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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think my portion was too large (photo)?

381 replies

Ribrabrob · 29/07/2020 19:45

I’m living a bit ‘on the road’ at the moment (essential) and relying on eating out - trying to be as healthy as I can as I’m trying (!) to lose weight.

I have attached a photo of tonight’s evening meal, my only meal of the day plus a few snacks. My photo isn’t the best unfortunately but it was a bowl of spicy rice and a bowl of bean stew/soup (I’m vegetarian).

Aibu to think I had too much? Would you have eaten all of it? Unfortunately through years of dieting and binge eating I have lost sight of what a normal portion of food is and how ‘normal’ people eat.

Ps i appreciate it doesn’t look very nice but it was actually quite tasty!

To think my portion was too large (photo)?
OP posts:
PatriciaPerch · 29/07/2020 23:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

GreyishDays · 29/07/2020 23:10

@madcatladyforever

Yes much too large, Ive had to reassess portion sizes drastically post gastric band and I've tried various size bowls to see how I can stay full on three meals a day and after extensive trials this is the size bowl I use for all of my meals in order to stay the same weight. Of course it does depend on how much you exercise and so on. I'd say a quarter of that rice potion and half the stew max.
Also depends if you’re filling the bowl with deep fried cheese or salad Grin
TrashPanda · 29/07/2020 23:10

@raspberryk

I'd eat that but I am fat I think my bmi is 27/28
See, I would also eat that and my bmi is 19/20 🤷‍♀️
uniglowooljumper · 29/07/2020 23:13

@PatriciaPerch

god it looks part way into the toilet
Doesn't it? I've seen more appetising things on the pavement on Sunday morning in Glasgow.
Yeahnahmum · 29/07/2020 23:14

Food is fine, but def not if you'd want to lose weight. Way too much carbs unfortunately

Tempusfudgeit · 29/07/2020 23:15

Rice? Surely it's pearl barley or wheat! Also, it's very poor form to enlist others into your disordered eating mindset. Stop it.

SchrodingersImmigrant · 29/07/2020 23:15

No need to be that nasty, people. The toilet and pavement talk is nasty just for no reason at all...

LunchBoxPolice · 29/07/2020 23:18

I need to fart just looking at that stew Grin

Looks fine to me. Did you have desert?

Cakesaretheproblem · 29/07/2020 23:19

To lose weight you need to be eating at the same times everyday. Also biggest meal at breakfast medium at lunch and small for dinner. I swear by these rules and I am very happy with my weight.

Wineiscooling · 29/07/2020 23:21

I'd probably eat half that. But then I'm a picker! I'd probably eat a lot more through the day, not massive meals but all the picking I'm doing probably adds up to 1000 calories.
I'm not overweight but have put a stone on in lockdown and struggling to sort my eating out! Usually I'm good at portions and sticking to calorie control.

NotJust3SmallWords · 29/07/2020 23:24

As it was your only meal of the day I wouldn't be surprised if you were hungry and wanted a large portion. If it satisfied you and you didn't get overly full then it's fine. Generally though I wouldn't post pictures of your food on social media asking people to judge it - that wouldn't make me feel good about myself (speaking as someone who's overweight).

PurpleDaisies · 29/07/2020 23:24

It was a one off meal you really enjoyed. Does it really matter if it was a big portion?

Generally I’d eat less rice than that but the stew would be pretty normal for me.

Do you normally only eat one meal a day?

TrainspottingWelsh · 29/07/2020 23:26

@DishRanAwayWithTheSpoon I can't imagine any other explanation. But I think we're all supposed to conjure up images of dainty, lady like creatures, not unfit, untoned, sloth like creatures.

TheDaydreamBelievers · 29/07/2020 23:26

Hi @Ribrabrob - I would say the stew looks a good portion, I wouldn't eat that much rice. That is largely because that much rice would taste boring to me - I'd rather have a massive bowl of the stew! I probably COULD eat that much rice, particularly if it was my only meal of a day.

Overall I would encourage you to spread your food intake across a day if you can, incorporate lots of fruits and veggies. This meal is carb and protein heavy.

The healthiest way to lose weight is to work out your basal metabolic rate of burning calories, then try to eat slightly fewer. Make sure you hit the major food groups (carbs, proteins, healthy fats, fruit and veg)

managedmis · 29/07/2020 23:27

It doesn't look the most appetising tbh

Looks extremely healthy tho

PyongyangKipperbang · 29/07/2020 23:33

THis is my problem, my eating is so disordered now after a very traumatic couple of years that I have no idea what is normal. I realised today that I havent eaten properly for several days, just enough to keep the pain at bay.

A "standard" meal by most peoples standards, I would struggle to eat a third of, so when I do try and eat normally, I have no idea of amounts. It is starting to get to the stage where I wonder if I need help. I am not skinny, 12 bottom, 10 top (probably with vanity sizing) but I am not healthy, I know that.

RedToothBrush · 29/07/2020 23:40

Look up the 9inch plate diet, as it gives you a good idea on sensible portion sizes.

Thats a lot for one person. You shouldn't be eating one meal in a day as thats unhealthy in itself. If you are putting your meal on more than one plate thats a pretty good sign your portion sizes are off.

HeronLanyon · 29/07/2020 23:41

Couldn’t tell size of plate then realised I could by the lentil size !
Looks like a lot of lentil but I have been known to eat a lot of rice pasta dishes.
It looks good and not way over the top.
If you’re living slightly ‘on the road’ I’d eat what you feel you need for a bit To stay fit - your body will tell you if you’ve overdone it.
Good luck op.

Sheeshisthatthetime · 29/07/2020 23:46

That's my kinda meal op. OTOH my dinner was a banana with a sh0cking amount of peanut butter (together- yum) as cba to make anything. Followed by tiramisu and a third of a family bag of kettle crisps. Hot young thing that I am.

The calorie deficit brigade will be lapping that up (got to enjoy something I suppose 😁)

Oh and I'm not hugely obese- 8 stone 2 I think. At 1'4" that's about right I'd say.

@Chicchicchicchiclana laughing a lot at phat phuc!

Sparklesocks · 29/07/2020 23:47

Surely as an adult you just eat as much as you like/until you’re full - why does eating dinner require a thumbs up or down from strangers?

WorraLiberty · 29/07/2020 23:48

@SchrodingersImmigrant

No need to be that nasty, people. The toilet and pavement talk is nasty just for no reason at all...
I agree, just ridiculously nasty.
PyongyangKipperbang · 29/07/2020 23:49

As a restaurant manager the fact that you were served that with sauce slopping everywhere makes my teeth itch!

PickAChew · 29/07/2020 23:50

I'd probably have eaten most of the srmtew but about half if the rice - which looks more like barley, in the picture. A man or younger, hungrier woman would probably have been pissed off with a portion to suit me, though.

PickAChew · 29/07/2020 23:54

@SchrodingersImmigrant

I don't agree the food on a pic is as healthy as some posters thinkBlush

It's a buffet. There will be oil on the grains and lots in the stew too. It's absolutely fine to eat it once in a while though. Just not every day.

And the problem with oil in your diet is?
SkinSkin · 29/07/2020 23:56

You asked if the portions are too large, and if you look at it in the context of a standard meal (one of three meals a day) then yes, it's large. A rice portion should be about a clenched fist size.

But if it's your only meal of the day then you probably need more than the standard meal portion, wouldn't you say?

And I'm also concerned about where your fresh fruit and vegetables or fat and dairy intake features if it's your only meal of the day.