AIBU to ask how people stay slim without strict dieting?

People who 'stay slim without dieting' follow a way of eating that to you (or me, or anyone else who is heavier than they'd like and wishes they could eat more without gaining weight) looks like dieting.

They'll come on and say they don't watch what they eat, eat out all the time and never eat 'diet food' but in just about every case, the amount of calories they eat will be low, if they eat out, they'll probably eat very little else that day.

What a lot of bollocks I drink a bottle of wine most nights and eat incredible amounts of food but at 43 still a size 6 and never done exercise in my life.
You are either fat or your are thin. - like you are tall or short.

I eat what I want, but love vegetables. I drink alcohol, but don’t snack and don’t drink fizzy drinks. I don’t drive so I walk loads.

I've just discovered recently an.easier way
I've always been a fan of slimming world but I eat too much food !
So instead of filling up on free foods that can sometimes really make u feel like your missing out
I've swapped things around I really enjoy a proper breakfast and lunch then when it comes to dinner I'm not hungry I'm actually satisfied because I just ate what I wanted for brekkie and lunch
Example.
I love bran flakes & banana semi skimmed milk instead of just fruit !
Lunch I had a small baguette with butter smoked cheese and coleslaw instead of a small sarnie with salad !
I skipped dinner cus I felt full up but normally I'd be starving then have chicken and veg and I was so sick of eating like this I do what I'm doing and feel great ! Not gained any weight and I look slim !
I'm 50 it's the first time I've felt like I'm not dieting I just eating what I fancy and when I am.hungry I do get full eating like this thou might not be for everyone but it works for me .
I walk as well I don't drink alcohol either !

My job and social life is quite busy too. Airports, service stations and to a certain extent hotels etc are a nightmare to eat well, which for me means whole foods, nothing much ultra processed and very low added sugar.

breakfast almost always savoury. Even if it needs to be something a bit “weird” or if I need to find an actual supermarket the night before. I’d eat a plain chicken and salad wrap over a pastry or big bowl of cereal. At home it’s mostly eggs or mixed beans/ lentils with some veggies on toast

lunch at conferences etc I just don’t take the bread or pasta or desserts usually. I’m not saying never, but like 90% of the time I’m eating the salads and veggies with meat or fish.

dinner mostly like lunch. I don’t drink alcohol during the week, but at the weekend I don’t stress about having two glasses of wine and maybe a G&T or martini too if it’s been a long week 😅

i also know that when I’m travelling I’m out of my regular exercise routine and likely eating not as well, so even if I feel a little hungry in between meals, that’s fine 🤷‍♀️ I know I’m not going to wither away before dinner! So I just don’t reach for a snack.

if I’m home then it’s much easier and I guess I just stick to what is termed a “Mediterranean diet”. I think a massive help to me is I just don’t have a sweet tooth so it doesn’t feel hard not to eat cakes and biscuits etc.

I don't have any rules because I've never put on a lot of weight and I think I just naturally adjust (eg I'll eat 3 doughnuts and obviously then not be hungry later). But in terms of habits I don't drink alcohol and very rarely any fizzy drinks. Also don't often get takeaways (a few a year). Don't eat out that much - lunches more often eg cafe lunch once a week, restaurants maybe 8 times a year.

Me - Eating a wholefood diet based on nutrition, lots of exercise. No junk or processed foods, despite liking them. Staying a healthy weight for me takes effort.

My mum - never been overweight, doesn't have a big appetite, and naturally dislikes junk or processed food. She doesn't exercise. Staying slim for her takes no effort.

Well... we don't is the answer.
Size 12, 5"8 , 9.5 stone.

I eat one proper meal per day, a really big but healthy dinner. Think salad piled with tofu, crunchy broccoli, beans, sweet potato. Jacket with cheese and beans. Scrambled tofu, beans, mushrooms, beans, avocado. Normally some chocolate after.

I might have the odd slice of toast or crackers and cheese or porridge in the day if I'm hungry but that's it. I don't eat crisps or drink calories. Im an infrequent drinking, like i might drink a rum and coke once a month ish.

I wouldnt maintain my size by eating out multiple times a week, especially with dessert and alcohol.

That's probably it...
I am the same size, more or less, I was since puberty. I eat 3 meals a day but, in all honesty, mostly two because I am too busy to bother with lunch. I walk everywhere within 45 minute distance. I haven't moved my car since last Sunday.
If you work in the office, take a packed lunch. It is likely to be less calorific than anything you get from the shop/cafe. If you drink alcohol, drink less.
But if by social you mean eating out 3 times a week, there is very little chance of keeping slim unless you order something like steak or fish with minimal sides.

In order importance:

Two meals a day (three is really unnecessary for me).

No snacking.

Exercise.

I'm not very slim but my husband is. It turns out the secret is... he just doesn't eat much! He isn't that bothered about food.

Eat a diet based mainly on vegetables. Only eat at mealtimes.
Chew your food properly.
Eat sensible portions.

Ditch the sugar. I don't bother with 'low fat' or 'sugar free' food.
Cut out empty calories like high-GI food. Avoid UPF.

I don’t eat breakfast or snack usually, my biggest meal is lunch and I limit sugar. I also make a conscious effort to slow my eating down.

There’s no magic way to eat everything you want and stay slim, you can’t outrun or out exercise a bad diet

the one tip that hasn’t been shared so far is… stop drinking excessive amounts of wine each night

it’s not invisible calories but so many on here make it out to be

Walk a lot and don't snack.

Surely busy active people are normally the slim ones?

I don’t snack, and not a huge fan of sugar.

By not snacking and just eating 3 healthy meals a day.
Walk whenever you can.