Spent the weekend with slim people and I now see why I'm overweight

[ChristmasTreeLight]

After having spent the weekend with slim people, it appears that they:

a) don't need as much food to feel full,
I couldn't believe that after X amount of food, they were full - I could have happily carried on eating.

b) can go much longer between meals without eating,
At one point in the afternoon, I was ready to gnaw my arm off, I asked if anyone wanted to stop for a snack (thinking they'd be starving) but no, they were happy to keep going

c) don't crave sweet stuff in the way I do.
I I need sweet things as pudding, I was almost desperate for some chocolate, whereas again they just did not seem to feel that urge.

I am a size 14 and they are 8-10 and now I can see why. It's led me to wonder is it something innate, something physical? Are you just born like that, not to have the appetite or the sweet tooth? Am I simply fighting a losing battle in the vain dream of being a size 10 one day?

This is an excellent (but very long) article about sugar and how bad it is for us. It crops up on MN from time to time and is well worth a read if you’ve got a bit of time:

www.theguardian.com/society/2016/apr/07/the-sugar-conspiracy-robert-lustig-john-yudkin

Sorry, meant to post the opening paragraph from that article:

“In 1972, a British scientist sounded the alarm that sugar – and not fat – was the greatest danger to our health. But his findings were ridiculed and his reputation ruined. How did the world’s top nutrition scientists get it so wrong for so long?”

Oops, I killed the thread

How did the world’s top nutrition scientists get it so wrong for so long?
Because the sugar industry was better at lobbying than the meat industry

Yes. There's a lot of money in sugar. White gold.

Jacques Peretti did a great 3 part documentary for the BBC called 'The men who made us fat' all about the sugar lobby

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01jxzv8

You can find this on YouTube or Daily Motion - well worth watching

See also That Sugar Film on Netflix

How did the world’s top nutrition scientists get it so wrong for so long?

Because people bought into the 'eating fat makes you fat' mythology far more easily than sugar (which makes things taste nice) being the issue.

Plus education around nutrition isn't great and people found it difficult to equate pasta and rice with sugar.

One of my friends is a GP. She and I have had many heated discussions over the years about butter being better for you than low fat spread.

The article I posted above hoes into great detail about who it all happened, starting with President Eisenhower in the mid-50s. As the article states:

“Look at a graph of postwar obesity rates and it becomes clear that something changed after 1980. In the US, the line rises very gradually until, in the early 1980s, it takes off like an aeroplane. Just 12% of Americans were obese in 1950, 15% in 1980, 35% by 2000. In the UK, the line is flat for decades until the mid-1980s, at which point it also turns towards the sky. Only 6% of Britons were obese in 1980. In the next 20 years that figure more than trebled. Today, two thirds of Britons are either obese or overweight, making this the fattest country in the EU. Type 2 diabetes, closely related to obesity, has risen in tandem in both countries.”

The early 80s is when it became government policy to recommend a low fat diet.

That's so interesting cavemum.

If you live in the US it's really hard not to eat a sugar laden diet, unless you're prepared to buy all your stuff from health food stores. I remember when we went to Orlando, I was sitting down to my poached egg on toast. It was so sweet that I thought I'd put sugar on instead of salt ( and this was before I cut out all refined sugar so it';s not as if my palate was especially sensitive or anything), until we checked the bread ingredients and found that sugar or glucose syrup or something was the second highest ingredient.

My cousins who are of similar vintage to myself were much slimmer when I was a DC ( I was fat when young) but now are a few stone heavier. They're average women and I think the addition of sugar to everything, plus the huge portion sizes make it incredibly difficult not to be overweight.

.

I intended to watch that programme on slim people but missed it. What channel was it on and I'll see if I can watch it on catch up. Thanks

It was on Channel 4. It’s available on All 4: www.channel4.com/programmes/the-truth-about-slim-people

Thank you

Sadly government guidelines are still peddling the low fat lie.

We have full fat everything in this house. I remember we had a child sleep consultant who was banging on about the kids eating cheese and full fat dairy. Saying the gov guidelines are a small amount of cheese twice a week as there is so much fat etc and we should be giving them skimmed milk. That fat in food was setting them up for heart disease. But she was completely okay with sugar and giving them chocolate and biscuits everyday.

I just wanted to say thanks for starting the thread. It's convinced me to try a low carb diet for the first time ever.
I am 2 stones overweight and have been advised to lose weight by doctor because of high blood pressure. I bought the 8 week blood sugar diet book. 💐

All the best NotMe. Come on over and join us on the LCHF boot camp. It's very informative and supportive.

Used to be slim and uninterested in food, although I enjoyed sitting down to a daily meal. No snacks. Didn’t have a sweet tooth at all.

Then had kids, made regular meals and couldn’t resist the biscuits/cake when socialising. Lots treats after wakeful nights or sugar hits to get through the day. Was 2 stone heavier generally. Food had to be a priority as I was feeding everyone. I tried every diet but each diet made me obsess about food even more.

All 4 kids are now at school. Working long hours and we all have lots of hobbies. I don’t think about food. I don’t eat breakfast because it’s too early. Brunch or lunch is my first meal. Tea is always a healthy home cooked dish but there’s no pudding as it never crosses my mind to make or buy any. I might have one glass of wine in the evening if I feel like it. I’ll happily eat a slice of cake or biscuit if someone offers me one but that happens once a week max. I’ve lost a stone and a half with no effort or attention. I was quite surprised initially.

Thanks Jumping

Labradoodlie yes that was similar for me! Started putting more weight on when dd1 was a baby, coffee mornings were a killer! I definitely put weight on in school holidays as we spend more time in the house and there is more temptation to eat!

Amic Another one here who doesn't think of "snacks". I remember when my DC were smaller and I'd go to playgroups or shopping with friends and their small DC, they always had a handbag full of "snacks" for their toddlers.

It was constant. I just never thought of that...using food as distraction. If we hadn't had time for lunch then I'd go to a cafe with them...or just have lunch a bit late.

I'd never think of giving them something waiting for siblings at swimming for instance.

I'm the same...if I am out and about and it's a mealtime then I either have a packed lunch planned or we go to a cafe.

Ta1k I understand what you are saying about warm houses , however a friend lived in a very cold house , one coal fire , no radiators , occasionally had to break the water in the loo in winter . when she moved into a warmer house she lost a bit of weight . I think there was research done about people who worked at one of the Poles , south I think , they discovered that peoples bodies clung onto a certain amount of subcutaneous fat whilst they were there .

The thing is, low carb may be better for you, but it's not the only way to lose weight. I've lost a load of weight twice in the last decade. Once through lchf. Fell off the waggon and put it back on. Once through very low fat (unavoidable due to gallstones). Fell off the waggon after surgery and put it back on.

Both methods were pretty equally effective in losing weight, and there is no actual need to inhale Muller Lights and stuff yourself with sugary shit just because you are reducing your fat intake. You eat lean protein, wholegrain carbs and plenty of veg and fruit. There is surely nothing horribly unhealthy about that?