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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To challenge my friend on what she is eating?

60 replies

HullEnzia · 04/10/2011 17:32

I think my friend is starving herself. She is totally in denial about her weight, says she's massive, fat, frumpy etc when the truth is she's about 5ft 10in and only weighs 10st. She is skinny, she just doesn't see that.

She makes out that she eats a healthy balanced diet but today for example she has eaten: cooked meat and grated cheese on a TEACUP size plate for breakfast. Nothing else until lunchtime when she ate a chicken salad (with nothing in it other than chicken, lettuce and cucumber) with a tiny actimal yogurt and for dinner she's had a small slice of pizza with more salad and that's all she's eat all day.

I am actually worried about her to the point where I feel I should say something.

OP posts:
usualsuspect · 04/10/2011 17:33

She doesn't sound very underweight tbh

how do you know what she eats everyday?

KatieScarlett2833 · 04/10/2011 17:34

Sounds fine to me.

worraliberty · 04/10/2011 17:35

Doesn't sound underweight at all to me Confused

StrandedBear · 04/10/2011 17:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ThePumpkinKing · 04/10/2011 17:36

That sounds pretty O.K.

I think we're so used to stupidly large portions of everything in this country, that when we find someone who eats only what they need, it seems odd.

HullEnzia · 04/10/2011 17:36

It's the portion sizes though, they're tiny like what you'd give a guinea pig. I know she isn't underweight but she keeps saying her goal is 9st and she is losing weight quite quickly.

OP posts:
HumphreyCobbler · 04/10/2011 17:37

if she views herself as fat and frumpy at that weight and height then she does have issues with her body image.

worraliberty · 04/10/2011 17:37

Meat, cheese, chicken, salad, yoghurt and pizza sounds like a pretty healthy balance to me.

GetOrfMo1Land · 04/10/2011 17:37

Are you my mate Grin

I am a little taller than that and that is what I weigh when I am at my 'fighting' weight.

As I have got older this has taken a bit more maintenance than when I was younger, so I would eat like your friend in the week, and more at weekends.

I think it is healthy tbh. That is not underweight for that height.

squeakytoy · 04/10/2011 17:38

That doesnt sound too bad. Lots of protein. She doesnt sound at all underweight either.

Are you with her 24/7 to monitor this food intake? :)

MrsVoltar · 04/10/2011 17:38

Don't think that sounds too underweight, slim yes. I would try not to comment on weight & size, unless she brings it up.

Just be positive towards her and challenge her when she says she's fat, perhaps she's a bit down/stressed.

worraliberty · 04/10/2011 17:39

Hardly anyone is 100% happy with their body and not everyone eats large portion sizes.

I've always been a small portion eater and I never really snack between meals.

It's just the way I am, but a lot of people think it's strange because they eat way more than me.

Each to their own (avoids saying 'horses for courses) Wink

LeBOF · 04/10/2011 17:40

Well that wouldn't feed me, that's for sure. But it's still rude to comment if she isn't dangerously thin. Just file it under NOYB, and quietly roll your eyes.

usualsuspect · 04/10/2011 17:42

I only eat small portions,I just eat a lot of them Grin

KatieScarlett2833 · 04/10/2011 17:46

Me too, usual I believe the term is "grazer" like the moo cow

Serenitysutton · 04/10/2011 17:47

I don't think she's underweight. slim people don't generally eat as much as overweight people, that's how she stays slim.

PetiteRaleuse · 04/10/2011 17:49

Sounds fine!

Tee2072 · 04/10/2011 17:53

Sounds like she's eating a very healthy amount of the right kinds of foods. Leave her be.

LadyBeagleEyes · 04/10/2011 17:53

She's probably just got a small appetite.
I'm 5'4' and size 8-10. I can have days like that and other days when I'll eat more. You're not there with her all the time.

said · 04/10/2011 17:54

Lots of calories in cheese though. She's low-carbing, which is supposed to be good for weight control/and providing enough calories. I feel hungry though, reading that

worraliberty · 04/10/2011 17:55

It's great she's eating breakfast

I haven't been able to eat before lunch time since I was about 12yrs old...I'd have loads more energy if I could.

simonthedog · 04/10/2011 17:56

It is a BMI of 20 so is ok. At 9st she would be underweight with a BMI of 18.
I'm 5' 10, the lightest I've been was 10st 3 on my wedding day and I was skinny then, but it would depend on your frame.

mickeyjohn · 04/10/2011 17:57

I am that height and also weigh ten stone! I am by no means underweight - I am slim but there's still a bit of love handle there....even 9 stone is not REALLY thin for 5 ft 10 - it'd be thin, but i've been that thin before and no-one thought it was too thin (sigh....i'd love people to try and fatten me up, but no-one does Grin I'd say leave her alone and let her get on with her eating how she likes - unless you're with her 247 you don't know that she doesn't go home and stuff herself with piles of pudding every night anyway!!

Ephiny · 04/10/2011 18:02

I don't think we can really comment based on one day's meals. Some people prefer to eat small meals and snack/graze inbetween. Some eat lightly and healthily when others are watching and not so much when they're not! Some eat very little some days and more on other days, according to how hungry they feel.

10st sounds fine. It would be overweight for me, but as she's quite tall it's probably about right for her. The diet you describe doesn't sound like a lot of food, but it doesn't sound like 'starving herself' either.

AngryBeaver · 04/10/2011 18:11

I'm around those dimensions and consider myself a bit overweight,tbh.
I hover around 10 stone when I'm eating too much and not moving enough.
I never feel at my best and try to eat less.
I'm with your friend,she is healthy...you're being a fuss pot!