To ask, if you are slim, what do you think about?

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I am overweight. Very overweight. My weight preoccupies most of my thinking to the point where it is habitual- what will I be eating today? How many calories? How fat am I? Why can’t I just lose weight? Etc, etc etc . And on it goes.

I’m now thinking that these thoughts have become so much of life that if I were to lose weight, what would i actually think about all day? I would in a strange way, miss that fat voice!

So my question is, if you are slim, what do you think about? Does food just not really register at all in your thoughts?

I love food, but have a very fast metabolism so can’t answer fairly. Have nice food, just smaller portions (easier said than done I know).

That’s really interesting. Food does occupy my thoughts, too, as I love good food, so often muse on my lunch or dinner ahead. I never miss a meal. I guess I do think about it in healthy terms, though, as I tot up my fruit and veg quotient for the day. And I am half-Italian, so I think that helps in terms of how I view food, as I’ve never really recognised a lot of snack food as real food.

I am slim but do think about food a lot as I am permanently starving. In fact I can’t sleep tonight as my stomach has been rumbling for two hours.

I don’t think about food as in looking forward to it as such or what shall I cook or buy.

I do not want to overeat and put on weight so I am constantly aware of that.

I enjoy food, and I think about it in terms of ‘what am I going to eat at my next meal?’ but the rest of the time I think about family / work / exercise / bills / books etc.

What you’re describing sounds like intrusive thoughts. Have you ever spoken to your GP about it? CBT might help?

I think about food! What can I eat, make. I have strict days and days where I eat what I want. Every day we talk about dinner. Not all food is fattening.

I'm a size 8. I do feel guilt too when I overindulge and have a good chat with myself about not gaining the weight again.

I am a weightwatchers member and loosely follow the plan on good days even though I don't go to class at the moment.

I’m slim without any effort, I don’t eat loads and don’t put much thought into food. My husband does the food shop and all cooking at home so I don’t actually have to. I have 2 children under 3 so can actually completely forget to eat if I’m busy with them, they fill a lot of my thoughts when I’m not at work. I enjoy food though, I’m just not preoccupied by it.

I'm currently fat at 3st overweight but have, in recent years, yo-yoed between being a healthy weight and being obese.

I don't really think about food that much at any time though tbh unless I'm hungry, making a meal or watching something on TV about food. My problem is that I mindlessly snack without thinking about it!

Right now I'm thinking about my runny nose, when I'll sneeze next or get over this durn cold, jetlag, insomnia, good podcasts, will DC stay off screens this weekend, should I go swimming tomorrow, family history mysteries and when will I ever sleep again.

Am trying not to think about new job, current job, and a million other things that could upset me but I can't fix them and I don't have to change them.

My tum is rumbling on and off, but eating won't make me feel better so screw that shit. Food tastes so much better when truly hungry, is very lovely the more hungry you are. So always worth waiting as long as I can before I eat. I most often eat b/c I feel weak not because I can't bear the hunger.

I'm usually pretty slim naturally but did put on a few pounds and needed to lose a few. I started calorie counting on my fitness pal and instantly found myself not only starving but completely obsessed with food from dawn to dusk. I lasted two days. If my metabolism ever changes, I'll be stuffed.

Yes I got rid of my fitness pal because being aware of the calories I was eating made me anxious and I thought about food far more than usual.

I'm a bloke who loves food and used to be rather portly but am now in pretty good shape.

I've always fantasised about food but nowadays I tend to think in the manner of what I can do in the gym to allow myself to pig out without putting on fat (lean muscle is fine). Kind of like a game.

With weight training I'm able to eat around 3000 cals a day without getting fat and on occasion a lot more - for me this is the way forward.

Food doesn't particularly register in my thoughts; it's not something that interests me. I think about work, family, hobbies, etc. It's not a crime to like food though. Maybe you can refocus your food thoughts in a more positive way? Lose the weight and start collecting recipes or write a book? Get a pedometer or app and count steps instead of calories? Do that super organised meal planning thing where you prep a week's worth of food at the weekend? Idk. I don't like cooking or other foodie things but I'm sure there must be some healthy food related things you can think about. Good luck with your diet plans. :) x

I'm slim, I am incredibly greedy, love food and think about food, but I just naturally like healthy food, often preferring it to unhealthy food. I mean, I love cakes, but given the choice, I would probably pick a mango or a bunch of grapes over a stodgy doughnut because I think it tastes so much better!
And my taste veers more towards light Asian dishes like noodles and lots of veg, rather than heavy cottage pies and chips.

I’m very tall and I am slim as a result (but not super skinny!) mainly because of my height but - actually I do think about food in the context of feeding my family constantly as I love to cook and they love to eat. I often think about what meals I will make for all of us or guests rather than what I will myself consume particularly! I also think lots about other things- politics, religion, friends stuff , work stuff (unfortunately) , wider families stuff / drama , events, etc! But food is a big thing for my nuclear family, I like everyone to eat well at my home, in the sense of a delicious meal, not food for the sake of it!

In answer - FOOD. ALL THE TIME.
I’m slim, but it’s bloody hard work. I wish I could figure out why I love food so much, and all the wrong things. Every day is a battle against biscuits and hot chocolate and crackers and cheese... it takes up so much mental energy and it’s exhausting

I'm fat and I almost never think about it. And there are plenty of thin people who think about their appearance and food a LOT. I don't think it works the way you do, OP.

As for what I think about: the news, my friends and family, work, what I'm doing that day, the book I'm reading, homework for my art class, the sound of the birds in the garden, what someone's posted on AIBU...

Just stuff. Conversations, kids, TV, politics, work, family, life. Yes, food, sometimes. But more wondering what to cook than obsessing.

I'm thin and don't think about food that much, had to be reminded to eat at times as I've forgotten. Think about all kinds of things to do with my children and their school, organising things to do, holidays, my thatched cottage, friends and what they are up to etc.

I'm slim and adore food. Thinking right now about what to make for brunch tomorrow, probably a frittata with whatever needs to be used up in the fridge. I don't eat junk as a rule, maybe as the odd hangover treat and never bother with crisps or sweet things so it's relatively easy not to worry about my weight. I think about a million other things, my work, hobbies, kids, did I put the recycling out?

I gained a lot of weight when I became deeply depressed when my father died and I was on a terrible anti depressant that made me gain about 40 lbs (approx. 3 stone) in 3 months. However, I have since lost it, but it took me (and my DH who gained a considerable amount of weight too) to get in the right headspace to lose it.

I lost it by walking 7 miles every morning and by eating smaller portions at mealtime. No giving up certain foods, just eating exactly what we want but smaller. I know it sounds almost "too simple" but it worked for us.

The thing is, to get your head in the right place to do it. That first step is the hardest, but it can be done when you decide to make it. Good luck!

In regards to what I think about now that I'm slimmer, it's the same things that I thought about of when I was fat. My husband has never made me feel anything other than beautiful and I've gotten to a point in my life where I don't give a shit about what anyone else thinks. As long as I'm happy, my DH is happy, and our cats are happy, then that's all I really care about. The rest is just bullshit noise.

I'm slim (8/10, weigh 7st 12lbs, 5'1"). I think about millions of things, because I'm juggling about a hundred balls in the air with v little RL support... but the only time I think about food is when I need to meal plan/shop etc.
I don't have a great sense of smell or taste, so I'm really not bothered about food at all; it's purely fuel for me. I have definitely gone off sweet things as I've got older, and was far more into the savoury treats this Christmas than the sweet ones. I don't over-indulge though, because I so rarely exercise (time issues) and have a desk job. I know I'd be a lot larger if I ate the same amounts as DH does, for example.

As well as thinking about food tonight I am also worrying about all the family, planning what I am doing tomorrow, thinking about what time I am putting the bins out in the morning, what days I’m working next week and just general random thoughts like brexit, something on the news, chores around the house, anything.

im slim, size 8. I think about food but in a different way. I count macros and weigh everything to make sure im burning what I eat or more. I hate food, I hate cooking but have to eat to maintain a healthy weight. I dread think about having to write out my weeks meal plan making sure it all adds up. I think about having to go gym which I do to work out and be toned and not just thin. I think my next low point which can send me into not counting calories to then thinking im going to get fat. its exhausting and not much fun! when its not all these thoughts my other ones are not really nice and not for this thread.

I remember having a lady tell me she had put on weight through worrying and as I'm thin do I not worry. Told her I am the opposite when I worry I don't eat, its not deliberate, more than I am so focussed on other things I forget.