Is this enough food?

[Babysafari]

This is what me and dh had for dinner. A whole baked potato each with butter, grated cheese, 1/2 a tin of beans each and 1/2 a tub of coleslaw plus 1/2 a bag of scampi each.

Dh is still starving but is very overweight and wants to cut back. He'd usually have a whole bag of scampi to himself.

Before anyone tells me off I know it's not the healthiest meal but it has to be something quick and easy on Mondays and it was what I fancied.

I always read these threads and go as me & my husband eat loads too! We would have jacket potato, sprinkle of cheese, pile of homemade coleslaw (dressed with low fat yoghurt), salad & smoked mackerel. So similar portion size. Neither of us are overweight.

And I speak as someone who is overweight, loves food, hates and is limited on exercise, but I'm losing weight anyway.

You might want to think about routinely adding salad to your meals, just to add bulk if he feels the need for a large quantity of food.

It seems like a lot, but then you seem to be trying to make him healthier, it's not something you can do for him.

I think it's all about whether that's a regular thing or not. A massive meal every now and then isn't an issue really, doing it every dinner time is.

My partner and I are both overweight and while I might have a tattie and scampi, wouldn't have beans or coleslaw. It's basically stodge on stodge on stodge and I'd feel horrible after.

I don't know. Depends how big spud was. I would usually have a huge spud with a tin of beans to myself.

Instead of cutting back as such could u bulk his meals out with salad or microwave veg

He is eating processed/high calorie food, rather than unprocessed/calorie sparse/satiating foods.

You can get a shit load more bang for your buck by eating fresher food - the potato you can keep but load it with veg and salad, cheese (ok in moderation), or cuts of meat, or can of tuna instead of the scampi, etc etc.... replace with better options and he will feel way, way more satisfied than eating highly processed foods which just don't signal fullness at all. It isn't just about calories in versus calories out but the TYPE of calories that have a huge effect on satiety, hunger, energy and cravings. Always have piles of fruit ready to grab for a "pudding" if he feels like he needs seconds quickly - and greek yoghurt and nuts. Very satisfying.

Does seem a lot. If he's trying to cut down, a potato, scampi and salad would be far better. No butter, no cheese, no coleslaw, no beans. Drizzle of dressing or a spoon of low fat Mayo.

You can't do this for him, you can't control his secret snacking and it's not your job to be making his lunch for the next day. If he wants to lose weight then he has to take some responsibility and help himself. He didn't need to eat a sausage and bacon baguette did he?

He does want to lose weight but imo he's so used to stuffing himself he equates hunger with not being stuffed silly. Also a lot of lazy eating because of work. He's not big on exercise either.

I admit I find it tough I've got a baby, a school aged dc, they need to eat at a reasonable time, dh doesn't get home until 6 on a good day, we all like eating different things. We do eat lots of different things chilli, casseroles, roasts, spag bol, stir fry.

I feel happy now that what we ate was enough if not too much.

If I make a chilli dh takes 4-5 servings whereas I have 1.

It is a lot. Like 2 evening meals put together. I'd try to keep bulk and protein while cutting fat. Salad instead of coleslaw, chicken breaat instead of scampi etc.

Thats a huge meal!!!

Babysafari - he WILL eat a lot if he is large (sorry haven't read how much he weighs) so do expect him to eat a larger amount than someone smaller than him. His calorie intake should decrease with the weight loss, you have to match it to an extent with only a slight calorie deficit to prevent rebound. So take his body weight in lbs and multiply by 10 or 15, and that will give you a rough daily calorie allowance for him to eat. That's IF he wants to calorie count, it's not the only way to go, but if he has no fullness signals and erratic blood sugars then it could be a good starting point. Don't listen to anything that says he needs 1500 calories per day or anything drastic.

With the sort of foods you like Slimming World might well be a great option for him.

DH and I would have just had the baked potato, beans and cheese.

Bloody hell I've got an appetite and that's tonnes! Bin the coleslaw and the scampi and have some veggies/salad.

His bmi is just in the obese.

To be fair I'd usually do a jacket potato and me and ds1 would have a 1/2 each and I'd do a chicken breast and some salad. Please don't think tonight's is a typical meal for us nutrition wise but dh regularly eats too much.

It's not my responsibility but I suppose I can help by making a more filling but nutritious meal. He does loads for me too.

Have you tried slimming world for him it might be ideal as you eat loads and loads

I make packed lunches as I do dinner prep. Much more bearable

I suggested it (SW) and said we could do it together, there's a group down the road but he really doesn't want to.

Believe me every time I suggest anything he can't or doesn't want to.

runrunner has it- it's the processed stuff that's the duffer!

Try-
Eat a big plate of salad before your main meal- this is filling and gets your tummy working and digesting.
Try a smaller plate.
Bin the processed stuff where you can.
Eat much smaller portions, drink lots of water but most of all, he has to want it.

Snacks for work
Hard boiled eggs
Fruit
Nuts
Mixed seeds roasted with soy sauce
Olives

Treats
Little ice lollies
Freddo chocolate bars, finger if fudge or curly wurly
Small packet of popcorn
One scoop of ice cream

But bottom line- he will feel hungry until his body adjusts and that takes discipline and will power.

Exercise- it makes you feel good! Find something you like- my fh runs, cycles and plays indoor football, occasional squash games.

Baby, you're right that it's not your responsibility but that doesn't mean you would want to ignore it either. You care because you love him and want the best for him. And that's part of the deal of a caring relationship.

Don't know what to suggest as, like others have said, he has to want to improve his diet and health himself. For most people who start on a swipes road to weight loss, they have that 'enough is enough' moment.

You can't make him lose weight.

Altering what you feed him won't alter what he chooses to feed himself.

I've been overweight to various degrees for the best part of 15 years. 6 months ago It was like a light bulb switched on almost overnight and I was ready, I had no long term idea of keeping it off or keeping it up for as long as I have and will. Noone could have made me do it, the only thing that vaguely contributed was seeing a few friends loose weight on facebook. The process actually is very easy, being ready to do it much less so. You can help with the process not with the willingness to do it.

My bmi is just into obese category and I have a huge appetite but no way would I eat all that. I mean I could but I'd struggle, its like two meals at once. He can't possibly be hungry. Thirsty maybe, get him to drink loads.

There's not nearly enough protein, that's why he's still hungry
Coleslaw isn't filling either, I find, it's just calories for nothing.