Why aren’t you obese?

[Spottyphonecase24]

A bit of a weird one but I have just got off a zoom call with my therapist. We were talking about my weight (I am obese).

Why isn’t everyone else obese? What stops you? I don’t seem to have an off button. I remember going from a 10 to a 12 and thinking that’s it I’m not going to get any bigger but I did and now I am in a size 24 and they are getting a bit tight. I’ve read lots about how people have their light bulb moment to lose weight and that has not happened to me, or maybe it has and I’ve ignored it.

What stops you eating a tub of icecream or picking up a large bar of chocolate instead of a small one or one bag of crisps instead of a family size bag?

I honestly don’t know the reasons why people don’t eat more. Is it will power, feeling full?

[Ddot]

I find home made soup is good when wanting to loose weight. Lots of veg, potatoes carrots caramelized onion one stock cube bit of spice if needed and those stick blenders are fab so easy to clean. Processed food doesn't agree with me but I dont go crazy. Stock cubes, gravy granules ready made pastry and breakfast cereal (in moderation) are fine, lets not obsess. Gluten free porridge oats taste the same so thats good. I eat full fat milk because it keeps you full and its good for me. I kept my weight reasonably level for many years but It's different for me now because I cant eat alot due to operation. I eat healthily most days but occasionally I will have something that doesn't agree with me and I have a never again moment.

[Ddot]

I try to keep my gluten low but eat bits now and again mainly due to my niece warning me not to avoid completely as I'm only sensitive to it now and don't want to risk getting allergic.
Niece is a health professional.

[Hill1991]

@KinkyKardashianKult

I'm obese with BMI of 33- would love a meal plan I could easily follow- when you lovely thin people say "don't eat processed food" do you mean things like cereal, bread, jar pasta and curry sauces, gravy granules etc etc or do you mean ready meals?
Also would someone share typical meal plans, the higher protein with load of veg, something that is simple but varied,
I would love to have someone design a fool proof plan- have bought many from the internet- but the ones I have are more American based (I in uk) and will require fridge to be stuffed and scared will be significant food waste.

Have you looked at pinch on nom website site and their books They have loads of recipes that are fakeaways, Also have you tried hello fresh or gusto as they show calories per portion.

[BBCdramaaddict]

I tend not to buy too much junk food then when I want to eat it, it’s not there. I’m also pretty active. My diet is terrible though but more with lack of planning and quality rather than quantity. But I can binge on occasion. I eat less if I keep myself busy.

[Starryskiesinthesky]

I am another person who would love to eat more chocolate, chips, pastry, but also more of healthier foods but I don’t want to be overweight so don’t do it.

But there are lots of other things I’m not so disciplined about so there is something about this being really important to me. I also saw my mum spend her life on a diet so that maybe helps me always keep it under control as I have in mind that the only way is up.

[OatALot]

@BobISMyUncle

Please may I ask a question?
Why are women so obsessed about their weight?
Could you please, please, look at the men? Do they worry about how they look? Initially, probably.
Why, please, tell me, why a "six pack" turns into a barrel?
Sorry. Rant over. Mostly.
This stuff makes me SO cross!! We are so much better than this.

Because we have a primary aged child and it is important to model good habits. We don't want to set a cycle into motion that replicates through her. And we want to be fit and healthy so we can be active participates in her life, and hopefully be around when she grows up.

[OatALot]

'we' is DH and me.

[Taswama]

Bit late to this but obesity is also linked to poor sleep (source - Why We Sleep).
If you can improve your sleep (i.e. get more of it regularly) that should help you make healthier choices.

[wantanotherdog]

@Ddot

I try to keep my gluten low but eat bits now and again mainly due to my niece warning me not to avoid completely as I'm only sensitive to it now and don't want to risk getting allergic.
Niece is a health professional.

You won't get coeliac disease if you eat more gluten, Ddot. Coeliac disease isn't an allergy. It's an autoimmune condition which can be genetic (not always, as far as I know). It's definitely genetic for my family!

[HappySonHappyMum]

My doctor asked me if I'd like to talk to the Health and Wellbeing coach about 8 weeks ago and she's really made me think about myself and the things that have happened throughout my life. I won't lie the first session was tough and I cried alot as everything that I had bottled up came out and I realised that I'd been using food as an emotional support for a very long time. It's made me put myself on a Keto diet and I've lost over a stone so far - and I have 8 stone to lose. I haven't cheated at all in that time, no takeaways, bread, pasta or potatoes just fresh non processed food and a couple of squares of 85% cocoa chocolate as a treat. I don't like being fat anymore and I hope I can continue to eat the way I am now.

[Ddot]

Wantanotherdog
Think it was more along the lines as my symptoms would get worse. At the moment I get bloated and sickly with bowel problems. If I eat a lot of wheat I cant leave the house. Anaphylaxis and coeliac are at one end of the spectrum, I'm at the other. Can manage spelt in moderation.

[Ddot]

Think my niece didn't want me embarrassing myself on the high street, didn't like to tell her, been there done that

[RedMarauder]

@HappySonHappyMum you do realise you are going to have to keep to that diet for the rest of your life unless you want the weight to come back on? So once you get a few more stone off work out a way so that you can have a restaurant meal once every few weeks into your diet.

[HappySonHappyMum]

@RedMarauder I do realise this - but I can go to most restaurants and ask for extra vegetables/salad instead of chips. At the moment I am feeling good because I haven't eaten these foods - I know that if I have a little I'm going to want a lot so making them a no go is working for me. It's going to be tough because carbs were the thing I always craved but taking them away has seen my appetite and continual hunger decrease massively.

[wantanotherdog]

@Ddot
I don't want to step in where angels fear to tread but you do know that there is a simple blood test done at the surgery for coeliac disease? I probably had it for ages before I was diagnosed with a couple of (ahem) incidents....

[ThePoisonousMushroom]

[quote RedMarauder]@HappySonHappyMum you do realise you are going to have to keep to that diet for the rest of your life unless you want the weight to come back on? So once you get a few more stone off work out a way so that you can have a restaurant meal once every few weeks into your diet.[/quote]
You can eat fresh, non processed food at restaurants too!

[HereWeGoAgains]

We’re away on holiday and I’ve been eating rubbish all week, crisps, cheese, bread, ice creams. Food on the go with the kids. I am craving vegetables and salad, I’ll eat normally when we get back, but I get to the point where I just can’t eat like this anymore. I can’t maintain it. I couldn’t eat this badly full time, as my normal.

[Ddot]

Wantanotherdog
U could be right my sister was tested but she was borderline. I've had problems for years with wheat but I had an operation which removed my stomach and that made things alot worse.

[Ddot]

Wantanotherdog
Thankyou!

[SunshineCake1]

@daisypond

I am very slim and eat lots of chocolate and biscuits. I would have some every day. I like chips, curries, pizza but all will be homemade. I don’t eat takeaways or drink alcohol or have ready meals. I’m vegetarian. I would never eat bacon, eggs and sausage. I’m not very active. For two weeks I’ve struggled from the bed to the sofa and back - (been ill). A typical day would be porridge with raisins, banana and milk, or two slices of toast with peanut butter. Lunch was baked potato with ratatouille filling and cheese, chocolate cake, two apples. Snack was cheese sandwich. I also had a Complan drink to give some extra calories and nutrition. Dinner will be butternut squash risotto. A few cups of tea, two glasses of orange juice. There’s a 200g bar of chocolate here just looking at me, which I’ll eat later.

I really don't get what this post is doing on this type of thread

[Pawprintpaper]

Active job (on my feet most of the day)
Walking dog and school run
A form of intermittent fasting - no breakfast, light lunch (avoiding bread where practical), half of plate being veg/salad with normal family meal at teatime, big cup of tea instead of evening munchies.

This Works for me, if I go back to eating whatever I like, I’m always surprised that weight goes back on, so I am always kind of regulating within about half a stone. Although this has crept up by a few pounds each time I had a baby, so I have gone up a dress size over the last 10 years. Also belly fat/muffin top goes quickly but my thighs never seem to get any smaller.

[AliceAbsolum]

I'm not obese partly because I'm scared of it, partly because I don't use food to regulate my emotions, and partly because of the big complex issues of culture and genetics I guess. Not v helpful

[rive]

I said post-menopausal.

[OhIfIMust]

I was very obese. 5 stone and almost three years later I’m now in the ‘overweight’ range with a BMI of 28 but that seems to be about natural for me. I lost it by making sure I plan the food I’ll eat every day within a calorie deficit and exercising (combination of HIIT, weights, swimming, walking) at least 3 hours a week. The weight came off about two pounds a week. I’ve had a stable weight for about a year now. On the days I exercise more, I can eat more, so if I fancy a treat like a restaurant meal or takeaway I have it then. I only have low cal treats in the house to stop the temptation of late night snacking. If I go on holiday and relax about the calorie deficit for a day or two, I just get back on with it again and any pound or two that I’ve put on comes off again. I’ve tried every diet going over the past 20 or 30 years and I’d say the “off” switch isn’t what you need to develop - it’s more mentally making a decision you don’t want to be obese and committing to eating within a calorie deficit if you want to lose weight. Follow the science not faddy diets which suggest you cut out food (which you’re then more likely to obsess over).
Good luck - it’s hard but you can get there.

[whatisthisinhere]

I'm at the top end of my bmi. I'm trying half heartedly to lose half a stone. But I kind of like how I look at the moment, which I'm surprised by. My face looks softer, my boobs are rounder. And my stomach doesn't look worse. But for the sake of my health, I really should. I've been so happy eating though. But as has been said before on this thread, I want to reign it in before I have to buy a new wardrobe