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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think the secret to weight loss/healthy relationship with food is three meals a day?

123 replies

secretspooner · 02/04/2022 22:29

I am obese, I have PCOS and type 2 diabetes at 29 years of age. My eating is horrendous, very carb heavy which I know is not good for PCOS and diabetes type 2. However, I can go most of the day not eating and then having a very carb heavy dinner at night, I wouldn't say I eat loads but what I do eat is a load of shite. Very little veg/fruit/protein. The thing is I like all these things when I do have them however, my cravings for carbs take over and so I don't ever fancy veg/fruit/protein. Everything I eat is processed, stick in the oven, I don't know how to cook from scratch and don't know where to begin. I am also on a tight budget.

I have been watching a few people at work and speaking to some naturally slim friends and have noticed that they all eat breakfast, lunch and dinner. Some snack, some don't but always 3 square meals. I always skip breakfast as I'm not hungry and find it counter productive to force myself but am I missing a trick? Should I force myself to eat? If so can anyone recommend any healthy, tasty, easy, quick breakfast ideas? Any advice on how to cook dinner from scratch cheaply?

OP posts:
RogueBorg · 02/04/2022 22:34

I lost 6 stone in one year, 3 meals a day no snacks. Definitely worked for me.

Original poster
secretspooner · 02/04/2022 22:35

@RogueBorg

I lost 6 stone in one year, 3 meals a day no snacks. Definitely worked for me.
6 stone is exactly what I need to lose. Well done!!
OP posts:
MsTSwift · 02/04/2022 22:35

Two meals a day not 3. If you over 40 anyway.

SaxendaSummer · 02/04/2022 22:36

i'd agree

i'm on saxenda weight loss drug and am finding i definitely no longer wanter need, to snack!

3 meals a day is sufficient

i'd recommend 3 meals not one big one. you can find cooking tutorials on youtube which take you step by step

StatisticallyChallenged · 02/04/2022 22:38

Tbh the opposite is true for me - 4.5 stone off with intermittent fasting that had refused to shift other ways. But different strokes for different folks

Claireshh · 02/04/2022 22:39

PCOS and type 2 diabetic

  1. Metformin (i’m on four tablets per day)
  2. Limit carb
Breakfast - 5% fage total yogurt with berries or scrambled egg (no toast) Lunch - soup or salad Dinner - spag bolg, stir fry, curry, traybake. Protein, carb and veg
  1. Switched to unsweetened almond milk in coffee
  2. If I need a snack it’s an apple or almonds
  3. Swapped wine for gin and light tonic

My last blood test showed my levels dropoed from 76 to 51. I’m a stone and a half lighter too.

I don’t stick to it 100% but most of the time I do.

Getmoveon14 · 02/04/2022 22:41

Yes, I think 3 meals a day is best. I'm slimmer eating 3 meals a day than when I used to skip meals.

undermilkjug · 02/04/2022 22:41

Intermittent fasting (so no breakfast) works best for me, but whatever you can stick to while eating healthily is best.

Youdoyoutoday · 02/04/2022 22:42

You know what you need to do.....

For support, come join us www.mumsnet.com/Talk/weight_loss_chat/4518526-LOSE-IT-April-2022?msgid=116333074

Original poster
secretspooner · 02/04/2022 22:44

@Claireshh

PCOS and type 2 diabetic
  1. Metformin (i’m on four tablets per day)
  2. Limit carb
Breakfast - 5% fage total yogurt with berries or scrambled egg (no toast) Lunch - soup or salad Dinner - spag bolg, stir fry, curry, traybake. Protein, carb and veg
  1. Switched to unsweetened almond milk in coffee
  2. If I need a snack it’s an apple or almonds
  3. Swapped wine for gin and light tonic

My last blood test showed my levels dropoed from 76 to 51. I’m a stone and a half lighter too.

I don’t stick to it 100% but most of the time I do.

Thanks for this. I am also on 2000mg metformin but hardly take it Blush meant to be starting ozempic in the next month or two also. So really, minimal carbs bfast and lunch and healthy carb such as sweet potato, brown rice etc with dinner?
OP posts:
Namechange12312 · 02/04/2022 22:45

Personally - yes it works for me too. If I only eat one meal then I’m far more likely to binge eat as I am so hungry by then that I want something fast/tasty and am less likely to make a healthy choice. Also pre planning/prepping food ahead so that it’s just as quick and easy to cook something healthy.

FairyLightPups · 02/04/2022 22:46

Yeah I have PCOS too and the only days my eating is stable are the days I start with a nutritional, low/no carb breakfast. Start as you mean to go on and all that!

PurpleDaisies · 02/04/2022 22:47

Three meals and two snacks works for me.

There’s not just one way to lose weight.

ImplementingTheDennisSystem · 02/04/2022 22:47

I've only ever been a size 10 and often skip breakfast. If I don't feel hungry enough for a breakfast, I won't bother having one.
I would say the secret (for me) is as little snacking as I can handle, ideally none. I think 'fasting' between meals and getting hungry is good for digestion and calorie burning.

FairyLightPups · 02/04/2022 22:49

@Claireshh

PCOS and type 2 diabetic
  1. Metformin (i’m on four tablets per day)
  2. Limit carb
Breakfast - 5% fage total yogurt with berries or scrambled egg (no toast) Lunch - soup or salad Dinner - spag bolg, stir fry, curry, traybake. Protein, carb and veg
  1. Switched to unsweetened almond milk in coffee
  2. If I need a snack it’s an apple or almonds
  3. Swapped wine for gin and light tonic

My last blood test showed my levels dropoed from 76 to 51. I’m a stone and a half lighter too.

I don’t stick to it 100% but most of the time I do.

My diet (when I stick to it!) is close to this, although my evening meal is generally chicken or fish with veg including sweet potato for carbs.

I lost two stone in one month (I have a lot overall to lose hence the quickness) and my sleeping/digestive system is better. I also take inositol instead of metmorfin and various supplements.

ChunkyMonkey2020 · 02/04/2022 22:50

PCOS here too.

I've lost 8.5 stone since last year just eating 3 meals a day and moving more.

I have calorie counted the meals to make sure I'm accountable and in a deficit.

And if I'm going out for lunch/dinner. I'll have smaller meals.

It's worked for me

Artichokeleaves · 02/04/2022 22:51

Some fabulous person here suggested the Human Being Diet as a means of reducing inflammation. The 14 day elimination bit was how I realised two food intolerances I hadn't noticed, one of which I think was really messing with weight loss, but it got me back to three meals a day from trying to fast until lunchtime. I lost weight as a side effect which really surprised me. I'd hardly been able to lose anything fasting, which works for so many people.

A580Hojas · 02/04/2022 22:51

I'm 2.5 stone overweight and obese. I eat 2 meals a day, no snacks. There's no easy answer.

LunaAndHerMoonDragons · 02/04/2022 22:52

There's no secret to weight loss, just different things that work for different people. For me when I skip meals I tend to eat more carby high fat foods. I've read skipping meals and not eating till you're staving signals to the brain foods scarce and so your body craves higher calorie food to make up for that. Mine certainly reacts by craving high calorie foods, but some people find intermittent fasting helps them lose weight, others never eating breakfast and having on 2 meals a day works for them.

AnneLovesGilbert · 02/04/2022 22:55

I can’t do breakfast. I do intermittent fasting eating 12:30 - 7, lunch, mid afternoon snack if I want it, supper.

But different things work for different people. Good luck.

CooooCoooo · 02/04/2022 22:56

I lost 3 stone in three months on a keto diet. All I ate was protein, veg and fruit with absolutely no exceptions/treats. Ever. First two weeks were tough but then it just turns into a routine.

Oh and I had 5 meals per day:

Breakfast - 2 egg whites with green veg
Mid morning - protein bar and fruit
Lunch - chicken or fish with salad
Mid afternoon - more protein (shake or bar or leftover chicken) with fruit
Dinner - meat or fish with veg.

The meals sound boring, I know, but I made some really nice meals using keto recipes I found on Pinterest.

FurbleSocks · 02/04/2022 22:58

I've lost over a stone on Noom by eating 3 meals and 2 or 3 snacks a day. I was intermittent fasting then over eating calorie wise in the eating window. Calorie counting has really opened my eyes and kept me pretty full most days. Occasionally I have a super low intake day c1000 because I'm at site meetings and choose not to eat a cake and there's nothing for miles. But I'm honestly a convert because I have a much more balanced view of what's good for me, what a healthy portion size is and why when I'm stressed I eat.

OwlinaTree · 02/04/2022 23:06

I agree with you op. I did slimming world and lost just over 3 stone. I'm bmi 21. I've maintained for 4 years sticking to 3 meals, fruit snacks.
B fruit and yoghurt or scrambled egg.
L soup or ham and veg omelette
D normal family dinner, spag bol, curry, stir fry, roast, fish and potatoes and veg, chilli etc etc.
Snack on fruit when hungry. Always have a little bit of chocolate for pudding (like 100cals worth)
Bit more relaxed at the weekend with booze, meals out etc.

It works for me, and it's not a massive big deal really just to stick to to stay the same.

LimeSegment · 02/04/2022 23:07

Research suggests that no, forcing yourself to eat breakfast if you naturally wouldn't leads to more calories being across the whole day. "Breakfast is the most important meal of the day" was just an advertising slogan invented by cereal companies.

hobbledyhoy · 02/04/2022 23:14

Intermittent fasting and following principles of the fast 800 diet has worked well for me, lost 2.5 stone and feel best I have for years. Hard at the beginning but do feel my taste buds have changed and I no longer really crave the sweet, carby stuff as often as I feel a bit rotten after eating it.
Everyone's body responds differently though so it's got to be the best way for you that's sustainable.