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?

Can i join? I've lost my ability to self regulate my food. I'm getting bigger which I hate but I'm always stuffing my face. Also thinking about joining group exercise as I need someone to make me move.

I've been doing something similar. No faddy diets per se but just being sensible and cutting down. I realised I was eating similar sized meals to my DH who is 6ft and I'm just over 5ft

I also try to exercise for 30-45mins 4-5 times a week by fast pace walking and I have lost 9lbs quite easily. I seem to have plateaued now but I don't mind as this must be my natural weight.

One thing that helped was upping my liquid intake to fill me up between meals. Mostly weak squash in pint glasses.

Can I join too please?
I'm very bad at posting but always lurk!!!!

I too have come to realise that dieting is not the way to do it long term, it's about re-training your brain,
I'm reading brain over binge so I have high hopes!!
For the last 2 days I haven't snacked, and have waited until I'm actually hungry, which I never would of done before!
We're programmed to eat lunch at lunchtime, dinner at dinner time, but a lot of the time I could of waited! So I need to break that, and eat when my body is telling me to fuel it, not stuff it silly with the kids biscuits.

Hello, and welcome all newcomers. Is it Monday, by chance?

All about being civilised here, no tips for how to save 50 calories by eating X, or introducing yourself by telling us how much you weigh. This is a broad brush approach to a healthier, simpler relationship with food. Bring it on!

Tell us more about Brain Over Binge, kettle81. Well done on not eating until you're hungry, that's so rare nowadays isn't it?

pontious, your third rule is allowed (perhaps it should be 2a? ) as I definitely eat too fast. I notice when I make a conscious effort to eat more slowly it's easier to put the brakes on and say, "I've had enough now".

On portion size, I'm going to try a new thing for lunches this week, which is to put everything I'm having for lunch on the same plate, at the start, and assess it for volume. Hopefully that will stop me having a sandwich, and then some crisps, and then some chocolate. I find it much easier to control portion size when it's dinner time and it's one course put on a plate all at once.

Definitely Monday! AND I have a glass of wine in my hand - I never usually drink wine on Monday as am always 'going to be good'. Feels very good to have what I want - must add I am in NZ and it is 10.55 pm - have not started having wine for breakfast, yet

Can i ask about the no snacking rule as im a grazer. Is fruit OK and just no snacking on crisps, choc etc? My eating habits are so bad I don't know what's right anymore

Thanks so much for starting this thread facelikea I'm feeling really motivated for some positive change without the language of 'syns' 'calories' 'naughty' etc!

Mail, I’m aiming to eat nothing between meals, as to me that’s what a snack is. I’m trying to achieve a mentality where yes, food can be delicious and is to be enjoyed, but I need to stop ‘rewarding’ myself with food (be it healthy or otherwise) because I feel I in some way deserve it. Because I have no restraint and frequently eat an entire packet of biscuits in one sitting.

I’m aiming to stop being a grazer, and to eat when I’m hungry.

Very civilised in here face
I also like the fact we're not talking weight as well, I find it hard not to compare sometimes!

In brain over binge (which I still have 2/3 left to read) tells you that can a lot of what we do is routine/habit and every time that you follow something through, like giving in to a craving, you're making that habit/urge stronger for next time.
The brain is an amazing thing, and I feel it's definitely mind over matter, just need a bit of help!!

Looking forward to finishing the book

I still haven't eaten yet, don't feel hungry!
I've had 1 litre of water already, so I presume that's helping, and been busy playing with the toddler

Hope everyone has had a good start, the weather here is miserable.

Yes pontious, I can’t cope with that at all, I just give up instantly.

It’s also about the long game, isn’t it? I need to make a sustainable lifelong change, not just deprive myself until some arbitrary level of thin-ness and then get fat again.

Yay, lots of new recruits! Love the idea of eating slower pontious and of drinking more water Anne, those are both things I struggle with.

Also absolutely agree with putting the food on a plate face. That alone totally changes how and how much I eat.

I actually reckon I’ve lost a lb or 2 after only one week, but resisting the urge to check until I can feel the difference in my clothes. It may just be a state of mind because I’m feeling in control and relaxed about food, and that’s more important to me.

Ok today was crap 🤣 start again tomorrow.

It’s a fresh start, bucket.

Mixed fortunes for me yesterday, I didn’t eat at all between breakfast and lunch, but did succumb to the lure of crisps mid afternoon. Ate a very modestly sized dinner, so ended and started the day well.

I had 4 meals today. That’s cheating isn’t it? Also had my first mince pie! It was mini so at least I can say it was a modest portion size.

For me, snacking works, aslong as it’s good healthy snacks. I find that if I go too long between meals my sugar levels drop and I crave everything under the sun! I have two snacks a day and try and keep them high protein / healthy, like Arla yogurts, or berries, nuts, cottage cheese on crackers, eggs etc. And then 2-3litres of water. And I’m the worst on portion sizes, Iv just bought smaller plates to manage that haha. Good luck all xx

Slightly better day today just 2 wee biccies there my only snack. Definitely need to up my protein though.

Is anyone else a veggie? I find I find its hard to feel full without carbs and they make me bloated and uncomfortable

Of course a small mince pie is still better from a portion control than a big one. Well done for not eating two. I bloody love mince pies.

I had a success at dinner last night, in that we had half the amount of noodles we'd normally have in a stir fry. Probably made a difference of about three calories, but for me this process is all about recalibrating and eating like a 'normal' person.

No Mail, I'm a meat eater. Although I'm thinking of cutting down after all the recent climate change headlines.

I have a water bottle that holds a litre, so I drink that at work and aim to add 500 - 750ml at home.

I have done this in combination with reducing to 2 meals a day some days rather than 3 and it definitely works . My problem is I keep letting life and events derail me. I'm done with dieting as well and just want a sustainable way of eating. I read Gillian Rileys book a while back - eating less and it made a lot of sense to me. I'm starting again tomorrow as well. No weighing myself, no snacking, controlled portion sizes and eating when hungry. Good luck to all.

Just to add I am a no s fan as well but I agree with whoever said This is harder..at the root of these types of approach is what I know I need which is more mindful eating but not so mindful that it increases your mental load (apps calories etc). It's also socially unobtrusive and there's no financial outlay.

I'd like to have a go at this. The key is not eating in the evening after tea. That's my worst thing. I'm feeling good because haven't eaten anything after 6pm when we had our tea. But that's mostly because we didn't have anything nice in the house! Still.

Evening all !
I'd like to join. About 5 years ago I lost almost 2st basically just doing exactly this (upped the exercise also)

I don't actually want/need to lose any weight at the moment, but I've started noticing that I'm eating biscuits more frequently and, like others have said, I'm keen to regain an ability to tolerate hunger !! It feels so good to get to a meal and be really ready for it.

Here's to a good week for all of us. My challenge is to be prepared and not let life derail me...my baby sleeps through at a year old now & I get much more sleep. My clothes are going to be my guide and I'm starting properly tomorrow. This weekend was the usual constant grazing on whatever. I've down loaded a habit tracker app to see how many days I can do. Would love to do even a week straight. Did anyone have a good day today??

Btw I am 5ft 3 approx and around 11st 8 with high cholesterol and a history of gestational diabetes. I am 6 months away from 40 with 2 small girls I want to be a good role model/fit and active for. BMI around 28.5. Can't remember the last time I put on a nice dress and felt good and that has to change.

Well last week was totally derailed for me. In the spirit of gentle self-care -'tomorrow is a new start for healthier habits.