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

[pepsicolagirl]

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?

Sugar on special occasions only.

Lots of fat, protein and veg for satiety.

Moderate exercise.

Sounds dull, but fortunately a big juicy steak cooked in butter with mushrooms, eggs and a green salad washed down with wine just works for me more these days than 5 Mars bars

Genes.
I do not eat healthy.

I don't eat massive portions though, so that probably helps.

-Good upbringing - my parents made sure we ate lots of fruit and veg and healthy meals, and snacks were a treat rather than everyday
-Liking fruit and veg
-Exercise

I don’t have good ‘portion control’ and eat large meals and finish whole bars of chocolate. But I exercise a lot.

Exercise every day, small portions and no alcohol.

I don’t eat much. One main meal a day, sometimes it’s a hugely calorific one, sometimes it’s a smaller low calorie one. I probably eat too much chocolate and drink too much coffee. I don’t feel like I deprive myself ever, except every so often I stop eating bread for a couple of weeks because too much makes me bloated.

Being of an age where my metabolism is still running at full chat helps. Not owning a car, keeping my cupboards devoid of snacks (can't take the lazy way to work or pig out if the option isn't there in the first place). I seldom touch takeaways or ready meals, always preparing meals from scratch.

Try setting yourself a challenge. Look up what the wartime rations were (they varied so go to the more generous end of the scale, some points of the war were too meagre) and see if you can do your weekly shop by sticking to those limits.

Eating healthy food in reasonable portions.

Yes of course luck is part of it. But I also see people saying things like 'I'm being good this week and only eating takeaway at the weekend/ not drinking more than two glasses/ only having a few biscuits' and I think no shit that they're fat.

Plus I walk and cycle everywhere.

'I'm being good this week and only eating takeaway at the weekend/ not drinking more than two glasses/ only having a few biscuits' and I think no shit that they're fat.

Those things in the context of a generally healthy diet won’t make you fat.

Very little alcohol
Not buying crap (no willpower once it's in the house)
Small portions

It's an effort, tbh.

I don’t drive, so I have always walked everywhere. Love of exercise. Pretty disinterested in food - it’s just fuel, not a pleasure, so I just eat what I need. Also, I quit drinking around the time my perimenopause was starting (coincidentally) - I think that daily calorie reduction at a time when lots of women start to struggle with weight gain really helped (although it wasn’t what I was thinking about at the time).

Weighing myself regularly so I know when I'm starting to gain weight.
Eating high(ish) protein so I don't feel hungry between meals. Only eating when hungry and having healthy and filling snacks.
Not allowing myself to be dehydrated.
Not having any forbidden/bad foods, if I want it I will have a bit, just not to excess.
Exercise and plenty of it.

Lol, the number of people who attribute their slimness to their Virtuous behaviour and then go on to say they eat chocolate and cake daily, big portions, eat what they want on the weekends.... hilarious.

Lots of movements and two young children who don't allow me much time to sit down!

Being aware of how many calories I’m burning and eating less than that. The Fitbit really helps.
Strength training and aiming for 10k steps per day, but usually do about 7-8k

Genes

Luck

I find eating boring and annoying.

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

If I'm stressed or unhappy, I can't bear to eat.

I exercise every day, to the tune of at least 400 calories burned.

I'm really active, walk everywhere, struggle to sit down for long. It all adds up.

Genes/element of luck/small frame

Cutting down/becoming more active if I notice I'm putting on a few extra pounds

I don't deprive myself of anything, but not a fan of McDonald's etc anyway

I rarely drink alcohol these days

Eat lots of fruit and veg

I don't comfort eat like I used to

I walk a lot

I’m not hugely fussed about food and see it as fuel or something to stop me being hungry. I rarely think about food or what I’ll be having for the next meal.

Smallish portion sizes, it’s only the first few mouthfuls I really enjoy. Don’t eat if I’m not hungry just because it’s a mealtime so I could have breakfast at anytime from getting up till 11.30.

Don’t like pasta, bread or much dairy. Do have to keep an eye on sweet stuff. Never drink booze at home unless entertaining.

Strength training.

Once I’ve put on a few pounds I feel sluggish, lethargic and bloated and I hate feeling that way so I eat less carbs and sugar and up the daily steps until I feel better.

I don’t have a massively sweet tooth.
I like fruit and vegetables.
I have a dog that needs walked daily.
I’m on my feet for work (care home).
I enjoy feeling healthy and energised.
I don’t deny myself the things I want.
I don’t diet!

I think the main thing is that I know my limits,
I know when I’m eating past the point of being full and try to stay aware of it. Yeah there’s days I just pig out but then I eat much less the next day and it balances itself out, I don’t feel guilty for it.

A well functioning thyroid. I used to be a size 10 and once my thyroid crashed I gained 45 pounds in months despite very low calorie diet and tons of exercise. If your metabolism is blown no amount of small portions will Change a thing

I have a fantastic metabolism. Eat very badly but and my DDad was slim all his life and died of type 2 diabetes so planning on kicking the habit before I hit 30.

I’m not as slim as I used to be (had a baby) but I think the main reason is that I’m active and try to incorporate as much exercise as I can into my life. I don’t drive anywhere if I could walk there. I’ll do a big shop at the supermarket and take a backpack and two large bags to carry things home in, for example.

I am greedy though and need to start restricting my food intake to get back to my pre-pregnancy weight.

Oh and I rarely drink alcohol. Hate the way it makes me feel the day after so I guess that saves a lot of calories.