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?

I have never been bigger than a 12. A big difference between how I eat and how other people eat is I don't snack and don't eat as many sweet things like chocolate.

I’m in my thirties and a size 8. Genetics play the biggest role in this. But I do love food, I love cooking and eating and researching restaurants. I’m always thinking about my next meal. But it does tend to Ben healthy food. I feel physically need ill and bloated if I don’t get enough veg in me, so a burger and chips really never appeals. If I have pizza, I’ll make a massive side salad etc. But really, it’s genes. Not sure if body types have been mentioned on here but some people are just built for a potential ice age, and there’s not a lot you can do about it unless you want to totally upend your eating patterns (doesn’t really work in family life!).

I think it's about finding comfort and fulfillment in other things. I'm back within the normal BMI range but i have been slipping these past fe2 weeks because of events that have made me feel powerless and depressed. I'm not a big drinker, I don't do drugs, don't self harm in other ways so i think overeating is my way to a) feel comforted and peversely b) also punish myself as i have on occasion eaten so much that i've felt sick or even been sick. Whilst it wasn't deliberate in that sense, subconciously there must have been a part of me that knew i was going too far and didn't care.

I'm also quite lonely. I enjoy my own company to an extent but i do miss having more people to talk to. Bingeing whilst binge watching is a way to fill the void temporarily and also if i'm feeling too fat and ugly to actually go out and meet real people then i avoid rejection too. I'm messed up, admittedly.

I realise this is sort of the opposite of what you were asking op. Apologies.

I don't think people with low BMIs think differently, they act differently towards food.

Also is there a difference between thinking about eating, and thinking about food? I reckon I do the latter, I love food and think about it a lot. I'm not always wanting to eat though. Just three meals a day which I look forward to. Plus a few snacks when they're on the table at work.

I find my slim friends (in their 40's) tend to eat very little & exercise manically.