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.

Hi ladies can i join you. Just finished the book lots i relate to. Im vegetarian and nearly vegan. I am getting organised but have to go back and reread a few bits like how long has stage 1 to last for till you move to the next stage. My diet is one carb sugar diet coke high. Im 50 in sept 2.5 stone overweight so hoping this new way of eating helps xxxxc

Hi Coconut! Welcome.

It must be omelette day - I had smoked salmon and spinach omelette for lunch.

Welcome coconut!

I don’t recall there being rigid timescales. Just do what feels right for you at a stage it suits!

No news from the consultant yet. But my period has arrived which will hopefully help with my grumpiness. Alas I don’t think that’ll completely go until the anxiety waiting for the phone to ring is gone too.

How long till you all started losing weight? I know this isn't strictly a weight loss diet and my set point might be high but I haven't lost anything. I've been doing it for 9 days (I know I'm impatient!) I gave up alcohol in December. My jeans still feel tight every day 😕
I'm wondering if it is to do with protein? I'm not veggie or vegan (yet) but I watched Seaspiracy which has put me off eating fish (avoid watching if fish appears in a lot of your meals) and then I thought I'd watch Cowspiracy too so now I'm questioning eating meat.
I'm mainly having natural Greek yog and cream for breakfast. A cheddar cheese salad with home made mayo for lunch. Then dinner is pretty rubbish. It's either jacket pot with cheese and salad or roast veg with halloumi and rice. Or nothing because I'm not hungry. Snacks if I have them are fruit or cheese oatcakes or crudities with houmous.
Do you think it's the lack of meat and fish that is holding me back? Are Quorn and tofu healthy?
Any help appreciated!

I'm not a nutritionist @Rollergirl1980 and hesitate to offer much advice as I'm not knowledgeable enough. My personal opinion is that I think protein is pretty important, both to fill you up but also for muscle growth and repair. Carbs are the problem as they turn to sugar so quickly.

The author did have a question mark over tofu (I think something about the oil content, but I didn't pay too much attention as I don't eat it) and did encourage us to choose grass-fed meat rather than grain-fed.

Perhaps it might be worth trying to ensure you don't skip meals as your body may try to hold onto weight as it's not sure when your next meal is coming and hold onto the calories more?

I haven't weighed myself recently so am not sure how my weight loss is going right now, but I have lost over 1 stone since starting this WoE.

I’ve been following for a couple of weeks but I didn’t weigh before I started... however I am back in my size 10 jeans and under 10 stone which I haven’t been for months and months... I’m not sure if it’s the WOE or the fact I’m not bingeing, as I find it easy to lose weight if I don’t binge as my body naturally wants to weigh less if I’m overweight (and forcing myself to stay there by eating when I’m not hungry / force feeding sugar). So I’d say it worked very fast for me.

Just to let everyone know my results are in - benign! Thank god. Celebrating with 70% dark chocolate. Finally came on this morning, didn’t sleep well as I had cramps. Was too tired to get medication but not tired enough to get into a deep sleep x

That's great news @Tinkling, I'm so glad you've finally heard!! Such a relief for you!

Thank you all for thinking of me

Fantastic news @Tinkling! That must be such a relief for you.

@Tiredandbored thank you for answering. I knew there was something about tofu which is a shame as I really like it.
I think you're right about skipping meals too. I will give that a go next week to see if it works.

For the veggies/vegans amongst us, I just got today the new 'green barbecue' book and loads of the recipes look good.

There are quite a few dishes with nuts but I would guess you can omit/reduce (I am allergic to walnuts and cautious around others so tend to ignore in any event). The carbs chapter is basically sweet and new potatoes so right up our ally. She says you can use paneer and tofu interchangeably in that section.

Honestly looked so nice.

@Tinkling so pleased you have had your results and they are bénigne. What a relief for you! Enjoy your 70% chocolate!
I've eaten some bread today, whole grain but illegal. Had cheese for supper and the bread was for the St Agur. Also did another Covid test and am positive. I thought as much as I've had a sore throat all week and running has been harder each morning. But not an excuse for eating bread 😳😳😳

@Tinkling brilliant news! Enjoy your chocolate!

@samthebordercollie oh no, hope you're ok.

Oh no @samthebordercollie, not what you needed 😥 I hope you're ok.

Im all reread the relevant bits and after a terrible day involving a whole jar of bisciff spread i am ready to start tomorrow. Im having g pirridge for bfast, chickpea salad for lunch and green shakshuka for tea. Im envisaging sone bad cravings. Have a lovely weekend everyone x

Hi everyone! Haven’t posted in a while as have been busy with work / school / kids etc but have been enjoying reading all the replies.

I agree @TrevorTheMushroom it is harder when out and about. I met friend for lunch, and the only options at the cafe were sandwiches, or things on toast. I haven’t seen my friend for ages so didn’t want to make it difficult, so just had a sandwich. I was surprised to find I didn’t really enjoy the bread much at all.
Also went to a birthday picnic and was offered birthday cake - I didn’t want to seem rude so ate it.....

However when at home or work I have been managing well. Usually I take my own food into work for lunch, and have got into a good habit with it now - I’ll try and make a bit extra dinner the night before. Eg lentil and sweet potato stew, roasted vegetables, jacket potato, are all good the next day.

I also keep some cheese / cold meat / salad in the work fridge and some fruit and oatcakes in my drawer, so there’s something to snack on to keep me away from the office biscuits! Although generally, if I eat a good healthy lunch I am not so hungry in the afternoons.

Generally, I am finding it quite easy to stay away from the cakes and biscuits, they seem too sweet now. I am still really finding it hard to resist chocolate though. I have bought 70% as I figured that’s better than milk chocolate, where the first ingredient is sugar.

Last night was takeaway - we don’t have this very often, but DH is away and I was tired - kids had pizza & chips but I had aubergine & salad (couldn’t resist a few chips though!), and I felt much better today than if I had eaten the pizza.

I’ve also stopped drinking alcohol at all in the week, and feel much better in the mornings for it. I find rather than saying ‘no alcohol at all’ it’s easier so say ‘no alcohol Mon-Thurs’. However last night I only had one glass of wine and that was enough, whereas in the past I would have had a few glasses - so I guess my body has stopped ‘expecting’ it?

I don’t have any scales in the house but someone at work yesterday asked if I had lost weight!

I must change my username!

New username! Same person

Lol @Wandamakesporridge!! 😂😂

Am desperately trying to ward off boredom eating that is threatening today due to the crappy weather, kids all rumbling about the house making various demands that usually start with roar of "Muuuuuum!!" from the other end of the house and a list of housework chores that I REALLY do not want to do...

Need to do something productive before I fall into the biscuit tin.

Brilliant news re test results, my smear came back clear as well. Phew. Been HPV positive the last couple of times so good my body has cleared it now.

We are having steak, roast potatoes and Mediterranean veg tonight. Tastes even better as DH cooks on a Saturday. Will be having a few glasses of wine as well. Not sure what lunch will be, possibly salad as have some that needs using up. Tomorrow is roast beef so easy to be on plan and am making chocolate mousse for pudding.

@HighlandCowbag what a relief! I’ve been HPV positive for years now... been told on my next smear if still positive (it will be i’m sure) that I’ll be called in for a colposcopy as a precaution... yay me. Had one a few years ago due to low grade changes and needed a biopsy at the time as one area of high grade. And I was on my period. It was a joyful visit.

Hope you’re all having a good weekend. DH went to costa and got me a GF brownie which I ate because I was hungry and now I feel as sick as a dog that’ll teach me!

Hi all.

I had never heard of blacksticks sauce so thought I would give it ago. It was delicious but a tiny pot worked out to be 430 cals! I know I need to stop calorie counting but it is hard not to after so many decades of doing so!

Having salmon, baby new pots and salad for dinner later. I must say, I dont seem to have much appetite and actually couldnt be bothered with breakfast this morning. I devoured a large chicken stir fry at lunch though!

It is a relief I must admit Tinkling. I hope yours changes for you, maybe this new woe will have an impact for you. We've got to be healthier eating this way so it might boost your immune system enough to get rid. I know you can buy something that helps prevent the coldsore virus, I forget what it's called, Lysine rings a bell but probably not that. But it's a herbal thing you can get from Holland and Barrett, maybe try that to see if it helps or speak to your GP about a course of antivirals.

Am sure if it was the menz carrying a virus that can cause cancer there would be antivirals being prescribed left, right and centre to avoid uncomfortable, invasive procedures.

Hi all, I am looking into this WOE but just wanted to ask what you drink throughout the day. I don’t like plain water so usually have sparkling with a drop of NAS squash.