If you’ve never been overweight, what do you eat and do

[Kittenswhiskers]

Seems we always seek advice from fellow people with the same problems so I’d like to ask people that have never had this ?

I'm very sporty, very fidgety and on my feet at work mostly. Veggie (now vegan). But it must be partly genetic as all of my family is tall, slim, athletic build

Also never bother eating at work as too lazy to make a packed lunch!

I've never been overweight. I've often been underweight.

Tbh I think a lot of it is my genetics. The quality of my diet has varied throughout my life.

I've rarely eaten takeaways (too expensive) or ready meals (not very nice on the whole) - for a quick lazy meal I go for jacket potato in the microwave or pasta with stir fry veg and pesto or something. When I was single I'd end up batch cook spag bol etc just because the ingredients often came in packets for a family.

I never really liked fizzy drinks, crisps or alcohol so almost never consume them. I do eat lots of chocolate though. I don't snack much as I'm mostly busy and not thinking about food.

I have a sport I love so exercising is fun.

I used to cycle a lot as it's quicker than driving in my city.

My BMI is about 22 so I'm about average but never been overweight, my diet isn't great though, I have a sweet tooth so eat a lot of chocolate and am partial to a slice of cake but I don't eat very big meals and don't like things like fish and chips or takeaways so my calorie intake is probably not that high but not so healthy, I walk quite a lot and very briskly, that is my main exercise, I don't do sports or go to the gym

That’s very interesting. I hate the feeling of being full too, yet I keep eating because I just want the food! My greed outweighs the uncomfortable feeling of being over-full. just can’t leave it. How I wish I could!

I’ve gone through times where my diet is worse but I generally eat healthy for the most part. Unless pasta or rice for dinner, I don’t have unnecessary carbs like potatos on the side of dishes etc. I don’t eat that much meat in all honesty either. Exercise wise I go to the gym 3-4 times a week but I’m pretty inconsistent with that and have gone weeks at a time without going when life gets in the way! I am a size 8 but fairly tall and hourglass shaped with large breasts too so I do wonder if any weight just goes to them!

I try to stay constantly on top of it. I have a weight at which I've never been above (the exact weight which would put my in the overweight category on the charts) and I never let myself go above that. CONSTANT VIGILANCE!
I wouldn't say I deprive myself but over years I've developed lots of good habits that keen the weight off, including delayed breakfast, only 1 portion of bread a day, very little junk food. I have a sweet tooth though and would be a welcome half a stone lighter if I could crack that!

Mil and Sil never been overweight… just totally indifferent to food. Can easily buy a slab of cake in a patisserie to share and still leave half. Never clear their plate and often forget to eat. Ultimately they are slim because calories in v calories out is balanced, because they just don’t eat as much as the rest of us.

I’ve never been overweight or anywhere near it. I’m pretty slim. I’m 59 and have two children. I’m not particularly active and I’ve never been on a diet. I eat chocolate and cake and crisps. I eat pasta and rice and bread and potatoes.I think it’s just my metabolism.

Constant adjustment.
So if I go out and have a big meal out with friends I might skip breakfast the next day, or have eaten a little less the day of the big meal in anticipation. I'm not sure this is entirely healthy by the way. I think it verges on disordered eating.

But yes, constant pay-offs.
Along with an overall healthy diet. No takeaways. I never drink at home, only when out in company. Cook from scratch with lots of veg. Close to being plant based too.

I'm also pretty active. Baseline daily activity is a 4 mile hilly dog walk. I add tennis two or three times a week and weights when I can be arsed (I admit I don't much enjoy weights!). But I love tennis and walking, and always say to people who want to exercise more - find what you love and you'll stick to it.

I've been slim all my life save for a strange blip of a few years between the ages of 45 and 55 when I put on extra lbs.

Now 59 and generally happy with my weight.

I've always been reasonably slim ( size 10/12) but not super skinny. My mother was into the health food craze in the 70s, not for us Findus Crispy pancakes! We had a mix of traditional Scottish Home cooking and various healthy things, very filling home made brown bread etc. fruit and nuts. Didn't have fizzy drinks except at parties or sweets apart from a small treat on a Saturday.
I think I avoided developing a sweet tooth as a result, I can easily resist cake and and am only tempted by a really good one, I wouldn't bother with supermarket cake, usually too sweet and artificial tasting, I just let the kids eat it all if I buy one. I don't drink soft drinks either ( sadly I have rubbish teeth despite my mother's efforts).
I have a horror of getting too fat and always cut back on extras if my clothes start getting tight. If I'm honest I'm not quite sure why some people let themselves put on so much weight before tackling it but I've probably never had to deal with the feelings about food they may have so I genuinely try not to judge.
I don't weigh myself or ban any foods.

Im the happiest when im at the lower end of my normal bmi. When i start getting to the mid or top range of my normal bmi, i feel really uncomfortable and cut back on snacks and treats for a few weeks .
Usually though i just eat what i like. I cook most meals from scratch, cycle or walk a short distance to work. Don't really drink alcohol. Don't eat crisps ready meals, or take aways. Dont really have breakfast and stop eating at 7pm.
Im a single mum in my 40s.

I'm 47 and so far I've never been overweight.
I was anorexic and underweight for about 6 or 7 years but have had a bmi of 20-22 for the last 20 years.
I don't restrict food, I eat what I want - usually 3 meals a day and snacks including carbs. I eat chocolate every day. I exercise but not obsessively, I'm pretty sure it's mostly down to luck.

Never really been much overweight.

Never ever skip breakfast - I have some form of porridge oats.

Usually a second breakfast such as eggs.

A wrap or salad with protein at lunch.

Protein carb and veg for dinner.

Snack on fruit, breadsticks, dates, greek yoghurt.

Obviously there's days when I will have a pizza or dessert or a cookie but that's generally what I eat.

I think the key is to make sure each meal satisfies you nutritionally. Don't skip on healthy fats and carbs. Carbs are life and healthy fats are good for the brain.

Usually have dinner around 7/8 and don't eat after that until 7/8 next day - nor intentional or an effort really but when dinner is super satisfying I don't feel like it.

Walking an hour a day helps a lot too.

I've only been overweight once in my life and that was after cancer treatment and now back at normal BMI. Most of my life had BMI around 19-22.

Do about 4 hours of physical activity a week - swimming x 2 or 3, gardening, walking round gardens, did a 2 hour walk today. Aerobics and gymnastics when younger.

Foodwise I have always been careful re calories and never drank much at all, a glass at Christmas or special occasions. Weighing yourself say once a month can be helpful so you notice quickly if there's an issue. When I was up to mid 40s it was very easy to stay thin, after chemo induced menopause I had to be careful with sugar and less calories. I also hate my appearance if I put on weight so that motivates me. If anxious my default is to not eat. Do have fair amount of takeaways but will make sure they include a reasonable amount of veg (today's was Toby carvery roast). Losing weight the time I had to I was very strict on a 1,200 calorie diet (plus ate back exercise calories), and minimal sugar or salt, don't like salt so that was easy, only drank water with lime juice or tea with no sugar and have carried that on other than odd drink. I haven't eaten breakfast for years.

I also eat rice, potatoes, pasta, bread, cakes, chocolate, biscuits but not all at once, have them in moderation and have no issue with rice, bread, biscuits, potatoes. Cakes and chocolate can make me crave more and pasta can be high calorie. When I was younger could eat loads of that though without putting on weight as was very active.

Wow thanks for all the replies, I'm starting to morrow so I've only got tomorrow am to read them all, thank you so much