How do slim people think?

[Episcomama]

...because I really do think there is a difference between how slim and overweight people think. I am very overweight - BMI of 33. So obese rather than overweight, technically.

I've been off and on diets all my adult life, and the only thing I've really had success with is intermittent fasting and keto. When I stick to it, it works. The problem isn't my body, it's my mind. It's as though there's a switch that gets flicked from time to time. A voice in my head telling me to eat in case of famine. Food occupies much of my waking hours - once I've had a meal I'm thinking ahead to the next one.

A dear friend is very slim and once mentioned that she just doesn't really find satisfaction in food in the way I do (comfort, commiseration, celebration, whatever.) When I spent the weekend with her recently, it really became apparent how differently we see food. She was mildly horrified at both the quantity and frequency of my meals whereas I couldn't understand how she was satisfied with what she ate.

Eating disorders aside, do you think there's a difference between a "thin mind" and a "fat mind", to express it crudely. And if you have a thin mind and used to have a fat mind, can you share with me how you flicked that switch?

@Episcomama
I knew this would happen!
Most people who are slim don’t eat very much, and what they do eat is healthy. That’s how it’s done.

Not all slim people watch what they eat you know.

I'm size 6 and eat all the time, especially unhealthy snacks (I seriously eat a box of brownies and numerous choco bars a day). Never dieted in my life.

I'm slim, never dieted, enjoy food but don't think about it much if I'm not eating, and can skip meals without realising fairly easily. Think I just don't get as hungry as some people.

Slim people don’t have one hive mind. I love food and I’m thinking about what I’m going to eat next most of the time. I’m lucky that I don’t really put weight on easily and when I do, if I’m sensible and exercise it comes off easily.

I was very slim growing up and put on a couple of stone with my 4 babies. I’ve taken it back off but it’s been an effort. I think naturally though I don’t comfort eat, if I get upset I stop eating and sleep more if I can.

Do you mind saying how old you are CrazyKyra?

I ask only because like you, I could eat anything I liked right up until I got to my mid/late 30s. These days I have all but cut out any indulgence otherwise it does show now. Nobody is immune from a slowing down metabolism with age.

Have always been around a size 10 to 12. I LOVE food. I would live on takeaways, cheese on toast, chocolate, crisps and chips. I don't enjoy healthy food. I'm always thinking about what I'm going to eat today, tomorrow (and if we have cheese in to go on top!)

I think you may be right that some people who are slim don't enjoy food so much, but for me it's that I just do not let myself get over weight. I sometime creep up to a size 14 and that shifts me onto really controlling my diet.

I have a few over weight/ obese friends and I'd say the only difference is that they eat the diet I'd love to eat. If I ate what and when I wanted, I'd be hugely over weight. I find it very tough to eat healthily but I force myself to to keep reasonably 'slim'

@PurpleDaisies
What’s your definition of being sensible?

What’s your definition of being sensible?

Eating less junk food, more vegetables, measured carbs.

And exercise?

'How do slim people think?'

Sadly that is something I'll never be able to answer.

I love food and I eat out a lot, but I don't have what I consider to be a big appetite athough it's rare that I leave anything on a restaurant plate.

I've naturally gravitated to the equivalent of a 5:2 fast and I've always been slim - 5'6" and never more than 9 stone.

It depends on the person I think.

I'm one of those 'lucky' people who don't put on weight. I eat as much as everyone else I know, a lot of the times more.

The way I think is try and eat as many calories possible, I'm always paranoid people think I'm anorexic when I got out and I'm always trying to prove to people that I do eat.

Thin people don't see food as a "friend." We don't eat our feelings.

I have a friend who is “naturally slim” - however I stayed at hers for 3 days recently and she just doesn’t eat - not in a dieting way, just in the way that she doesn’t think about food the way I do. I get now why she is slim! I love food and being skinny wouldn’t bring me as much joy as food does so I’ll always be overweight 😂

Oh and I'm 5ft5, currently 7stone and never been heavier than 7 and a half.

Name12345678
I'm 27, but the way I snack I really do worry about my future health ☹️
Once I stop running after the kiddies and get older, I reckon I'll go up a size or two at the rate I eat 😬

Yes I believe so.
I do get satisfaction from food but I hate feeling stuffed.
Younger Dsis is extremely healthy vegan most meals from scrath she is about 3 stone heavier than, she doesn't binge but never stops thinking or planning her next meal
DP is overweight he'd never miss smy if his 3 daily meals.
If I have a mad busy day I often realise I missed dinner.
I never go a day without at least 2 chocolate bars though.
I snack lots I'm always on the move.

I've always been v slim. I love food and but I only eat when I'm actually hungry not just for the sake of it. Things like chocolate only once or twice a week. I generally don't buy sweet stuff as we don't need it and I see it as a waste of money. I have noticed that my bigger friends do eat a lot larger portions than us and although they cook good healthy meals, they eat a lot of it. Also I think I have much less sugar in my diet than bigger friends and I do a lot more walking. I'm too busy to snack. I think it's largely a case of what you're used to doing.

I'm slim.. 5 ft 7, 9 stone or just under, size 10 at nearly 52
I'm not that interested in food. I eat regularly, but boringly.. toast and boiled egg from breakfast, salad or soup for lunch and more often than not a jacket spud with cheese and veg for tea. I much prefer savoury food and raw veg to sweet so cakes and pastries etc hold no appeal..I'd rather have a piece of cheese, so probably have a fairly low carb lifestyle naturally.

I also don't mind feeling hungry and HATE feeling absolutely full. Being slim is a side effect rather than a conscious thing.

I also have a dog and clock up a fair bit of mileage trying to tire her out!

I have noticed that many of my colleagues who are on diets, are simply more interested in food than I am... they are good cooks who enjoy cooking and baking and making delicious food and talking about recipes. I think I'm slim because I can't be arsed with cooking!

I suspect if I didn't have a wine habit I'd be underweight, but the happy grapes top up my calories!

I think your onto something
Im slim and if im not hungry I just dont eat, so i dont eat for comfort, dont eat cos im bored, dont eat cos the clock says its lunch tine. I also hate that really full feeling so stop when i get that first full signal.

That dont mean im healthy though, my diet would make most cringe.

And exercise?

Off to google this foreign word

Many fat adults were fat children. They have never been slim, so they don’t understand that obesity is a choice, and that they can actually lose weight, because they have never done it. Losing weight is easy. There is no secret to it. All you have to do is eat less, and move more. If you eat a lot less and move a lot more, the weight will drop off you.

I most often eat once a day, in the afternoon, but drink loads of tea. I'm a wheelchair user though, so my eating habits are mostly to do with having limited mobility and a very real fear of losing the little mobility I do have. Especially after 40, I've had to be mindful of what and how much I eat.

It's not because I don't like food.

I was thin until I turned 30 and moved in with my husband... he loves his food and never misses a meal. I chunked up to a 14 pretty quickly. Left to my own devices I only naturally eat two meals a day. I don’t mind the feeling of hunger. But living with someone who eats before they feel hungry made me put on weight because I ate with them. I am much older now and bob around a size 12 and just try to stick to my own patterns. Doesn’t always work!