If you're slim, what's your lifestyle/ eating habits like?

[thefedupmummyofgoats]

I'm a size 16 which is slightly on the plump side as I'm quite short. I'd love to trim down to about a size 10 so that I'm not crossing my arms or wearing baggy clothing to cover my belly.

If you're slim or have lost weight what is your secret? Do you eat takeout very rarely? Do you walk a lot? Do you make home cooked meals?

I just feel I can't seem to stick to any long term goal. I'm 43 and probably peri which is probably why I've put on weight.

Can we have a little discussion on what the key is for slim living please 🙏

Always been a size 8-10 and tall. I don't eat UPFs or junk food and never have done. They make me feel rubbish. I do love wine and dark chocolate though.

Honestly the difference I notice about myself is I never overeat because I hate feeling stuffed. So my normal diet doesn't vary that much. Christmas day drank a bit too much wine but craved veg and exercise the next day so straight back on the wagon. I also hate being sedentary.

Typical day:

• greek yog, berries and all bran
• soup and homemade bread or omelette
• homemade family dinner (pasta, roast chicken, lasagna etc - all from scratch, no jar sauces)
• wine and dark chocolate

I very rarely deviate from this pattern of eating too much, it's just ingrained in me.

Do you have much freezer space to store home cooked meals you could pull out each day? I spend about 2 hours every other weekend batch cooking.

That would make me feel quite ill.

I've been on a bit of a journey the last few months after finding out I had insulin resistance. I dropped about 3kg with little effort by first fixing that. I still eat plenty of carbs but manage how and when I eat them and eat high fibre. I've been eating crap over the Xmas period and it's made me feel so awful. I'm bloated, my cravings are back (literally craving a Chinese takeaway when I've already eaten dinner), my face is puffy etc.

58 bit over 9 stone.
No takeaway
No chips
Black drinks
No alcohol
Greek Yog with branflakes
Walk 2/ 3 miles to work take the stairs always
100 kettlebell per day
My downfall is biscuits and crisps so if my waistband is tight I limit them.
I only eat if I'm hungry.

Good advice. Fibre, protein and water

Funnily enough I was sitting in a hospital waiting area the other day and a nurse came up to me and asked me the same thing. A friend of mine said “they’d never have dared to do that if you were overweight”. Which is probably true.

I guess my diet is pretty healthy, I don’t like junk food or newsagent chocolate etc, I don’t eat bread because I don’t like it, I don’t eat a lot of sweet things, I don’t eat takeaways other than sushi which is my fav. I walk a lot. It’s important to me to be slim as I like clothes so if I put on a few pounds I lose them again. But if I want a piece of cake, ice cream or chocolate I will eat it. I just don’t eat that stuff all the time.

Height: 5’4”, weight: 7 stone 12.

I don’t know if that’s helpful.

Been same size for pretty much 30 years. I'm 5'9, so I think that helps. Size 10-14, depending on where I shop. Probably overall 12. Overall appearance is slim.
Eat: yog for bf.
Biscuit/croissant at break
Sandwich for lunch
Curry and rice or fishcake and veg or chilli etc for tea.
Chocolate
Alcohol Friday to Sunday.
Gym once or twice a week to a class. Run once or twice a week if I can.
Rare takeaway.
Don't really like fizzy pop.
I went through a period where I couldn't exercise and I lost weight, largely because I cut down on portions and cake.

I'm a size 8 and have always been slim was my biggest at uni (size 10) and Dc are young teens. I run, don't drink but probably don't eat enough- always have dinner, sometimes lunch and try not to have snacks in the house that I like. We eat out/get take aways a couple of times a month.

I'm a size 16 and short too, I'm determined to sort myself out next year. I walk quite a lot and I've not got a sweet tooth but I drink too much alcohol and my portion sizes are too big. Going to do dry January and just try and make better choices and see what happens!

A couple of years ago I was 13 stone and a size 14/16. I did 3 gym classes per week and always walked 10-15k steps per day. I thought that I ate an average diet and couldn’t understand why I couldn’t lose weight. I honestly was in denial. Had a takeaway once a week, out for brunch/lunch once per week, drank a bit too much alcohol, had a few treats at the weekend - lots of things that added up the calorie intake over the week.

I’m now 9 stone, size 8-10. still exercise 3 times a week and walk a fair amount. However I have to religiously count my macros for every bite and sip that passes my mouth.
Average day:
Breakfast - protein shake and a banana (200 cals)
Lunch - small chicken/egg salad (400 cals)
Dinner - meat, veg, small carb portion (500-600 cals)
Snacks: If I’m hungry I have a handful of nuts, fruit, veg sticks etc.

Exercise days I would add eggs or another protein shake. Only drink alcohol one evening per week. Have a takeaway every 2/3 weeks. Try to avoid eating out unless it’s an occasion.

Hope that’s helpful.

I'm a size 8-10, 48, two kids, 5 ft 4. A few things I have noticed over the years, I can't eat whatever I want, at the beginning of January the rich food of the last couple of weeks will have caught up with me. I'll just go back to normal eating and it will sort itself out over time. I like moving, I like going for walks and try and walk as many local errands etc as I can. I also like going to Yoga and swimming and trying the occasional jog here and there. I don't believe in punishing myself so if I don't enjoy an activity I don't carry on with it.

You can eat an amazing amount of food and not put on weight if you're prepared to cook from scratch. It doesn't mean you shouldn't keep an eye on portions but you tend to be fuller on homemade stuff. Most importantly I think, I don't have an emotional relationship with food. If I'm in need of comfort I will probably feel more comforted by a hug, a chat with a friend, or a soak in the tub than I will from food, especially 'comfort foods'. I usually sleep well. I've noticed in the last year or so as perimenopause has moved into my life that I don't sleep as well as I used to and I think there's some connection with weight gain. So I'm working on making sure that I get the best sleep that I can because again I really think it sets you up for making better decisions the next day.

I expect my weight to fluctuate over time, ironically if I've lost weight that usually means I'm stressed out so it isn't actually me at my healthiest!

I hope whatever changes you make to your life there'll be ones that you can find enjoyment in. Eating shouldn't be about punishment.

I'm 55, 5 foot 8 and 8.5 stone. I don't drive so walk pretty much everywhere (or to a bus stop or railway station) but don't do any other exercise and never have. I'm vegetarian and teetotal - and don't like large meals, so tend to eat little and often, rarely biscuits or cake as I don't really enjoy them as I do cheese and biscuits or crisps or potatoes.

Conscious as I've got into my fifties of eating five a day but nothing extreme. I don't think I've ever had a takeaway though.

I'm size 8
54
Weight 10 stone 9 lbs
5 foot 8 inches

Lost a ton of weight but now eat

Protein yogurt breakfast
Tuna/mayo pita lunch
Chicken/veg for tea

I eat about 800 to 1000 calories, unless I go to the gym then I eat more

5'4", a size 8 at the bottom, 10 or 12 on top, mid 60s. My mother tended towards being overweight, as do my siblings. It is not something ever discussed but I prefer to be slim rather than follow the family trend.

I am fairly active, always hit 10k steps, swim, cycle, don't sit around for long periods at home.

Virtually no processed food, no drinks with calories in, very little bread. I try to ensure that at least 50% of my food every day is raw fruit and vegetables.

Nothing after 6 pm. I clean my teeth and close the kitchen door.

So up your exercise You can't out run your fork , but it will burn a few calories, it all boils down to a bit of calorie restriction but you got to nourish your body. Try HelloFresh or gousto , I get 5 meals for 2 people ( I share between 3) for the price of one take away

I'm a size 8 and 5'1...that's about 8.5 stones for me. I'm 52.

I have 70 percent chocolate for breakfast then I take the dogs for a walk (4,000-5,000 steps). I try to do 30 minutes of yoga when I get home (although that's not been happening much lately) and I've just re-introduced Callanetics which I do in 5 minute bursts throughout the day.

I used to low carb but I find now that it doesn't suit me and I don't have enough energy (very limited energy even with carbs). I do pay attention to how many carbs I'm eating and I'm careful about portion sizes. I try to make sure I'm having protein with every meal. Also have to be very careful about certain types of fat because of stomach issues....can't eat any kind of pastry. I try not to eat after 6pm. I rarely drink alcohol, I have the occasional diet drink but I mostly drink various types of herbal tea. I eat a lot of Thai curries at the moment with prawns because (oddly!) they suit my stomach and they're ridiculously easy to make.

I did put on about two stones when I was in peri but I'm not sure whether that was hormonal or because I was very stressed and comfort eating. Lowering stress levels is important because being in fight or flight raises blood sugar and is just terrible for health. I'm working on this!

I'm late 20s, and have gone from a 20/22 (building to that since a child, I've always been bigger 😩) to a 10 recently - aim is 8 and a toned tummy this coming year 🤞

What finally worked for me was following the 'don't eat less, just eat better' mindset, and properly prioritising time to make tasty and balanced meals. I'd tried all the fads/diets before and nothing stuck.

Nowadays my diet looks like this:

Breakfast is a huge bowl of berries and Greek yoghurt, comes in at something like 300cal

Lunch is a massive salad - heavy on the veggies (normally kale/spinach/cucumber/tomatoes), protein (air-fried chickpeas and chicken, and feta) and loads of dressing (tofu and fresh herbs)

Dinner is whatever I make/order for me and DS. I get quite a lot of Deliveroo credit through work so we order in a few times a week 😅 But I try and keep it healthy, and get 2 sides (1x protein, 1x veggies) instead of a main. So Wagamamas Wok Fried Greens + Chicken Yakitori, Nando's Chicken Butterfly + Tenderstem broccoli, Chipotle 'bowls'. All work out around 500cals and still taste like a treat.

Something else that has helped is making swaps/mental 'notes' which took a while to build. For example:

• If I want a soft drink, I'll drink a full glass of water first. If I still want the soft drink, I'll have it! But normally I'm just thirsty.

• If I'm out and about and want a 'coffee shop' drink, I'll get a Starbucks Hot Chocolate (surprisingly high in protein!) which will keep me full past the next meal, and won't leave me tempted to get a 'snack' with it.

• I order what I want when I eat out, but make swaps to the sides/drinks to 'subsidise' calories. So I'll get the burger, but will opt for a salad by the side and will drink tap water. Or I'll want and order fries - but order them as a side dish with another side of veggies, instead of ordering a burger because I'm in the mood for the fries on the side.

I also use a walking pad/treadmill at home whilst I work to get 15k+ steps, which definitely helps as a gym/classes are not accessible for me ATM 😬

I’m 5 ft 4, size 10. I walk a lot. Try and get my steps in every day just by running errands (milk run at end of day, walking kids places).

I do a bit of Joe wicks, not much though. I eat probably around 1700 kcal a day. A takeaway a week. Breakfast is substantial, lunch is substantial, dinner is lighter.

My most recent thing is getting as much protein in as possible which is revolutionary. I no longer snack in the evenings as I’m actually full! Lots of protein, lots of veg, side of carbs (as opposed to basing whole meal around carbs like I used to). Have lost nearly 4 stone this way and still losing 😀

Size 6, fully plant based and aiming but often failing to get in ~2500 calories a day. Marathon training atm😁

I'm 5ft 1 and weigh 7st.

I'm probably too thin tbh but I eat once a day usually. I don't say no to a takeaway once a week and if there's a traybake/Ferrero Rocher on the go, I'm all over it.

If I ate 3x a day then I'd be fat.

Food doesn't really interest me, I'm not that fussed. I'm one of those awful people who can forget to eat.

On the flip side, I have zero tits and arse and people ask me if I'm ok a lot. I'm perfectly fine, have 2 young children, work full time etc. but I do feel the cold a lot.

I'm teetotal surprisingly

Completely agree. There is this idea that all thin people are blessed with a fast metabolism and eat like a horse. I have always been slim, size 8 for most of my life. I eat lots of fresh veg and fruit, lots of lean protein, walk between 15,000 and 20,000 steps 6 days a week. I’ll have a piece of chocolate (literally a square) every day but no more. Skip breakfast Monday to Friday. Allow myself alcohol two evening a week. Don’t eat after 8pm.

I'm slim, I'm not really into food. Yes I eat, I love sweets, biscuits and especially buttered toast but I eat small amounts and only eat when physically actually hungry ( I can't be bothered and don't have enough interest otherwise). I eat a lot of fruit and veg out if preference but Im very aware of when I'm feeling full up and stop eating/ don't eat more. I thinkits a habit for a lot of people to recognize real hunger and signs of fullness. I notice people saying they're hungry when what it's appears they actually mean is ' I fancy eating x' or I'm bored so that must mean I'm hungry as I need to do something. There's a difference between fancying something which makes you peckish and being hungry.i also rarely eat in the mornings as I'm not hungry and if I do eat it sets me up for wanting to snack all day.

I'm 5ft 4, about 8 st 10, size 8-10. I run about 15km a week, swim once a week and one exercise class. I have kids so traditional dinners, stew, mince, pesto pasta. I don't really like takeaways so rarely have them. Boring sandwich for lunch. Cereal in the morning. I'm not hungry enough to snack really, I try to keep it to fruit. I have a chocolate bar every evening. I don't drink apart from the very odd glass of wine if out for dinner. I drink a lot of water. I think I'm probably slim due to not drinking, exercise and in general I have a small appetite, e.g. I'm just not hungry enough to snack. If I didn't have kids I probably wouldn't bother making a full dinner every night.

I don't ever weigh myself but feel like I'm exactly the same weight as I've been for about 30 years which is just under 9 stone, 5 feet 6. Up until about 10 years ago I was a complete pig and would binge on sweet foods when I got home from work. I've stopped that now but generally eat porridge & fruit for breakfast, sandwch & fruit for lunch, cake or biscuits mid afternoon then usually pasta/curry etc with salad or veg for dinner. I exercise every day, whether it be a half hour walk or cardio/weights class at the gym