Does anyone here eat normally? (Without rules applied to food)

[Falafellygood]

And by normally, I mean without any rules or restrictions. Just eat whatever you want, start when you're hungry, finish when you're full.
Nothing about low carb, too much fruit, not allowed bread or pasta, chocolate=bad and salad=good, no intermittent fasting, etc.

This isn't a criticism or to be goady, just genuinely curious, because so many people (on here and IRL) seem to have such extreme rules about eating.

So I'm just curious who here eats by following their own hunger/fullness cues and cravings? Not applying moral values to food and everything can be enjoyed.

I don't consider eating foods that have been adulterated beyond any recognition in a factory, then put in shiny packets, advertised to convince you that you can't live without them, just to make someone else rich, normal. I eat foods as close to their natural stare as possible, actual food with actual nutritional value. No other rules

Sorry for the rant, it just gets me cross how distorted our norms have become. As you were.

I think intuitive eating is fine IF you have developed healthy habits growing up - stop when you are full, don’t always expect pudding at the end of the meal, not snacking etc.

However many people haven’t through no fault of their own so for those people they may need “a diet” to retrain themselves. For example if you are used to lots of sugar it takes a few weeks of eating less sugar before you stop craving it. During those few weeks “intuitive eating” would mean you follow your craving so would never break the craving.

@BewareTheBeardedDragon
Honestly, there really, really isn't. I've actually been doing a lot of research into anti-diet culture and body acceptance for all sizes. I truly believe that we need to step away from thin=health. And Im also the first to questions people's beliefs that weight loss is down to sheer will power. There are SO many variables about different sizes - genetics, upbringing, mental health and so on. We seem to be slowly moving towards seeing models of different sizes, races, etc, and it's hopefully the first step in normalising different shapes and sizes.

@BewareTheBeardedDragon

Also - there's certainly a moral undertone to your post, implying that normal people ought to be able to just follow their body's fullness/hunger cues/cravings and be fine - but that is not the case for many people.

Exactly, the rules are the only thing keeping people a bit less fat than they are. You may see a size 18 women on a diet and imagine that without dieting, she would be a size 10. Actually she would probably be a size 26, so the diet is working for her in that way, although she still isn't slim.

You are seeing that fat people are on diets and seeing a connection, but correlation does not equal causation here.

I would say that I eat normally. Normal for me anyway. I'm pretty slim.

@DuesToTheDirt
Same here
But if food is a certain time and I'm suddenly hungry 20 minutes before, I don't see anything wrong with grabbing an apple or a biscuit to tide me over.

@Calledyoulastnightfromglasgow
It means eating whatever you fancy, not because breakfast means cereal by society standards. Eat leftover pizza or a salad for breakfast if you want, and porridge at lunch time. Again, no rules

I think I eat normally but surely everyone has rules about eating, it's just whether they restrict your life too much or make you talk about them all the time or make you anxious. Eg, I could eat chocolate when I'm hungry until I'm full and would have a lovely time and, initially, feel amazing, but I know that's a very poor long term strategy so I have the 'rule' that I can only have it occasionally even if I fancy it often. Just on the face of it I prefer white bread to seeded but seeded is way for keeping me feeling healthy so I restrict how much white bread I eat but I don't overthink it. I don't feel that's unusual though.

I think it’s more complex than that. Society dictates I have cereal and milk for breakfast but I don’t as that means I will be hungry by 1100 and then want a biscuit.

So I want healthful food and therefore don’t crave shit. I’m a healthy lowBMI weight.

The answer is to only eat decent food and never go hungry!

I think this post needs to ask for a size too otherwise there isn't a point of reference to the replies.

Just a size doesn't give the full picture. Height is needed as well.

I do. Mainly homecooked food.

I go running, don't drive when I can walk. Don't have an especially sweet tooth, do lots of snacking or spend a long time in front of the TV..

Average BMI. Menopause probably slowed my metabolism - but I think I've been roughly the same weight for the last few decades. (Same clothing size etc)

I am quite disordered with my eating. I go through periods (now) of eating too much rubbish, eating just because it's there etc, then periods of being very strict.

Lockdown has made this worse as I have not been able to find a routine that sticks.

I am looking forward to getting back to work just to get out of the house and stop grazing.

I eat whatever I fancy, in that I have no rules about the actual foods, but I very rarely snack. Is that a rule?

I also tend not to have much processed stuff, but that's a preference rather than a rule. I'd eat it if that's what there was.

@minipie
I agree. The female relatives in my family have some messed up ways of eating and perceived acceptable weights (IE thin!)

It took me a long time and the birth of my children to get a handle on things as I do not want my kids going through what I did. And I do not want my daughter to be in constant diets like I was.

It just saddens me wherever I've worked , all the women are constantly on diets or talking about it. Things need to change.

Yes, a friend referred to it as “intuitive eating”, which I guess is true. For me, if a have a pizza for lunch I’ll probably crave some veg for dinner. And then a chocolate bar 😁

I holidayed with a friend once and we ate/drank largely the same stuff. I’m tall and so my weight has further to distribute, she’s short so hers does not. There’s about six dress sizes between us and it’s nothing to do with diet. Her family just have the genes to store fat. If the next ice age hits she’s in a much better position than I am! But in this diet/weight-obsessed society she’s made herself miserable on various diets over the years.

It is absolutely impossible to define the term 'normal'.
Do I eat when I am hungry? Yes
Do I think of number calories in food? Never
Do I consider certain foods are just for breakfast/lunch? No

But like a pp said, when picking a snack, I do consider that a bar of chocolate won't satisfy me if I really am hungry and there are still a couple of hours until the next meal. I also think of food groups and what is most likely to fill me up ie fruit and nuts will usually keep me satisfied for a while.
I am vegetarian so also try ensure I have a protein source in every meal and they are not all carbs all day everyday. However I think nothing of having a bowl of pasta with chips when I fancy it as I know I generally eat well

I am extremely lucky that I find it easy to maintain a healthy body weight without considering what I eat or counting calories. I also lead an active lifestyle and opt to walk distances that I could otherwise drive or use public transport

The problem is, for many people, it's just too easy to overeat so people do need to create some guidelines for themselves around food.

I'm overweight and I don't hate myself or anything, I'm fine with my size looks wise. But yes it would be a bit healthier if I were slimmer, and better for the environment definitely (less food consumed - less impact).

You might be able to eat whatever you want and stay slim (as you happen to not want much) but others can't.

Yes, I eat what I like. No weird rules about restricting carbs and not eating chocolate or desserts. I’m very slim. I’ve never been in a diet. I’m now in my mid-50s. I don’t know anyone who’s been on a diet, or talks about diets - at least publicly. My young adult DDs have never been on a diet either. Both are very slim and fab cooks.

I just eat food, whatever I fancy. I don’t know how much I weigh and I don’t care. If my clothes get tight I eat a bit less and up my exercise until they aren’t tight anymore. I love the feeling of doing long periods of exercise, preferably outdoors, until you are so hungry you could eat a horse, and then making lovely food. That moment of anticipation before you tuck in when you are properly hungry is brilliant.

@FlyNow

I do, but I'm obese so I don't necessarily recommend it.

Same

No, I can’t eat a standard western diet. My body does not process carbs well. I have to eat carnivore or I will regain the 8 stone I lost by cutting them out. They’re not bad, just not healthy for me.

Me. Never dieted or had to worry about my weight. I should eat more healthily but not for weight reasons.

I do. I don't have any 'restrictions'. I used to be really obsessed with weight but not enough to do anything about it. I've never been overweight. I'm my biggest at the minute and I'm 5'5 and 9 stone 8, yet I always thought I was 'chubby'. I now eat whatever I like. I don't have the willpower for restrictions anyway.

Yes. Always have. It's how I was brought up. Eat when hungry etc at regular mealtimes. Snack if hungry in between. The only rules I have is that I eat quality eg good free range / organic meat from butchers / organic veg box but I'm lucky to be able to do that. And most / mainly food I cook from scratch.

If I want chocolate or cake or beer then I have it. Other days I may not. It makes for a stress free relationship with food.

Yes and I am overwieght because of it.
I am trying to make changes because I eat when bored, rather than hungry.