To ask how much slim people eat in a day?

[InSpaceNooneCanHearYouScream]

I know this is an odd question, but bear with me! I used to be a normal healthy weight when I was young, but over the years my BMI crept up to 30. I've been battling with my weight for the past few years, and have managed to wrestle my BMI down to 27. But I've yo-yo-ing up and down for a while, and I think I've lost sight of what a normal daily food intake looks like.

My worry is that if I manage to get down to a BMI of 23 or 24, with a reasonable amount of activity per day, how will I manage to sustain it long term? I know how to eat healthily, but I also like the odd takeaway, wine and occasional junk food. I suspect that slim people maybe just don't eat that much? Except for the few with high metabolisms of course.

So, it would be really helpful for some slim people in their 30's, 40's, or older, to give me a quick example of their daily diet. Thanks in advance!

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I always eat everything on my plate, I put the food on there and when I eat I know how much food I want to eat.
So the amount on my plate is always the right amount. ?

Well done Ember

i lose my appetite when stressed

Nope. Doesn't compute with me at all

I'm often shocked at the amount of food some people feed their kids in one sitting.

It doesn't matter if they're slim. The more they learn to pack into their stomachs all at once, the more they'll end up eating as an adult.

Someone said the other day they fed their DC 10 fish fingers at dinner time?!

Well said ShowMe

10 fish fingers?! Holy fuck

it used to be seen as unusual if a person ate 3 weetabix...

I'm heartened as well showme. It shows you can be slim using lots of different techniques, I suppose you just do need to stay a bit focussed on it

Mmmmmmmm fish fingers

Ugh. That made me sound like some weird deviant with a fish finger fetish

I do wonder about metabolism. Part if that must be the luck of the draw.

Also wonder why people eat if not hungry. To me food tastes nicer if you are properly hungry, so I would not like to spoil that by snacking.

Prefer 3 meals a day with no restrictions (full fat everything, carbs, everything included).

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to me, eating without hunger is a waste of the pleasure of eating, bit like when people say take your coat off indoors 'or you won't feel the benefit when you go outside'

Also I just don't like to feel full of food all the time, makes me feel sluggish ?

I think a lot of people I know, feel like hunger is a very bad thing and should be stopped the minute they feel it.

I also think we might be raising a whole generation of future comfort eaters, due to the amount of parents who won't leave the house without snacks for their kids, to keep them 'occupied or quiet'.

Surely common sense tell you that if you've a generous amount of stored fat then hunger is not a sign of imminent death?

I used to be really slim when I was younger - size 8. I managed to stay like this until I got pregnant and since then I haven't seen the point. To stay size 8 I did about 20 - 30 hours exercise a week (I still do 15 hours a week now). I reguarly missed meals, hardly ever ate breakfast, I would often have a cup of coffee instead of a meal. I tried to keep my calories under 1200 per day and hardly touched fat, but I didn't always succeed. I was always hungry and cold and grumpy. I managed to live like this for 15 years. I'm so glad I don't anymore.

Some people are naturally slim, some people aren't. I think everyone should just aim to a have a reasonably healthy diet and enough exercise and stop thinking about their weight.

I don't think people should stop thinking about their weight (unless of course they want to), given the obesity epidemic.

I think its important to keep it under control and to also set a good example for our kids.

Even healthy eaters can become overweight if they eat too much food.

I am a size 10, 52-55 kg and 5'4

On a typical day I eat:
B: porridge with soya milk, fruit and nuts
L: sandwich with hummus and salad, sometimes baked beans on toast with no marg, sometimes soup and bread
D: rice a and veggies with lentils/ tofu
I also snack a lot...on dark chocolate, biscuits, fruit, nuts, sometimes will have a piece of toast mid morning if hungry. I am vegan and don't have to work to control my weight. Used to be very active, running 4-5 times per week, but now that I have DS I am less active!
Really interesting thread.

metabolism isn't luck, it's just physiological processes largely determined by your size

whenever I ask anyone who is qualified to answer how I can raise my metabolic rate the response is always 'gain weight'

Worra - I think the best example to set kids is be healthy, don't be obsessed about size or body image, don't go on silly diets, accept people whatever size or shape they are, don't try and force yourself to be something you're not.

Worra I know! The carrying snacks about really amazes me. I've never done it. If we're out at meal time then we go to a cafe or have taken a packed lunch with us. If not, they can wait.

My friend still brings snacks with her ten year old son when they go swimming. As though a child of that age can't wait five minutes between meals...

I agree that "food on the go" is a lot to blame. Kids are always eating and snacking.

Some months ago I saw a tv documentary on a fried chicken place in London. There were all these - many overweight - schoolkids stuffing their faces. Where did they get the money to eat out every day, and why were their parents allowing it? If I thought the dcs were wolfing down fried chicken and chips after school/at lunchtimes I'd be standing outside to meet them with my arms folded with a less than friendly look on my face.

I'm 5ft 4, 48-50kg, size 8

I tend to eat according to hunger so some days I eat loads, others I skip a meal.

Yesterday:
B: two slices Gail's bread with butter and Brie; coffee
L: ham sandwich with butter and mango chutney; full-fat squash; apple; two chocolate bars
D: bacon cheese quiche, baked beans, broccoli; mixed berries
Was very hungry before bed so had cheese and butter on crackers
Lots of water in between

I'm trying to put on a bit of weight (or at least not lose any) hence all the cheese and chocolate.

happybubblebrain I agree no-one should obsess about their weight or go on silly diets etc.

But you said they should 'stop thinking' about their weight.

Forgot to add: full fat milk for me plus a sugar or two in tea/coffee . But needs must...