Why We Eat (Too Much)

[TooExtraImmatureCheddar]

Has anyone come across this book? It's written by Dr Andrew Jenkinson, who is a bariatric surgeon in London. Basically, it's about how to lose weight by lowering your body's natural set weight point. This may take a long time but it's sustainable and doesn't fuck your metabolism.

The book goes into a lot of detail about the causes of obesity, because he says it's important to understand why people are getting fat in the Western world. It pretty much comes down to eating too much omega-6 fat and sugar. The overall volume of food people eat doesn't matter.

I'm trying to work out how you would cut that out practically and I wondered if anyone had tried it. It sounds like going lower carb but not low carb as in low carb diets. He suggests eating low-carb breakfasts and throwing out bread (and anything else baked). I eat toast for breakfast most days and sandwiches for lunch. I'm trying to work out practical alternatives that I actually like.

Porridge
Full fat unsweetened yoghurt
Bacon and eggs
Omelettes
Soup
Oatcakes and cheese
Salads

Other rules include no takeaways or fast food or crisps etc, and no snacks, mainly because most snack food is carb-based with vegetable oil in it.

I'm a cracker fiend too. I've still had the odd oat cake this week, is that allowed?

Jenkinson lists oats under 'cereal grains' which are on his avoid list, so I would minimise the oat cakes if possible, although if you are taking the non-proscriptive approach like I am, it's more about balancing what you can comfortably cut out in the long term and what you want to compromise on in the interests of sustainability, while still adhering to the plan in the main.

I think some compromises are better than others - additive free things like oatcakes must be better than, say, deciding you can't live without crisps.

Rice cakes are allowed - they would be quite a good cracker-substitute as long as they were plain ones.

Thanks @Arbadacarba I quite like rice cakes and they'd make quite a good vehicle for nice stuff to pile on top of

Yes, I like rice cakes. You can even use them to make 'sandwiches' as long as, if it's for a work lunch, you keep the filling separate until you want to eat them so they don't go soggy.

Wait..what?! Oats aren’t recommended? I’m sure I read porridge as a suggestion, did I imagine that or is it like when he says no wheat but then recommends pasta? Well it’s sugar/wheat/seed oil free and not processed so I’ll be sticking with my daily porridge... It’s my favourite meal of the whole day!

He lists them under 'cereal grains' - it may be another contradiction like the pasta!

I haven't read everything yet but everything he says tallies with Dr Tim Spector and other nutrition experts. Dr J is totally against genetically modified dwarf wheat which is used in all industrial processed food today. Hence the gluten issues. However the traditional wheat varieties like spelt and buckwheat I don't believe are as harmful. Also sourdough bread is supposed to be very good for you due to the lengthy fermentation process often up to 7 days which removes a lot if the sugar from the bread.

Well I've just had spaghetti bolognaise and a pile of red wine.

Enjoyed it, but.... Bugger.......

I think he refers to some food as part of step 1, everything you eat should be cooked by you, not processed just to get you into the habit of cooking things for scratch.

I’ve been looking for the information in this book for ages, and I’m so glad to have found it. I’ve heard a lot of it before, but I’ve never been able to put it all together in the way the book does.

To the people who seem worried about binging: it’s your body trying to get back to it’s set point. It’s not something that you can really control. It’s not a loss of willpower or a personal failing. It’s the bodies natural reaction to finding food available after a period of restriction. It’s might be with this way of eating that your weight will go up before it goes down, if you’ve been on a diet recently.

@HighlandCowbag

I think he refers to some food as part of step 1, everything you eat should be cooked by you, not processed just to get you into the habit of cooking things for scratch.

This is where I say "bugger that!" as that would be unsustainable, for me. With 2 kids with restricted diets - completely different ones - and my own joint issues that make standing and even holding a knife painful, some days, sometimes something has to give and I am pricking that cellophane with a fork!

@HighlandCowbag

I think he refers to some food as part of step 1, everything you eat should be cooked by you, not processed just to get you into the habit of cooking things for scratch.

Yes I think this s the point. Whole Foods only cooked from scratch. It takes a little more planning but doesn't have to be complicated if you are happy to eat simply. Industrial food companies have a lot to answer for - they help create illnesses like diabetes 2 by producing food packed with sugar and additives using low quality low cost ingredients which keep the pharmaceutical companies occupied with making drugs to combat our illnesses and make huge profits.

Have just had my eyes opened to what he says about 'food deserts'. Was out in my nearest big town today for the first time in ages so thought I'd 'treat' myself to a browse round M+S food store and get something nice for my lunch. I used to love doing that as there was always so much tasty and (what I thought was) healthy food. However there was hardly anything that wasn't carb-heavy or made with veg oils

@Tiredandbored - I had exactly the same experience! Went into M&S thinking I’d find something tasty and healthy but actually realised how heavily processed everything was and full of wheat and veg oils. Came out with a salad and a piece of cheese....

I think he refers to some food as part of step 1, everything you eat should be cooked by you, not processed just to get you into the habit of cooking things for scratch.

This is what I have been trying to do, cook from scratch, and not worrying so much about the onega3/6 ratio yet. It does take more planning, but I think I will get quicker at it.
For lunch had leek, cheese and mushroom omelette and a courgette salad.

Dinner was curry - sweet potato and chickpea, I make this often anyway, it’s quite easy. I also attempted to make onion bhajis which I have never done before and that wasn’t so good, but I will try again - it’s made with gram flour so not wheat. (The shop bought bhajis are full of wheat, veg oils and sugar!). The mint raita I made was good though.

I am also a big porridge fan - I just can’t get into savoury breakfasts!

I'm doing ok with the food. Work is difficult at the moment and I'm not managing to sleep well. Went to bed about 10:30, couldn't fall asleep til gone 2. Other nights I've fallen asleep but woken up with adrenaline. So my body is going to think I need to hold onto fat for the mysterious physical event when actually I need a new job. I've worked up ravenous this morning!

I’m sorry to hear that @Love51, not sleeping is the absolute worst. I have that sometimes when trying to fall asleep, I’m dozing but not actually a sleep due to those awful adrenaline surges for no apparent reason.

With regard to oats - I am still including those as needed. For a quick breakfast I think it’s a good one if making from scratch. Better than toast / heavily processed cereals. It’s not something I have often personally but I find if anything requires a massive change (especially to something you don’t like), you won’t be able to manage. I have been having poached eggs on toast for about 8 years. When I went GF I switched to potato waffles and now I’m cutting out processed foods I am making potato skillet. But switching over to say... fruit and yoghurt would be unsustainable for me because I just don’t like it.

I wonder if the sushi would be ok from m and s? Probably got a bit of veg oil holding the rice together but possibly wheat free? I do agree it's difficult to find healthy foods on the go. And almost impossible for takeaway food.

I found yesterday lunchtime difficult. Dh was tucking into sarnies, kids having toast and donuts and chocolate biscuits etc. I couldn't face another salad so had omelette which was nice enough but not prawn mayo on a naice roll which is what I would usually have!

Had steak, veg and roast potatoes for tea. It was nice but needed some kind of sauce. Remembered I can do a nice garlic mushroom sauce/side so going to do that.

Chop mushrooms and fry off, and some minced garlic and fry for another minute, add a tub of either cream fraiche or normal cream and warm through. Would go lovely with steak.

Had wine and 2 beers so not a perfect day but a vast improvement on previous Saturdays.

It's ds1 birthday tomorrow, so we having a bbq today. I just leave it the burger buns and do a pile of salad.

Maybe do a potato salad as well, not made that for years... Won't be a completely to plan day, but the burgers and sausage are made by our local butcher, so I'm hoping theres a bit less crap in them...

I tried to attach a screenshot for M&S sushi but it wouldn't upload - there's a very long and mixed list of ingredients - sunflower oil and wheat are in there.

Doesn’t sushi rice contain sugar or something to make it stick together?

We have family over for pizza in the pizza oven later. Lucky me gets a tiny chicken breast, new potatoes and salad

I'm fine with lunch when at home or when taking a packed lunch to work as can throw together an omelette or tuna salad, but it is certainly much more challenging if trying to buy lunch when out and about. I was really shocked at how limited the choice was, especially in M&S which I had assumed would have a better range of options.

I have been reducing my carbs and increasing my protein for around a fortnight now and I really notice a drop in my appetite. I've very little inclination to snack between meals now. Currently having 3 meals a day, although I do occasionally have some Greek yogurt with berries in the evening as well.

Still eating some carbs, but being conscious of how many and trying to make better choices where possible, though am not eating a different meal from my family. Have also bought olive oil to replace the veg oil I was using for frying.

Tinkling, in my mind I think a lot of this is about moderation and improving choices but without depriving ourselves. Would it not be ok to have a slice of pizza and then fill the rest of your plate with salad and chicken perhaps?

I know for me that would be a better choice and an improvement on what I would have eaten previously (a whole pizza!!) but it means I'm still enjoying the family get-together without feeling deprived.

An option with pizza if you really don't want to have the pizza dough is just to eat the topping!

@Tiredandbored unfortunately being coeliac I’d have to cook an entire GF pizza just for me (and cook it separately in the oven). It’s not worth the hassle. Although I am considering making pizza chicken! Super easy to do and will be tasty.

@Tinkling

Doesn’t sushi rice contain sugar or something to make it stick together?

We have family over for pizza in the pizza oven later. Lucky me gets a tiny chicken breast, new potatoes and salad

Unless it is s shopping issue, you don't have to have a tiny chicken breast. You can have a meaty fillet!