Do you eat what you want?

[shrubgreen]

Just wondering how many of you eat what you want, when you want on a regular basis - or if you tend to view food in terms of what you can/can't, should/shouldn't indulge in?

Was just wondering as I know so many people who have been on some sort of diet for most of their lives and wondering if anyone is really immune from this? Or do some people really not think twice about what they eat - I mean in terms of "guilt" and feeling like there's a right or wrong way to eat.

Yes, no restrictions. No rules. I eat what and when I want, healthy vegetarian food
Have never been on a diet.

I eat what I want as I had an eating disorder as a teen. So if I don’t want a food, I do not eat it.

Yes.

But I have quite a small appetite, don’t eat much meat and always pile a plate full of vegetables because I really love them.

I eat a fair amount of butter, cake, biscuits and chocolate though 😊

I've never been on a diet and don't really think too much about what I eat but I do feel crap if I eat lots of rubbish

I eat whatever I want. But I run a lot which keeps the weight off.
It also helps that I don't drink, and I don't want to eat a lot of crap fatty food - I wouldn't have to stop myself from getting a calorie-laden takeaway for example, because I genuinely wouldn't want to eat one.

I eat what I want. I just only eat when I'm hungry, and I watch how much of it I eat when it comes to very calorie dense foods.

I eat what I want, but I try to eat what my body needs, too. I love the taste of cake and chips, but I know if that’s all I eat I’ll feel sluggish and sick, so I don’t do that!

I enjoy my food and try to eat healthy, tasty food that I can look forward to everyday. Luckily, I love veg, fruit, whole foods, water etc.

If I want a pizza or chocolate, I have it, but I don’t want it often.

I’ve never been on a diet in my life, as they don’t work for me. If I want to lose weight (sometimes put on a bit over Christmas, for example) I limit carbs for a bit, but in a mindful way, no strict rules or castigating myself if I eat a piece of bread.

I’ve only been overweight post-having my babies. Was ravenous and didn’t lose my baby weight for about 12-18 months each time. Other than that, my appetite and attitude towards food seems to work for me and keep me relatively slim, healthy and happy.

I care about what I eat but I am not on a diet or doing things out of guilt/virtue seeking.

So... I try to eat much more fruit & veg than chocolate & bix. More wholemeal than refined items. A lot of junk food I don't like, so that helps (don't like white bread for instance).

Thing is, when I got older I just couldn't eat as many calories. so then I became a bit fussy, I don't want to waste my calories on junk food or anything I can't pause to enjoy, doesn't taste nice.

No, I always have to think about what I’m eating due to putting on weight easily. If I ate what I wanted I’d be hugest

No. I wish.

I won't say how many calories I eat a day - as I normally get bashed on here for it - but I'm very strict with what I eat.

I'm a size 8.

I would love to be able to eat as much as I want, but sadly I can't. It makes me very sad.

If I'm going out for dinner, I don't eat all day and I limit what I eat the next day to balance.

you won't find many over 30 who eat want they want if they want chips, crisps, choc etc. The vast majority who eat what they want still just eat healthy stuff or a bit of bad stuff. My brother & dad do eat what they want but both hyper. I use too but now would put on weight so can't eat what i what.

I used to. I have a big appetite, love fried/ greasy food and pints of beer, make lovely bread and love eating it, love big portions. I used to be a size 16.

Now I'm constantly "on some kind of diet", and I'm a size 12. It sucks, and I'm envious of people with naturally small appetites.

Pre menopause I could eat whatever I fancied and not put on weight but now I have to watch what I eat otherwise I pile on the pounds. I have noticed that I feel healthier and have more energy when I eat properly instead of constantly grazing on cakes and biscuits.

If I'm going out for dinner, I don't eat all day and I limit what I eat the next day to balance.

that sounds incredibly restrictive

I watch what I eat. I love food but to maintain a healthy weight I have to restrict myself. In my 20s I ate what I wanted and stayed slim but in my 30s I have to make a conscious effort to cut right back or I just get bigger.

I eat what I want. Luckily I love healthy foods and low glycaemic foods so it’s not hard. I do eat cake occasionally and I love chocolate. I exercise 6 days a week though. My comfort food is lentil salad!

Hahahahaha no. During the week I eat once a day, lots of protein and vegetables, low carbs. It’s the only way I can lose weight. At the weekend I eat what I want for two meals – one dinner, one beakfast. I look forward to them all week and it makes the rest of the week sustainable. I have tried EVERYTHING else and this is the only thing that’s ever worked for me. 6 stone down and counting.

I went to London for a week and ate “what I wanted” which in practice meant that I had a croissant with my coffee a couple of times and carbs with my dinner. Put on a stone. I’ll never be able to eat what I want. Ever.

I stopped dieting a couple of years ago after being a yo yo dieter all my life and my weight has settled at pretty much the same weight as I was before.

I do believe in the 'set point ' theory and we can only keep weight below that for so long

Yes I eat what I want. I shouldn't do though as that includes lots of unhealthy food, chocolate etc so I'm overweight. I used to get away with it but not anymore.

Yes I eat what I want, can't stand diets or calorie counting. Luckily for me at least, eating what I want means that sometimes I want a cake, sometimes a whole mango l, or huge plate of pasta, and sometimes some fish and veggies. By not limiting what I eat I find my eating habits and diet tend to be pretty balanced overall. It's only a problem to eat what you want when you want if you see it as a licence to go mad with chocolate and McDonald's, rather than just listening to what you fancy and how your body is feeling. I still wear the same clothes I've worn for the last 4 or 5 years (I'm a size 14) and walk every day with the dog, so I don't feel the need to obsess over food or feel
Guilty about having ice cream. Life's too short.

When I truly eat what I want when I want I eat so much I gain weight.
I try to think that I can eat what I like as long as it's under my calories for the day or week or as long as I skip a few meals later. It's never truly whatever whenever without any restriction. Some people see 'what I want' as the qualifier in a sneaky way: what I want is to be healthy therefore there is an actual restriction or I could eat anything but I 'choose' to eat well or not to eat this. I think the consequences of food make us want to avoid them more than the want to eat them.

No, my stomach doesn’t allow me too- I get cramps and pains if I get too carried away- the joy of being in my 40s! As a result I have to actively stop myself/choose fruit/veg over bread/cereals

I have no willpower and so I eat what I want. That means a lot. I think most people would be really shocked as although I am overweight by about 3 stone the amount I eat I think most people would think I should be about 30 stone. (I’m 5ft 7 and 14 stone). I have autoimmune issues including lupus which means I’m on steroids a lot and they make me really hungry and don’t help with the weight either, and then I’m in pain a lot so although I do exercise as much as I can it isn’t easy. Most days I eat a family sized bar of chocolate, probably a homemade pancake with syrup, maybe a whole packet of angel delight with full fat milk, all the usual meals as well - breakfast, lunch and dinner and then I sit and snack on stuff constantly. I do eat a lot of fruit and veg and my meals are very good it’s just I love to eat sugary stuff. I can’t say I feel guilt free about it but not enough to make me actually change my behaviour…!

Basically yes. But have always eaten mostly healthy ish food, always hit my 5 a day, rarely eat between meals. I will enjoy a cake/ biscuit/ some chocolate maybe twice a week or so. I have weighed the same for the last 10 years.