Are people really eating this little?

[ABugWife]

Thread after thread after thread I see on here of people posting tiny amounts of food that they eat, or fasting most of the day. 1200 calories, 800 calories, bananas are bad for you, don't eat any carbs, no sugar ever, it goes on and on.

I am short 5'2 and fairly light at the top end of 8 stone so by these threads I should be eating barley anything but I eat every two hours pretty much, I snack all the time, I eat cheese and crisps and sweeties and cakes, sometimes I gain weight, sometimes I lose weight but it's quite steady between 8st 10 and 8st 13

I really find it hard to believe that people are eating such tiny amounts of food and not losing weight.

Does everyone here have a massive drink problem they don't include in their calories or are people lying perfectly still in bed all day long.

Where are the people that eat a normal, mostly healthy but sometimes shit diet.

Oh @fallenbehind90 Thank you - that’s lovely to hear.

Im pleased you’re on the road to recovery. I feel like I’m shouting in to a void on here sometimes. But female health/nutrition/hormones are all so complicated that it’s no wonder there are so many mixed messages out there.

I hope you get your period back soon - sounds like you are doing all the right things. Good luck!

I used to eat that amount (1200) when I was trying to lose fat. Lost 6.5 stone over two years. I then slowly built up my cals over time to maintain my new body.

I'm 5'9 and at the lower end of healthy bmi last I checked - I don't weigh anymore. But I've maintend this weight/shape/size for 2 years while eating a healthy 1800-2100 cals a day. I don't religiously count cals either these days.

It's all about you're metabolic rate. I'm active, I'm strong and I'm fit. This is why I can maintain my weight on these cals. Someone who doesn't move about as much as me, may need significantly less calories. I know when I have a holiday and am not active, I can't eat as much as usual (unless it's pms week - then I'll eat everything and even anyone who tries to judge, 😇)

That’s not so much “carb heavy” but significantly overeating that makes you gain weight and feel sleepy.

it’s not swapping carbs for salad, it’s not an equal swap.

sandwich, 3 packets of crisps is 1100 cals. Plus cake and biscuits and you’re probably looking at 1500 cals+ for lunch alone. No wonder you need a sleep to process it all.

compared to “some protein, a little good fat and salad” which would be 400-500 cals.

not really a surprise one makes you feel better. It’s not the carbs.

People aren't overweight because of genetics. They just aren't. They may be more likely to gain weight when eating unhealthily, but that doesn't mean they will. Lots of people who blame genetics actually have inherited bad eating habits, not bad genetics.

People aren't overweight through eating fruit. Natural, unadulterated fruit is not a cause of weight gain or concern. It's healthy. It will never be the cause of obesity.

The vast majority of people in modern society eat:

• too much saturated fat
• too much ultra processed foods
• too much junk food
• too much shit white bread
• drink too much alcohol.

Of course there's a minority of people with health issues that lead to weight gain, but these are the minority.

If you are overweight, you're going to either be susceptible to illness later on, or you're going to have to look at what you eat and what activities you do and improve it. I don't believe how many people are saying they eat low calorie (and healthy - low calorie doesn't mean nutritious) and still largely overweight, I'm sorry, I just don't. You're either uninformed about what you're eating (is it all highly processed food?) or you're in denial and not giving an accurate account of what you intake.

Calories isn't the most important feature of food. You need to look at WHAT you're eating. Fruits, vegetables, beans, eggs, nuts, grains. All great. It's ok to have some of the other stuff, but the general public are eating 60-80% factory processed food (cereals, shop bread, spreads, dips, processed meats, drinks, frozen foods, tinned foods) with very little nutrition and lots of additives. That's fact. So yes, a few posters may cook from scratch, but as a whole we have a problem here.

Eating 100% clean isn't an option for most people, but if you make better choices, you will lose weight.

People aren't overweight because of genetics. They just aren't.

Science disagrees with you.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2787002/

That’s one study in mice. On genetic AND environmental contributors- not causes.

it does not = “science disagrees”. It raises questions, but it does not demonstrate a sole genetic component in humans.

Oh. You’re the “clinical nutritionist”. Surely you know that mice studies don’t always extrapolate to humans.

don’t you have a better source?

I’m not a clinical nutritionist, you’re as wrong about that as you are about most things.

Apologies then, I have the wrong poster.

that mouse study is still not valid re. Genetics and human obesity.

Yes, you do have the wrong poster. Thank you for apologising, that’s very rare round here.

Honestly OP, if you're eating a healthy-ish but normal diet, and you're not particularly overweight, I would just carry on as you are and step away from Mumsnet! I think listening to your body is the best thing you can do, and reading too many threads like this can make you obsessive.

Thanks, I am right in the middle of my healthy weight range, just need to drop an inch or two to fit in a specific dress and so ventured to mumsnet for tips. It was the absolute extreme advice that was being thrown around that inspired this thread.

I don't intend to follow any of it, I was just shocked at the claims people were making and I didn't believe that people were actually living in the ways they advised. It's been hugely eye opening! I am sticking to me 1600-1700 cals a day, including all food groups and snacks and being healthy and I am down to 8st 9lb now so slowly coming off. I have another 7 weeks so fairly happy with how it's going.

There is growing evidence - published, cited, legally checked by Chris Van Tulleken in his book Ultra Processed People that shows genetics is indeed very closely linked to our weight and our outcomes around foods.

He also cites lots of other world renowned experts. However as with all things science based there is no ‘one’ answer and it is, to quote him, a jigsaw with many pieces that make up a picture. He also notes that not everyone making jigsaw pieces has the same outcome or picture in mind. You don’t need to be a conspiracy theorist to see why food conglomerates may want to promote a different picture than people trying to keep the nation healthy.

@user333you are being unreasonable to eat raisins, think of the sugar! Just kidding, they are gross though. I hate dried up crusty old fruit (apart from dates)

@doingthehokeykokey I think you and others are being obtuse. Obviously some genetics such as height or race will affect weight distribution but clearly peoples weight is due to diet. You don’t need a study to tell you that. You can see the evidence everywhere and from lived experience.

Those cookies sound amazing @user333334

No it’s more than that. Read more widely.

Chris and his twin Xand were a perfect example. Genetically identical. One was overweight with related health issues. Once Xand adopted a healthier diet, more in line with what Chris was eating, his weight reduced and his health increased.

The growing increase in obesity and type 2 diabetes is not due to a change in genetics. It's due to a change in dietary habits and lifestyle.

There's a lot of competitive undereating eating disordered posters on Mumsnet. Sometimes the diet threads are a lot like the pro ana boards of the early 2000s.

Also, it's the internet not everyone is telling the truth.

The growing increase in obesity and type 2 diabetes is not due to a change in genetics. It's due to a change in dietary habits and lifestyle.

Obviously. However some of us have a genetic propensity to gain weight. That’s why we’re endomorphs.

Extremely unhelpful and narrow minded post.
What about those who have let it ‘slip’ or have been obese since childhood. It’s not just a case of loosing a bit of podge. Many people have stones and stones to lose. Many people need far more than cutting puddings and cut down some carbs. They need a complete diet overhaul. Lots of people don’t eat puddings but are still stacking on the weight.
Personally for me in my 40’s cutting out puddings (I don’t eat them) and cutting down on carbs a bit does nothing to lose even a single pound. Carbs need to be cut right right down very low. That includes banannas, grapes, nuts and dates. I need to watch everything and yes calories is a great way to measure what I’ve had and how I’m doing.
Lots of people need more traceable and accountable methods than wishy washy oh cut down puddings and carbs. It’s just not going to do much!

@Blossomtoes that may be the case. But that doesn't make you obese or overweight. You can still choose to eat better foods and lose weight.

The issue though, is that it's bloody hard to eat well when the majority of food in our supermarkets is processed, sugar and salt laden crap. Yes, you can eat veggies but you have to be very motivated to avoid the crap that's marketed to us constantly.

But it's not impossible. If people really want to be healthy, they'll have to reject the mainstream way of eating and change their diets.

This isn't about calorie counting, restricting or aiming to be underweight. This is about taking action to prevent life changing, damaging diseases caused by obesity.

Also, @Mumsday , I’m fairly sure reducing carbs and cutting out puddings is calorie counting in disguise.

You are taking out of your diet things you know to be high in calories until you have lost weight.

You may not know exactly how many calories you are cutting but what you are doing to your body (reducing calories in until weight is lost) is exactly what classic calorie counters are doing to their bodies - they just track amounts more exactly.

Also, if you’ve had to do this more than once, you are one of the ‘yo-yo dieters’ you apparently so despise.

If you read the book, he very specifically references their own genetics. Not a CHANGE in genetics, but the drivers of our actions that are from genetics. Effectively your body drives you to a particular outcome, you are a victim or winner at a genetic level.

Maybe look at the research it's based on before you comment. All the medical research I mean. It's well documented in medical journals.