Is it possible to be a foodie and also be slim/ lose weight

[SeeooelllaaaCola]

Following from my post on another thread. I have only managed to lose weight for the first time by 'breaking up' with food. In the past I could take or leave chocolate and most cake, I ate probably ten bags of crisps per year, I never enjoyed fast food. My typical Sunday would be sourdough bread toasted, eggs and hot sauce, lunch would be an avocado wrap, snacks would be olives, dinner would be a roast dinner.
I now try to see food as fuel and choose foods that will fill me up but not use up much of my tiny calorie allowance. Taste rarely comes into it. I don't go until local businesses and browse the shelves for inspiration. I don't read recipe books. I don't (even when I could) travel to food markets and street food stalls. I feel like I've had to give up a side of myself, and a hobby, but I now fit into size 12 jeans. Sometimes I wonder if it's worth it.

Anyone managed to combine a love of food with losing weight or maintaining a healthy weight? Please tell me how!

Sorry yes I understand that after reading your post, we cross posted.
Did you go straight to a 23/1 type fast or build up?
I use zero app to log my fasts, I find it really helpful to see the time going down when im really hungry some days.
Well done on your loss anyway.

@Blubellsarebells I built up. I started at 5:2 but found it easier than I imagined. It really is true that after 9am I really don't get any hungrier. I found sticking to less calories on the 5 days much haeeer!

Im building up from 16 and working in some 18s now.
Just started consistently at new year but I've used fasting before.
Last year has just messed everything up and I needed a reset, I refuse to buy bigger clothes so had to do something.
I find the same thing that if I wait I can get through the hunger and it goes away.
Before I was fasting sometimes I'd be hungrier if I ate breakfast, almost like the eating wakes your stomach up.
I also find by waiting and actually being hungry my body tells me what it needs and i make healthier choices.
I wish I could weigh myself but its triggering to me so im just having to go by what I look like and how my clothes feel.

That's what exercise is for!!

Im 5ft8 and 9stone 10. Just lost 2 stone. Only thing I've changed is exercise.
I do at least 8 30min classes a week and then walk 5 miles fri, sat, sun.
Breakfast is porridge and fruit
Lunch - under 600cal gym prep meal and either a low fat yogurt or a 100 cal bar.
Dinner - whatever family having. Usually potatoes, meat veg or rice.
But also have burgers, chips etc. And have a 200cal treat every night.

Has worked for me after never being able to loose weight before

Yes SlimmingWorld. Lost 5 stone in 8 months and maintained. I make some lovely recipes from their books and pinch of nom. Never hungry. It encourages cooking from scratch - most real food is free so you can eat a sensible portion. Stuff like chocolate and cake is very limited. I’d hate to calorie count. Had creamy Cajun pasta with salad recipe in latest pinch of nom book tonight very tasty.

penguins and icicles
"Hi OP! I had to give up "a part of myself" temporarily, whilst I dieted heavily to lose some weight gained after my wedding. Once that was done, I shifted to a more "everything in moderation" view and started exercising regularly (4 / 5 times a week). It's high intensity exercise (spinning, running) to help keep me in shape and 3 years on l, I am managing to maintain a healthy size 12 and love for all food! And I slowly learned to appreciate and love exercise and understand that diet alone would never keep my body in shape! Hope this helps somewhat smile x"

It may or may not help OP but I know that is exactly what I need to do - worked before but things are out of hand now thanks to lockdown - so you've galvanised me to keep trying! Thank you.

@Blubellsarebells I never weigh, as I don't own scales. I just go by how I feel. I can feel my belly is smaller and my back is less flabby.
The only thing is that I look worse naked now so hoping to incorporate some exercise into my routine. Before it felt too much on my fasting days to Exercise on top but now I feel pretty amazing after 19 hour fasts so will try to do some HIIT or Zumba. My aim is to do the same Mr Motivator vhs that I LOVE 31 days in a row and take photos of the results. I'll message him on Insta and let him know as I'm a mega fan

@PenguinsandIcicles that's really inspiring thanks! Well done too!

@Mowly75 Aww, I'm glad to hear!! You got this 💪🏻 The first couple of weeks are the worst of all, I've done it many times before so I know the feeling so well!! And I know what you mean about lockdown...Just to add, I used to swim quite a bit too but I haven't been for nearly a year ( and spinning too!!) so I actually just focus on running mostly now and doing free weights at home (just as a tip). I'm sure there are other types of people out there who don't need to put much effort into the whole "balancing" of food and exercise but for me one or the other alone just doesn't work! Never has. Mist be a combo. And exercise doesn't come naturally to me either, it's a real effort and some days I do have to drag myself out of the house but I know I need it so I can enjoy my choc, snacks, wine and steak nights (all in moderation haha!!). I do class myself a foodie. Bloody love it!! ☺️ xx

I run so I can eat what I want. Funnily enough I don't feel like eating as much unhealthy food on days when I run so it works well for me.

I can't understand those posters saying they can't eat more than one meal to maintain a size 12.

It what you eat and calorie input vs output

I have recently lost a stone ( 5ft 2) by going higher protein. It actually amazed me how much I could eat with calorie tolerance

Porridge for breakfast- normal milk
Roll or chicken salad for lunch - huge portion
Protein based dinner, so gammon steaks for chicken breast with sweet potato and veg or a curry
Pasta is a killer, you get so little for the calories! But still manageable if you love it

I've been happily having 3 meals a day with 2 snacks and still losing.

Completely agree @meowwoofwoof, I’ve lost 2 stone whilst eating 3 tasty meals every day, plus snacks, and decent portions too cos I have a huge appetite

@EssexLioness you must be causing a calorie deficit either by eating less or exercising more or you wouldn't be losing weight.

I can't understand those posters saying they can't eat more than one meal to maintain a size 12.

Portion size.

@Changi

I can't understand those posters saying they can't eat more than one meal to maintain a size 12.

Portion size.

Exactly.

People need to get back in touch with what a normal size portion is and also their body and relearn identifying hunger and full signals.

If you don’t get the signals it’s because you’ve become used to continually overriding them.

It's not really the fault of 'people' though, it's the fault of the diet food industry making mega bucks by keeping consumers confused and thinking that they can't lose weight without certain products. Keto snacks, skinny chocolate, apps, celebrity cook books. I don't blame people for looking for a magic solution.

@SeeooelllaaaCola

It's not really the fault of 'people' though, it's the fault of the diet food industry making mega bucks by keeping consumers confused and thinking that they can't lose weight without certain products. Keto snacks, skinny chocolate, apps, celebrity cook books. I don't blame people for looking for a magic solution.

Funnily, I kept being fat until I stopped saying things like this and started saying "it's me who puts it in my mouth, the ultimate responsibility is on me to check if it's good for me or not". My year of "I must be addicted" didn't help either🤦

@SchrodingersImmigrant I don't think it's making excuses to say that I can understand why people are confused. I work in the medical field with a lot of doctors who struggle with their weight. If someone with 7 years of post bsc education finds losing weight hard then why do we expect everyone to be able to logically make good choices all the time?
I consider myself reasonably intelligent which is why I get angry that I'm not able to lose weight. I'm not that woman off secret eaters who didn't know there were calories in alcohol or the couple who did a moderate walk and then ate 4000 calories afterwards as a reward. I know what I should do, I just can't always do it. I wonder why this is the case for so many. Is it just willpower?

I didn't say it's "excuse" though. It's more about the power. By saying "it's the fault of the industry" youa re taking piwer away from yourself and giving it to them. For me personally that's basically resignation. However, taking back control (lol) and having the mental power, so deciding what I want to do and eat, not listening to ads and slimming product placements, let alone celebrities, was what worked. It's not "willpower".

Ffs. I just don't know what's wrong with my keyboard last few months🙄

But there a million and one situations where someone would have significant hurdles in the way should they try to lose weight. Not everyone can take back power in control in the same way.
I'm on a very low income. If I go to my corner shop at night I can feed my family for days on very little, but what I will feed them will be fattening and poor quality. White bread is nearly always 10p whilst whole meal is rarely reduced so I would have to spend an extra £1.60 (!) to make that healthy choice. If I couldn't drive and had to make healthy choices based on what was available in my local MCCOLLS or the extortionate co-op down the road I would be massive! They don't even sell porridge oats or affordable fresh fruit.

I’ve lost about a stone and a half in the last six months.

I stopped drinking alcohol, set my daily calorie limit to 1800 and upped the exercise.

The only thing I’ve stopped eating is pasta, and that’s because I’m coeliac and the gf stuff is just not worth the calories.

I love food, love cooking and baking, love chocolate and eat everything. Just not too much of it.

@SeeooelllaaaCola

But there a million and one situations where someone would have significant hurdles in the way should they try to lose weight. Not everyone can take back power in control in the same way. I'm on a very low income. If I go to my corner shop at night I can feed my family for days on very little, but what I will feed them will be fattening and poor quality. White bread is nearly always 10p whilst whole meal is rarely reduced so I would have to spend an extra £1.60 (!) to make that healthy choice. If I couldn't drive and had to make healthy choices based on what was available in my local MCCOLLS or the extortionate co-op down the road I would be massive! They don't even sell porridge oats or affordable fresh fruit.

Healthy doesn't necessarily mean good for weight. I got fat on healthy food. Pretty sure lots of people did because the biggest issue are big portions.

We are each different with different mind sets and exepriences and we could discuss all the "buts" in here for ever with no agreement, I guess

@SeeooelllaaaCola, yes of course there is a calorie deficit. I posted earlier exactly how I did it, but basically my portion control is better and I’ve realised that it is all a balancing act. Eg if I went mad food wise at breakfast then a more modest dinner is required. I prefer to indulge more with hearty, indulgent dinners so try to keep breakfasts and lunches lower in calories to balance it out. I’ve also accepted that it’s normal to feel some hunger (though not ravenous) in between meals and that this is a good thing cos I enjoy my meal more that way