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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
JaceLancs · 16/10/2020 07:50

Having to go gluten free

ShrikeAttack · 16/10/2020 07:54

I don't think white bread is the 'Devil's food'. In any given day I might eat a couple of slices of Homemade sourdough, either at breakfast with eggs, lunch as a sandwich or as a snack with pate or cheese in the afternoon. It's a rare day when I don't eat bread.

So it's not bread by itself that causes weight gain.

gingganggooleywotsit · 16/10/2020 07:55

Not sitting down much in the day, keeping busy, and trying not to snack too much between meals. Also hardly any booze except when going out.

minnimiss · 16/10/2020 07:57

I only eat when I'm hungry, so for me that's only lunch and dinner, I do tend just to eat what I want at these meals but just average portions and I don't tend to snack apart from a very occasional biscuit with a cup of coffee. I'm also vegetarian, and I exercise three times a week.

trixiebelden77 · 16/10/2020 07:59

I eat a shitload of vegetables.

I have a big appetite and would be enormous if I filled up on other stuff. So I eat the things I like but with massive serves of vegies.

QueenOllie · 16/10/2020 08:08

@popcornlover I'll answer Smile
Size 16 and 5ft 10 with a knackered thyroid and unable to exercise

Yesterday
Muller rice mid morning (wasn't hungry for breakfast)

Chicken salad wrap (homemade) for lunch with a bag of baked crisps and a Milky Way (mini size). Wrap was a 100 cal one, 100g chicken and a bit of salsa in the wrap

Ragu with veg for tea

Snack of a babybel mid afternoon

dewisant2020 · 16/10/2020 08:11

Good genes I believe, all my family are slim and thankfully it was passed down to me and my children.
I have noticed I naturally eat a smaller portion and healthier choice than obese people though

stillfeelingmad · 16/10/2020 08:12

Tracking my calories 6 days a week. When I don't I overeat jjst a little all the time and it creeps on

ifiwasascent · 16/10/2020 08:17

I have to work really hard and I'm still not where I want to be. Constantly on a diet, not eating cakes/biscuits in work

ImABitScaredTBH · 16/10/2020 08:21

Seriously restricting my food

Me too. If I eat what I want when I want I gain weight very quickly. I have to be really strict with myself. I dont eat large meals and I try not to snack.

I'm 5'2 and 8st 4lb. I can easily get to 9st within a few weeks if I dont watch what I eat.

ShrikeAttack · 16/10/2020 09:00

This is quite an interesting thread as there seems to be a clear division between those who say 'Luck, genetics, I eat what I like and remain slim'.

And those who are actively choosing a way of life that keeps them slim, talking of 'limiting', avoiding certain foods, mindful that if they eat a certain way they will gain weight.

I'd be very interested in people's height, weight and age and what their 'natural' diet would be.

I make no concerted effort to remain slim but, I'm tall, I don't eat much fruit (a bit of soft fruit in Summer, some stone fruits when they're in season the odd Autumn pear. I'll eat mango and melon about twice a year when the variety I enjoy are.in season, citrus I eat year-round in other things), generally unless they're at their peak, I don't bother with fruit.

I eat very seasonally, lots of vegetables but whatever is best at any given time, the same with meat, I don't eat ready meals, I eat processed food but only high quality, so charcuterie, cooked meats, sausages, pate, pork pies, bacon, condiments, an occasional cake or biscuit.

I eat a really varied diet, hugely, I really enjoy food and look forward to seasonal treats like gull's eggs, black truffle, grouse, asparagus, elderflower, oysters, morels, pheasant, sea trout, I could go on! I love food, I love cooking.

I don't eat when I'm not hungry though, I used to wake up absolutely ravenous up until my late 30s, so breakfast would be immediate and substantial. I'm not super-hungry in the morning any more so I tend to skip breakfast, may have brunch and then a late lunch or an early lunch followed by a snack about four.

I'm the cook in the house so we eat whatever I fancy but I do have 'rules', roasts are only eaten between 'back to school' and Easter, the final roast of the year is always an Easter leg of lamb, mince pies are only permissible in December, ditto hot cross buns can only be eaten on Good Friday, asparagus can only be eaten in the UK season, McDonalds are delish, but only on a road-trip, Vacherin is always eaten on Christmas eve and at no other time, blackberries can only be eaten if you've picked them, oysters when there's an R in the month etc etc.

I love food, there are so many delicious things to eat and I don't limit myself, but I'm very mindful about what I eat because I can only eat so much and I want it to be worthwhile every time I eat. I never eat for the sake of it, or from boredom.

It's a fascinating thing, food, and our feelings around it.

cupboardmonster · 16/10/2020 09:05

I track everything I eat and drink on my fitness pal. It has made me so much more aware of how additional calories creep in. I found it particularly useful to weigh things like pasta, rice, porridge oats, nuts when I first started using it so that I could cut down portion size and understand what I was actually consuming. I probably eat half of what I used to now.
It isn't all misery and denial, if I want a couple of glasses of wine then I cut out something else that day. I've also lost my taste for excess carbs and although I still love a packet of crisps it's a small bag not a grab bag or multipack.
Takeaways are a very rare event.

Stumpedasatree · 16/10/2020 09:07

It appears that most of us who actively maintain being slim through diet and exercise have an overriding gear of becoming fat. I know I do. I would be horrified if I could pinch an inch or more on my waist. I don't think that is a bad way to live, as long as it doesn't extend to eating disorders.

Stumpedasatree · 16/10/2020 09:08

Gear = fear!

PurpleDaisies · 16/10/2020 09:10

I'd be very interested in people's height, weight and age and what their 'natural' diet would be.

My natural diet would be very similar to what I eat now but with massive bags of crisps on top. I don’t have them in the house.

I’m 5ft7, late thirties, normally 60kg but up 2kg at the moment through being ill and comfort eating crisps. Taking immediate action.

I’m vegan and love spice so loads of curries, chillis etc. I’m not really into sweet foods. It’s all about the salty crackers, crisps etc for me. I think liking cooking and trying new things is really helpful in staying slim.

ballroompink · 16/10/2020 09:13

I'm 36, 5'7 and size 8-10. Firstly it's genetics. My mum is still size 10 in her 60s although she did gain weight and go up to a 14 when she hit the menopause but now eats very healthily as a result of some health issues and stays at a 10 easily.

I move a lot - don't drive so walk everywhere during the day. Have just done my third 5k run this week. Yesterday wasn't a running day but I still did 14.5k steps.

Eat reasonably healthily but I do find I can't consistently pig out any more. I only eat puddings at weekends, never have cake or biscuits in the house unless there's a special occasion, sometimes eat chocolate or sweets but not often. I hate cream cakes, doughnuts, fried food etc. Rarely have takeaway.

HOWEVER I love carbs and wine and it's those I have to watch - pizza, pasta, crisps, etc. I could easily put away a tube of Pringles. I also love cheese but eat less than I used to as I'm finding dairy agrees with me less and less.

I was at my ideal size when breastfeeding as I was effortlessly slim although was very active then as well. I'm pear shaped and every pound gained just makes my bum and hips bigger, which I hate.

Delatron · 16/10/2020 09:15

I’m 5ft 8 and about 8 stone 10. Age 44.

I’d naturally maybe eat more pizzas and less vegetables but I’ve never been able to have big potions. I snack quite a bit but bagels/toast/nuts rather than cake/chocolate.

Not a massive sweet tooth but love bread!

Would never diet

IdblowJonSnow · 16/10/2020 09:15

I walk loads and dont over eat.
I love treats and have chocolate most days but its bite sized stuff.
The only time in my life I've been quite big was when I was working shifts and eating late and at odd times. Also not getting any exercise.

WaltzForDebbie · 16/10/2020 09:26

For me it's mainly having small portions. I always think it's strange when people talk about what they eat to lose weight. It's not so much what you eat, it's how much of it that matters. Eg. I would have spag bol but have it on a small plate with not that much pasta. I usually use smaller than average plates as well. I think they are 25 cms.

ladyvimes · 16/10/2020 09:27

I eat at meal times and only have healthy snacks generally like fruit or popcorn,etc. Normally eat between 1500-1800 calories a day. Don’t cut out any food groups so eat white bread and love carbs! Only eat chocolate once a week and very rarely have cake, etc. Exercise 3x a week don’t hiit and weights. I don’t think too carefully about all this as they’re habits I’ve gotten into but it is about lifestyle and being conscious of making healthy choices. I do like wine though! That is my downfall and is why I’m not slimmer!! But life is too short! As long as I’m healthy I’m happy!

kezziethecat · 16/10/2020 09:58

I eat loads and have always been a size 8 so do think it's largely genetics. However I walk everywhere and need lots of exercise and don't eat at all in the evenings after my dinner around 5pm. I guess I would think twice before ordering certain things too - like would not order a creamy/ milky coffee most of the time but an Americano and would share pudding/cake if I was ordering that.

Lobsterquadrille2 · 16/10/2020 10:06

I'm in agreement with good genes but also good inherited eating habits, although I am more "all or nothing" than the rest of my family so if I don't want to risk eating the whole lot, I don't buy it. As a recovering alcoholic I accept that there are certain foods that I have no stop button with, so I just avoid, unless I know I don't care (this does not apply with alcohol!). I'm 5 foot 8, 8 stone 10, 51.

My mother is 90, 5 foot 7 and has been 9 stone all her life apart from four pregnancies. She has never dieted. Nobody in our family is overweight.

CandidaAlbicans2 · 16/10/2020 10:08

Realising that, having analysed it, I actually don't need many calories to maintain my weight and that it's extremely easy to consume far more than required.

I was raised in a family that didn't snack so it's not a habit of mine. The odd biscuit here and pack of crisps there mount up, so I don't have them daily.

I also only eat when I'm hungry and stop eating when I feel full regardless of what's left on my plate (I love leftovers anyway so it's not really "left").

Portion control. I don't pile my plate high with food.

Sodamncold · 16/10/2020 10:08

@Lobsterquadrille2

I'm in agreement with good genes but also good inherited eating habits, although I am more "all or nothing" than the rest of my family so if I don't want to risk eating the whole lot, I don't buy it. As a recovering alcoholic I accept that there are certain foods that I have no stop button with, so I just avoid, unless I know I don't care (this does not apply with alcohol!). I'm 5 foot 8, 8 stone 10, 51.

My mother is 90, 5 foot 7 and has been 9 stone all her life apart from four pregnancies. She has never dieted. Nobody in our family is overweight.

@Lobsterquadrille2

What’s your daily diet look like?

yawnsvillex · 16/10/2020 10:09

Not eating too much