to want to know what all them slim people eat that are not on a diet and never gained a pound....

[FairLadyRantALot]

well, am I?

I have always been a petite size 6-8, but increasing age makes it less effortless than it used to be.

I don't watch what I eat. Would like to say I eat less but actually I eat loads for meals and snacks in between. I don't think I imagine this because I can easily polish off a starter, main and pudding in a restaurant. All meals at home are prepared from scratch, though I do eat biscuits and chocolates. One thing I don't do is drink fizzy drinks or alcohol.

I think my level of activity has a direct bearing on my weight for 2 reasons: (1) obviously in terms of burning off calories; (2) regulates my appetite in that when I am active I forget to reach for snacks and don't feel hungry. Hence, I tend to put on weight if working in an office in front of a computer screen, because I start to think about snacks. Not if I am at home doing childcare, housework and admin where I can easily forget to eat and not feel the lack.

Chicken or egg.

Being slim means it is easier to be active and to move around - I can leap up from being on the floor to go to the kitchen to get something for my dcs. But my rather heavy aupair would struggle to do that and end up doing less of it. I would walk down the stairs to drop my dd off at her breakfast club, but another mother who is larger would wave her dd off at the top of the stairs.

Having extra weight makes it less easy to be active and it becomes a vicious circle.

I am 1.76m and weigh 55kg. I eat whatever I feel like, and suspect that it's less than fat people eat. I love chocolate and cakes, but also love salad. And I'm aware that if my weight goes up a kilo my appetite goes away.

wow, Rupert, that sounds a bit little weight for that height, though

Howto...been thinking about what you said, and, I might got the wrong person, and will check it out, but wasn't it you that said you are 5'4 and only 48 Kg's...and you actually said to me you don't really aim to satisfy hunger....but I have worked out, that you are actually, in that case underweight...if those were your measurements...
tbh, being underweight isn't exactly ideal, neither, and forinstance risk of Osteoporosis for instance increases...

blueshoes, I hear what you are saying, and yes, if you are very obses, than it will have direct affect on your ability to be active....my aunt, who is very obese is quite open about all the drawbacks she expreiences as a direct result of her obesity...

Like I said ealier, I have never been really overweight, only ever borderline and certainly have never been obese...but I am terrified of becoming obese, and I suppose that si why at a certain weight I always pull the breaks....
but of course it is not an ideal scenario....

My dad is skinny, and also eats whatever he likes (ie loves fat on pork chops, masses of butter on toast). But he doesn't eat between meals, never sits down, still goes around by bike everywhere mid-sixties, and if he's had a big lunch he often won't bother with dinner, or just has a piece of fruit. I think I'm like him. I'm skinny but don't lose weight, and eat pretty sensibly (though always, every single day, have croissants for breakfast, and have an ice cream every day too, but that's because I live in Italy and it's the law!).

I am just not that into food. I mean it, I am not being fey.

I eat because I have to. My friend loves her food and I love cooking for her. I just dont get it though.

I am also a monumental fidget arse.

And I dont think I am v.healthy because my eating habits are awful. I can quite easily go a whole day on a few cups of tea and that cant be good. Not at my age.

I am sure its going to bite me in the tight little arse one day.

chegirl...now I can never quite make my mind up if I rather be someone who naturally doesn't want to eat to much or if I rather be someone who can eat what they want, however much they want and stay slim...

Oh Rusty...ice cream when in Italy defintely a MUST!
When we lived iN Cyprus, I found it so much easier to eat healthier, for far more month in the year...I think it is a weather thing...I just eat so differently in a hot climate...and well, in Cyprus you have warm weatehr at least 8 out of 12 month....hohum...

Having been both a bloater and a whippet (won't say which one I am at the moment!) I think the reason I've been skinny is cos I've quartered my portions or not eaten a meal at all and I've upped my exercise. And the reason I've been larger is I've stuffed my face and not moved around. Simple as that. Simple, but still bloody infuriating. IMO it's all a mindset. Once I get into the habit of cutting down and seeing the pounds drop off it becomes second nature. Equally shoving in the calories can psychologically addictive.
My cousin was a slimmer of the year, or such like, a while ago and when I asked her how she'd done it she said I probably eat a bout a third of what I used to eat.
This is the hard truth that people don't like to hear.

I'm only about 49kg and 5'5" but although the rules say I am underweight I'm honestly not. I'm this weight naturally because it is my build. Agree that not satisfying genuine hunger seems a bad thing to me.

But I suspect the underweight osteporosis risk is about people who limit their diets, not relevant to those who eat healthily and a decent amount and just happen to be a bit skinny. If it's really true that being naturally underweight is a bad thing in itself, I am not sure how anyone can change this. I've been trying to put on weight for about 25 years with no luck so far (and not because not enough calories have been consumed). I suspect those who are a bit overweight through no fault of their own feel the same.

I talked to my doctor about that - pre-kids I was 7.5 stone and 5'4 (I am now dead on 8 stone). Apparently I wasn't underweight at 7.5 stone as I have a very fine bone structure which BMI doesn't allow for. My GP was perfectly happy with my weight and didn't think it to be a point of concern at all.

The main downside was that I wasn't eligible to give blood at that weight.

you are right, of course your build is something important to consider....and if you have a petite frame, than what will look and be fine for you will differ from someone with a larger build...
I would look really boney if I would be much under 9 st (my height is 5'6)....because of my build....wish I was more petitely build, lol...

and yes diet will decide on your risk for Osteoporosis...if you eat a good diet and exercise (resistence) than you will reduce your risk...

but, I still think if you actually limit your eating in order to stay a very low weight and NOT satisfy hunger, than it cold be as detrimental as eating to much....

It has been a really interesting thread I think...been interesting to hear what others do, etc...

fairlady, weather definitely affects my appetite. Now that the weather is warmer (ok, not great these few days), it is like someone flipped a switch off - I have gone from eating loads and snacking to not being very interested in food at all.

I definitely agree that limiting your diet very strictly in any way, whether you're only eating high calorie stuff or low calorie stuff is going to be a bad thing. If you're limiting calories really severely, I imagine it's going to be just as bad for you as living on pizza, chocolate and chips ultimately.

blueshoes....I certainly seem to crave less cocoalte and cakes and stuff if it is hot...and salads just are lovely when it is hot, and well, lighter meals...

so...hmm...I think I need to talk to dh, and we need to move somewhere hot ...oh I wish