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Original poster

Slim women. Do you work at it?

378 replies

Colinfromaccounts · 10/09/2023 21:00

I always thought slim women could just eat whatever they liked naturally. But looking at the eating habits of my slim friends, they don’t seem to eat whatever they like - they are constantly making healthy, low cal choices and I can’t shake the feeling it’s deliberate in order to stay slim, rather than them just actually fancying the lower cal option.

is this your experience? Is this what slim women have to do forever? When did you start doing this and do you find it easier now?

OP posts:
sorrynotathome · 10/09/2023 21:01

I’m slim. I don’t overeat, so I stay slim. It’s really not that complicated and no, I’m not starving all the time.

Setyoufree · 10/09/2023 21:03

Yep, I think sadly it does need to be a constant conscious choice, in my experience anyway

BumbleNova · 10/09/2023 21:04

Um yes - of course. If you eat cake instead of salad you get fat. It's literally not a secret?

Its about prioritising health over gratification.

Interested in this thread?

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Weight management
WhisperingHi · 10/09/2023 21:04

I think I'm slim. I definitely was before kids (small boned size 8/10) and large size 10 now with more wobbly bits but still slim I think.

Since kids I definitely have to work at it. I'll still have chips multiple times a week, but my puddings are smaller, I avoid too much bread and am progressively making better choices with my food.

So before kids, it was unintentional, just my genes and frame. Post kids, more intentional.

Janieforever · 10/09/2023 21:04

I’ve always been slim, recently gained a lot of weight, lost it all again, yes it’s always conscious choice and effort ie gym , food and drink choices etc.

sure we all let go at times, but the rest of the time, yes it’s a deliberate and conscious choice. If I let myself go and eat what I please and sit on the sofa, I gain weight.

I don’t know Any slim woman it’s not a choice.

LimeCheesecake · 10/09/2023 21:04

If I ate whatever I wanted, I’d be the size of rhino. Some woman are lucky and “what they want” is the low cal option in small quantities. For most, they’ve had to train themselves to accepting that. (Today I have eaten what I want, so tomorrow I won’t or by next week it’ll be “none of my work clothes fit”)

Freepo · 10/09/2023 21:05

Yes, I never order the fish instead of the pizza because I would prefer to eat fish. I’m not crazy strict about it (then again a size 10 and not super tiny) but I’m always either eating something to watch my weight or feeling bad that I’m having a treat.

Querypost · 10/09/2023 21:06

What kind of a miserable life would it be to never eat cake, biscuits, crisps, chocolate, every so often? Eating these things in moderation and exercising works for me. I'm slim, not skinny.

AllOfThemWitches · 10/09/2023 21:06

I'm not 'slim' as such, I'm an 8-10 and I do have to make an effort to maintain it by knowing roughly how many calories I'm having and exercising regularly. I don't feel guilty if I overeat on occasion though.

Viewfrommyhouse · 10/09/2023 21:07

Up until I was about 40, I was always slim, and always ate what I wanted. Then I had a baby, then menopause. Not so easy now and it does have to be worked at a little, but not to an intense degree. Just good choices here and there. Saying that, I'm not particularly 'big' now, just nor as slim as I was.

TibetanTerrah · 10/09/2023 21:07

I can’t shake the feeling it’s deliberate in order to stay slim, rather than them just actually fancying the lower cal option.

This is quite a strange way to phrase it. I weigh up what I fancy, and whether it's "worth it". I always feel rough and bloated after say a Chinese takeaway, but will go to town on Indian dishes. So you might think I was making "healthy choices to stay slim" at the Chinese and be surprised when we got an Indian!

If I really fancy a stacked burger with extra cheese and dirty fries then I'll have it.

I really think some people really hate that stuffed feeling and others don't feel "full" until they get to that point though.

I hate it, so it's not a conscious choice put of wanting to stay slim, it's to avoid that bloated, sluggish feeling.

FloweryName · 10/09/2023 21:07

I’m slim and have to watch what I eat. I could eat what I wanted in my early 20’s without putting on weight, but that doesn’t last forever.

Spacecowboys · 10/09/2023 21:07

Until I was around 40, no I didn’t have to work at it. I didn’t choose low calorie options and never denied myself anything food wise. I have always been mindful of health though so wouldn’t have had takeaways every night for example. I’ve always been physically active. Now, I have to make sure I don’t eat too many treats or weight will creep on.

hermioneee · 10/09/2023 21:08

Yes am afraid it doesnt come naturally. However what I would say is that eating mostly healthy is a habit that you have over a number of years, just like eating unhealthily is. So it's not like you have to actively choose low cal options you don't want all the time, more that the low cal options start to sound quite nice!

I also know that I am terrible for overeating if it's in the house so I just don't buy it. I'm not a moderate person!

Screamingabdabz · 10/09/2023 21:10

My dd is slim and the rest of us are a family of fatties. She loves her food but eats like a bird to keep the size 4/6. She looks sensational but as her mum I can’t help the urge to feed her up - I’m always nagging her to eat more even though I know I should be nagging myself to eat less!

HangingOver · 10/09/2023 21:11

No, Ive always be the same size. I expect my metabolism will slow down a bit into my 40s but I'm tall and a vegan and dont drink alcohol which probably helps. Beer and cheese used to be my two main food groups. Don't have a hugely sweet tooth either.

OllyBJolly · 10/09/2023 21:11

No I don’t work at it. I stop eating when I’m full. Eat very well, but don’t snack. No effort.

Long time ago, I did overeat and was a size 20 because I worked in a canteen and ate constantly. Change of jobs and became more conscious about reacting to my body’s needs ie not eating because food was “there” all the time. Been a size 8- 10 and weigh 9.5 stone for about 30 years now. If I want cake or sweets I’ll have it but I rarely want it.

It’s funny- I’m often criticised for being too skinny or starving myself whereas 30 years ago I was just average weight and size. I haven’t changed but UK society has.

otherwayup · 10/09/2023 21:12

I'm very slim. Pre 50s I could eat whatever I wanted but post it's very different!

I'm now incredibly careful by choice. I like being slim, I don't feel like me when I'm not.
The whole 'life's too short to eat cake etc' isn't relatable for me.
I'm happy limiting treats, happy to only indulge one day a week as I know how happy I am when I look and feel great.

GreekGod · 10/09/2023 21:13

After having 3 DC in my early 30s, it is now something I have to do forever. I am a size 8 -10 late 40s but I do watch what I eat. This weekend we had birthdays and a wedding so had huge feasts so from tomorrow, I will probably not eat anything after 6pm for a few days and have less carbs during the day. It's not easier now, it's harder but I am not comfortable with extra weight. Just the way it is.

Loafbeginsat60 · 10/09/2023 21:14

I'm a small size 8 but I can only maintain it by cutting out carbs the majority of the time

I don't mind tho and it means I'm rarely hungry. I do have treats tho!

VeridicalVagabond · 10/09/2023 21:14

I lost a lot of weight over the last year and that was very hard work, but maintaining it now I'm here is easier.

I don't really feel I'm not eating whatever I want though, I'm just eating it more sensibly. And of course it's deliberate - just as shovelling ten slices of pizza down my face would be deliberate if I chose to do that.

Legomania · 10/09/2023 21:14

I am slim and don't have to work at it. I think the two main reasons (ie genetic rather than conscious) are:
I have a small stomach so can't fit in loads of food in one go
Although I like chocolate, cake etc, I can't eat loads of that before I start wanting a balance with eg veg/fruit

FrangipaniBlue · 10/09/2023 21:14

TibetanTerrah · 10/09/2023 21:07

I can’t shake the feeling it’s deliberate in order to stay slim, rather than them just actually fancying the lower cal option.

This is quite a strange way to phrase it. I weigh up what I fancy, and whether it's "worth it". I always feel rough and bloated after say a Chinese takeaway, but will go to town on Indian dishes. So you might think I was making "healthy choices to stay slim" at the Chinese and be surprised when we got an Indian!

If I really fancy a stacked burger with extra cheese and dirty fries then I'll have it.

I really think some people really hate that stuffed feeling and others don't feel "full" until they get to that point though.

I hate it, so it's not a conscious choice put of wanting to stay slim, it's to avoid that bloated, sluggish feeling.

Nailed it.

I'm currently lying on my sofa feeling dreadful wondering if the Chinese that I thoroughly enjoyed while stuffing it in my face earlier was actually worth it.

EggInANest · 10/09/2023 21:14

I don’t know if I am ‘slim’ or not, I’m not fat, middle of healthy BMI range, B-road shoulders, 169Cm tall, size 10.

I did a sort of healthier eating reset and lost 18Kg a few years ago. I do eat things if I really fancy them (crisps , ice cream etc) but I don’t snack on stuff ‘just because’. And I do now genuinely prefer lots of veg and salad and don’t have such an appetite for rich greasy or deep fried food.

Somanycats · 10/09/2023 21:14

I'm slim and I watch what I eat as I want to remain slim and healthy. If I ate what my bigger friends ate, I'd be around the same size as them. Can I ask why you would imagine that most slim people eat whatever crap they fancy but still remain slim? It doesn't sound very likely does it?