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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To give you my biggest tip on losing/maintaining a slim weight?

106 replies

Dooleydally · 27/10/2019 19:15

Prepared to be flamed for this because of waste.

Basically I don’t eat everything on my plate. Sometimes I do but a lot of the time I don’t.

I do care about wasting food but then I think about the masses of waste that goes on in farming, factories, supermarkets etc.

And if you think about how much money is spent on the dieting industry, it seems to be a paradox in terms of expense/waste.

OP posts:
Magpiefeather · 27/10/2019 19:18

Can’t remember where I read it but

“Your body is not a dustbin”

Reframed this issue for me. If I can’t eat all the food on my plate, it is “wasted” anyway, whether I force myself to eat it or put it in the bin.

Best way to do it of course is either make smaller portions to start with or save for leftovers / freeze .

MrsMaiselsMuff · 27/10/2019 19:19

Or use a smaller plate and eat everything.

D'oh.

BrutusMcDogface · 27/10/2019 19:19

I’m really surprised that you wouldn’t just cut your portion sizes, instead of wilfully leaving food......

BrutusMcDogface · 27/10/2019 19:20

Plus just because factories etc waste food, it doesn’t mean everyone else should...I really don’t get this Confused

AutumnRose1 · 27/10/2019 19:21

That is not a tip

It just means eat less.

Jollitwiglet · 27/10/2019 19:22

Do you out leftovers in a compost bin? Why don't you just have smaller portions?

Bodyposiftw · 27/10/2019 19:22

It's true, but not exactly new, and definitely not easy for me! Intuitive eating is based on this a lot I think. Eat when you are hungry rather than wait until you are so famished you'd just eat any crap. Eat what you fancy rather than restricting yourself to just what you think you perceive as ' healthy/ diet friendly 'food. Take your time, savour the food, and yes, that means stopping when you are full and not finish off your plate. I agree on principle but I love my food and it is very rare for me to not finish my plate.
And you are absolutely right about the waste thing. Surely eating stuff you don't want is a waste anyway as your hunger is satisfied? Best to serve small portions I guess but when you are in a restaurant there is not much you can do I suppose.

FudgeBrownie2019 · 27/10/2019 19:24

This is like one of those tips you get in Chat magazine that are actually just shit dressed up as a revelation.

HarrietSchulenberg · 27/10/2019 19:26

Surely just plus less on your plate? Or follow proper portion size advice instead of overloading your plate?
Food waste is terrible and you'd do much better to plan your meals properly.
Sorry but your tip is shit.

WorraLiberty · 27/10/2019 19:29

This tip is a bit 'no shit Sherlock' to be honest.

You're right not to eat everything on your plate if you're full up

But obviously if you happen to be the one plating your food up, or you have any kind of control over it, just make sure you have less on your plate in the first place.

orangeteal · 27/10/2019 19:29

I think it's sound advice personally, if you're not used to monitoring what you eat it's easy to guilt trip yourself into eating everything on your plate so not to be wasteful, or just because it's there, I often remind myself I shouldn't eat something just because it's on my plate, especially if you were brought up in a house where empty plates were expected, you need to give yourself permission to leave it.

Iggly · 27/10/2019 19:31

Yes don’t eat it because it’s there. I agree with this.

Sometimes it’s hard to judge portion sizes and there’s no shame in leaving stuff behind.

I actually prefer to actively under serve my food i.e dish out less than I need and end up being a tiny bit hungry as opposed to stuffed.

Sparklfairy · 27/10/2019 19:33

I'm a heathen (and live alone so it matters less), but I stop when I'm full and the plate goes in the fridge. Doesn't work with everything but my eyes are bigger than my stomach, I always put out a huge portion and can put it away when I'm done knowing I can go back to it later.

Maybe wouldn't work when living with others, but who would want to eat leftover food from someone else's plate they randomly found in the fridge anyway! anyway

Original poster
Dooleydally · 27/10/2019 19:35

Sorry! I meant to say if I’m not preparing my own food.

OP posts:
WorraLiberty · 27/10/2019 19:37

Sorry! I meant to say if I’m not preparing my own food.

Who normally prepares your food?

Can you ask them to give you less?

formerbabe · 27/10/2019 19:40

I meant to say if I’m not preparing my own food

Sorry, can't relate...no other fucker cooks for me.

kateandme · 27/10/2019 19:40

wrong.you shouldnt give yourself a balanced portion then force yourself to leave something.that is another ediculous diet culture form of punishing and restircting.if i put a salad on my plate should i leave some?what about five pease,should i leave 4? no.
of course if you give yourself more than you thought your body wanted then fine get to hunger satisified and leavee.but dont just HAVE to leave something as a form of weight loss.how rediculous

Knittedbear · 27/10/2019 19:43

I always say there's no point piling up your plate, just plate up a small portion then you can always go back for more if you're hungry. I really don't like wasting food, but most things can be frozen or reheated.

To be honest my food isn't prepared by other people often enough for me to need to leave food, it's only if I go out for a meal.

If dh plates up my food I ask him not to put too much on.

user1480880826 · 27/10/2019 19:44

Ridiculous suggestion. Just put less on your plate.

“I do care about wasting food but then I think about the masses of waste that goes on in farming, factories, supermarkets etc.”

You obviously don’t care about wasting food.

It’s like saying “I don’t agree with murder but then I think about all the people that die due to war and famine so I thought I would just murder them”

MsTSwift · 27/10/2019 19:46

Surely better to just use a smaller plate? Then you only plate what you eat?
No waste in our house as dh super fit and does shed load of exercise so quietly demolishes what girls and I don’t ...

Original poster
Dooleydally · 27/10/2019 19:47

Ridiculous suggestion. Just put less on your plate.

Restaurants, family gatherings, dinner parties etc.

How on earth can I put less on my plate?

OP posts:
Babybel90 · 27/10/2019 20:05

You’re not wrong OP. I was brought up to clear my plate and I would have to sit at the table until it was all gone. My mum has since said she regrets doing this because now I eat everything on my plate, even if I’m full, without thinking about it, it’s just ingrained in me. I was also never ever allowed any junk food, sweets or crisps so as an adult if I get any I eat loads as if I’m never going to get the chance again.

I have to constantly remind myself that I’m an adult and I can eat whatever I want whenever I want to I don’t have to eat loads of treats all at once as if I might not get any for another 12 months.

WorraLiberty · 27/10/2019 20:06

Restaurants, family gatherings, dinner parties etc

Surely that doesn't happen regularly enough to actually affect your weight?

Who plates up your food on a daily basis?

PurpleDaisies · 27/10/2019 20:07

It’s sad that got special occasions you can’t just eat what you want without thinking about your weight.

HollowTalk · 27/10/2019 20:16

Take a Break - "I lost weight by eating less!"