To wonder what posh Mums cook for dinner…

[Primrosecottagelover]

I have just seen Pippa Middleton’s bikini photos on the DM. Three different bikinis so far, washboard abs & nothing jiggles as she chases three kids. She could easily pass as a fibreglass mannequin. I’m wondering why it is that the Middleton women and affluent women (even middle class at my child’s school), always seem to be so impossibly slim. I struggle with my weight and I would love to see the groceries, fridge contents, packed lunchboxes and dinner plans of the other half. Obviously I know what healthy eating and cooking is but, the bodies of Mothers these days is next level. Why am I struggling to keep my tummy from flopping out while women in their 40’s pull off wearing linen mini shorts (not in UK) and high waisted jeans.

I think it is true some people underestimate the calories they eat, some slim people overestimate the calories they eat though.

UK spending on food as a % of income is amongst the lowest in the world.

The United States spends the lowest percentage of their income on food.
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2016/12/this-map-shows-how-much-each-country-spends-on-food/

I'm 8 weeks postpartum and lost 6 kg in the last 3 1/2 weeks, when I started my diet

I have no time for exercise, but I control my portions and I try to make healthier choices.

I never drink alcohol apart from at social functions.

I'm 37, so not young.

I will always be naturally a bit curvy, but I want to achieve a healthy weight again.

What I wanted to say if weight loss is possible for an average woman like myself with minimal effort, it's probably not hard at all for a woman with enormous privilege like Pippa Middleton to look the way she does (great genes - personal trainer - private chef - doctors on call - nannies - cleaners - gardeners - enough sleep and unlimited time)

1 in 5 people in England (20%) are living in households that pay more than 40% of their income on housing costs. This is the second- highest in the world.
We know high housing costs in the UK have a major impact.

Politeturtle, where do you meet these people who call you names because you're slim?

Eugh....I can't get beyond the first page.

It is entirely possible to have a very toned, athletic physique and eat plenty of food. If you do a lot of exercise you need to eat.

I can't abide the slim = eats crumbs narrative.

I'm friends with a woman with a similar physic who is 46, she's not rich or posh (whatever that means)
Her diet is, Breakfast yogurt and fruit, lunch tuna salad no dressing, dinner fish with vegetables or pasta and veggie homemade sauce. Lots of water, lots of exercise.. has a sweet treat maybe once a week.
Sounds boring to me but she looks great.

I find it inspiring hearing from people that are slim but have nice lifestyles. I don’t want to hear that it’s only possible with a borderline eating disorder.

It's a shame that being slim and having a nice lifestyle is something you think is aspirational. It is the norm for very many regular people.

Crumbs have far too many carbs

@ItsAllAboutTheDosh latest figures show the uk spending on food is just over 8% of income. Obviously this is food consumed within the home as eating out is considered a relative luxury.

@Teddleshon I know. But it is not the lowest percentage in the world as was claimed.

If you're referring to this @ItsAllAboutTheDosh , it said amongst the lowest in the world.

@ItsAllAboutTheDosh I said “amongst” which is correct. Plenty of countries rank worse than the UK in terms of percentage spent on housing costs without the same levels of obesity.

We also have the second highest childcare costs in the world.

It’s very odd this idea that you have to be rich to be thin. You just have to eat less food. The more money you have the more food you can buy.

@Teddleshon the UK has high levels of inequality. This always leads to worse health than if there is less inequality, but less average income.

Whether you think it's odd or not is irrelevant. That's the trend. If you really examine the reasons it's not difficult to understand it.

Take smoking for example. A very expensive habit to have nowadays....and it's overwhelmingly something that is done by poorer people.

Its very odd this idea that some people can not understand the myraid of research that exists around an issue and instead resorts to over simplified ideas that do not stand up to any scrutiny.

Follow Davinia Taylor on insta and youll get a pretty good idea of what is required to look like that!

This is an interesting thread. And there is a lot more research now available on weight gain/obesity. What it points to is a very strong genetic component that then interplays with environmental factors, e.g. some people are genetically predisposed to feeling more hungry or crave certain things (and less satiated) -hormone dependent. Basically there are certain genes that means that you may be someone who do not resort to having cravings as easily or reach for food when stressed, whereas others do. So if someone has a stressful job - perhaps jobs with little internal control, perhaps shift jobs - with this particular gene profile, they're more likely to eat/put on weight.

I've never been on a diet and I eat whatever I want. However I have a naturally small-ish appetite, I'm vegetarian and I dislike sugary 'treats'

I think this sums it up. People who say they eat whatever they want and don’t gain weight, usually don’t want to eat large portions of unhealthy food. They don’t feel hunger in the same way as others and have better habits. So if they fancy a burger they’ll eat it, but they probably only fancy one once in a blue moon.

As per my previous message. These people probably don't have the genes that mean they're likely to produce certain hormones that govern satiety, when stressed.
So much more complicated then simply 'slim people have more self control'...

Yes I think appetite and genetics is really interesting. If I genuinely ate what I wanted I'd be absolutely huge! In fact it's sheer willpower that keeps me overweight rather than morbidly obese! I've been thin and I was hungry all the time. I can do it but it's incredibly hard work and leaves me with little headspace to focus on anything else.