AIBU to ask how people stay slim without strict dieting?

[Coffeeloveer]

If you are wanting to lose weight or if you maintain a slim figure but dont go on a specific diet or calorie count. What eating patterns/ habits do you have to achieve this? I have a busy and a social lifestyle so conventional diets don’t work for me and to be honest I just end up breaking them.. how do you achieve the above on the go etc

Where do you shop for clothes? I buy from Zara where I'm a 40. I still wear stuff I got from Topshop 15 years ago, so suspect that might be it?

I'm also a B cup and no butt, literally every pound goes on my belly.

Eta- when I was 8.5 stone (after an op and long recovery) I tried on jeans in an 8 from New Look and they literally hit my ankles, so I don't think there is a lot between my small 12 and smaller sizes (I'm a 10 at 9st) but my size 12 fits me up to around 11st (albeit tight!)

Don’t eat bread.

Genetics

I eat a lot of vegetable soup and muesli or plain porridge, it's easy, filling and i enjoy it. I ensure cooked meals are mostly veg and a bit of protein, usually fish. I eat nuts and a piece of dark chocolate every day. Snacks are apples or dates. No takeaways, cut out UPFs. I only drink alcohol once per week, same with treat like a pudding. I don't eat cake or biscuits at all, ever (unless someone baked it specially and it would be rude not to). Never counted a calorie in my life and i've stayed approx size 10 (although i'm pretty sure that size 10 has got bigger over the past 30 years!)

Since my mid 30s I walk or cycle as much as possible. I do weights for my arms once a week at home, and do core exercises once per week also.

make a batch of overnight oats for breakfast that will last most of the day week. Leftovers for lunch usually and Monday to Thurs healthy dinners such as soup / salad. Limited snacks but will eat fruit each day

make a batch of overnight oats for breakfast that will last most of the day week. Leftovers for lunch usually and Monday to Thurs healthy dinners such as soup / salad. Limited snacks but will eat fruit each day

To be fair this is a lot of it. I'm shaped exactly like my mum and her sister (and my cousin). We all got massive boobs and shoulders like NFL players with no bum! When my weight fluctuates you can only really see it on my face, arms and thighs.

Eating one meal per day isn't healthy.

What does slim mean? Like size 6-8, or 10, or 10-12?

I do calorie count. I'm not hungry or on mega low calories though.
Then I exercise a lot.

If I don't do those two things, I get bigger.

Very true. Ditch bread completely, eat whole grain, unsweetened cereals.

I think its in the dna mainly. i eat and I drink. I do like exercise but I'm sure I don't do enough to counteract all the wine and biscuits. Still slim.

I generally eat 2 meals a day, find breakfast unnecessary- early lunch + dinner is fine for
me. Both meals will be a decent size with veg + protein + carbs. I have one cappuccino a day and quite often a sweet treat (usually a slice of home baking) but drink water the rest of the day, usually 2 x 750ml, sometimes more. We have a takeaway most Fridays.

If I want treats or to eat junk for a day I will, even for an entire 2 week holiday if I want to. My DH has struggled with his weight and the two differences I notice between us are 1. i do a LOT of exercise, 6-7 hours of running a week, including long distances. 2. i’m good at self regulating- I naturally notice when I’ve been a bit indulgent and get back into my usual routine. I don’t sweat some fluctuations in my weight and can get back to my preferred size with a few weeks of good routines. I generally mark where I’m at with a few favourite pairs of jeans.

Intermittent Fasting for me, eat between 11am and 7pm. Kitchen closed outside those hours. It becomes a habit and while not weight reducing as such if you don't watch what you eat during that window, it discourages snacking particularly at night in front of the tv, well that's what I found.

When I go off the rails (when on IF) it's because I eat too much toast and bread. I try to eat a very small ramekin bowl of Greek yogurt and berries (I defrost from frozen) instead. Doesn't always work as bread is just the food of the gods, especially when it's on the naughty list!

Be as active as you can. That doesn't mean going to the gym which is not for me, far too performative and too many show offs, plus you need the right gear and must look gym ready to feel human going through the door! Just me OK before I get a pile on. Walk instead, don't use the downstairs loo, run up the stairs, weed the patio, dig the flower bed, whatever, as long as you are moving.

My friend is in her 50s and very slim.

She eats in a way that would be considered very "careful" in my family but is normal for her. She wont ever have a biscuit or dessert, eats almost nothing containing sugar, and very few carbs really. She was raised with a firm mentality that adult women should eat small portions of "light" food - not much carb, red meat or dairy, no sugar, very little alcohol.

I wouldnt actually say shes especially healthy however. She has got osteoporosis and struggles with anaemia. She's not very strong, she does light exercise but never breaks a sweat. She also looks quite old for her age, in terms of face.

Just eating 2/3 times a day.

I would say I'm a normal weight rather than "slim". BMI is healthy, mid 40s, wear 10/12 depending on the shop. I don't diet or restrict food at all.

But, I have a healthy relationship with food, I genuinely enjoy eating whole foods, lots of fruit and veg, minimal processed. Also I have an active lifestyle. Walk a lot, swim 3-4 times a week. I don't go to the gym or run because they don't bring me joy 😊.

I actually deliberately stay at the top end of my healthy BMI. Arse fat is useful for converting post menopausal androgens back to oestrogen, and muscle mass goes without saying.

43, sit around a natural weight of 8.7 stone. I don’t eat breakfast, I never snack in the day. I rarely sit down until the evening, walk the dog each day, try to eat healthy meals. However each night after tea I do have a treat usually chocolate or crisps.

oh and rarely drink

I don't eat cake or biscuits at all, ever (unless someone baked it specially and it would be rude not to).

But do you like/enjoy them, and choose not to have them because they are unhealthy, or are you actually just not fussed about eating them anyway?

My problem is I love cake and biscuits. I enjoy them, I feel great eating them, i'm tempted by them.

I’m in my 60’s, size 10 most of my life. I’m always active, dog walks, gym, weights. Predominantly eat a really healthy diet but still enjoy sweet foods but within reason. I do however think genetics plays a massive part, my mum and my grandma were always slim and never dieted,

I love then so I have them occasionally. Not going to my grave having totally deprived myself.

I just don’t eat as much as I want; I recognise that I can’t do that any longer.

No snacks.

It helps that I don’t drink alcohol.

Exercise for health and maintaining tone and shape

I diet Sunday to Thursday and then eat normally on Friday and Saturday with treats too, I do exercise too.

A good tip is to eat your protein RDA by lunchtime. The body keeps you snacking / eating until you have had enough protein. Also eating fats and carbs earlier in day as they are metabolised better in morning. Never start a meal with carb - eat protein or veg first. Glucose Goddess is a good guide.