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A space to talk openly about weight loss journeys and challenges. Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. You may wish to speak to a medical professional before starting any diet.

Original poster

Why We Eat (Too Much) Thread 4

989 replies

TooExtraImmatureCheddar · 25/08/2021 09:08

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!

OP posts:
Thread gallery
17
holidaynearlyover · 13/09/2021 06:41

I'm so confused as I thought we shouldn't cook with olive oil! Butter is ok though.

Tiredandbored · 13/09/2021 10:15

I use butter or lard when cooking and olive oil for dressings or to replace vegetable oil in recipes.

Aria999 · 13/09/2021 15:43

Olive oil is definitely ok

HighlandCowbag · 13/09/2021 18:44

The 'best' thing to cook with is butter or lard. This is because they are animal based fats rather than seed oil. Although olive oil, evoo and rapeseed oil have OK omega 3/6 ratios when cold, the omega 3 is fragile and breaks down at higher heats. That's why cold pressed evoo and rapeseed oil are OK in dressings but not necessarily to cook with, if you are being ultra strict.

I use butter, lard and dripping for most things I cook. I use sesame oil for stir fry as I think the taste difference is worth it.

Shoddy weekend foodwise, knew it would be a tough one. Saturday I had an omelette for lunch, then dh 'treated' us to an M and S dine in meal. He'd bought chicken pie, mashed potato, veg and cauliflower cheese. I only had a small bit of the pastry tho, probably 3 mouthfuls. Yesterday we were out all day at a slalom event with ds. Had a packet of quavers and a sausage roll, then dh picked naice kebabs up. Had the lamb donnor, but didn't eat the bread .

Today been slightly better. Salad for lunch with cheese and a bit of hummus, then roast chicken, salad and chips for dinner.

Words · 14/09/2021 08:11

I'm back from hols. Had a great time - largely fortunate with the weather and clocked about 100 miles. It was pleasant, undemanding walking so wasn't getting any high intensity activity, but I imagine my metabolism adjusted to compensate for the hours of lower level exercise. Walking on from one place to the next over a number of days is a great way of slowing down to a stress less natural rhythm - to the extent that driving feels very alien at first!

Food wise I avoided bread, pasta, pastries and fried things with the big exception of a cooked breakfast most days with poached eggs ( highly unusual for me to have anything substantial in the morning) and a three course dinner at night, allowing myself puddings if I fancied one - and I still weigh very slightly less than I did when I set off.

The other notable issue was no aches and pains whatsoever despite the days of constant activity ( I have arthritis in my toe which can get very sore). I think this is a combination of me now being very much lighter, the good effects of this woe and a pair of custom made insoles for my boots to correct my lopsided gait!

Now I need to re establish my normal eating routine, and curb the treats! Wink

Aria999 · 14/09/2021 12:54

Sounds great @Words , glad you had a good trip! That's a lot of walking!

MrsBloatymcbloatface · 14/09/2021 13:59

That’s impressive @Words !

I’m so used to cooking with EVOO, I don’t know if I can change my ways. 🙈

I finished the book last night and I’m so grateful to all of you for posting about it! I’ve only been following this woe for a week, but I’ve felt such an improvement in my energy levels, brain fog and though haven’t weighed myself can tell that I’ve lost a little.

Words · 14/09/2021 14:06

Thanks both Smile

Mrs - I use EVOO and butter all the time for cooking, and am going to stick with it. I've got some rapeseed also, but rarely use it.

holidaynearlyover · 14/09/2021 19:19

I've obviously got hold of the wrong end of the stick and thought Olive oil was out 🤦🏼‍♀️

Chunkymonkey123 · 14/09/2021 19:34

@Words that’s brilliant that you had a good time and didn’t put on weight when on your holiday, I always put on weight!
Can I ask those of you who have been doing it whether you put on weight initially and whether you calorie count or watch your portion sizes at all? The only time I tried slimming world I put on weight! I think it was the freedom to eat as much as I wanted.

Aria999 · 15/09/2021 01:00

@Chunkymonkey123

Rule number 3 (ish, after no vegetable oil and no sugar) eat if you are hungry.

At the start I was binging on cheese and I still lost weight. Now my appetite has become very self regulating.

Tiredandbored · 15/09/2021 06:12

@Chunkymonkey123, I don't calorie count at all on this WoE. I do try and be aware of my portion size, but that is more because my appetite has reduced and I don't need as much. Sometimes I eat a larger portion, but then I feel really uncomfortably full afterwards.

I try to 'listen' to my body and realise when I am actually hungry and not eat for other reasons such as habit or boredom. If I'm genuinely hungry, I'll have a snack, but it's rare that I have to eat between meals now.

StrongArm · 15/09/2021 10:31

I keep losing this thread :)

I have the last part of the book to read but changes I have made so far

  1. Taking an algae omega 3 supplement
  2. No more crisps, bread, pasta, pizza (though I am still eating potatoes, porridge and other forms of carbs but have cut out the processed ones)
  3. Eating nuts again - I love nuts and when I was calorie counting, i couldn't have them often as they count too high
  4. Eating a lot more fruit

I've been doing that for a few weeks and have lost over 2kg which I'm amazed by. I have not counted calories once in that time.

I'm a real proponent of the book as I know I had a set weight that has moved up and down over time. I'm really interested in getting to the last part and hearing how we are supposed to put it into action!

Words · 15/09/2021 11:53

Re calories and weight gain:

I don't calorie count as I am not a numbers person and find it a bit joy-sapping as I love food. Plus, one of the points in the book is that things are more complex than simply cals in and out.

I struggle with portion control but am trying to do what @Tiredandbored is doing - to listen to my body and try not to over eat.

I don't eat any processed or takeaway food anymore and make everything from scratch. No bread or crackers- make own oatcakes. Avoid things with flour in generally as it gives me indigestion and I now appear to be sensitised to it. I can tolerate some though, and use it to thicken sauces.

Use olive oil and butter. Full fat everything. I've increased my oily fish consumption and tried to improve the variety of vegetables I eat. Lost loads of weight on my own version of this, before joining the thread ( in July I think) and am now gradually chipping away at the final stone and a bit after losing over three times that since last October.

I do allow myself sweet treats- good quality dark chocolate and a few other bits and pieces. I've had the odd tiny blip up and down but no sustained weight gain at all, which is ace.

It's really Mediterranean style eating, with few refined carbs, but not no carbs. It really suits me and I feel great on it.

samthebordercollie · 15/09/2021 12:22

@StrongArm

I keep losing this thread :)

I have the last part of the book to read but changes I have made so far

  1. Taking an algae omega 3 supplement
  2. No more crisps, bread, pasta, pizza (though I am still eating potatoes, porridge and other forms of carbs but have cut out the processed ones)
  3. Eating nuts again - I love nuts and when I was calorie counting, i couldn't have them often as they count too high
  4. Eating a lot more fruit

I've been doing that for a few weeks and have lost over 2kg which I'm amazed by. I have not counted calories once in that time.

I'm a real proponent of the book as I know I had a set weight that has moved up and down over time. I'm really interested in getting to the last part and hearing how we are supposed to put it into action!

@StrongArm when you read the last part of the book you will discover that nuts are the devil in disguise, full of omega 6 and not recommended by Dr J. That said, I still eat far too many of them
MrsBloatymcbloatface · 15/09/2021 14:55

I am struggling to give up nuts too…

I’m also struggling a little with the time it takes to make everything from scratch. I wfh and stopped for brunch at 12. Had a nice cheese omelette and avocado. Then decided to do some prep for tonight’s dinner (salad with chicken). I then made some hummus as all the ones I saw at the shop have rapeseed oil. And then made my DC some oat date peanut-butter balls because I’m trying to cut out processed foods from their diets too.

It’s now nearly time for the school run and I’ve hardly got any work done 😂

StrongArm · 15/09/2021 15:06

@samthebordercollie oh nooooo on the nuts! I love nuts! I was hoping they were allowed Grin

@MrsBloatymcbloatface that made me laugh. I also can't cook everything from scratch so am eating a lot of weird food together as i don't have time! Cheese is featuring quite high (pls don't tell me that is banned too!)

StrongArm · 15/09/2021 15:08

I am sure my weight loss has only come from just cutting out bread and crisps which I'm sure is quite appalling as it just shows you how much of both I was eating!

PrincessofPeeves · 15/09/2021 15:50

Recipe for the oat date peanut butter balls please @MrsBloatymcbloatface !

MrsBloatymcbloatface · 15/09/2021 16:20

@StrongArm cheese is definitely allowed!!

@PrincessofPeeves here’s a recipe minimalistbaker.com/5-ingredient-peanut-butter-cup-energy-bites/

The dates are high in natural sugars/carbs and I guess the peanut butter isn’t on plan. But otherwise these are a good wheat-free, unprocessed treat.

PrincessofPeeves · 15/09/2021 16:22

Thank you!

Aria999 · 15/09/2021 16:46

@StrongArm yes, eat as much meat, dairy and fresh vegetables as you like.

I am eating a lot of yoghurt and cheese.

Neeko · 15/09/2021 16:48

Lots of yoghurt and cheese here too. I think we all just have to do what we can. My diet is so much better than it used to be. If I have to cheat on some meals in terms of cooking from scratch then so be it. Smile

Chunkymonkey123 · 15/09/2021 17:53

Great thank you @Aria999 and @Tiredandbored. It’s a big shift and I’m not sure I trust it without calorie counting but I’ve been reading loads about eating unprocessed food so I’m ready to give it a shot!

Aria999 · 15/09/2021 18:22

Avocado and jarlsberg cheese for lunch then I needed a sugar hit so a sliced banana with double cream and a half teaspoon of sugar sprinkled on it.