Two simple rules: no snacking, and keeping an eye on portion size. Want to join me?

[FaceLikeAPairOfTits]

No calorie counting or meal replacements etc. Just going a bit old school and eating less food by not eating between meals and keeping the meals to a reasonable size.

I reckon I'll lose weight this way. Anyone care to join me?

[RufflingFeathers]

Hi Pirate !
Another good day here - I need have two biscuits but they were close enough to the evening meal to feel like pudding rather than a snack

This time of year is soooo hard - food is everywhere ! and I want to be able to enjoy it, but keen to enter the next couple of weeks mindfully eating rather than consuming something just because i can !

[TheOnlyTruePirate]

Ooh, can I join? I've literally just started doing something similar myself (only a couple of days in) and then found this thread. I've gone from a toned size 8-10 pre kids to a generous 12 three kids later... I have so many lovely clothes I can no-longer fit in! Luckily I seem to look slimmer than I am and nobody ever believes how much I weigh but I feel wobbly and unhealthy and basically hate how weak willed I have let myself become!

Snacking is definitely my downfall (well wine too being honest! But mostly snacking). I'm an active person and do exercise regularly but my snacking habits had got utterly out of control and it shows. I think this approach could really work for me (and improve my health a lot!)

Having only just started I have been eating decent portion sizes at mealtimes to remove some of the temptation... hopefully over time I will be able to reduce this a little and not cave in! I have been allowing myself a small bit of chocolate but only as part of a meal so I don't feel deprived and reach for it later. I am sticking to a very small amount too.

I will try to resist the urge to weigh myself for a while and instead will look at how my clothes fit! It will be great to speak to others doing the same and have a bit of support... good luck all!

[Chrissmasjammies]

I am back on track today after a full week off plan. So hard this time of year .

[RufflingFeathers]

Anyone still going with this this week???

I had a wobbly weekend (crisps are my weakness, salty things) but these last couple of days have been back on the no snacking and feel really good for it. Still eating plenty for meals, just nice to actually feel hungry for them !

[BruceAndNosh]

I know that "penis portions" are derided on MN ( normally when MIL doles out platefuls to sons and husbands) but I definitely eat can eat more than my husband but don't need to!

[FaceLikeAPairOfTits]

Yes, portion size is something I (thankfully) find easy to control if it's an actual meal (unless it's something like stew where the lure of delicious crusty bread is too much!). It is indeed a lightbulb moment when you go, 'hang on, that Chinese takeaway is massive, I could eat the second half tomorrow'.

Snacks though, I know no portion restraint at all, which is why I know long term I have to just cut them out.

[Chrissmasjammies]

I agree...I think really if I think about the amount of food I really need....not that tall, sedentary job /lifestyle unless I exercise ...It's a lot less than i imagine

[BruceAndNosh]

Light bulb moment a few months ago.
When serving out meals to husband, I normally cut the lasagne in half for us. But he's bigger and more active than me and burns more calories!
Definitely list weight since I stopped eating the same amount of food as my other half. And I don't think he's gained any

[Chrissmasjammies]

Another one off the wagon over the weekend but back on it today....4 days off is not good even after a 10 day streak. Here's to a better week

[RufflingFeathers]

Hey all - sorry for radio silence - had a cold and fell off the snacking wagon somewhat.....!! You're right Face - tiredness really doesn't help - I had many a biscuit at that 4pm slot, just because I didn't think I could make it to bedtime.

I'm keen to get back into the rhythm of it again - i want to feel hungry before meals again !!

[FaceLikeAPairOfTits]

How are people doing? I’ve been doing badly, but at least my sleep is improving so am hopefully going to have the energy to stop lurching from biscuit to biscuit.

[Chrissmasjammies]

Weesausage it will be slower I've no doubt. But a few weeks ago I went strict paleo for 4 days and lost 6 lbs. Couldn't sustain it and put it all back on in 3 days....madness! Even 1 kg or 2-3lbs a month is 24 to 36 lbs a year!!

[WeeSausage]

The first 3kg just fell off me, so I thought this was going to be easy. Apparently not

[Chrissmasjammies]

How are all doing? Hungrier today so reverted to my 3 meals and carbs with all of them. Chicken supreme made Last night for dinner today. Stupidly weighed myself this morning and no loss since last Thurs although my clothes feel less tight. So that's it now no more weighing till 1st January and that should keep me more motivated all through Christmas. I'm giving this 2 months to see what weight loss happens before I need to look more closely at portion size and carb/fat content etc. @Face i get where you are coming from. My baby only started sleeping through last month and the lack of sleep was hell. Survival mode all summer and lived on bread and biscuits.

[FaceLikeAPairOfTits]

Sorry for the radio silence, fell off this thread for no good reason (thankfully not rat related).

I’ve not been doing brilliantly these last few days, haven’t been sleeping well so I’m reaching for the sugary stuff to keep me going.

Anyone got any recommendations for supplements to help with sleep? I get to sleep easily but don’t stay asleep, my mind is racing.

[Chrissmasjammies]

Same back to you @WhiskyandRed! Would you think about going to 4 meals a day and then you are never too far from the next one. I don't think the number of meals a day matters as much as the idea that eating happens at meals and only meals. I have stopped allowing myself to pick while cooking or at kids left overs. I try and plate all my food and sit at the table and give myself the time and space to eat properly no matter what else is going on. Like a lot mothers I tended before to grab food on the fly. That's part of the no s diet that you can put what you need on your plate to get you through to the next meal. Your tolerance for mild hunger will grow I know mine did.

[WhiskyandRed]

Hello everyone, I sort of lost track of this conversation because of a small domestic problem. The cat chased a flipping great rat into the house and then it disappeared somewhere under the kitchen cupboards. I’m hyperventilating even typing it. Until the body was uncovered — thank you pest control experts — and I knew for sure there wasn’t a nest of the little shitebags I was not wanting to eat or really be in the kitchen at all. This meant no snacking at home, but also lots of meals out. High calorie, big portions and very sore on the purse, ouch!

I’m trying to be more conscious as of today, but I like the idea of gentle self-care. Also, really now having a think about blood sugars as sometimes when I’m waiting for the next meal it really feels like ... jeepers, I don’t even know how to describe it. It’s like a mist falls over my eyes and I could pretty much gnaw on anything, as if I was a rabid dog.

I haven’t been able to eat modestly for so long, because I can’t trust myself with that feeling around my 2 DC or at work. I’m scared of what being hungry will do to my moods.

Christmasjammies we have pretty much the same stats and similar motivations

[TodoDoingDone]

Thanks! Yes, sugar is my downfall. I feel so much better when I don't eat. I made it to lunch with no snacks. Baby steps...

[WeeSausage]

I would suggest trying to cut out all sugar, it really does mess with your appetite. I just have one or two pieces of fruit after a meal. Obviously when you are confidently in control, you can relax a bit.

Good luck!

[TodoDoingDone]

Thanks weesausage, good to know that it is possible. I'll start with cutting down....

[WeeSausage]

I'm always starving by dinner time though!

[WeeSausage]

It took me about a week. I felt fairly unwell for a couple of days and had to have a small snack so I didn't pass out. I kept it small though. Now my blood sugars are in a much better state and I'm not tempted at all.

[TodoDoingDone]

Hi, I'm going to try this. How long does it take to not get hungry between meal?

my day is:porridge for breakfast. I get to work and have tea with some nuts, then most days a low fat yogurt before lunch. Lunch is either soup or salad. Then afternoon is a mess, tea and biscuit at 14.00, hungry by 16.00 but no dinner till 19.00 or 20.00. So I snack to keep me going. And I feel nauseous and dizzy if I don't eat.

From your experience :How long before I can break this habit ?

[Chrissmasjammies]

Welcome Weesausage. It's a slower weight loss but I think a lot more sustainable. I weighed myself today but am really going to try and not do it again until maybe just before Christmas so the focus is on habit and not scales.

[WeeSausage]

Hi can I join too? I've been doing this for a couple of weeks now and I've lost a few kilos. The first week or two were really tough, but I'm finding it quite easy now. I feel much better about sustaining this than some of the other ridiculous diets I've tried. And I'm happy letting my DC see me eat like this.