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Original poster

6am Quality Street diet

166 replies

Helenahandkart · 27/12/2023 06:36

Perimenopausal insomnia means I’m sitting in the couch at 6am eating Quality Street musing about all the people who say that they’re starting their diets today.
How is it possible to start a diet on the 27th? Do these people not have any Christmas chocolate?
I have a fridge full of cream and Baileys, there are peanuts and Twiglets everywhere, and mountains and mountains of chocolate and sweets and gingerbread houses - most of which were given to us as presents. Any plans to diet are postponed until we’ve worked our way through it all.
Do the dieters just throw it all in the bin? And not go to any new year parties?

OP posts:
WhateverMate · 27/12/2023 14:55

Helenahandkart · 27/12/2023 14:51

I’m really interested in how this thread has taken shape. My initial post was, in a nutshell, “hypothetically, is today a good day for someone to start a diet, given the amount of festive food in the house? I am eating chocolate.”
I didn’t say I was overweight, or intending to lose weight, or that I was concerned that I was eating chocolate.

The responses now seem to be (paraphrased) “eat the chocolate if you want to, you don’t have to feel guilty, you can lose weight in the new year”

I don’t think I was making any judgement about whether or not it’s ok to for me or anyone else to eat chocolate at 6am at Christmas, nor was I asking for permission to eat it. And yet we are all so conditioned to think we’re not supposed to do it that we give permission to other women, whether or not they’ve asked for it.

And we tell people they can lose weight even if they are not saying that they want to lose weight.

I want to make it really clear that I’m not being shirty about this. I just think it’s really interesting that we all assume that we should feel bad about eating nice things, and also overwhelmingly it seems we want to be nice to strangers on Mumsnet and say (again, paraphrased) ‘you go girl, eat the chocolate, don’t worry, you don’t look fat’.

I have previously dieted to lose weight. I don’t anymore. I eat a fairly sensible range of food now, which is not about weight loss but is an attempt to minimise menopause symptoms. I’m really comfortable with eating lots of chocolate at Christmas but will stop once it runs out. Not as a diet. But as a return to post-Christmas normal eating. I’m in the normal BMI range.

So, to summarise, I wasn’t asking if it was ok to eat chocolate at 6am, but I am very interested by the responses and what it says about the omnipresence of diet culture and our relationship with food.

I hope this post doesn’t read as a criticism. It isn’t intended to be.

You literally said in your OP....

Any plans to diet are postponed until we’ve worked our way through it all.

So it's not a massive stretch for people to assume you want to lose weight.

Original poster
Helenahandkart · 27/12/2023 14:58

WhateverMate · 27/12/2023 14:55

You literally said in your OP....

Any plans to diet are postponed until we’ve worked our way through it all.

So it's not a massive stretch for people to assume you want to lose weight.

Show quote history

Oh blimey. It does say that doesn’t it 😂😂😂😂
I meant any plans to eat normally/healthily are on hold until the chocolate runs out.
I am obviously so indoctrinated with diet culture that I say it even if I don’t mean it.
Ignore my massive last post then 😂

OP posts:
WhateverMate · 27/12/2023 15:07

Helenahandkart · 27/12/2023 14:58

Oh blimey. It does say that doesn’t it 😂😂😂😂
I meant any plans to eat normally/healthily are on hold until the chocolate runs out.
I am obviously so indoctrinated with diet culture that I say it even if I don’t mean it.
Ignore my massive last post then 😂

Show quote history

I expect you're on a sugar high! 🤣🤣🤣

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Menopause Weight management Women's health
MeinKraft · 27/12/2023 15:08

Fucking hell the craic killers are out in force today!

NoWordForFluffy · 27/12/2023 15:15

MeinKraft · 27/12/2023 15:08

Fucking hell the craic killers are out in force today!

They swarm all over food threads like dementors!

Deathraystare · 27/12/2023 15:20

I didn't have the typical Christmas food. But did have some chocolate.

I simply cannot diet until after January 2nd cos that is my birthday!!!

ThoughtYouKnew · 27/12/2023 15:23

Maybe they only buy enough food/treats in for a few days so don’t have lots left now or maybe other family members eat it whilst they start their diets.

I only used to eat more/differently for a few days over Xmas but I’m peri menopausal now and have to eat similarly to normal even over Xmas if I want to not feel like crap. I found cutting out tea, coffee, alcohol, high fat/sugar foods has made a big difference to my sleep, hot flushes and brain fog....So no desserts, chocolates, biscuits etc. I also have to keep up the exercise to feel human! Menopause is a bastard!

Meanwhile my partner and kids will be eating leftovers, party food and chocolate for a while yet.

nutster · 27/12/2023 15:29

NoWordForFluffy · 27/12/2023 15:15

They swarm all over food threads like dementors!

Show quote history

A few of us haven’t just cheered the Op on and instead asked questions or made suggesting . I for one read Every other time of the year I wake up at 4am with no joy to be had. and i don’t automatically think “you go girl!!”

Saying that a thread is lighthearted and then going on to say how actually very unhappy you are is naturally going to mean some of us zone in on the other side of the coin.

Theres been no name calling, no scorn, just questions and suggestions.

it’s not been welcomed by the Op - and that is totally fair enough

nutster · 27/12/2023 15:30

particularly when insomnia is so closely aligned with physical health, level of activity and diet

Original poster
Helenahandkart · 27/12/2023 15:49

nutster · 27/12/2023 15:29

A few of us haven’t just cheered the Op on and instead asked questions or made suggesting . I for one read Every other time of the year I wake up at 4am with no joy to be had. and i don’t automatically think “you go girl!!”

Saying that a thread is lighthearted and then going on to say how actually very unhappy you are is naturally going to mean some of us zone in on the other side of the coin.

Theres been no name calling, no scorn, just questions and suggestions.

it’s not been welcomed by the Op - and that is totally fair enough

Show quote history

Mate, come on!* *What joy is there to be had at 4am?! Unless you’re still riding high from the night before? That is not me saying how unhappy I am. That is just a pretty sound assessment of the world at 4am for the 350 days of the year when there is no Quality Street to hand. I’m sure there are some people on Mumsnet to leap from their beds at 4am after 4 hours sleep and revel in the quiet before going for a jog and a forest bathe. But not many. And definitely not me.

OP you sound to me like you’ve very much lost your way with regard to health, diet and sleep is a pretty strong statement in response to “I have meno insomnia…. I’m having some festive chocolate”
Why would you jump to the conclusion that eating some Christmas chocolate means I’ve lost my way, sorry, VERY much lost my way to health and diet? I don’t have health problems. I don’t have problems with my diet. I never said I did. You assumed.

I’ve welcomed suggestions to help with the insomnia, unfortunately none of them worked for me. Interestingly, the worst thing for my sleep has been the Mediterranean diet which guarantees that I only sleep for four hours. When I eat junk food I tend to sleep better. Lovely soporific carbs!

OP posts:
Original poster
Helenahandkart · 27/12/2023 15:52

WhateverMate · 27/12/2023 15:07

I expect you're on a sugar high! 🤣🤣🤣

Show quote history

It’s either the sugar or the lack of sleep. Either way I look like a fool now! 😢😂

OP posts:
Original poster
Helenahandkart · 27/12/2023 15:55

@nutster I PROMISE I’M GOING TO EAT SOME KALE LATER. STOP JUDGING ME 😀

OP posts:
ThoughtYouKnew · 27/12/2023 15:58

I think people say things like the pp who said you sounded like you have lost your way, as so many people on mumsnet who start food threads, have some sort of issue around food. There are a lot of people with eating disorders of some sort who post.

nutster · 27/12/2023 16:05

Helenahandkart · 27/12/2023 15:55

@nutster I PROMISE I’M GOING TO EAT SOME KALE LATER. STOP JUDGING ME 😀

i am not judging you

Original poster
Helenahandkart · 27/12/2023 22:09

It took until almost 10pm, but I finally got round to eating the kale.

6am Quality Street diet
OP posts:
cardibach · 27/12/2023 22:35

I’m down 3.5st and four dress sizes
Im always jealous if this @JenJenJenJenJenJen as weight loss doesn’t translate like this for me. Some years ago I lost 3.5 stone and 1.5-2 dress sizes. Due to some health issues I gained again. I’ve just lost 2 stone and it’s just one size. I’ve been working with a PT too so I’m toned up. It’s just not fair.

JenJenJenJenJenJen · 27/12/2023 23:19

cardibach · 27/12/2023 22:35

I’m down 3.5st and four dress sizes
Im always jealous if this @JenJenJenJenJenJen as weight loss doesn’t translate like this for me. Some years ago I lost 3.5 stone and 1.5-2 dress sizes. Due to some health issues I gained again. I’ve just lost 2 stone and it’s just one size. I’ve been working with a PT too so I’m toned up. It’s just not fair.

I’m very tall, @cardibach so not sure if that plays a part, but I’ve always found that for me the difference of a dress size is around 10-12lbs.

towelface · 28/12/2023 06:21

I hope the QS and The Kale stayed down OP.

PlayMeOurSongOnGuitar · 28/12/2023 06:31

I think people say things like the pp who said you sounded like you have lost your way, as so many people on mumsnet who start food threads, have some sort of issue around food. There are a lot of people with eating disorders of some sort who post.

I don’t know if that is true for the OP, but this is true of many posters.

Original poster
Helenahandkart · 28/12/2023 11:01

PlayMeOurSongOnGuitar · 28/12/2023 06:31

I think people say things like the pp who said you sounded like you have lost your way, as so many people on mumsnet who start food threads, have some sort of issue around food. There are a lot of people with eating disorders of some sort who post.

I don’t know if that is true for the OP, but this is true of many posters.

Interesting, I read this as being a comment about the PP who told me I’d lost my way. Not as a comment about me.
Surely confessing to having a bit of chocolate during the Christmas period isn’t indicative of an eating disorder. Not when I balanced it with the aforementioned kale.

OP posts:
nutster · 28/12/2023 11:03

towelface · 28/12/2023 06:21

I hope the QS and The Kale stayed down OP.

what do you mean by this?

cardibach · 28/12/2023 11:40

JenJenJenJenJenJen · 27/12/2023 23:19

I’m very tall, @cardibach so not sure if that plays a part, but I’ve always found that for me the difference of a dress size is around 10-12lbs.

Show quote history

I’m 5’10”. I don’t lose a dress size with less than 2 stone loss.

itllbedifferentnextyear · 28/12/2023 11:47

I don't have weight to lose, but I need to get back on track before I do!

Currently chucking fruit jellies down my neck. From John Lewis. Cost way more than I'd normally spend. Wanted to get really special ones this year. What a disappointment! Barely any flavour! Wouldn't buy again.

Still can't stop eating the buggers though. I'm like a dustbin!

JenJenJenJenJenJen · 28/12/2023 11:52

cardibach · 28/12/2023 11:40

I’m 5’10”. I don’t lose a dress size with less than 2 stone loss.

Show quote history

But presumably there’s a benefit because you’ll only go up a size once you’ve gained two stone, whereas I’ll go up a size if I gain c. 10lbs?

So we could both be a size 12 at 11 stone (I’m completely making up numbers for a simple example), but if I go up to 13 stone I’ll be a 16 whereas you’ll only be a 14.

cardibach · 28/12/2023 11:54

Doesn’t seem to work like that, no @JenJenJenJenJenJen …
Ah well. I’m 2 stone lighter, toned and healthier whatever my labels say.