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Original poster

If you're effortlessly thin, how often do you think about food?

93 replies

misspercy · 31/01/2022 11:04

I'm currently on a diet and trying to repair my broken relationship with food. (I grew up being told to always finish my plate, food being a reward, and I've always turned to food as a crutch. I'm trying to unlearn those habits.)

I find myself thinking about food all the time. What I'm about to eat, what I've just eaten, how long until I can eat something again... Food is currently the number one interesting thought to me.

I'm relearning what an appropriate portion size is, and that's fine, that's all just based on simple science, but I wondered how often do you thin people actually think about food? Is it literally just when you're running out of fuel and you're actually hungry, or do you think about food outside of those times too?

I'm trying to retrain my brain to think about food normally, but I'm not really sure what normal is... Especially interested in hearing from people who are, say, a size 10 to 12 and haven't ever had to go on a diet because they somehow just know how much to eat to stay at that size.

What does normal feel like...?

OP posts:

Changemaname1 · 01/02/2022 12:42

Well am not thin am a 12 10 at a push and have an athletic ( muscle ) curvy sort of build which am happy with . As a pp said poss changing some of the language you use may help you . Thin has negative thoughts for me . Slim / strong / toned / lean much more positive personally .

To answer your question I think about food when I need to make it or buy it or if I find myself unexpectedly hungry , rarely snack . I’m not really a “foodie” tho , I enjoy it but I don’t get excited about food the way some people do like I’d never pay £££ to eat somewhere with a Michelin star sort of thing

ThreeRingCircus · 01/02/2022 13:07

This is really interesting reading for me (I'm currently very overweight at 14st). I'm not the sort of person you want to hear from OP as I've always struggled with my weight but in case it helps, what I have been doing for a while now is 16:8 and I can't sing it's praises enough. It feels like a total change for me but really achievable and I feel so much better for it. Less sluggish, more energy, I've really reduced my snacking and it's made it easier to switch my mindset from constantly thinking about food/grazing....look at the clock, if it isn't time to eat the kitchen is closed....no questioning it. It may not be for everyone but I've found something that works for me. DH has also done it (not for weight loss as he has none to lose) but says he feels he has more energy and more mental focus since doing 16:8.

ChirpyChirp · 01/02/2022 13:54

Size 8 and think about food alllll the time. I don't eat for the sake of it though, only when I'm hungry. I hadn't given this much thought before, but my (constantly dieting) MIL pointed it out. So if we're on a day out with the DC and everyone is getting an ice cream, I'll refuse if I'm not hungry. Whereas she will have one even if she's not hungry, just because she likes ice cream and sees it as a treat.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Weight management

desperatehousewife21 · 01/02/2022 15:18

Size 6-8 and I don’t think about food much at all. It’s there to keep me alive but I don’t sit fantasising about my next meal.

I’d think about it a lot less if I didn’t have to cook for me, DH and the kids too.

Obv I snack and have treat bits, I’ve got a sweet tooth and I’d look forward to a meal out etc but I also only eat tiny portions, I just get full quickly so food isn’t a massive deal.

Hornetfarmer · 01/02/2022 15:45

I'm currently a 10. Sometimes go down to an 8 but have been a 12 too. I'm not someone who is effortlessly slim though, my relationship with food isn't great and is definitely impacted by hormones and stress. I've realised that on a general basis I don't need to eat that much if I want to stay the size I am. I generally try to eat low carb and smallish portions most of the time but will enjoy a decent meal if it's something I really enjoy.

breakdown19 · 01/02/2022 16:23

@ThreeRingCircus

Interesting for me too I am so all or nothing 😫

Onthefloor2 · 01/02/2022 16:25

Size 8-10.
Bad relationship with food and don’t like eating and I don’t think about food. If I could pick something to never have to do again it would be eating, I find it a chore.

RampantIvy · 01/02/2022 16:50

If I could pick something to never have to do again it would be eating, I find it a chore.

That is so sad. Is there nothing you like the taste of?
Food, for me, is one of the pleasures in life. I am a good cook and make nice meals. I get a lot of pleasure out of eating nice food. Neither DH nor I are overweight, but we don't eat ridiculous amounts of food.

On another thread people were astonished that some of us weigh out rice and pasta. That is probably one of the reasons we aren't overweight because I only cook the amount of pasta that I know we are going to eat.

I also don't do double carbs, so no lasagne or pizza and chips, no chip butties etc. I'm not anti carbs at all, but I find at 63 it is too stodgy for me to eat too many carbs.

MissVictoriaPlum · 01/02/2022 17:07

I'm a small size 10 in my mid 30s. I don't think about food other than when I start cooking for lunch/dinner. I'm usually hungry by the time I start eating but I don't think about it all day, particularly not when I'm working.

BertieBotts · 01/02/2022 17:47

I like eating in itself but I would love to let go of the effort involved in sourcing, deciding on, prepping, cooking, clearing up after food. Especially if you're out and you have to buy it, it gets so expensive so quickly. I'm afraid I do see eating as a bit of a chore but it's not the eating part that's the problem, it's everything else.

HeidiHaus · 01/02/2022 18:09

Size 8 for whole life - now wrong side of 50 and still the same.
Rarely think about food in relation to myself apart from when I'm starving - only really when thinking about what to cook for the family. I am more of a grazer.
I also never eat until completely stuffed I find that sensation very unpleasant.

Mummysgogetter · 01/02/2022 18:22

@Catcrazy83

Unfortunately I think there are two main camps.

Eat because they’re hungry
Eat because they like to eat

If you’re in number 2, like me If you like to eat, just because it taste nice, smells nice, looks nice, had a bad day, had a good day, feeling emotional, tired or what ever reasons apart from actual hunger, you will have to watch what you eat in some form or another to get/remain a “healthy” weight.

This ^^ You can eat what the hell you like if you’re hungry. If you’re not hungry, then it doesn’t matter if it’s an apple or a chocolate bar - your body doesn’t need it and will store it

RampantIvy · 01/02/2022 18:29

I am 1 and 2.

samthebordercollie · 01/02/2022 18:33

I'm 56, 5'8 size 8. I do a lot of sport, mainly walking, also cycling and lots of dog walking, so,I'm very active, I hate sitting down. I never eat breakfast, have homemade soup or salad for lunch and something light in the evenings (no carbs). I snack too much on cashews and almonds and eat chocolate every day, but weight stays stable. I cook from scratch, eat vegetarian 6 days a week, never eat processed or fast food because I don't like it and takeaways are virtually I existent where here. I avoid all food made with refined flour (bread, white pasta, pastries, cakes etc). Eating simply helps, I cook tasty meals but don't obsess about trying new dishes all the time.
You need to find a way of eating that you like to stick to it!

Mojoj · 01/02/2022 18:37

I eat good, healthy, home cooked food. I enjoy my food and do a lot of exercise so that I can have the occasional treat. But only occasionally. I don't snack. I have always been a size 8-10. As I've gotten older, I've had to get used to eating smaller portions. If you're constantly thinking about food to the extent you're talking about, you might benefit from some therapy to explore why food is so all consuming for you?

KatherineJaneway · 02/02/2022 08:06

Hmmm I see threads like this on here sometimes and I don't think people who have never had to diet are going to be able to give you good advice. I think you need to ask people who have really made a transformation themselves.

I have to agree with this OP. While it is interesting to hear other people's experiences, comparisons are hard. Some here have said they eat salads, there is a difference between a main course sized Caesar salad dressed with dressing, croutons and parmesan versus a side order sized portion of undressed salad and a piece of steamed fish or chicken. I tend to go for the former and would not be satisfied by the latter.

Are you drinking enough water? It can be hard but I drink a large glass first thing on waking and keep a bottle with me all day which helps keep intake levels up. I also take a multivitamin daily just in case what I am eating is deficient.

LostittoBostik · 21/10/2024 16:23

I used to be like the slimmer people on this thread. Enjoyed food, but only thought about it at the point I was hungry. Wouldn't eat unless hungry.

Now I find in my 40s I've got that constant craving. I'm sure it's hormonal. I've put on a few lb and I hate how I look even tho still a 10/12 (I'm v short so now flabby, even tho a relatively low weight). Struggling to find a way through this as i just want to nibble constantly.

Tal45 · 21/10/2024 16:43

Zombie thread from 2022.

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