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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

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

140 replies

Whatchathink · 05/01/2019 01:11

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?

OP posts:

MoggEatMoggWorld · 05/01/2019 17:01

I am slim and suffer from severe depression and anxiety which makes me lose my appetite. I am often worrying that I haven’t eaten but the thought of food makes me feel sick. But then I’m worried I’ll get a migraine from lack of food.

I get very anxious over public eating scenarios because I worry people will think I’m weird or have an eating disorder because I won’t eat anything/much.

So I do think about food but in a different way.

Seniorschoolmum · 05/01/2019 17:08

I’ve been slim most of my life, apart from when pregnant and a short period when split from ex and I comfort ate for a while.

I tried to lose weight all the normal ways and found that because I was focussed on it, all I thought about was food. In the end I chucked out the scales, the books, the calorie counters and took up running instead while eating normally.

Now I think about family, future, work, normal stuff I suppose.

insideoutsider · 05/01/2019 17:19

I'm slim and I think about food all the time. Lovingly so. I think about meals, jelly beans, nuts, chocolates and ice cream.

However, I 'think' (for example, when I get up in the morning) that since I had ice cream last night before bed at 9pm, my body still has enough sugar and fats and I won't need real food until around noon. I then 'think' when I get to work, I'll make a flavoured tea to sip on all morning and then I'm happy to eat at noon.

During the day, I then 'think', I fancy some jelly beans, so I take a handful and put in a little pot and ensure it lasts me till I finish work. I do the same for nuts or any other snacks.

I think about food a lot because I like and enjoy food. I don't stop myself eating any kind of food, I just eat a small amount of it when I do. I plan my snacks for the day so that I'm not reaching for just anything when hunger strikes.

PS. I live by intermittent fasting (5:2 and sometimes 16:8) and it has trained me to know when my body needs food and when only my tongue needs food. And no, I never have breakfast.

Mistigri · 05/01/2019 17:29

I don't think about food at all these days if I can help it. Since having children, food has become a chore - I don't think about it except with an internal sigh every time I am forced to consider what I'm cooking for dinner. Having to plan meals for fussy children (one fussy meat eater and one vegetarian) has taken all the joy out of cooking and eating for me, which probably isn't a good thing tbh.

I hope you are able to overcome your eating problem while still enjoying your food.

ChristmasSprite · 05/01/2019 17:30

I think it s a certain poor attitude that thinks its not ok to say if you are slim or skinny.

That a thread about what you think about and weight issues are definitely looking for women thoughts on their own food thinking attitude and weight. Not a weird thread for having these posts on.

God some are fattist and thinnist. Just because you don't have it doesn't mean you are stealth boasting if you do, whatever that is.

Camomila · 05/01/2019 17:33

Brexit, job hunting, uni assignments, how on earth to stop DS breastfeeding (he’ll be 3 soon), my upcoming wisdom tooth dentist appointment...

I tend to think about food in a ‘ugh I have to cook now’ way in the evenings, or in a looking forward to it way if I’m going out to eat or if I’m planning on baking. It’s not really something I think about.

coolcrispwinter · 05/01/2019 17:36

I've lost weight recently. I love food but don't think about it all day. I do plan what I am going to eat and log it all on FitBit.

I run so sometimes I think about that. Plenty of videos on YouTube for inspiration.

I think about music I like. Plan playlists. Listen to it all.

I read interesting books. Think about the nature of the universe. For example I love trees and have read some fascinating facts about them. Like they can recognise colour!

I also plan what I'd do if I won the Lottery. Look at houses. If the big euromilliions win of 49 million that take loads of planning. Multiple residences. Land. Woodland. Setting up nature reserves possibly rewilding. Charities. I'd have to do something to change the world in my own way, I think.

So yes, I think about lots of things...

SauvingnonBlanketyBlanc · 05/01/2019 17:38

I still think the same as you,how much I've eaten,Will I put on weight etc.I prefer to be a 10 although I'm 12 naturally.I have to be mindful about what I'm eating.

ChristmasSprite · 05/01/2019 17:39

It's funny isn't it, that since starting a family I have thought a lot more about food, its quality and balance, for the DC sakes.

Moved to much healthier eating, and ate a lot more! Wouldn't get chance to eat properly myself but would always clear whatever they left, so I guess my routine and attitude changed considerably and I got used to eating (and sleeping) wherever and whenever! It distorted pretty much everything.

Same as poster, up ^ there, after Christmas, having grown in size and eaten a lot more unhealthily with chocolates and puds, I have now cut out choc completely, and the alchohol, and skimmed back the portions.

Over time and with more exercise I will lose the excess and make sure I do,because of the risks to my health.

ChristmasSprite · 05/01/2019 17:41

Trees can recognise colour?!

swampytiggaa · 05/01/2019 17:42

I’m reasonably slim. I think about running and what I am reading plus songs are always going around in my head.

I am honestly not bothered by food. I eat because I have to.

minipie · 05/01/2019 17:43

I’m slim, always have been, and I don’t think about food or weight, much, unless I’m trying on clothes and there is a bit of a bulge. At the moment I mostly think about DC1’s friend issues and our house renovations.

However DH who is rake thin and eats a ton (very fast metabolism), thinks about food all the time. He wakes up and thinks about what is for dinner that night. He really really loves food. I don’t think he has ever thought about weight. —Lucky bastard—

Auntiepatricia · 05/01/2019 17:47

I only think about food when I need it, which is the exact same as when I want it. And then I excitedly plan something nice to eat. Then I don’t think about it again till I next need something.

Kikipost · 05/01/2019 17:47

I’m underweight.
Single mum. A lot on my brain!
I basically eat the same thing every single day. It’s brilliant. I enjoy what I eat (fruit for breakfast. Chicken or salmon with salad and fruit for lunch. Yogurt mid afternoon with handful of muesli thrown in. And then large plate of steamed veg and prawns followed by fruit and then another yoghurt before bed). Day in day out (unless eating out). It’s brilliant, totally frees up brain space

JacquettaW · 05/01/2019 17:51

I'm a size 8 now but I've been all the way up to a 20 before. Over the last six months I've lost 3 and a half stone and I think about food most of the time.

I use my fitness pal to track and it makes me so aware of everything I put into my mouth.

I have accepted that this is the way it has to be though. I have a few more pounds to lose and I like the way my body is starting to feel.

The alternative is putting it back on again. I've always been overweight and I'm sick of it now so not going back there again

Kikipost · 05/01/2019 17:51

Oh and never hungry on that.
Get yourself a meal plan. That actually satiates you. And then stuck to it

darkhorse2016 · 05/01/2019 17:53

I am fairly slim but luckily have a very physical job which keeps me that way. I love food and am always thinking about my next meal so would probably struggle with my weight if I had a sedentary job!

BobTheDuvet · 05/01/2019 17:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BackToNeverland · 05/01/2019 17:55

I constantly think about food. Even at my thinnest I was obsessed and wasn't happier with my body at all. I've come to the conclusion that I won't be happy at whatever size, even down to a size 6 petite I wanted to lose more and more. I'm between a 6/8/10 now and I'm ok but want to trim my belly again. But I know if I get back 'into' losing weight, I'll become obsessed again. I try not to worry too much about it and I eat instinctively but eat healthy when I can.

easyandy101 · 05/01/2019 17:56

Food, sex, cardboard boxes mostly

pearlypick · 05/01/2019 18:03

quite an interesting thread ...

sadly, can't contribute much, as I'm not slim .

but its interesting to hear what slim women's approach to food is, whether its natural, easy or hard ....

I sometimes watch Real Housewives of BeverlyHill/NY/etc. Sometimes I think maybe would be nice to be one, but all the incessant dieting and working out, I just couldn't do it. But OTOH, it may be mostly a normal, easy way of life for them (I notice they rarely talk about "diets" on camera ....

Ta1kinPeace · 05/01/2019 18:03

At the moment ...... when will I stop coughing
Normally ..... work / yoga / swimming / money / the house / politics / the news / my kids
I eat two meals a day so once they are planned I tend not to think about food as I never snack.

I do drink tea by the gallon though

JoshLymanIsHotterThanSam · 05/01/2019 18:06

Naturally pretty slim (size 10) although I was overweight post partum for a few years.

I don’t think about food much. Occasionally I’ll fancy something but more often than not I eat because my belly tells me I’m hungry rather than because I’ve been thinking about food non stop.

Wavyheaded · 05/01/2019 18:09

I'm sort of slimmish, but I tend not to think about weight when I eat, more about the flavour and nutrition. I've had health issues so am more concerned with whether what I eat has enough iron, vitamin D, etc.
My jelly belly is more down to a lack of exercise than food and I do think about that more... (just think though, not actually do ... )

AnotherPidgey · 05/01/2019 18:11

I mainly think about food in a practical way "what can we have for tea tonight?" and nutrition.

Most of my will power is asserted in the supermarket. Certain aisles I avoid unless there is a particular reason. I can boredom eat easily so try to keep to more satisfying, savory foods.

I am "naturally" slim in that I have a small build, exercise frequently and tend to eat sensible portions. I certainly can't eat anything I desire with impunity and have many mince pies and stollen to burn off my waist in the next few weeks. I gained weight easily in late pregnancy because of SPD & exhaustion. I lost it gently afterwards. My habits are decent but nothing to blog about.

I keep an eye on my weight and rein back if it is exceeding my happy zone. It probably helps that my body is very unforgiving of a few spare pounds.

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