To ask if you have a normal relationship with food?

[Miajk]

And if so, what is your weight like, have you ever dieted? How often do you think about food, do you only eat when hungry and stop when full?

By normal I mean: no counting/tracking, no excluding food groups (unless for allergy or other health reasons), etc.

I have a normal relationship with food.
I eat what I like when I like and I only eat when I'm hungry.
Some days I eat more than other days.
I've never dieted, tracked ( whatever that is ) counted calories or placed any restrictions.
The only food I dislike is turnip, swede and foods that are too spicy, such as red hot curry, though medium hot is fine.
I'm an average weight.

I'm 5f 7 I think. Weigh just under 10 stone. I have a healthy relationship with food. I have always had breakfast, something mid-morning, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner. I often have a hot chocolate before bed and a chocolate with it. I have no desire to eat more, equally I really struggle if I don't get my mid-morning snack e.t.c

I was brought up not to think about 'good' and 'bad food. I believe in the - everything in moderation motto. As soon as you ban something it becomes desirable.
I am so cross my daughter's school has banned chocolate and crisps. It's making an issue out of nothing. It won't solve the obesity problem.

I have a normal relationship with food. I don’t really snack, I eat pretty much what I want at meals and tend to choose fairly good quality stuff (I don’t eat MacDonalds), I don’t have a sweet tooth and avoid puddings. I drink alcohol moderately and run a couple of times a week, and still wear a size 10 as I did when I was 14. I have had three kids and am 52. My body has obviously aged so I’m not wearing mini skirts etc but I feel fit and have energy. So yes, food presents no problem for me. I have to say though, I’m not that bothered about it; I like nice food but it’s not the be all and end all.

I think I do. I know I'm lucky compared with some friends.

I am fussy, in the sense that I like only good food: I would refuse to eat bad school food, so often didn't get a play time when I was little. But since I have cooked what I want, I've eaten 3 meals a day, and am now 59 kg, at 5'4", age 62. I still like good food, no matter what it is, and enjoy cooking. I like salads and fruit, and don't like more than a handful of chips at a time, say. I also happily leave food if I'm full, or it's just not that nice.

We only go out for meals occasionally but when we do we go to really good restaurants- not fancy, just good.

I like being slim, partly because I have nice clothes that I want to wear, so do now weigh myself every day. This has made me realise that it's alcohol that puts weight on me. So I cut down.

Yes normal. Eat when hungry stop when full minimal binging and cravings. I don't count calories but know which foods to eat less of if I want to lose weight. I'm quite busy with a job and lots of hobbies so although I love food and beer wine and cocktails I only think about them when it's time to eat/ drink/ cook

68kg 171cm late 50s

But I would mention that my slightly-older sister is obese, and ill as a result. We were both slim children- me very skinny because of the fussiness, but both slim. But I was the favourite and mum made her life miserable so she left home as soon as she could and then began to eat. Mums comments made her eat all the more. She loves cooking too and is an excellent cook, but I wish she was as slim and energetic as me, like she was when we were young.

Nope.
I was a fat teenager due to binge eating disorder), then became Anorexic in the 6th form.
Anorexia then became Bulimia, which I struggled with 'til I found out I was pregnant when I was 37/38.
Binge eating disorder reared its ugly head again and I ate myself 3 stones heavier.
Now, fat again.

I'd be really interested to know those of you that have a healthy relationship with food and haven't had huge weight fluctuations your whole life- how was food tackled by your parents? I was always brought up to finish a plate or no dessert etc., which is very different to advice given to us parents now.

We used to eat everything on our plate and always wanted seconds, but as I got older my appetite has decreased, and now often don't finish

Your body is hanging on to the food you are giving it as it is being starved. Your metabolism sounds like it has slow d in response to insufficient food. You need to eat more regularly to lose weight.

Not really. But because at 5ft 1 and around 8st 10 currently I’m constantly on a diet as I don’t need to eat much at all and I’ve gained. 9 stone is my buffer and I go on a diet. In lockdown 1 & 2 I lost 24lbs, but gained most back. Currently trying to lose 10lbs but struggling. I do a lot of steps but unless I eat 1000-1100 cals per day I don’t lose. And that’s hard, as you go to bed hungry. It’s miserable

@PeloFondo apologies my reply to you above didn't tag you.

I don’t think I have an abnormal relationship. I did calorie count as I had gained weight and wanted to lose, and needed to stop over eating. I don’t count now as I have a good understanding of macros and portion sizes. I’ve been between 115-120lbs for the past two years, having formed decent daily habits I’m happy!

No.
My relationship with food is long and abusive.

In the early days it was bad. But there are less big fights these last few years.

I was stressed by my appearance in my teens (i was normal weight) but didn't know how to diet. Left home at 19 and had my older 3 DCs in my 20s and my weight yo yo'd and i learned about dieting. I learned i could lose weight fast if i wanted to and i learned that i loved the 'high' of being hungry and feeling in control by not eating. I used to think about how much i'd NOT eaten and feel good.

Put on weight in my 30s. Lost it all again crash dieting and not eating in my early 40s. (divorce).

Now i cruise along knowing i'm either losing or gaining. I hate myself if i'm not dieting.

At the moment i'm losing. Working towards 1 solid food meal a day.

We ate three meals a day, ( one main meal), didn’t snack to any real extent, didn’t drink fizzy drinks much, finished the food on the plate. Most meals were cooked from scratch, and neither my brothers or I were ever given choices or allowed to be fussy, (within reason). None of us have ever been overweight.

Before i fell for DD3 i was eating every other day. The days i did eat i'd stick rigidly to 500 calories. It felt amazing.

Thinking about it now i see it wasn't good. But in my head it feels like the holy grail of how to be. If that makes sense.

Doesn't work sadly. If I eat more, I maintain or gain
Thyroid...
I did ask my GP and they said starvation mode was a myth or everyone who was starving themselves wouldn't be thin

It's so freaking weird that OP's question is literally "do you have a normal relationship with food" and yet many posters who don't have a normal relationship with food come along to post about their eating disorders.

I'd say yes. I don't spend a lot of time thinking about food in the day. I eat what I want when I want, and part of that is knowing that nutritious foods are helpful. Today I ate granola and yoghurt and a cup of tea at about 7. I was super hungry midmorning so I had a savory pastry in a shop at about 10. I had an egg salad sandwich at home at about 2 with an apple. I had a chocolate bar (small one) at 5. I'm waiting on my husband to get home to have dinner. Roast veg, lentils, halloumi and I've had a couple of cheese crackers cause i'm hungry. Drinks were tea and water. No real plan but I do think a btlit about veg, protien over the day as a whole.

Not bad I dont overeat but I have way to much sugar and not enough fruit and veg. My other half is terrible such a binge eater and we are both lazy in cooking fresh food.

Pretty normal. Last time I was weighed at the doctors 3 years ago I weighed 63 kg and I don't think that will have changed much. Eat 3 meals a day, only snack occasionally. 5'6 an size 10-12. Dieted for 2 weeks once before wedding as had bought a slightly too small dress in a sale. Occasionally I have made an effort to reduce portions a bit if I feel clothes getting tight. Took 3 years after each pregnancy to slowly return to my regular body size though and gained weight breastfeeding as it gave me a big appetite and I was constantly trying to increase my milk supply. I enjoy food. I eat too many carbs but otherwise have a fairly healthy diet. Sugar in moderation.

Hmm, I'd say I do now. I'm 10 stone, 5'5 and aged 40. Wear roughly a size ten.

However, it's been a long road.

My parents were of the finish your plate generation, which basically led to me being an overweight child. I lost weight as a teen - then basically yo-yoed until around 30. I've been 14 stone (looked awful) and around 9.5 at my lightest.

I dabbled in low carb, but have set into a traditional 3 meals a day, no snacks, average portion mentality. Fairly standard food, nothing fancy.

No, not normal. I come from a long line of women with disordered eating, and me and my siblings are all affected by it. My mother has severely restricted her diet for decades. I was raised in a family obsessed with good food, but with massive issues around eating.

I wilfully ran towards anorexia in my 20's and can still get triggered now. I'm so wrong-headed that I actively (but secretly) want to be anorexic again.

A meal with my family is nuts. A table groaning with the finest foods, and constant, constant, comments that swing between body shaming, extreme anxiety over eating something, then lauding the wonderful food, then talking about food provenance and the importance of wild, organic foods, while my eating-disordered mother tries to force a third pudding on anyone 'not eating enough.'

I don't binge eat and I've only toyed with bulimia. My actual eating now is pretty normal, but I know where I could go with it, so try really hard not to. Because I'm not severally restricting, I silently call myself names constantly - fat, vile, disgusting, fatty-fatty-fat-fat. Literally no one knows - I present really well.

My family worships excellent food and extreme thinness equally. This post barely scratches the surface. It's been cathartic though!

I've name-changed, incidentally.

I think I have as normal relationship as possible in a society with abundant food that worships slimness.

I'm 53kg, 5ft 2, size 8-10, late 40s. Was always 8 St but this has crept up a bit since having dc. Eat pretty much what I like, but generally enjoy healthy foods that I was brought up on - salads, veg, but also lots of carbs and cheese. Also snack quite a lot, though low alcohol.

I don't have time to look in thr mirror too much, but sometimes dislike photos now I'm a bit heavier. But i don't think about food except when I'm hungry, and never dieted. I credit dm who is similar. Trying to pass on similar ethos to dc, but they're boys so may be less complicated?