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.

@Tinkling that’s great news on the jeans, clothes fitting better is the best feeling.

I weighed this morning and I’ve lost an incredible amount of water weight in a few days. I know it’s water rather than fat at this stage but it’s still encouraging as a) it shows that this way of working is doing something and b) I feel a lot lighter in myself.

I ran this morning after Pole training last night and I’m feeling really good. My sugar cravings have eased off and my appetite has decreased in general.

Ah fantastic!

The leg kept twisting on my jeans so Ive changed. These are my ‘9st 4’ jeans because otherwise they are too tight to sit in. I’ve shoved them on anyway. Yes they’re making lines in my thighs and yes they’re tight around the waist but screw it. They’re on and that’s the first time in a long time. I think the last time I managed that I was around 10st - 10st 1 so I am assuming I’ve lost a few lbs.

I have just tried to explain this to my dp. He has brain damage but we can communicate and I don't want to put him off cooking for me (he can do a little bit). So if he makes it (pretty rare)I'll eat it.

So I said to start with I'm cutting back on bread, pasta, biscuits, cake, pastry. He said, sounds like breakfast to me

I love him so much!

I've just had a really stressful meeting. Totally going to eat to stop the shakes, not because I'm hungry. Have talked myself out of toast and jam. Rice cakes and cream cheese! And maybe a banana.

Brill news on the jeans! And on the run. I've been for a run as well but was shit, dog was a pita and kept stopping or disappearing, there were people and other dogs everywhere and I had a winter running top which was far to warm. Think I walked as much as I ran, just couldn't get a rhythm going. But I still ran 100% more than if O hadn't bothered.

Am not sure if poor running was as much to do with having no carbs barely yesterday, legs felt very heavy and couldn't get no oomph. Will have to see next week, having the weekend off anyway.

Not sure what lunch is yet, maybe bacon and eggs possibly. Tea is takeaway curry tho cos Friday, plus beer and wine. And tomorrow we have a table booked at local pub so be more beer and possibly food there as well. Can have steak, jacket spud and salad tho so not a disaster and for me for a diet to be sustainable I have to be able to relax at the weekend. Back on it properly for sunday though.

Welcome to the thread @Cushionsnotpillows, we're all just finding our way through this as we go along, hopefully you can join in and share your experiences.

Well done on the jeans @Tinkling, it is so encouraging to see changes that aren't necessarily on the scales, good work!

@Love51, well done on making good food choices despite the stressful situation, I hope you're feeling a bit better now.

I'm in the habit of weighing myself most mornings, which isn't necessarily a good thing, but I'm quite interested in seeing if I'm making progress and trying to work out where my set point might settle if I'm eating like this all the time. I'm not sure if it will be as low as I would like unless I make some of the more radical changes such as lowering carbs further and looking at the omega balance, but I'm not going to do those things quite yet as I'm not sure I would find those changes sustainable in the long-term. Going to give this a really good chance first and see where I settle with the changes I've already made.

Planning a lovely salmon, courgette and broccoli lunch, flavoured with soy, garlic and ginger.

Dinner is baked potatoes, planning to have a small white potato and add a sweet potato as well.

@Tiredandbored I weigh myself every morning after getting back from my run - I'm always at my lightest after my 10 mile run . It doesn't suit everyone but jumping on the scales every day but I've managed to keep my weight in check (give or take a few kgs) over the years. I record the weight as it's useful reference when I go back to see how I did in races at a certain weight.

Well done on the running everyone!
Highland, not sure it is the carbs, sometimes your body just doesn't feel great when you run. A lot of running trainers and experts now say runners should eat fewer carbs and more fat.

I agree that m+s is a bit of a food desert for lunches. Went in the other day and thought I'd treat myself ( in the expensive way not the sugar way). Got a salmon on a stick and salad but there wasn't much of a choice if you're not eating bread or pasta.

I'm not losing weight quickly but now going very slowly down rather than up so happy with that assuming it continues.

@Tiredandbored and I weigh myself daily too but I am very accepting of how much my weight can fluctuate day by day and that the majority of it is water. At certain points in the month I can carry half a stone of excess water so I don’t beat myself up over those gains- as long as the highest and lowest weights in a week are both slowly dropping.

Just had a lovely salmon lunch - cooked with veg in a soy, garlic and ginger dressing, delicious!! I'm really enjoying trying new meals and taking the time to prepare something healthy and nutritious rather than grabbing a sandwich or having a ready-meal.

And I know I'm running the risk of looking like a pretentious foodie by posting images

I have been mulling this over and wondering when I started substituting food with rubbish.
When the family were small, I more or less followed a meal time regime and most of it was home cooked.

Something changed and it ended up being "grabbing" a sandwich, more grabbing throughout the day.This year, it has been all about coffee vans and cake.

I think some of this comes down to self worth and self care. I have ordered the book, lets see!

@Tiredandbored please don't apologies it's really nice to see the photos as it gives a better idea of the dish rather than just words.

@Tiredandbored that looks lovely! I didn't think I was hungry but seeing that made my stomach rumble!

I have the Easiyo yogurt maker and do use the sachets. There's no need to strain anything, it's really easy.
Anyone got any delicious meal ideas that don't use fish?

@Rollergirl1980 beef rendang! The fast800 recipe is the one I use and it’s gorgeous. Easily one of my favourite meals. Make up a massive batch to freeze.

Posted too soon. Thanks on the jeans - I feel good so that’s enough for me. Well done everyone else on your positives today. Fantastic!

@Tiredandbored I agree I like seeing the pics too!

Most of my lunches are based around either fish or eggs at the minute. Really do need to expand my repertoire a little more. Am trying to make sure I get a good amount of protein and they are the easiest ways to do that.

Thanks @Tinkling, I'll check it out 🙂

Is this a bit similar to the WW plan which they never mentioned at meetings. Was it called free style or something?

@randomer

Is this a bit similar to the WW plan which they never mentioned at meetings. Was it called free style or something?

Never done WW - this plan cuts out all processed and refined foods and food/ingredients high in omega 6. WW ready meals would be off the menu, for example. It is not a low-fat eating plan. It's low in carbohydrates but doesn't exclude them as long as they are in unrefined form.

I haven’t done WW for many years so just had a quick google.

The answer is no. WW free style allows non fat dairy only and requires point counting.

This does not. You eat as much as you like but nothing processed, no vegetable oils and no wheat. So it’s focussing on real, full fat food. For example I have just had a chicken breast stuffed with boursin and spinach with half a sweet potato roasted in olive oil and broccoli. Couldn’t hazard a guess at how many points that would be on WW, and I’m sure they’d prefer extra light philadelphia and that fry light crap.

Sorry,no expert but dimly recall the WW thing had no points.It was quite good and helped my mood even out.WW never promoted it because it didnt involve selling utter rubbish!

Am looking at my menu plan for next week that I have for the family meals, afraid it's not a good week as lots of them are too carb-heavy!

Have spag bol on it, so will need to have a think how to cut down my carbs with the spaghetti. May just take a small portion of it perhaps.

Was also planning burgers one evening, so will have to have mine with some sort of salad rather than the bap. I loved a breaded chicken burger with lashings of mayo, but that'll have to change.

Also have veg soup on the menu which I normally served with crusty baguettes. Need to think of a wheat-free substitute I can have along with the soup and perhaps a suitable protein to add to that meal. Any suggestions?

I had bolognese for lunch with a big salad, didn’t miss the pasta if I’m honest. I did have it last night with a tiny bit of spaghetti though.