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

[secretspooner]

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?

Disagree with eat when hungry
Often leads to overheating
Get in their BEFORE you are hungry
Which means regular healthy meals

Overeating not overheating!

@NdefH81

Disagree with eat when hungry Often leads to overheating Get in their BEFORE you are hungry Which means regular healthy meals

Yes ok, should have said don’t eat when you’re not hungry! Agree that planning meals in advance is a good idea. I find slow cookers excellent for that. You’re starving when you get in from work but you know you’ve got a nice healthy meal ready and waiting rather than reaching for snacks etc.

Calorie counting worked for me. Although I sometimes had to guess a bit, I bought some new recipe books with the calories listed. I needed the new books so I didn't get too bored with the meals. I'm veggie too but I think before I was eating too many carbs and not enough protein so I tried to make sure I had veggie protein sources but not just the stuff that was meant to look like meat.

All of the things people mention will work.
But you need to do some work to figure out the "why" you treat yourself like this.

I suspect eating a lot of processed food has a big part to play also.

I broadly agree with you OP, while acknowledging that different things work for different people.

I tried intermittent fasting a few years ago and thought it was great for the first month or so. I lost weight and enjoyed the fact that most days I didn't need to be overly conscious of what I ate. It really did work from the point of view of weight loss. But then, rather than becoming increasingly accustomed to the calorie restrictions two days a week, I started to dread those days. I was very grumpy and stressed and didn't feel like cooking for the rest of the family (but did obviously!). I gave up after a couple of months as it just wasn't sustainable for me. I have realised that, if I get to the point of hunger, and I mean even when I'm NOT doing intermittent fasting, I kind of shut down. My brain seems to go into slow motion and no food, just nothing, appeals to me. Everyone suffers when I'm hungry!!

Remember reading if it’s advertised it’s bad for you!

Eat normal unprocessed healthy food on small plates ideally 2 meals a day and limit crap snacks. Do some exercise. If in doubt don’t eat. I was hungry at first but it wore off. Still have wine /chocolate/crisps just less of them less often.

Remember reading if it’s advertised it’s bad for you!

Yes. Broccoli doesn't dance on tv. 😆

I don't think there's any "one rule fits all". Different things work for different people. Personally, breakfast is important to me. I don't function at my best without it.
I have chronic pain/inflammation. What works for me is no gluten, dairy or alcohol as it worsens my pain immeasurably.

The best thing for anyone which we all know is keeping processed food low. Focus on meat/fish/legumes, fruits, vegetables, dairy and wholegrains if not intolerant, eggs, olive oil, etc.
I still have some packaged food but my diet mainly comprises of the above.

@TheKeatingFive

Remember reading if it’s advertised it’s bad for you!

Yes. Broccoli doesn't dance on tv. 😆

Never thought about this before, but very true!

BBC good food has really nice pretty simple recipes we use it a lot. Would start there rather than fancy diet plan with horrid food you won’t stick to.

(Like my mother and her mates in the 80s with the grapefruit and steak mad diet or similar ! Don’t do that)

I wonder if the current economic situation will see people changing to doing more cooking from scratch. Making our own sauces rather than using jars for example. We returned to that when my partner became borderline diabetic (he's not overweight btw) and both of us started to lose a few pounds.

OP, first and foremost I think you should find what is right for you in terms of eating healthily for someone with PCOS and diabetes, and what works for some of us may not be best for you.

The main thing is you have started this thread and do want to eat more healthily.

The PP with the same condition as you had given a good steer.

Whatever approach you take, my advice would be to view it not as a ‘diet’, a punitive regime as a battle with your body, but as you valuing yourself, taking care of your body, nurturing yourself through healthy (and enjoyable) eating and being pleased with yourself for doing so.

Also, you can make changes but by bit. One healthy initiative a week . Every good change is good, however small.

And to give yourself the best chance, seek medical support. Talk to your GP and ask for specialist nutrition advice for your medical needs?

About cooking: again, start modestly bit by bit . Basically cooking is getting food ready (cutting off the inedible bits, cutting it up), applying heat in a variety of ways, and adding flavours. That’s it.

Chicken thighs are very economical. I would say over 3 weeks try one traybake involving chicken thighs, one stir fry (veg) and one stew or casserole. Google recipes starting with ‘easy’.

I’ve lately been having two meals a day and no snacks.

I don’t always want breakfast, but get hungry at around 11am. So eat one meal at 11am and one at around 6pm. I then just have water overnight, but various teas/coffee with milk in the day.

I find I eat much more healthily if I have two proper big meals instead of smaller meals with snacks. Each meal consists of protein (lots), veg, fats and carbs. I’ve lost over 10lbs in 10 weeks and I didn’t have a lot to lose.

Snacks used to be less healthy options and didn’t really satisfy. Two big meals means I’m satisfied when I do eat and not hungry between meals.

I also do some kind of exercise each day, which allows me to eat more.

I’m doing calorie counting for the first time ever, along with 3 meals at roughly a set time everyday. Its massively helped with binge eating, grazing and the cycle of restricting and giving up.

I only do -500 deficit.My weightloss has not been fast - 1 stone in 2 months, which when you have 9-10 to lose, isnt loads. But i’ve been consistent, plodding along and not starving myself. It feels possible that I might achieve this, and on the journey, will adapt to proper portions, balanced meals and lose the urge to binge.

So yes, agree 3 meals a day helps - but the calories do too! Until I weighed things I had no idea how many I was consuming!!!!

@MsTSwift

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

Impressive even by mumsnet standards. Six minutes after the OP posted and we have the first competitive under-eating post!

Two meals a day works best for me, and I don’t undereat, competitively or otherwise

I eat lunch around 12-1, and dinner around 6. I make both meals big enough that I don’t feel in need of a snack in between. If i plot out the calories it’s usually between 1200-1500 which is the ballpark I try to stay within.

You explained the issue in your op - you eat rubbish, not proper food.

In saying that, I am slim and eat 3 meals a day.

My husband is slim and intermittently fasts though.

To me, it's not when so much as what you eat.

Also find heathy food that you like and you’ll never diet a day in your life.

Find movement that you like and you’ll never exercise a day in your life.

I'd really recommend the GI diet if you're diabetic.

It does include some carbs but non-refined ones in limited quantities.

I'm not a massive breakfast enthusiast, so if I can I wait until about 11/12 and have brunch...usually a spinach, mushroom and tomatoes omelette.

I'll have a snack with a cup of tea about 3pm and then dinner between 7 and 7.30.

If it's a normal day, I like baked oats for breakfast, salad or soup for lunch and then a normal dinner.

I'm also trying to lose a lot of weight and there's been lots of fits and starts but overall the numbers are moving in the right direction and I feel better for changing my diet.

I eat 3 meals a day and lots more snacks - not all healthy by any means
I am over 50
I am not overweight

It's about finding what suits you , and eating overall the right amount for your body and lifestyle

but don't expect that to suit everyone else . There is no magic solution

No it is not.

Moderation is the magic trick with food and consistency with exercise. You can spread your meals out however you like in the day from grazing to omad. The types of foods you eat is very important for overall health, a carb heavy is not good for anyone.
Cooking from scratch is pretty simple and takes up less time the more you do it, do a little extra and freeze some meals for a lazy grab n go day so you don't get fed up of cooking so much.

Two meals a day no snacks with a long break between last and first meal is my ideal. I’m good at sticking with two meals, sometimes one. Snacks are always tempting, not due to hunger but boredom or comfort

To regulate your blood sugar levels ALWAYS Jean always have some protein with carbs.

So don’t have an apple on its own but apple with nuts etc…
Even better have the proteins first and then the carbs.