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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

If you are slim, what, in your opinion, keeps you that way?

578 replies

pepsicolagirl · 15/10/2020 16:59

I read the other thread with interest and as an obese person a lot of the comments range true but it made me wonder. Those of you who are in the ideal/normal weight category, what do you attribute that to?

OP posts:
Sodamncold · 15/10/2020 21:12

Oh and I don’t drink alcohol

Zleep · 15/10/2020 21:13

I eat loads of fruit and vegetables, very little pre-prepared/convenience food and very little refined sugar.

I always check the ingredients labels and avoid anything with added sugar. I don't have treats or snacks in the house because I have no self control (I ate my daughter's entire 12 portion birthday cake in two days). If I want a snack I make something proper or have fruit and nuts.

I eat very large portions of healthy, varied and mostly low calorie food.

I try to be active. I have never been more than a stone over my normal weight, even when pregnant my BMI was in the normal range. So I've never had much to loose and I gave up crash dieting a long time ago.

I would recommend a ted talk called Why diets don't usually work. I think it has some really interesting points to consider.

popcornlover · 15/10/2020 21:14

I couldn’t say for sure. I eat what I want, and that includes more snacks than I have ever heard anyone admit to in my entire life. (Do people downplay their snacking?)

I don’t eat animals - and that’s been decades - I work hard, and I go to the gym. I don’t slob around on the sofa, and that is probably key.

I also think you need to put the work into this when you are younger: you make your body get used to the body you want. Healthy mind, healthy body.

Figgyboa · 15/10/2020 21:14

Partially good genes, both sides of my family are relatively slim.
Partially taking care of myself.....gym with PT 3 times a week, walk at least 2 miles on my off days. No fast food, small portions, healthy food and margaritas on the weekend!

popcornlover · 15/10/2020 21:16

I’m also as curious as the OP, but the other way around: if you are fat, what do you eat all day? But if I made a thread like that, well, can you imagine...

dayswithaY · 15/10/2020 21:16

I don't have a big appetite, it's very easy for me to ignore hunger pangs as I find eating is a chore and a waste of my time. I hate feeling full up, I hate a bloated tummy. I only drink coffee, water or wine.

Sodamncold · 15/10/2020 21:18

@Figgyboa

Partially good genes, both sides of my family are relatively slim. Partially taking care of myself.....gym with PT 3 times a week, walk at least 2 miles on my off days. No fast food, small portions, healthy food and margaritas on the weekend!
3x pt sessions a week?! That must cost a bomb!
legalalien · 15/10/2020 21:18

Regular exercise and the fact that my reaction to stress is to eat less / very little rather than to eat more / comfort eat. Plus not having a sweet tooth (I know carbs are supposed to be bad but give me a packet of salted crackers any time. Am going to dream about Sao crackers now.

Fallenmadonnawiththebigboobies · 15/10/2020 21:19

Genetics, healthy-ish eating and a bit of exercise.

mrshonda · 15/10/2020 21:22

Portion size, stop when you're full (easier to judge if you eat slowly and take your time), and not snacking between meals

enjoyingscience · 15/10/2020 21:24

Luck, genetics. Not drinking anything other that water or tea (and wine at the weekend). Liking salad more than chips, but never dieting or substituting diet versions or light versions of anything - if I’m going to eat I want to enjoy it and for it to be the real deal.

I do think fizzy drinks, even the diet kind (which are gross - don’t touch sweeteners in anything) are the devils work and responsible for a lot of obesity.

Coulddowithanap · 15/10/2020 21:25

I think for me being tall helps, means I burn more calories on a run than my shorter friend's... also I enjoy running several times a week.

I do eat a lot and often wonder how people on here survive on such a small amount of food.

mynameisnotmichaelcaine · 15/10/2020 21:25

Genetics, not having a huge appetite compared to some people, teaching in a secondary school and exercise. In that order I reckon.

msflibble · 15/10/2020 21:27

Not dieting. I was overweight for a long time because I'd starve, then binge, or because I was feeling so miserable and guilty about eating that it became a compulsion not an instinct.
Eating what your body asks for is so important. CBT to address emotional eating is important. Eating larger meals in the morning and smaller in the evening helps. Kimchi I think is also good. But dieting destroys your metabolism and makes your body cling to fat. Don't do it!!!

Annebronte · 15/10/2020 21:27

I don’t limit anything in particular, but I don’t overeat. I dislike feeling really full. I don’t do specific regular exercise, eg gym, but I do move around a lot, do average 12- 13,000 steps a day and I walk very quickly. I’m a teacher, so I spend much of my day standing up.

AliciaMayEmory · 15/10/2020 21:30

I hate feeling full, it makes me feel sick. I stop eating the moment I stop feeling hungry to avoid it.

I came on to say this. I eat whatever I fancy, no restrictions, but really don’t like that over full feeling so just stop when I start to feel full. Some people I know always feel they have to finish what is on their plate. I sometimes will, sometimes I have extras, but if I’ve had enough when I’ve eaten 2/3 of it I will stop.

That and my genes I suppose.

Sausage1989 · 15/10/2020 21:30

Eating mainly wholefoods!

villainousbroodmare · 15/10/2020 21:31

Laziness. I have come to hate cooking and while I cook daily and healthily for the kids, I can barely be bothered to so much as peel a banana for myself or go into a shop if I don't have to.
I never eat breakfast and rarely eat lunch and there is no food at my work.
That doesn't sound great, does it? Grin Blush

Littleposh · 15/10/2020 21:32

I used to be slim and I would say that alcohol changed that

Coffeecak3 · 15/10/2020 21:32

I have the fidget factor.
I also have a very acute sense of smell and often food makes me feel sick especially fatty food.
I'm not a foodie. Tonight we've been out for pizza and half of mine is in the fridge for tomorrow.
My dh jokes I must have been born with a gastric band. Once I've tasted the food I'm bored and often don't want any more.
I'm 5'4" and 8st5lbs. I also rarely weigh myself but did so this morning because my dm asked what I weighed.

XingMing · 15/10/2020 21:33

Moderation, and having a dog. I eat everything going but never to the stage I feel stuffed with food. It helps that I never eat or make cakes, though I have been known to eat chocolate. I also don't have a very sweet tooth, and prefer veg, salad and protein to carbs.

Eckhart · 15/10/2020 21:34

Running. If the scales creep up, I go for a few runs a week for a few weeks. Keeps it under control. I can eat what I like, but with the consequence of knowing I have to work it off.

FLOrenze · 15/10/2020 21:34

I really believe it is a lot to do with genes. I find it really hard to put on weight.

My Grandparents were born in the late 1880s .. My Gran was short and very wide, my Grandpa tall and thin. Their 10 children were split 50/ 50 between large and Very thin. The same with my 20 cousins. Some with very thin parents were very big.

My mum and dad were short and wide, my brother and I, skinny as rakes. This has carried on into my GCs. Some are skin and bone and others have a good covering of flesh.

I have also noticed that all the skinny ones in the family seem to live on nervous energy were as the others are much more relaxed. There is a lot more to what size someone is than just food intake.

Badgerbadger88 · 15/10/2020 21:35

Anxiety & depression

hippospot · 15/10/2020 21:36

Lifelong BMI of 21-22 or so.

It's important to me to stay slim and to that end I do watch what I eat to a degree:

  • cook from scratch, veg at every meal
  • carbs are all wholemeal
  • I love cake and chocolate but cake is an occasional treat, chocolate is 85% cocoa (some every day)
  • I rarely buy biscuits. If the craving is strong enough I'll bake some.
  • I hardly drink alcohol as I get awful headaches from wine
  • I drink mostly water apart from 1-3 cups of black coffee/green tea a day
  • I avoid processed food. Snack on natural full-fat yoghurt, hard-boiled egg, unsalted raw nuts, fruit or oatcakes & hummus

To summarise I focus on healthy food and that seems to work. I naturally don't like burgers or crisps - that probably helps :)

I'm also someone who likes to potter. I get bored sitting around so if I have time on my hands I'll wash the windows or clear out a cupboard or something. I love walking and cycling, do some every day though not necessarily fast or far. I swim once a week. Never go a gym or class.