What do thin/slim people eat?

[cherrypiepie]

I'm genuinely intrigued as I am far from slim with a BMI of 30.

Watching an American series with some very tiny actresses and thinking that they can't eat much. It was the Bold Type.

So if you are slim with BMI around 20 what do you eat?

And I suppose how much do you exercise? But I reckon the old rule of 80% diet : 20 % exercise is right when It comes to weight management.

Portion control and not snacking.

@OoglyMoogly

Portion control and not snacking.

I think it depends on the person. One of my slim friends never stops snacking, another never snnacks but has large meals, one is constantly restricting what they eat, no snacking, tiny portions. But the one thing they all have in common is they don't have an emotional relationship with food.

Coral it's several portions of fruit - suits me anyway, as long as I've had egg(s) / yoghurt for breakfast

It's what I do - I'm not saying it would work for everyone

This thread is so interesting, I’m posting to follow rather than respond (I used to be slim, I don’t feel slim these days although some would say I am, size 10-12 at 5”6 but my BMI is 24 so close to being overweight).

When I was slim I ate three healthy meals a day, lunch was always salad or soup based in the week, wholemeal pitta bread instead of sliced bread if I wanted bread. I had 1-2 small snacks too. Exercised regularly (gym/running) although my job is sedentary.

I didn’t lose all the weight after having my second DC and then lockdown hit and I hit the comfort food, biscuits etc. I’ve lost a bit of that weight but I’m still a good half a stone above what I was when I classed myself as slim.

I still eat three healthy meals, lunch is salad based but more often with something bready like a wholemeal pitta, thin bagel or wholemeal wrap. I still work out regularly.

The difference to when I was slim is now I have larger portions, mainly for lunch (WFH so can make whatever I fancy from the fridge as opposed to taking a small Tupperware box of salad in every day). I also snack a lot more, I’m greedy and have a binge/boredom/comfort relationship with food. We have small DC so often have snacks that are too easy for me to grab around like multipack crisps, biscuits, soft cheese. I could easily eat 3 x packets of quavers in a row between lunch and dinner so I know exactly why I still have half a stone to lose!

I have also always found it easier to maintain rather than lose, so I never struggled to maintain my lower weight, it would only fluctuate a couple of pounds here and there. Whereas I’ve been trying and failing to lose these 7lbs for a while - I’ll lose a few and then go back to the snack binges.

My bmi a month ago was 21.9 but I don't carry weight well and although I was in the healthy range I felt awful and looked awful.

When I thought about it I realised I had put a stone on by drinking cappuccinos, eating loads of chocolate every night and generally over eating compared to a year ago. I've always been someone who would stop eating when full but I think i stopped listening to my body.

For the last month I initially calorie counted as it just made me more aware, I'm now cutting out ultra processed foods and wheat most days and I've lost nearly half a stone. I need to lose another half a stone but I now feel so much better than I did before.

I've also upped my exercise, I used to walk miles pushing a double buggy with the dogs but now my children are past that stage I don't walk anywhere near as much (am working more days too) so I just need to improve my fitness!

I do think genetics play a part though as I have always been naturally slim and my daughters are the same

I also never eat low fat, fake sugar stuff either. Butter or nothing!

What this thread has shown is how we are all different.

I lost four stone two years ago, and have managed to keep it off. I did low calorie, and my appetite which I always thought was huge, actually wasn't. I managed really well on three smallish healthy meals a day, lost a couple of pounds a week. I thought I'd be starving, but after the first week, I adapted to much smaller portions. My tummy never rumbled, even though I was eating so much less.

I keep it off by controlling what I eat - I'm 60, and it is true that you don't need to eat as much when you're older. What works for me is no snacks, natural foods, limited unrefined carbs, no sugar. And proper portion control too.

A typical day - a couple of spoons of Greek Yoghurt at breakfast (I'm not hungry but have to take meds with food). A rice cake mid morning if at work, don't bother if at home. Lunch - small bowl of overnight oats or microwaved porridge. Small portion of dried fruit. Small slice of fruit loaf. I drink loads and loads of water throughout the day.

Dinner - small portion of lean protein, usually fish or chicken. Lots of leafy veg or salad. Couple of new potatoes. I only have rice/noodles/pasta twice a week max. I don't eat bread. I don't eat pastry, cakes. I do have a couple of nice chocolates in the evening if I fancy them, but only a couple.

It's about portion control and controlled carbs for me. BMI about 20.

I work with people who are naturally slim - but as soon as they gain a little, they cut back, refuse the cakes/biscuits/crisps that always sit in the staffroom. The overweight people mindlessly eat the snacks, and their normal lunches. There's a lot to be said for mindful eating.

It's a bit boring, but second nature to me now. And worth it, so worth it, I feel so much better.

160cm and 52ishkg. I just don't really eat much. Never eat out (mainly money and covid now) and rarely have takeaways. Sometimes can't be bothered to cook dinner. If I do start putting on weight I just eat less. I drink a lot of coffee and water as well. I was an overweight child and bullied for it so I think that has a lot to do with my eating habits now.

I'm a size 8 and I eat (within reason) what I want. I exercise an excessive amount though. You can't out train a bad diet if you aren't used to heavy exercise and are eating huge amounts but you can if you know what you are doing. I eat chocolate every day, but I sometimes train twice a day. You have to work out how you want to manage it. It's much easier to be slim with controlling your eating but do you want to be fit too?

I recall watching a documentary which monitors different people with varying BMIs to log their food consumption and activity levels. The convulsion was the slim people were far more active, not necessarily gym or sport, but they walked to work, took the stairs, were more fidgety, so even sitting down they were twitchy! And rarely sat down for very long times. Interestingly the difference in food intake was minimal.

@marmaladehound

I recall watching a documentary which monitors different people with varying BMIs to log their food consumption and activity levels. The convulsion was the slim people were far more active, not necessarily gym or sport, but they walked to work, took the stairs, were more fidgety, so even sitting down they were twitchy! And rarely sat down for very long times. Interestingly the difference in food intake was minimal.

I think this is true as I'm rarely still and it's only been since turning 40 that I've had to be more considered of what I eat. I spend most of my day on my feet and always wiggle my feet 🤣