AIBU to want a gentler health/weight discussion

[argumentativefeminist]

Want to interact with others and get support/motivation for getting healthier and active, and in the process losing weight. But I absolutely don't want to hear any "diet culture", calorie counting or unhealthy disordered eating promotion. Surely I can't be the only one? Sometimes it seems like every thread I click on is just full of upsetting, unhelpful comments that sound like they could have been lifted from a thinspo website.

Oh dear, I like yoghurt and butternut and quinoa - can I stay?!

Not-yoghurt snack ideas...

Smoothie made with fruit and either milk or fruit juice. Add oats if you’re really hungry.

Oatcake/carrot sticks/cucumber/pepper/celery and hummus

Dates with nut butter where the stone should be (great as energy gel alternatives when running/cycling)

Banana

Oooh forgot about oatcakes! Good one.

Welcome Oscha! 👋 Would love to hear some of your fav vegan recipes when you get back from holidays! I was thinking of starting bodybalance when I go back to uni! And don't worry, I don't think there's any chance we'll turn to competitive pound losing here 💕

Course you can Verbena! 😂 you've reminded me how much I love hummus.

Finally breakfasting - supposed to be strength yoga this afternoon but who knows if I'll have the motivation 😂

I quite like butternut squash too Verbena! DD1 is veggie so I make butternut squash, sweet potato & red onion soup for her & then take some for lunch at work & try not to have a whole loaf of bread with it

At work I tend to snack on cucumber & carrot sticks, nuts & fruit... but I'm about to have a flapjack with coffee!

But I was really good yesterday... the boys did a wee job on my car for me so I treated them to cream cakes & I didn't have one ⭐️

Oooh I love flapjack whiskey! I've actually been swapping my ice cream habit for kids ice creams. They're usually smaller but I still feel like I'm having a treat!

Very sweaty yoga complete 😂🌞😳

Just did an awesome 7.5k run in the sunshine and am feeling sweaty and proud! Am also going to the gym tonight to do BodyBalance and avoid the football.

Try the lentil and aubergine stew here for an amazing vegan recipe! www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/nov/25/lentil-recipes-curried-coconut-soup-aubergine-stew-sweet-potato-croquettes-fritters-yotam-ottolenghi

(Oatly do a vegan creme fraiche.)

Amazing Oscha! I'm going for a dog walk when the football's on, because there'll be nobody else out and doggle doesn't like other dogs 😂

YES oschka! I’ve been for a walk abc we’ll be avoiding the football later too. Xxx

What's everyone having for dinner? (If you want to share, that is! No pressure, as always 💕🌻)

I'm having maple sausages with peppers, red onion, cherry tomatoes roasted in the oven & crusty bread

I’m having awkwardness at accidentally putting kisses on mumsnet (had just been messaging my sister and was on autopilot!)

And I’m having goats cheese pizza to celebrate my husband finishing work for the summer . And possibly a glass of dry white wine.

Both sound lovely! And don't worry Verbena, I didn't even notice!

I've got chicken tikka ready meal (but it is a Cook one, not that they're much healthier) 😂 also had veg curry for lunch so not feeling it too much, but I'm sure I'll enjoy it once I've got it. Still live at home and mum does the evening cooking - often slightly less healthy than I'd like due to her work pressures, but I'm making an effort to offer to cook more. And I always make a healthy lunch and breakfast so that's 2/3rds improved from before!

Hello all, hope you don’t mind me joining! I’ve been doing this for a couple of months and I’ve lost 6-7lbs so far. Not much BUT it’s the longest I have ever managed to stick to something and it’s going down, not up, which is surely the most important thing? I was sick of going full diet change and just longing to eat normally. Low carb, SW, 5:2, all of them I eventually go back to normal as I don’t want to be on a diet forever.

Instead I decided to change small bits at a time. First I gave up snacking on cereal when I get in from work. This was a big issue for me 😂 I gradually changed my lunch to something I knew I would eat and enjoy but also lower calorie then crisps and chocolate and other crap. I skip breakfast, have an apple or pear mid-morning, have a healthy cereal for lunch and whatever tea I want but smaller portions.

I’m also trying really hard to have something low cal after tea (or nothing at all) and not turn to chocolate.

This week I’ve started 30 days of yoga. Yeah I could start doing gym classes but I literally hate going and dread it so is it really worth it for me? I know I won’t stick to it.

So yeah sorry for the essay but I’m sick of doing things I don’t enjoy short term for quick results. I’m going to do changes that are healthier but work for me and maybe gradually I’ll get there.

Hello there @SkeletonSkins! 👋 It sounds like you're making really good progress so far. Skipping breakfast is such a controversial one, but my theory is that everyone should do what feels best for their body so long as they're not getting hungry for long periods or depriving themselves. I personally feel sick if I eat before about 8:30/9:00, so if I was working then it might be hard for me to fit it in. Just make sure you're taking care of yourself and giving your body what it needs.

We dont really go in for calorie counting or scales watching, so my question for you would be, more importantly than any scales based goal, do you feel better and happier? Would love to hear your thoughts on this to motivate me, and also maybe give yourself something to think about.

30 days of yoga sounds great, keep us updated! I don't like gym classes either, it's best to find something you actually enjoy and then you'll stick with it!

Skeleton I'm not a big fan of breakfast but as I'm up at 4:30 by the time I get to work I can have breakfast at 7:30 as I've been up & about for 3 hours if I didn't get up until 7:30 I'd not be eating until mid morning.

I think the majority of us on this thread are aiming for healthy as opposed to skinny & making little changes that are sustainable while not denying treats if we want one.

whiskey Four thirty AM?? I feel faint 😂

I definitely feel like I’ve got more energy and am enjoying being more active whereas before I felt quite lethargic. I also feel more confident and self assured in what I’m doing. I don’t get the ‘well I might as well quit’ feeling when I have a treat or have a bad day because I know I’m in it for the long game.

I know it’s dodgy skipping breakfast for some but it works for me. I personally found it made me more hungry and I started craving all sorts. I do eat fruit about about 11. However my routine is changing from sept with a 1 hour train commute most days so I might start taking some fruit and yoghurt to start the day.

What do people have for healthy lunches? This is definitely a sticking point for me. If it not something I’ll enjoy I’m far to easily tempted by the shop.

So happy to hear you're feeling better and feeling more able to be active SkeletonSkins, those are the most important things I think!

Will get back to you about lovely lunches in the morning! 😴

Some lunches I like:

Salad! Base is usually spinach, add whatever veg I have and a protein.
Stir fry - noodles, chicken or veg stock, any Chinese seasonings or whatever that you have, lots of crunchy veg.
Veg curry
Egg on toast
Pitta breads with lots of crunchy salad and either chicken or prawns.

Morning Argumentative /Everyone . I don't eat breakfast but only because I'm never hungry till lunchtime. Always been this way. The only time I'll eat is if I have a bad headache. I tend to eat now only when I'm proper hungry and my body is speaking very loudly at me to eat. I don't eat a lot as my tummy says "your done" pretty loudly and I couldn't continue eating if I tried. This is years of mindfulness and books like Overcoming Overeating, Beyond Chocolate And Intuitive Eating. I also did a hypnotic gastric band many years ago which worked and now I always know when I'm satisfied.

A few times recently I've actually left food because I was full, which never used to happen! So that's got to be a good start towards being more mindful about what and how I eat. Thank you for the book recommendations Jemmima!

Send me some motivation please... it's a run night & I'm tired, it's rainy & I need to prepare for a job interview tomorrow!!!!