If you're a size 8-10 (or your ideal) but not naturally slim how do you stay that way?

[overweightcat]

I know some people are just naturally rather petite or slim and willowy.

But if you're not and manage to stay a size 8-10 how do you do it?

I'm 5'5 and recently lost weight and gone down to a solid size 12 - 10 in certain shops. Beforehand it was on the larger side of size 14.
I used to be very slim in my teens, had a terrible diet full of crap and sweets but was also very active around 8hrs a week of various sports/dance activities. I became quite sedentary and steadily piled on the weight since.

I don't have long legs or a small frame or anything - if anything I find that I'm rather in proportion all around and when I used to do a lot of sports I looked slim and athletic not willowy (which I'd prefer TBH).
Size 8-10 is my ideal I think as I've recently seen pictures of myself when I was that size and I think that's when I looked my healthiest and fittest - but I'm not sure how to get there.

My weight is at a bit of a standstill at the moment and I want to lose in a sustainable way. I probably have about 9lbs to go.

So anyone who has managed to achieve that and stay the desired size - can you share how you did it?

See this to me just looks insane. It's no actual food! Very little protein & it's so insubstantial.

Like I said to PP, I don't agree.

Leftover pizza - 600 calories, including chicken and cheese (protein).
Lunch - just something quick to grab after work. Yoghurt is full of protein though.
Dinner - sandwiches - yes, admittedly not much but I'm not finished eating yet. I'll have another small meal/snack before bed.

You don't need to eat meat or eggs everyday to get decent amount of protein in your diet. I stop eating before I feel full, because that "full" feeling is unpleasant to me. Some people will eat until they feel full. I think that in itself can cause problems.

I do exercise normally (weights) but I’ve been lazy during lock down - mainly walking as I hurt my foot running. I’ve put no weight on but my body is flabbier.

Yes if you want to be a size 6-10 then you don't get to eat much more than 1200 calories

I can only eat 1500 without putting on weight and I'm obese

Which is why I'm going to have weight loss surgery - I can't physically eat less than 1500 calories to lose weight without feeling awful (borderline diabetic)

And I'm not prepared to eat 1200 a day for 2 years to actually lose the weight

@vanillandhoney. I think people's perception and attitude towards food is crucial. You said you just eat what you fancy but what you fancy is very different to my what I fancy! So, if I genuinely ate everything I wanted, I'd be having lots of chocolate, lots of red meat and potatoes, lots of bread, salami, cheeses etc. Honestly I'd be morbidly obese. So I read that you eat what you want and aren't overweight and apply it to my own situation but what you actually want to eat is clearly different to my wants and appetite. Therefore the phrase 'i eat what I want' really depends on what you want!

This is my friend. She used to be naturally slim but as she got older, the weight started to creep on. She now eats one small meal a day to maintain her weight. I don't think it is especially healthy to limit like this, but she has a busy life and found the exercise she was doing just wasn't enough to keep her in shape.

I have PCOS and eat as little as possible to try to stop my weight going up. I ate exactly the same as my brother and mum, albeit a smaller portion but ballooned in puberty. I now find that the only way to control my weight is intermittent fasting. I eat during 8 hours of the day and fast the rest of the time. I will never be a size 10 but my weight is stable now.

Don't snack. Alcohol or desserts only at weekend. Don't go more than 5lbs over my preferred weight. Use 5:2 to lose any excess. Usually fast on a Monday every week. I lost all my menopausal weight gain using 5:2 over 6 years ago and will probably keep eating this way for ever

No takeaways ever. Can’t remember the last time I had one. Possible fish and chips last year camping. Only chips as I don’t eat fish.
Lots of veg.
Walk dog, and run 2or 3 times a week.
Only drink on sat and Friday nights and then only 1-2, maybe 3 with friends.
No ‘diet’ food. Avoid sweeteners.
Eat dark chocolate.
I’m veggie so no meat.
No fruit juice or any sort.

Cook most foods by scratch, so do eat cake etc but all home made so not full of palm oil and sugar.

@weehoo, your partner sounds screwed up and very damaging. After all you’ve been through, surely you deserve a break from that shite?

Oh and stop eating after tea, no food till breakfast.

And listen to my body, when I’m full I stop. I HATE the feeling of being over full.

I’m 42 no size 8-10 depending on shops.

[quote formerbabe]@vanillandhoney. I think people's perception and attitude towards food is crucial. You said you just eat what you fancy but what you fancy is very different to my what I fancy! So, if I genuinely ate everything I wanted, I'd be having lots of chocolate, lots of red meat and potatoes, lots of bread, salami, cheeses etc. Honestly I'd be morbidly obese. So I read that you eat what you want and aren't overweight and apply it to my own situation but what you actually want to eat is clearly different to my wants and appetite. Therefore the phrase 'i eat what I want' really depends on what you want![/quote]
I do eat those things if I fancy them, though. But in moderation. There's a difference between eating what you fancy (and not putting any restrictions in place) and eating small amounts of what you like but eating it in moderation (eg. one small bag of crisps vs a family bag, a small bar of chocolate vs. a sharing block).

I've also read threads on here where people say they love the feeling of feeling full, but for me it's really unpleasant - I wonder if that makes a difference at all?

When food is written down like that, it does look meagre. That's part of the issue, it looks it so it is. It's the same thing that happens with portion sizes.

Tomatoes, mushrooms, blueberries and yoghurt for a lunch

Tomatoes have a small amount of protein, carbs and fats. Vitamins A, C,
Mushroom Protein and Carbs
Blueberries Fibre, Vit C, K1, Magnesium, Antioxidants, Quercetin, and more
Greek yoghurt - Calcium, Vit B6, Cobalamin, Magnesium, protein, fat.

Now compare that to the more 'normal' ham sandwich lunch

I wear a 10 and always have done though I would say I am now bordering on a 12 because I have a wobbly belly which I would like to tone up.
I love food-meals out and cooking at home, I also like wine! lots!
I do not want to be a slave to the scales or limit what I eat so I do try to eat healthy and can forego carbs easily enough, filling up on veggies instead.
I work out 4 or 5 times a week, I enjoy it and can see my body changing but because I like food and wine I do not think I will ever have the toned fitness look I would love-but hey! I want to live my life and enjoy it also

vanillandhoney interesting...if I eat something and like the taste, I struggle to stop eating it unless I'm uncomfortably full. I am one of those people who live to eat rather than eat to live.

Untreated gall stones.
I used to have real trouble staying away from fat. But 3 to 4 hours of abdominal pain certainly focuses the mind.

@canigooutyet

When food is written down like that, it does look meagre. That's part of the issue, it looks it so it is. It's the same thing that happens with portion sizes.

Tomatoes, mushrooms, blueberries and yoghurt for a lunch

Tomatoes have a small amount of protein, carbs and fats. Vitamins A, C,
Mushroom Protein and Carbs
Blueberries Fibre, Vit C, K1, Magnesium, Antioxidants, Quercetin, and more
Greek yoghurt - Calcium, Vit B6, Cobalamin, Magnesium, protein, fat.

Now compare that to the more 'normal' ham sandwich lunch

Exactly. Your typical "meal deal" lunch of a sandwich, a bag of crisps and a soft drink is so ingrained into us as being "normal" that people eating other things is seen as really bizarre.

A meal-deal lunch (with a full-fat drink) is probably close to about 800 calories if not more. Most won't be very filling or healthy - but because they're so well-marketed, it's seen to be totally normal.

@vanillandhoney I also hate the full feeling, now I'm in my 40's, my stomach hates it as well!

It is an interesting thought though.

I've also noticed similar to feeling hungry, some as soon as they feel it they have to eat. Sometimes it is the bodies need of water and there are a lot of people who don't drink enough.

Although I do sympathise with those who are feel that hunger but it makes them nauseous. Trying to find the underlying health thing on that one is a nightmare.

Yes if you want to be a size 6-10 then you don't get to eat much more than 1200 calories

I don’t think that’s generally true. People’s lifestyles differ so much. I certainly eat a lot more that that.

@formerbabe

vanillandhoney interesting...if I eat something and like the taste, I struggle to stop eating it unless I'm uncomfortably full. I am one of those people who live to eat rather than eat to live.

I do wonder if it's a key difference - my parents always commented on it when I was growing up too. I could have my favourite meal in front of me, but once I was full, I couldn't push myself to keep eating it.

Even now I will just stop if I feel full. I just hate the feeling and it always makes me sleep badly too!

I have recently slimmed back down to a size 8-10, having crept up to a 12 (and clothes feeling tight at that!).

I run several times a week. Don't drink alcohol, cut out crisps/biscuits/sweets.

I eat mostly homemade, healthy meals and have small portions.

It's the only way I find.

Thing is, it’s not a restrictive diet, it’s what you need. Our bodies don’t need loads of calories, or at least they don’t if you’re sat on your arse all day. Our houses are warm, no calorie burning there. We barely do the amount of exercise our bodies require.

I’m a size 10, bit flabby after a few kids, but I keep the weight down by limiting how much I eat. Doesn’t make me joyless, it’s normal now and I don’t want to be overweight. I don’t like how it looks on me and I don’t want diabetes.

This thread is so depressing. There is more to life than being a size 8!
I used to be very overweight, now Im pretty slim (by my standards). I just count calories, but not the laughable 1200 like some posters here. I eat around 1800. I eat everything. I try to eat tons of protein. When I have a chicken curry I add some yoghurt raita as well, double animal protein keeps you super full for longer.
I have a bit of a sweet tooth that I have to watch, but I allow myself a treat every day, its easy to do with calorie counting.

I actually only eat a few things but those are all carbs. Today:
Lunch toast & jam
Dinner bread roll & piece of meat.
It very rarely varies from this. Sometimes a bag of crisps or bowl of soup.
I put on a few kg in lockdown by not moving as much as usual...
I cannot keep junk food in the house. It's just too tempting on my sweet tooth.
People who think they can eat loads and stay slim are kidding themselves!

@lovesgood if I ate 1800 cals a day I'd be fat again in no time!!!! No thank you

People who think they can eat loads and stay slim are kidding themselves!

Surely that depends what they’re eating loads of? My main meals are big but they’re mostly veg.

Lunch toast & jam
Dinner bread roll & piece of meat

This is virtually starvation.

This is what I can't understand...how can bmi be a good measure of what is or isn't a healthy weight when so many women have to virtually starve themselves to achieve a normal bmi?