Why We Eat (Too Much) Thread 4

[TooExtraImmatureCheddar]

Hi to all regulars and lurkers!

Here's the 4th thread, based on the ideas in Dr Andrew Jenkinson's book. We've seen some amazing losses on these threads, and the benefits for me can be summed up as 'no counting, no starving'.
We don't count calories, and if we're hungry we eat. We're focused on quality.

General eating principles:

No sugar
No wheat (which reduces unhealthy carbs)
No ultra processed foods, and in particular no processed/ultra refined oils
Honourable mention to tipping the balance of omega 3 and 6, but that’s mostly achieved by doing the above.

His principles also include trying to sleep more and reduce stress, and take regular (moderate) exercise.

If any of this sounds promising, please feel free to ask questions and come and join in!

Does anyone have those all singing scales that tell you fat percentage, metabolic age etc? What do you think of the accuracy of all the add ons?

Ours are Renpho

My issues are:
Weight loss since I got the scales 2 stone 2 (another 1 stone 3 on old scales)
Fat percentage has only reduced by 3% I am 8 % away from being not obese with body fat at current weight loss mathematically that’s another 5 stone to not be obese by that maths, but only 9lb away from being not obese in weight? Somethings not quite right there.

Metabolic age hasn’t changed at all. I feel younger and fitter, yet on my birthday it went up 1 year to still 7 years older than me.

Just having a grumble and a rant. But would be interested to hear anyone else’s experience.

@Billybagpuss I have them and confirm that they are pretty useless except for weight. The other criteria seems to be programmed in and go up and down according to weight loss, nothing else. My metabolic age is consistently one year less than my real age which is a little disappointing as I'm actually quite fit for my age (56), I run 60 miles a week, plus cycle and walk, my BMI is under 20 so it doesn't seem fair.

So pay no attention to them!

I’m focussing on two measurements @Billybagpuss - weight and waist to height ratio.

My weight is now in the healthy BMI range (just), but apparently waist size is just as much, if not more, important than having a BMI under 25. Your waist should be less than half your height, otherwise you’re probably carrying too much visceral fat, which is the dangerous sort because it is in your organs.

I have quite a bit of fat on my thighs, compared with the rest of me, but I don’t care about that, or the overall percentage. I need to get another centimetre or two off my waist.

thank you guys, not just me then

Minor triumph yesterday: went to Booth's. Averted my gaze from the coffee renoirs.

Picked up then put back my favourite - almond croissant.

(Polishes halo vigorously)

@Words

Minor triumph yesterday: went to Booth's. Averted my gaze from the coffee renoirs.

Picked up then put back my favourite - almond croissant.

(Polishes halo vigorously)

omg those Booths renoirs were my Achilles heel when I worked at Salford Quays! How did you resist??

I don't know Leadbetter.

They are DIVINE aren't they!

Had they been sold singly, I would have crumbled. But sinning twice, to that extent in a week....

I am having a terrible time with the plan at the moment. It's worse than our uk trip.

We had two lots of people over for dinner plus the in laws for a few days. All lovely but SO MUCH bread and sugar. DH made THREE pecan pies over a week.

I have put on 6lbs. I am really hoping it will just kind of drop off again rather than being another 4-6 month crawl but I don't know yet as I'm not quite back on plan (there is leftover pecan pie. DH is traveling and I can't just throw it out!)

Don't know why I am posting really just a bit

Hugs @Aria999.

Would it be an idea to portion up the pie and freeze? Maybe use at Christmas? I understand and agree with the aversion to throwing food away.

The thing with this woe is it's for life, and these blips will inevitably happen along the way- we are real women living in the real world.

I would just get back gently on plan as soon as you can in the run up to Christmas. It will make you feel better in yourself, even if the weight doesn't come off straight away.

Over this side of the pond, it seems merely ogling cakes in Booth's causes weight gain . Nudged up slightly this week after a surprise loss last week. Sigh...

I've been thinking of the waist height ratio issue Leadbetter refers to. I have two inches to lose on that measure still. However, I am carrying a sort of deflated tyre type thing around my middle, ( so attractive!) which isn't shifting despite all the pilates and gym in the world. How can you tell whether it's more a skin than a visceral fat issue I wonder?

@Aria999 I put on 4 pounds after a long weekend away and the week later it was gone. I do think the set point thing works. I’m still 3-7 pounds over where I want to be but I’m still trying to focus on the eating and not my weight. I’m mainly trying to replace some of the carbs with an extra veg portion.

If anyone likes bean burgers these are delicious, you can make a batch and freeze them. cookieandkate.com/best-veggie-burger-recipe/

Has anyone got any ideas for Christmas Day starters this year. I still want to avoid sugar as much as possible so no pud but would like something really lovely but straightforward for starter

I never bother with starters for Christmas dinner, takes up space that can be filled with turkey, bread sauce and Christmas pudding.

I will not be on plan on Christmas Day. I will make sure I eat plenty of sprouts and go on a long walk, but there’s no way I’m sacrificing my figgy pudding.

I have the 'starter' at lunch and the roast in the evening for Christmas, no pudding just a fresh fruit salad. The 'starter' is French style fruits de mer/smoked salmon/foie gras people just help themselves.

@Aria999 I'm sure the weight is just temporary too. I was going to suggest the freezing option too (can you freeze pecan pie?) It's always difficult when you have people staying to stay on plan eating wise. Is Christmas less of a food fest in the US? Here in France it can be a real trial. My first Christmas we were invited to the neighbours, there was apéro with nibbles, then fruit de mer. It was then 11pm so we thought that was it. Then foie gras, then a fish course, then the roast, after cheese and lastly dessert. I just physically can't eat that quantity of food!

Thanks all. I have banished the pecan pie to the freezer, good idea.

I am 2lbs down from the high point this morning so it seems hopeful!

The waist thing is interesting. Mine was exactly half my height when I was a bit overweight but the fat really goes both on and off round there very dramatically now (since 2nd pregnancy). It never used to. And when overweight I have a flabby overhang, yuk. It goes away as I get slimmer luckily.

I was going to suggest smoked salmon as a starter also.

If you can get those little parcels of smoked salmon with creamed cheese in the middle, they are nice too.

Morning Everyone. I tried red cabbage yesterday which I thought I didn't like ( childhood memories of hours- stewed mush) It was rather good stewed for half an hour with apple and star anise.

Cauliflower cheese here for dinner as it's meat free day today, and also made a vat of lentil and carrot soup at the weekend for lunches.

I've been given a large box of hotel chocolat chocs for Christmas. Fortunately I don't think I will binge on them, but have put them out of sight just in case!

Stay warm!

Funnily enough we had red cabbage yesterday Words. Though in the context of a big old Sunday lunch, as we had friends over.

We had choriço, cheese, crudités, beef stew, braised red cabbage with quinces, then walnuts and tangerines.

...and white bread, mashed potatoes, hot chocolate custard and walnut macaroons for pudding. And wine. And G&Ts. Oh dear.

It was a bloody lovely day though.

Sounds good though @TheLeadbetterLife !

Lunch: shredded Brussels sprouts fried with butter and bacon from Nigel slater's real fast food.

Sounds fab Leadbetter!

Aria, I've recently started eating brussels that way. So delicious, even without the bacon! I get one of those funky sprout stick things, and popped in a bucket of water, they last for ages.

We were discussing waist sizes. In the book, Dr J mentions about how average sizes have escalated since the introduction of processed food in our diets.

.Had cast iron evidence of that today. Was idly looking at a pair of 'vintage ' ie about 20 years old, Rohan trousers on eBay. They are a size 16. Waist size? 30 inches, which is an inch above their current size 10.

Good morning. Thanks for all the tips and recipes. Those bean burgers look good @Chunkymonkey123. They remind me of the sweet potato burgers from Aldi which I love, I know they're shop bought but they hit the spot. Now I have them without a bun with plenty of salad.
I have to say I'm really enjoying this WOE. I'm having all the foods that I love like cheese and butter which I'd avoided for years and never feel hungry. I've lost another 2lbs so I'm my lowest weight for 2 years and all done without feeling deprived! Who knew??
I agree with the waist measurement and skin or fat comments. I'm just about at the right size now but still have a 'spare tyre'. However, I'm an old bird now (65) so not expecting the perfect body. Still feeling good though.

Those burgers do look nice. Does anyone know if I can sub lentils for the quinoa?
I am new to veggie cooking!

I'm struggling a bit with this, I've been losing and regaining pounds for the last few weeks and I think I'm higher than when I started. I feel it too, it's not just a trick of the scales.

I wonder if this WOE just doesn't work for me? I've probably been eating too much fat and calories, my weight gain would make sense to someone from a WW/SW background looking at what I've been eating! Perhaps I've really thrown my body with all my diets over the years. I'm still drinking wine too.

I feel like I need to be told what to do, I'm wondering about going back to WW/SW but I completely agree they aren't long term solutions!

Sorry to bring the thread down, you're such a nice bunch here!

Sorry to hear you're struggling @Winecheesesleep.

This is a hideous suggestion but how about cutting back or eliminating the wine, and see what happens? Then if no change, slightly smaller portion sizes ( says she)

To me, calorie counting feels so joyless, but at the end of the day, it's what is best for you really.

Do you have much to lose? Sorry I can't recall.