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.

No I'm so glad I found this thread because when I looked when I first listen to the book I couldn't find anything about it on here.
I listen to the book on audible after a recommendation from a friend and although very heavy with all the history of food I found it really interesting.

I started initially just before Easter but fell off the sugar-free wagon over Easter is only me and Hubby at home which makes it easier.
I've been having porridge every morning for breakfast which is fine I really like porridge happy to have her every day generally for lunch we have eggs because we have hens cutting out bread quite difficult Hardest for me so far has been sugar I really am badly addicted to it and I managed a first okay but now I find myself looking for food and wanting sugary food so I'm really having to work on that I'm definitely having a lot less than I was before

I haven't lost any weight yet but it does say that you might put on weight to start with which is fair enough because I'm having more milk and cheese and butter done before and he does say that if you go for a long walk or exercise then you earn your carbs so for example if I walk the dog for 40 minutes I can have a jacket potato and there is space for more clubs after that as well.

I do agree that he doesn't really say much about what you can eat which is what I struggled with I find it really hard to know meals and to know what to cook and have ideas for what to cook so so far we've been kind of going back to the basics of potatoes veg and meat or fish

The best line I think in the book and the one I remember is if you go into the supermarket and your granny doesn't recognise it don't buy it.
So basically no more processed foods as natural as it can be but being cautious not to go into ketosis by cutting out carbs too much

Morning all.

Hope all medical procedures go well. The clean bowels diet sounds awful. My dad has had to do it a couple of times. I got sent an enema kit for mine. Apologies if you are eating breakfast!

Great idea to repurpose your sugar and oil @Benvolio. A friend of mine used to make lovely body scrubs with sugar and oil and some essential oils for aroma. We have a huge bag of sugar that DH bought a few years ago in his jam making phase. Might make some scrubs myself.

@Love51 I think this is the recipe he used last time. There seems to be a few on the BBC Good Food website.

Good luck with movement @Tiredandbored. Are you drinking enough water? If you are eating more veg and therefore fibre you might need to up your water quite a bit.

So. I braved the scales this morning. Wasn’t nearly as bad as I was expecting and in fact I have lost 2.4 lbs since January. Which I know isn’t a lot but I haven’t been ‘dieting’. I’ve really been relying to move away from traditional diet culture and how it effects me. I started counselling just over a year ago and my 30 year diet history brought me to tears. I am just so tired of it all. So I threw away all my diet books. (Only regretted the Fast 800 one yesterday when I wanted the Beef Rendang recipe! .) Since last summer I have just been trying to get in to a food is just food mindset. Treats are just that - treats. Not a reason to beat myself up and give up and eat all the crap until the next diet starts. I also had a greedy streak and if DH was having crisps (which he does every night) I had to have them even if I didn’t really want them. Huge FOMO. Now I sometimes have a packet and sometimes not or sometimes just have one or two from his packet. I definitely feel much more relaxed about food. Although the treats have sneaked up a bit over Easter.

So this morning I am 15st 12.4. I didn’t weigh myself at all in 2020. But in September 2019 I was 16st 5. I weighed myself in January this year and I was 16st 1.8. And 15 st 12.4 this morning. So in 18 months of not dieting I have gone down by almost half a stone. I’m actually really pleased with that. Not planning on weighing myself again now for a while. I’m just going to eat according to the general principles of the book. And the Chattergee book. Cut down on wine. And walk every day.

Sorry was was a bit of an essay! I’ve struggled with dieting for 30 years and how it made me feel such a failure most of the time. Talking to a counsellor helped and this book was a real lightbulb moment. Seeing my weight very gradually reducing even though I haven’t been sticking to a “diet” perfectly is a revelation. And I don’t look on this as a diet. It’s just a way of eating. Food is food. Unprocessed food is better.

What's the difference with this way of eating and the Paleo Diet?

I am just starting this WOE but I am unsure how to get the rest of the family on board. How can I convince my teenagers to hand over the Doritos, bread and biscuits etc?

I'm pleased to see this thread as I read the book about a year ago but didn't actually start to follow the plan. I need to read it again over the next few days.

I'm fed up of the on/off diet mentality and diet culture has messed me up so much, I've been struggling for 40+ years with this and am now seriously obese. peridot your post really resonated with me.

This plan makes sense to me but I will need to meal plan as I've become lazier over this last year and grabbing a sandwich has been happening all too often.

@Peridot1 ah darling, your post really struck a chord with me. I officially ‘gave up’ dieting a few years ago now. I did so after reading Josie Spinardi’s book, it really resonated with me after having that line of thought from other people (Rachel Foy being another) and it did change my life. I successfully followed my non-diet plan for over a year and actually lost around 10lbs (went a stone lower at one point over a period of extreme anxiety) and it was so refreshing.

Lockdown hit which had me obsessed with food again due to not being able to visit a shop out of fear, and all the panic buying mania everyone had got swept up in. A year of those bad habits and I feel like I’m fighting my way back out again with this. I could never get back on board with those books for whatever reason, but this one feels like it’s working for me.

I am struggling today. Got loads of housework and DH left the washing up last night so not a pot or a tray available to make breakfast. I quickly cleaned a pan and made scrambled eggs. Didn’t enjoy them at all and feeling really dissatisfied. Think it’ll be an early lunch today!

@felineflutter

What's the difference with this way of eating and the Paleo Diet?

I am just starting this WOE but I am unsure how to get the rest of the family on board. How can I convince my teenagers to hand over the Doritos, bread and biscuits etc?

Getting the family on board - we don't know. Sorry. I'm focusing on changing the main meals, and reducing my children's sugar intake. Their dad still eats junk so a bit hard to say they shouldn't. I need to find my 9 year old something for breakfast. She likes shreddies , toast and honey, toast with peanut butter and jam. She will have any of those plus fruit. At breakfast club it is toast with chocolate spread, she has only ever had that once a week. I'm trying to get her to like cream cheese or avocado, but I'm not winning. She does like cheese on toast, I might persuade her that can be a breakfast food.

@Peridot1 thanks for the recipe. I shall make it this weekend. I have my veggie parents coming over. They can't drink but do eat food with wine, and I have one portion of red wine in the freezer thanks to Easter weekend and my one glass on wine (the rest went in the cooking). Sausages for the kids, I can't traumatise them with lentils in front of the grandparents!

@felineflutter

What's the difference with this way of eating and the Paleo Diet?

I am just starting this WOE but I am unsure how to get the rest of the family on board. How can I convince my teenagers to hand over the Doritos, bread and biscuits etc?

I think Paleo is more restrictive. But paleo recipes would fit in with this way of eating.

As regards getting family on board I am not really trying to do that. We cook a lot from scratch anyway but with too much processed add ins. Trying to reduce that. I figure DH is an adult and can make his own choices. He does a lot of cooking and is happy I am not stressing about points and calories and a specific way of cooking or using weird ingredients. DS is 19 and a fussy eater so I just leave him to it. Ironically he is trying to bulk up!

Haven’t heard of those books @Tinkling but will have a look.

@SlobSister - welcome.

It’s really sad how diet culture has affected so many of us.

Hi all!

Peridot, I had huge food FOMO too! That's the perfect way to put it. Sadly when I gave up dieting I took it as an excuse to eat all the biscuits and all the crisps and promptly put on 2 stone. I think I need to remember that giving up dieting does not mean 'eat all the food'.

I had a barbecue on Saturday, quite a lot of white wine spritzers, and I didn't manage to stick to the no-wheat rule - I had one roll, and some banana bread brought by a friend. I also had a few crisps and shop-bought guacamole, but really not much, and I could have been a lot worse! And I managed to stick to things despite the hangover yesterday (minus one Diet Coke!).

I'm really struggling with sleep, though - I couldn't sleep for hours last night and didn't drop off until well after 2. Fingers crossed that that sorts itself out soon. I don't usually have sleep problems but since lockdown started I seem to be having them a lot more.

Further reading for those who fancy it? podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dr-andrew-jenkinson-why-we-eat-too-much/id1468957765?i=1000477291777

I have just realised I forgot to mention getting family on board.

My DH eats anything I provide so he’s easy. He still snacks on junk though, he’s a fiend for crisps, nuts, cheese and biscuits etc. He likes a drink too so tends to have a glass and snack pretty much every evening. I’m not so much of an evening muncher tbh so it doesn’t really bother me. Plus I am not a fan of things like crisps so I don’t get FOMO.

Children... well. They eat quite well anyway tbh, I have always made sure of that. Infact they eat better than me most of the time. They love things like crucified with houmous which I bulk out with pitta bread and cheese. I am not forcing them to eat like us and cut out pasta, bread and cereal. It would make packed lunches / school dinners very difficult indeed, and I am quite happy for them to continue grabbing a bowl of cereal every morning so I don’t have to be downstairs with them!

I am however no longer buying junk to have in the cupboards. We are working our way through the crisps, Easter eggs, biscuits, soreen bars etc... eventually they will become things that if they want them on a day out or at the weekend, we will go the shops and they can choose what they’d like. A bit like it used to be before lockdown turned me into the crazy ‘must have all the snacks’ lady!

Morning everyone, welcome new people.

Well 2 weeks in and 5lb down in total so very pleased with that especially considering I drink Fri and sat night, we have takeaway on Friday and also had a pub meal on Saturday! And I've had plenty of gorgeous food down the week as well, definitely not been deprived.

Smear done, thank fook. Usual drama finding my cervix, usual digging for ages etc but it's done now.

Had bubble and squeak for lunch and having cooked breakfast for tea. Not very exciting today but am looking forward to tea tbh.

Just had to share my lunch recipe - it’s from one of the Joe Wicks books and it was amazing! Definitely making that again.

That looks really good @TooExtraImmatureCheddar.

I have just had a big salad of rocket, cherry tomatoes, mozzarella, avocado and olives with olive oil and balsamic and a sprinkle of mixed seeds. Was yum. Might get some good prosciutto to add in next time.

Love51 thanks for that podcast link. Ive just downloaded their cookbook, which looks interesting.

@HighlandCowbag well done! That’s amazing!

Yes I agree about just stop buying processed foods for day to day and maybe let the children choose for days out.

I am just going to go back to how I used to eat as a child and when the children were younger.

I think over this last year bad habits have become a regular fixed way of eating and I just need to make the effort to make simple healthy food again.

@Benvolio I posted the wrong thing! But you are welcome. I was trying to post a newspaper article about a book!

amp.theguardian.com/environment/2021/apr/25/our-unequal-earth-mark-bittman-cheap-food-american-diet
This is what I was trying to post!

Enjoying reading all the recipe ideas!

The weekend was hit and miss. I drank more than usual and had bread and cake.... this was mainly due to the fact I was with other people and didn’t want to offend. I haven’t seen anyone for so long I didn’t want to seem rude, and eating is often about being sociable! But I wasn’t actually craving the cake at all (and didn’t have seconds).

However apart from that, meal wise I have actually done quite well.
Friday was roasted vegetables and goats cheese
Saturday was Roast chicken dinner (no Yorkshire for me)
Sunday was lamb fritters in wraps - but I didn’t have the wrap and had a sweet potato & quinoa salad instead which was lovely.

However I definitely felt worse this morning for having the bread and cake and booze. So today it’s back on the healthy eating!
It does feel like a more sustainable long term way of eating, that an occasional weekend off isn’t the end of the world.

However I haven’t noticed much difference in my weight yet and I am eating so much more healthily than I used to!

However struggling with the veg oils - trying to persuade DH to use EVOO but he prefers cooking with other oils. I think we’ll use up what we have in the cupboard and then I will suggest alternatives.

Evening all! Lovely to see some new faces joining us on this thread, you are all very welcome!

@felineflutter, I believe the biggest difference between this way of eating and paleo is you are allowed dairy. Also allowed other grains (eg rye, barley), he just recommends avoiding wheat and corn I believe. I'm not a nutritionist and I don't know much about paleo, but I think those are the main differences.

Well done @HighlandCowbag on the 5lb weight loss, that's brilliant!! Well done also on getting through your (not very) fun trip out today.

Love the look of that recipe @TooExtraImmatureCheddar, looks yummy!! Definitely going to try that!

Please do keep posting recipe and meal ideas everyone, I love getting inspiration from you all.

I had a lovely salmon dinner with courgette, ginger and soy which the kids even enjoyed, going to have the leftovers for lunch tomorrow.

And in other news, I'm very pleased to tell you the much-delayed train has now departed the station, normal service has resumed

@samthebordercollie, I know you may be avoiding this thread today while you aren't allowed to eat, but I hope you're getting on ok and that tomorrow isn't too difficult

Ah @Tiredandbored I'm so pleased the train has left the station at long last! You must feel a lot better.
Thanks for thinking of me, I haven't eaten anything, just drunk a lot including the 1litre of laxative 🤢at 4pm which is definitely working. Another litre to down before 7.30am tomorrow then hospital. Am looking forward to eating lots of nuts, salad and fruit Wednesday!

I bet you are Sam, my dh had to do similar a few years ago, but for a stoma entry colonoscopy. He was told to have it done under a GA or at least sedation but he didn't want to spend the full day at hospital so went with gas and air.

He came out looking very pale and shakey. Was a pre op thing to make sure his bowel was healthy enough to reverse the stoma which luckily it was.

Good luck for tomorrow, will you be able to see a screen? I was thinking today I'd love to see my cervix. But then while nurse was digging around thought maybe I'd just be happy with smear nurse seeing it. Wasn't the most painless one I've ever had, I'm still crampy and sore now and having an early night.

Am not sure I'm not brewing a UTI tbh, had some really sharp, stabby pain last few days and wee looks a bit dark and quite strong smelling. Will get a dip test if it doesn't improve.

Will catch up properly later, shed loads of marking to do this evening, (teacher with 2 exam sets, plus 2 others and SLT so you can imagine the fun) but I put myself first when I got out and went to Lidl, bought the smallest good chicken, plus some frozen seafood mix and veg to see me through next few days. Am taking 20 mins off to put chick in oven with roasted veg, then I'll take great pleasure making the world's smallest stock pot.
Thank you Love51 for both links! Double joy!