If you’re thin, what does the voice in your head say?

[SunshineAndFizz]

If you’re offered a biscuit, or need to make a selection in a restaurant, what does the voice in your head say to help you make a healthy choice?

Kate Moss famously said ‘nothing tastes as good as skinny feels’. And my aunt used to say ‘oh I don’t like to feel full’.

If you’re thin, do you have a healthy phrase you tell yourself to help keep on the right track?

When I was young, I was very thin/ slim.

I genuinely didn’t like alot of foods that aren’t good for you. Didn’t like a lot of carbs, especially things like chips. Would always prefer meat, fish and veg, and didn’t really care in a big way for anything sweet.

So I naturally gravitated to healthy things!

Unfortunately that dislike of unhealthy foods hadn’t lasted into the times when I could do with it, ie in middle age?

Just like others, I don’t like feeling full
I would choose a main which contained protein, vegetables and little or no carbs
I have a sweet tooth so would eat dessert, but tend to prefer sorbets because they are light
I never have a starter, main and dessert at one sitting .

Yes, how interesting, it was salty flavours for me too.

I am a sugar addict and struggle to stop once I have started eating sugar.
For me the food noise disappears and the self control is so much better when I cut out ultra processed food. I can then cut down on sugar more easily and then it isn't hard to make good food choices.
I would also recommend starting your day with a meal that is low carb. Doing that helps me continue eating well for the rest of the day.

I am slim but finally just in the normal BMI range as I battle an ED so I've not rtft in case of triggering. For me, if I am offered a biscuit I will take one if its something I like. I don't like many biscuits but I do like chocolate ones. I'd never say things like Kate or your auntie, as those type of comments can be hurtful to others in everyday context.

In terms of my inner voice its a case of, I must try to eat enough and eat well today. When I am struggling its more like, I do not deserve food, nourishment and pleasure. The gnawing hunger helps to dull the pain of heartbreak and when I am very stressed or upset I just don't feel hunger at all. At those points, I'd not take a biscuit. They feel as appealing as cardboard.

The utter privilege to put something delicious into one's mouth, to chew, feel the texture and taste sweetness or savoury is one of life's beautiful gifts which is denied to so many. There is so much more to just eating a biccy.

I’ve been thin my whole life. I was born like that, just like you were born with that beautiful red hair or you over there who’s tall. I’m not tall - I have to hem everything. I’m sick to death of hemming stuff or paying somebody to hem something.
Sick of it!!!
If somebody offers me a cookie, the last thing I think about is my weight - am I hungry? Is it chocolate chip or shortbread?
Are their hands clean? That’s a big one - dirty hands gross me out.
I’m very fortunate. I’ve always been fortunate.
I certainly have never rubbed it in - ever. But remember - you asked.

I guess I would ask myself 'is it worth it?'.
If I am treating myself to something that isn't necessarily going to nourish my body, then it's got to be really good.

I love food. When I was younger I could eat anything and stay slim. No longer. I will put on weight steadily if I eat in the same way.

I will take the biscuit and eat it with pleasure. That is because I know I can get back to my target weight (which I don't allow to exceed by more than 5 pounds) by one or two days of fasting, which is built into my week anyway.

Hence, I don't deprive myself on holiday or socially. But when I am back, I will use fasting as a circuit breaker. All or nothing is easier for me. And it stops the food noise. Though there is food noise on fasting days, I try to keep myself busy to distract, drink lots of water/coffee and avoid triggers.

I agree. They don't feel hunger as much, get shakey if they don't eat or get cravings/food noise.

Im on MJ and no longer get any of the above, its liberating. But I get side effects and I don't know how long I can continue with nausea etc. Im dreading coming off it though

when offered a biscuit: 'yes please!'
when reading a menu: 'feeling like pasta tonight so I'll get that'

there is no other voice

I was very slim in my 20s...too slim probably. I'm average now in 40s but that's more to do with lack of exercise and I eat what I want without counting calories (not that I counted calories in my 20s either, but I was a bit more active). I'm not overweight, just not skinny.

But I don't over eat. If I'm full, I'm full, and I don't like that feeling of being 'stuffed'. I'm also not into sweet things, so I wonder if that's partly why? If someone offered me a biscuit or cake I'd most likely say no unless I was hungry and there was nothing else on offer.

You can't really generalise thin. There are people thin by taking huge effort, avoiding temptation with food and a lot of excersize, then there are thin by genetics helping along via great metabolism.
I have always been the 2nd in those types. Until I hit 36 and the weight has slowly crept up. I still appear thin but have the weight I cannot shift around the belly & bum. Did look pregnant so was less paranoid about it but now there are rolls so cant pull that look off. Prior to this there was no voice telling me avoid anything as I didn't need to. Some people really can just eat and minimal excersize will keep weight in control. Not by effort but by luck. Don't think the naturally thin can help as I was that but can't shift the stone around my belly in the 7 months I been trying. Restricting diet makes my arms too weak and skinny so having to just do lots of excersize and hope for the best

I stay thin most of the time but every now and then I’ll start to put a bit of weight on and I have to stop it before it goes too far. Once I’ve decided to lose weight then that’s it. It’s almost like I can flick a switch in my head that turns off my appetite and I’ll lose it very quickly. On the odd occasion where I’m tempted, I literally hear the cast of Grange Hill singing “Just Say No!” in my head! It’s actually quite helpful! 😂

I have no voice in my head over food choices. I grew up on a mainly whole food (unprocessed) diet, very plant heavy and varied with nearly no meat. I eat when hungry and stop when satisfied with no thought to it. We regularly eat sweet and oily stuff too but I guess in moderation? I’m over 40 with 2 very young kids - bmi 19 so just naturally slim.

"it's very difficult to eat too much real food"

This is something which I heard on a video but think is true and have experienced is, meaning McD's and crisps and coke and kitkats won't fill you up until you have gone waaaay over a sensible amount of calories. A steak and some veg and a jacket potato will fill you up quite quickly without blowing your calorie intake through the roof

I wouldn't say I was thin, but I am fairly happy with my weight and consider myself healthy with out excessive body-fat.

I started putting weight on a few years ago, it was the kit kats and cup of tea after lunch, it became a routine and one became 2, sometimes 3. Then the crap started to sneak into other mealtimes and snacks.

I cut it all out and started walking to work and swimming or gyming at lunchtime. I am back on track, healthy but not thin.

"That looks like something I'd regret."

I just look at the salad options when I go out, or at least the option with mainly veg and protein.

I don't think I have a 'food voice'. I just eat what I know is good for me.

If I fancy a treat, I'd eat it. If I've been eating a lot of crap recently, I would make myself to eat healthier choices or I wouldn't fancy it altogether.

I follow intuitive eating and got a big appetite, but I don't necessarily crave unhealthy food all the time. I don't have a sweet tooth either.

If I think “do I need this” or “I’m feeling a bit full” I take that hesitation or query as a sign to stop. I know there’s an internal wrestle between my body saying I don’t need it and my mind telling me I want it so I listen to my body every time.

I never deny my body food if it needs it though and I exercise a lot.

Can't speak for myself but an ex is in great shape and for him, food is fuel. He doesn't eat for pleasure mostly, it's just when he needs it. I eat for pleasure and im very overweight

The food voice in my head gets louder if I eat too much carb loaded meals eg risottos/pastas or sweet things like cakes/biscuits. For me, the only thing to keep the food voice relatively quiet is to minimise these sorts of foods in the first place. So I try to select smaller meals and ones that are more protein with veg or salad when eating out at bistros & restaurants. I also avoid ordering multiple courses eg soups, appertisers & desserts. At home I have the pantry stocked with only the essentials and have eliminated flour/rice/pasta, that way I tend to stick with my favourite low carb meals. I simply buy whatever meat & veggies I feel like having, but I do have a few very low carb tricks up my sleeve that can give the impression of a decadent meal!
I will occasionally buy treats/snacks/dips/cheese etc when I know I will be having friends over, as I think items like that are for sharing and not for hopping into when one is bored.

I don’t have an inner food voice telling me what to eat, I just eat whatever I want, I don’t censor myself. However I eat for taste not to feel full so I moderate my portion size so I can try lots of different foods but not over eat. I think a lot of people who struggle with weight often times have the craving for the flavour of the food and satisfy their craving after a few bites but finish off all of it because we are often taught to clean your plate and not waste food etc.

@NewbieSM that's me, i really struggle with waste!

I don't keep treats in the house.

I keep really boring and healthy ingredients that I have to put together into a meal myself if I want something. And eat more or less the same thing every day.

That allows me to eat what I like when I go out.

The voice in my head says "Go on have a biscuit you deserve it" I will then eat several.

I lost 5 stone around 2 years ago and have kept it off. I tell myself that I feel so much better and healthier now so do I want to go back to being so much bigger. I still eat biscuits though! It’s about balance.