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Original poster

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

148 replies

Falafellygood · 27/02/2021 10:20

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.

OP posts:
kowari · 27/02/2021 14:57

I eat foods I like. I think about how I will feel later if I eat foods don't get on with, it's not just about the moment. I make sure I eat a variety of fruit and veg and get 7 a day, though most of the thought is when I do the weekly shop. I think it's normal to consider your health and the impact of what you eat on how you feel.

SticksarelifesaysBert · 27/02/2021 14:58

I eat whatever I want but it isn't particularly healthy. I am underweight, and often don't eat enough as I'm just not hungry. I don't enjoy cooking so once I've cooked I rarely fancy eating it so just have a small portion so that I'm sitting with the children.

I would far prefer to enjoy eating - even if that included having to limit myself.

SplendidSuns1000 · 27/02/2021 15:05

I just eat what I need and want. Some days I eat a lot of carbs, some days none. Some days only savoury, some days sweet. I have a well stocked kitchen so if there's something I fancy, we'll likely have it. I don't always have 3 meals- sometimes I snack throughout the day.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Weight management
GrumpyHoonMain · 27/02/2021 15:17

@Vargas

I ate like this all my life until I hit menopause, and now I have to eat less to stay near the same weight. Doc says 25% less is not uncommon! Shock
My GP recommendeds lifting weights and doing other muscle gaining activities post menopause. Helps with bone density too.
Moonface123 · 27/02/2021 15:18

I don't have any rules . I eat little and often, alway have done. I am 52, tall and slim, never been on a diet, l don't drink alcohol, I am active, mostly walk or cyle, went years without a car, my family didn't own a car when l was younger, so walking was an everyday part of life and still is. No one in my family is overweight. We are all quite tall, so could just be our genes.

Weallfloatdownhere · 27/02/2021 15:50

I eat whatever I want, when I want. Never been on a diet. Am 5 foot 8 and a size 10.

nomorespaghetti · 27/02/2021 15:55

If I eat (and drink) whatever I want, when I want, I become overweight, and I don’t feel happy in myself. I’m short, so it doesn’t take many calories above my tdee to gain weight. To stay a happy weight, I eat what I like, just not loads of it, and I don’t snack. That’s not a rule, nothing happens if I break it, but I just try not to. If I do that then I’m not overweight, I’m much happier in myself, and I feel better. I don’t have a massive sweet tooth though, it’s the cheese that calls to me!

IHaveBrilloHair · 27/02/2021 16:28

I'm a total cheese monster too, pretty much always have at least 5 types in the fridge usually more.

HalzTangz · 27/02/2021 16:28

@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 only eat when I'm hungry. I never diet as that would actually mean eating more than I currently do. I do eat healthy though, meals cooked from scratch, fresh veg etc
DragonPoop · 27/02/2021 16:47

No but it’s what I’m aiming for, from a child I’ve had a messed up relationship with food which has lead to restricting and binging and thus being obese. Now I’m trying to just eat more intuitively and it is making me happier, however I don’t think I’ll ever fully eat ‘normally’

Ironfloor269 · 27/02/2021 16:51

When I used to eat what I want, whenever I want, I was overweight. I have a huge sweet tooth so used to veer towards too much sugary stuff anyway. Now I eat healthily I.e. everything in moderation.

kowari · 27/02/2021 16:56

@AtSwimTwoBerts

I truly believe that we need to step away from thin=health.

You miss the point. Fat= not healthy. We can't move away from that, its reality.

And to answer your question, I eat what I want when I want.

Yes. You can be slim and healthy or slim and not healthy. Obesity is never healthy, though one person with obesity can be healthier than another.
ThursdayLastWeek · 27/02/2021 18:04

The Fuck It Diet

nomorespaghetti · 27/02/2021 18:38

I just read the blurb for the book Thursday has linked. I see “diets don’t work” written over and over... and I agree that restrictive/faddy/unsustainable diets don’t work long term. But my experience is that if I eat whatever I want, I will gain weight, and if I gently moderate what I eat, I won’t gain weight and can maintain a healthy bmi (I’m happier when moderating my diet and being a lower weight than I am when I’m eating what I’d like but am larger. I know not everyone would be.) While i don’t practice a faddy diet, it is a diet of sorts. And it works for me... but my question is- what’s the alternative? If we, as a society, ditch diets, and eat what we want, a lot more people might find themselves being overweight (I do understand that a lot of people are overweight already, despite being on diets and unhappy due to the diets and society’s pressures). I don’t know if I’m phrasing myself very well, but basically if we ditch diets, then what...? A genuine question, I don’t mean to be in any way goady here.

ThursdayLastWeek · 27/02/2021 18:55

The point is that you eat to heal your relationship with food, recognise all the reasons you eat. You might put on weight but then you moderate. And you cut out binging.

And the most important thing is that you might end up heavier than you think is 'ideal' but if you’re sleeping well, feel confident, better hormone regulation etc etc etc then your healthier than if you hit a particular number on the scale.

A lot of women are conditioned by a society that idolises thinness to think that being able to restrict foods/calories is a wonderful example of self discipline. Which is of course to be praised.

I believe it’s healthier to understand and yourself and your eating habits.

nomorespaghetti · 27/02/2021 19:10

@ThursdayLastWeek

The point is that you eat to heal your relationship with food, recognise all the reasons you eat. You might put on weight but then you moderate. And you cut out binging.

And the most important thing is that you might end up heavier than you think is 'ideal' but if you’re sleeping well, feel confident, better hormone regulation etc etc etc then your healthier than if you hit a particular number on the scale.

A lot of women are conditioned by a society that idolises thinness to think that being able to restrict foods/calories is a wonderful example of self discipline. Which is of course to be praised.

I believe it’s healthier to understand and yourself and your eating habits.

Thank you - that makes sense
Original poster
Falafellygood · 27/02/2021 21:53

@Joeblack066

No I'm not being goady Hmm
If youve read my posts, I've clearly said I was a size 16 for years and have done countless diets, hated my body, had a shite relationship with food, etc etc etc. Having children made me question things and want to heal the way I viewed food and my body for my kids' sake so I don't pass it onto them! My childhood was shit because my mum served us big portions, made us eat it all then was the first one to comment when I gained weight. Called me a disgusting pig for eating a chocolate bar one day. Made me feel unworthy when my body changed after birth as she was 7 stone just before labour, bragged to people when I was borderline underweight last year after going through a very difficult time.

I'm finally at place where I'm happy with my body and enjoy food without guilt. So no, I'm not being goady, just curious as to others who are to feel the same after being saddened at the constant threads that indicate disordered eating because society has given a fucked up view of themselves.

OP posts:
LittleOverwhelmed · 27/02/2021 22:12

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

Tagagzjskva · 27/02/2021 22:13

I’m not someone who can eat without rules

I’m slightly overweight and calorie count

However, that isn’t what I came to say.

I agree that thin doesn’t mean health.

However, working as a nurse in icu during the pandemic has really highlighted something to me. And that is that out of all the patients I’ve looked after with covid, at least 95% have been overweight or obese. And being overweight or obese doesn’t bode well for mechanical ventilation.

So whilst thin doesn’t = health, there is definite evidence that being very overweight poses a great risk to health if covid is contracted (as well as many other factors) and this is why I have introduced energy deficit and exercise

badlydrawnbear · 27/02/2021 22:20

Yes, I don't have rules about what I can and can't eat. I usually eat breakfast, lunch and dinner at appropriate times on days when I am not at work and eat biscuits most days. My meals are not always healthy, I eat carbs/ fat/ dairy/ meat/ etc etc though a lot of my dinners are vegan because DH is vegan and I like to cook one meal we can all eat. On work days I eat a bit of cereal in the morning because I don't like to eat that early and have 1 meal in the 13hr shift that could be anywhere between 12 and 5pm (occasionally I don't get time for that) and that's it.
I am late 30s, size 10, don't exercise, accept that I might not get away with these terrible eating habits for much longer.

Ikeameatballs · 27/02/2021 22:28

I’m vegetarian and have been for decades. I very rarely eat breakfast as I just don’t want food early in the day. I genuinely like veg as a snack eg cherry tomatoes and carrots however I’m also massively aware of calories and portion size from a teen eating disorder. So I eat well, ie healthily, I’m very slim and healthy, I eat sweet stuff in moderation. But I don’t eat “whatever I want” as I’d never eat egg full tub of ice cream or packet of biscuits.

Absy · 28/02/2021 10:32

I have tried to teach my children to eat intuitively, that is be able to notice their hunger queues and have no foods that are “bad” / off limits. They have sweets and stuff, but not all the time and if they do feel bad after having too much we point it out. DS is better at this than DD who would live on sweets given a chance.

I have to have rules because I have had a really messed up relationship with food from an eating disorder and a family where food = love. When cooking, I try to make sure we have a balance of vegetable / fruit / carbs and protein from a variety of sources. It’s rare that I use pre made sauce or anything. Most of what we eat is made from basic ingredients. I pretty much just drink water or coffee (maybe too much coffee) and no alcohol (medical reasons). Pre pandemic my diet was terrible because of working long hours and no stress. Just pastries for breakfast and snacking from 3pm until I finished work

Absy · 28/02/2021 10:33

Not no stress. I mean a lot of stress. Like where my hair started falling out level of stress

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