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?

Good habits instilled during my childhood, I would guess.

Was always encouraged to be active and do sports, was never given big portions of anything (sometimes when I went to friends' houses after school I was amazed at the amount they ate for dinner!), was given junk food only as an occasional treat.

1. I like vegetables so it is easier to eat healthily and ensure these make up a large proportion of my diet (I do also like cake)
2. Lots of activity. I used to cycle over an hour a day to work and back plus I do variousness other formal exercise 2/3 times a week. Also I make a point of getting exercise when playing with my children, so really putting the effort in when playing tig/football etc

I do think it’s made easier because I live in a country where it’s safe, easy and normal to cycle. Since I started wfh thanks to covid I started to put on weight. People here generally are slimmer and i think a large part of it is because cycling is encouraged and normalized over car use.

Controlling everything I eat every day (apart from one or two pig days per week) and knowing how calorific foods are. Not snacking. Exercise every day.

I am very slim, but put on weight really easily so I have to be very careful.

Haven’t read the whole thread but I hate the feeling of being overly full. I suppose it’s like the way some people don’t like the feeling when they drink alcohol (although I love drinking alcohol). So because I hate that feeling I almost never over eat. Also exercise 4 times a week and probably naturally slim.

Also, to be honest, anxiety helps.

I generally only eat one meal a day, not for weight purposes but eating often plays havoc with my IBS.
I eat whatever I want, but I don't have a sweet tooth, nor do I like softs drinks other than water, but I do drink lager.
That's it really.

Genetics - my mum, sisters, and I are all short and slim - generally size 6-8. Dad's side of the family are similar.

Naturally small appetite (possibly also genetic?). I’ve noticed that I generally eat smaller portions than most other people. I struggle to finish a main course in a restaurant, for example. If I had a large meal for lunch, I’d have something light like cheese on toast for dinner. This is completely natural to me - I wouldn’t feel as though I was depriving myself, as I would still feel full from the big meal at lunchtime. If I have a snack, I’ll have one biscuit, or a small bar of chocolate. Any more would make me feel too full.

Exercise. We don’t have a car so do a lot of walking. I don’t do any other exercise, and noticed that I put a bit of weight on during lockdown as I just wasn’t walking as much.

A good ‘attitude’ to food. As I’ve said, my mum had the same build and I never heard her talking about going on a diet, hating her tummy or thighs or something. I don’t have guilt about food that other people have. I know that I’m lucky to not have to worry about my weight like other people do.

I am slim but I honestly have no idea how. I eat total crap and snack a lot. I guess I just have lucky slim genes and my mum and dad are tiny too.

Genetics.

1mg of melatonin every night. I put on 9lbs or so during lockdown, started taking melatonin and just didn’t feel hungry anymore. Now down to 8st again and everything fits me again which is nice.

I'm not naturally slim. I've 'fought' my weight all my life. And I'd rather chew glass than exercise.

I keep to a normal weight by weighing myself every day and not allowing a gain of more than 3 lbs. It's a lot easier to lose 3 lbs than it is to lose 5! I know many plans discourage weighing every day, but it works for me. If I show a gain it's back on reduced portions and/or low calorie foods. And that includes during the holidays and when on a holiday. No "Oh, it's Xmas" or "Oh, I'm on holiday".

I watch portion size and calorie intake. I also 'balance' my intake and if I make a conscious decision to have a bit more of XX food I'll cut down on YY food, or I make plans to reduce intake the next day. I don't deny myself treats and I occasionally overeat. But I have a plan that deals with it and I keep to the plan.

I know this sounds like a lot of 'weighing and measuring' but it's not really. By this point in my life I automatically know what the 'right portion' is for me and I easily mentally keep track of what I've already eaten in a day.

To paraphrase Kate Moss "Nothing tastes as good as a healthy weight feels". I also believe that "the second helping doesn't taste any different (or better) than the first helping".

Not eating very much.

I used to exercise a lot but nothing like enough any more.

It's definitely lack of calorie eating rather than calorie burning for me.

Nervous energy, walking everywhere, no sugary snacks or drinks due to not having a sweet tooth, genetics. Size 8-10 sometimes 6 all my life. As a teenager I struggled to keep weight on, but also struggle to build muscle mass.

• not having as many snacks as I would like
• exercise 2x/week
• no fizzy drinks
• (almost) never eating after 6
• intermittent fasting (12-6)
• genetics

In my case I definitely have a genetic helping hand - everyone on both sides of my family is slim.

But also I have an inbuilt ‘off switch’. When I’ve had enough of something I stop and just don’t want any more. I could never ever eat a whole tub of Ben & Jerry’s in one sitting, or polish off a bottle of wine in one go, for example. I don’t say that that to sound stealth braggy or virtuously self-disciplined, it’s just that if I did, I’d probably throw up.

Portion control.

My weight crept up towards the top end of ‘normal’ BMI when I ate what I wanted and I looked like Buddha.
I now calorie count and control portions and I’m slimmer than I’ve ever been. I wish I had really understood about proper calorie counting when I was younger, I wouldn’t now be left with saggy excess skin if I hadn’t got so big!

oh, and I do no exercise ever I have brittle asthma and it just makes me wheeze, also I don't like it.
Im 5'0 and around 7 stone.

Portion control- by that I don’t mean small portions but not large either.
I love salad , veg and fish and lean meats
I don’t like cream, butter or pastry.

Genetics, a healthy relationship with food and plenty of exercise

Basically what you'd expect

Lucky genes,

Plus I prefer fish and veg to fast food, I usually cook from scratch (fish is nature's fast food), I don't drink much alcohol and I run a lot.

Genetics, being naturally an active person, liking healthy food as well as junky food

Lots of exercise. Being careful about what I eat. Reducing calorie intake if my clothes start to feel a bit tight.

I walk everywhere. I walk five - six miles most days.
Quite strict with my diet, but sometimes overindulge for a few days. If I overindulge I don’t beat myself up about it, I just get back on track.
Most of my plate is filled with vegetables and I may have chicken or Salmon
I love cake, so have some at least twice a week.
I am not naturally slim, I work very hard to maintain my body.

For me, it’s snacking. If I edge up five pounds, I stop snacking and my weight goes back down pretty quickly. I don’t disallow ANY snacks, but don’t allow myself to eat mindlessly .