscuit and eat it with pleasure. That is because I know I can get back to my target weight (which I don't allow to exceed by more than 5 pounds) by one or two days of fasting, which is built into my week anyway.

Hence, I don't deprive myself on holiday or socially. But when I am back, I will use fasting as a circuit breaker. All or nothing is easier for me. And it stops the food noise. Though there is food noise on fasting days, I try to keep myself busy to distract, drink lots of water/coffee and avoid triggers.

I guess I would ask myself 'is it worth it?'.
If I am treating myself to something that isn't necessarily going to nourish my body, then it's got to be really good.

I’ve been thin my whole life. I was born like that, just like you were born with that beautiful red hair or you over there who’s tall. I’m not tall - I have to hem everything. I’m sick to death of hemming stuff or paying somebody to hem something.
Sick of it!!!
If somebody offers me a cookie, the last thing I think about is my weight - am I hungry? Is it chocolate chip or shortbread?
Are their hands clean? That’s a big one - dirty hands gross me out.
I’m very fortunate. I’ve always been fortunate.
I certainly have never rubbed it in - ever. But remember - you asked.

I am slim but finally just in the normal BMI range as I battle an ED so I've not rtft in case of triggering. For me, if I am offered a biscuit I will take one if its something I like. I don't like many biscuits but I do like chocolate ones. I'd never say things like Kate or your auntie, as those type of comments can be hurtful to others in everyday context.

In terms of my inner voice its a case of, I must try to eat enough and eat well today. When I am struggling its more like, I do not deserve food, nourishment and pleasure. The gnawing hunger helps to dull the pain of heartbreak and when I am very stressed or upset I just don't feel hunger at all. At those points, I'd not take a biscuit. They feel as appealing as cardboard.

The utter privilege to put something delicious into one's mouth, to chew, feel the texture and taste sweetness or savoury is one of life's beautiful gifts which is denied to so many. There is so much more to just eating a biccy.