How do people stay so slim without being on a diet?

Cwoffeelover1 · 2020-12-09T21:37:32+00:00

How do people maintain a slim weight when not actively dieting does anyone have any tips on how they stay slim? I hate being on strict diet plans because it makes me crave the food more lol

tanguero · 09/12/2020 21:43

Before you eat any meal, throw a small amount away.
Over a year mounts up.

helpmum2003 · 09/12/2020 21:45

By not eating more than they burn.

You just need to reset your 'normal' amount and maybe type of food. Being on a constant diet is unlikely to be successful.

PurpleDaisies · 09/12/2020 21:48

@tanguero

Before you eat any meal, throw a small amount away. Over a year mounts up.

What a bloody waste. Why not just cook what you need?

For me, it’s mostly cooking from scratch with a focus on eating more veg and lean protein. I’m lucky that I really like lentils and veg of all sorts. Exercising a lot helps. I also weigh weekly and if I’m above a certain threshold I make an effort to eat better and exercise more. It’s easier to lose a few pounds than a stone!

trunumber · 09/12/2020 21:52

Turns out slim people just don't think about food all the time so eat what they need for fuel. Honestly this blew my mind a little, I had always assumed everyone was struggling and depriving themselves but nope, just not hungry it turns out.

MsTSwift · 09/12/2020 21:52

Intermittent fasting. Don’t eat from dinner at 7ish until early lunch next day. Have tea coffee and fresh oj. Cuts out breakfast and mid morning snack. Do cardio most mornings. Lost 2 stone doing this a year ago and have kept it off bmi was 27 now 21. Eat smaller normal meals the odd biscuit and chocolate and what I want at weekends. Feels sustainable for me anyway

PurpleDaisies · 09/12/2020 21:53

@trunumber

Turns out slim people just don't think about food all the time so eat what they need for fuel. Honestly this blew my mind a little, I had always assumed everyone was struggling and depriving themselves but nope, just not hungry it turns out.

This is always trotted out on this sort of thread and it absolutely is not true for many slim people, myself included! I love food.

PurpleDaisies · 09/12/2020 21:55

There was a fairly recent very long thread about this that might be worth looking at op.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/a4051643-If-you-are-slim-what-in-your-opinion-keeps-you-that-way?msgid=100890994#100890994

Totallylostnow · 09/12/2020 22:03

I think a big bit must be genetics or the way you are brought up around food, I’ve never ever been on a diet, am early 40s and weigh 8st 2lb and am 5’4”.
I literally never think of food other than what to buy/cook for kids teas. No exercise really other than local walks.
I do still eat though and probably eat way more than I should for dinner too late at night.

ListeningQuietly · 09/12/2020 22:04

"on a diet"
no
they just eat the right amount for their body

QueenCoconut · 09/12/2020 22:05

Only eating what you need and not what you ‘should’ be eating based on what is considered normal.
You don’t need to have breakfast, lunch and dinner every day. It’s just a guide which became a standard but it might not be appropriate for you,
Your dinner doesn’t need to be a big cooked meal - having an open sandwich with some crumbled feta on top with a cup of tea counts as dinner too.
You can then enjoy occasional fast food/ chocolate treats because your body is not over -consuming calories on a daily basis so you maintain your weight in general.

Research what other ‘slim’ nations eat - they must be doing something right , see how small their portion sizes are. For example Japanese.

I’ve also read recently that women tend to stick to the same portion size throughout their adult life, even though their calorie requirement falls with age. We should be adjusting portion sizes accordingly and eat less the older we get.

Mintjulia · 09/12/2020 22:06

Run 10k a week, eat a lot of veg and avoid sweets & shop made puddings & cakes.

PurpleDaisies · 09/12/2020 22:07

Your dinner doesn’t need to be a big cooked meal - having an open sandwich with some crumbled feta on top with a cup of tea counts as dinner too.

Presumably after you’ve eaten a proper lunch though? I’d be going to bed starving after a piece of bread and a bit of crumbly cheese.

Heartlantern2 · 09/12/2020 22:08

Just don’t really think about food in that way- eating is a chore, not a pleasure, I work a lot and only eat when I’m really hungry as time goes quick when your busy. I’ve never been one to eat 3 meals a day though, the thought makes me sick, that’s too much food but I’m a tad over weight because I grab crisps put the cupboard or chocolate!

I look thin with clothes on though If that makes sense?!

I sometimes splurge on food but always regret it afterwards, not because I’ve eaten it or the calories but feeling so full it’s uncomfortable is torturous to me and I HATE it!

LongPauseNoAnswer · 09/12/2020 22:08

The only way I am able to maintain my 8 stone weight loss is by staying away from carbs. I eat keto/carnivore. I’m hardly ever hungry and don’t crave carbs at all any more. I am a carb addict and moderation doesn’t work for addicts.

Oxyiz · 09/12/2020 22:12

I started mirtazapine earlier this year and gained an appetite (and then weight!) for the first time.

It's been an eye opener actually being hungry and looking forward to food. I feel so sorry for anyone who has lived hungrily forever, but I will say that it increases your enjoyment of food when you really want it, so there's a tradeoff there.

I'm back at an okay weight again now and sticking to it by eating just enough calories and not many more.

userxx · 09/12/2020 22:13

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BananaPie · 09/12/2020 22:13

Eat to my appetite and stop as soon as I feel full.

A fair amount of exercise. Cycle 70 miles a week, run 15k. I definitely eat more crisps and chocolate on the days I exercise. I’m noticeably hungrier.

Food is never really a reward or treat. I never eat until I feel uncomfortably full. Never been on a diet.

ZaraCarmichaelshighheels · 09/12/2020 22:13

@trunumber

Turns out slim people just don't think about food all the time so eat what they need for fuel. Honestly this blew my mind a little, I had always assumed everyone was struggling and depriving themselves but nope, just not hungry it turns out.

Not true in my case I have been slim all my life, I adore food and have a big appetite, but to maintain my weight I religiously portion control and exercise, I just make sure I eat within my calories and exercise to ensure I keep slim.

ScalpHelp · 09/12/2020 22:14

Lol @ all the scathing jealous responses

No dieting or cocaine here - just genetics. Some of us manage to get through adulthood without any food/drink/drug etc issues!

gottakeeponmovin · 09/12/2020 22:17

I could eat what I wanted and never put in weight until I had kids in my thirties. I have been a size 12 after kids, currently an 8 and for the most part I eat what I like but if I put on a couple of pounds I only have one meal the next day.

PurpleDaisies · 09/12/2020 22:17

Who is scathing and jealous @ScalpHelp?

PamDemic · 09/12/2020 22:18

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ChelseeDagger · 09/12/2020 22:18

I don't eat breakfast, just have a couple of coffees with milk and sugar. lumch at 2pm is a normak meal. dinner is soup and buttered bread mainly.

then again I drink a lot of wine but that doesn't seem to puy weight on me, oddly enough.

Mintjulia · 09/12/2020 22:18

@trunumber is right. I don't think about food until it's 6pm and ds asks what's for supper.

All that advanced planning of complicated meals makes me stressed so I don't.

tassisssss · 09/12/2020 22:18

I regularly don't eat from about 7pm until at least 10am if not later.

I don't have a sweet tooth and don't really snack.

There are often times (just not this month) when I run at least 3 times a week.