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Weight loss chat

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.

Why We Eat (Too Much) Thread 5

1000 replies

TheLeadbetterLife · 12/01/2022 23:13

Happy New Year regulars, lurkers and newcomers!

Welcome to thread 5 of discussion, encouragement and advice inspired by the book Why We Eat (Too Much), by Dr Andrew Jenkinson.

The basic principles of this "diet" (it's not one in the traditional sense, as it's meant to be a permanent set of changes), are as follows:

  • cut out ultra-processed food
  • massively reduce sugar, carbs, refined flours and wheat
  • eat a wide variety of vegetables, whole grains and fruit
  • eat full fat dairy and other healthy fats like extra virgin olive oil
  • improve the ratio of omega 3 to 6 by eating greens, fish, eggs and grass-fed meat, and cutting out ultra-refined seed oils

Important lifestyle changes include getting plenty of rest, relaxation and sleep, as well as taking a moderate amount of exercise (or more, if you like that sort of thing).

You don't need to count calories (in fact, you shouldn't), though it may help to count carbs or glycemic load, at least to begin with, until you get the hang of it.

Some of us share recipes by following each other on Copy Me That - www.copymethat.com/recipebox/the-leadbetter-life/6661160/

As well as the book mentioned in the title, the principles are similar to those espoused by the likes of Rangan Chatterjee, Robert Lustig, Tim Spector and Michael Mosley.

There are many successes on this thread, and the main thing is that we are aiming to make permanent, sustainable changes to adjust our weight set-points downwards.

Join us!

OP posts:
Thread gallery
34
Words · 24/02/2022 10:34

Pound!

Words · 24/02/2022 10:53

I think that's true- the more I read and the more I experience around healthy eating and weight loss - one size does not fit all!

It's very much a case of trial and error. We are all different, and the gut micro biome seems to have a bigger role to play than previously thought.

Words · 24/02/2022 10:53

Ooh sorry wrong threadBlush

50FootWave · 25/02/2022 06:31

Place marking whilst I read through everything.

MattDamon · 25/02/2022 09:42

I've been to the shops more this week than the past month! Need to sit down this weekend and properly plan out meals so I have enough food for the week.

50FootWave · 26/02/2022 12:38

If this thread is still going, I'd love to join, please.

The familiarities with what I've experienced in my diet(ing) are astounding. I'm also getting my arse kicked by the menopause, and this WOE ticks all the food choice boxes for helping symptoms.

Looking forward to seeing what develops and if I can finally banish 35 years of yo yo dieting for good.

houserenohelp · 26/02/2022 12:43

Oops I binged abit today

Hanging onto my mindset change tho that one slip doesn't end everything

MattDamon · 26/02/2022 14:04

Welcome @50FootWave! I've just finished my first week and haven't been hungry once. First time in my life!

@houserenohelp absolutely.

I lost 2 lbs initially, then gained it back, then lost it, and now it's back, LOL. I'm not counting but guesstimate that I'm eating around 2500 calories a day. The fact that I haven't gained is pretty amazing in of itself, as I previously would have on those numbers.

Goal for next week is to manage portions better so I can lose this last stone.

houserenohelp · 26/02/2022 14:12

Is anyone doing any exercises?

I'm going to put my bike on a trainer and have a punch bag and trx straps I am learning to use

samthebordercollie · 26/02/2022 14:26

@houserenohelp

Is anyone doing any exercises?

I'm going to put my bike on a trainer and have a punch bag and trx straps I am learning to use

I do a lot of sport, I run most days, over 50 miles a week, plus dog walking an hour every evening and cycling. Should do more weights as I'm 56 but find weight training (or any exercise indoors) soooo boring to do.
MattDamon · 26/02/2022 14:28

Mostly walking for me. Need to add some weights in.

50FootWave · 26/02/2022 16:41

Walking, swimming and weights for me!

@samthebordercollie I'm the same, hate exercising indoors, but I do a home body pump class, so at least I avoid all the other people which I always find intimidating.

Thank you for the warm welcome @MattDamon

Words · 27/02/2022 06:01

@50FootWave - welcome! It's lovely to have new people, and yes, this woe absolutely helps with meno symptoms.

Mine are 99per cent resolved, and it was BAD. Proved it to myself as well at Christmas when I fell off plan and they came back with a vengeance. Insomnia, anxiety, night sweats, palpitations.... ugh. Back on plan - no symptoms. It's worth eating this way for that alone, never mind the weight loss!

@houserenohelp - absolutely, just get back on plan and it will be fine. We all eat off plan sometimes. Yesterday I had Middle Eastern mezze for dinner - delicious and mostly on plan apart from the flatbreads and grains - EXCEPT that I then retrieved the remains of the Christmas baked alaska from the freezer, and we both had a portion of that. Never mind!

Exercise: doesn't apparently hugely help weight loss but its other health benefits are massive and I enjoy it, so lots of hill walking with my dog, gym three to five times a week and Pilates once. Gym and the class are easy as both are right on my doorstep and I work from home - so no excuse really. Motivation would be much tougher if I lived further away I suspect.

Long walk in the hills today, and roast chicken for dinner. Yummy. Have a great day all!

50FootWave · 27/02/2022 07:39

Thank you for the warm welcome @Words, this thread is so informative.

I think I've grasped the fundamentals, but will no doubt have the odd anomaly. The omega 3/6 stuff is confusing me a little but I'll get there.

The biggie is that DP makes their own bread, and although it's obviously free of nasties, it's wheat, which is a no.

I'm just blaming everything on the menopause and claiming it's best avoided!

Am I right in thinking lentils are ok, but barley isn't?

Words · 28/02/2022 06:47

Hi there 50. I think lentils are fine. Not sure re barley in terms of Jenkinson, but some of us are giving a pass to 'ancient grains' - a recently coined term for things like barley and spelt - in view of their other health benefits. ( see also nuts, which he is also against on account of Omega 6)

Leadbetter shared this recipe a while ago for cheesy herby bread done in the slow cooker, and used spelt flour rather than SR:

www.copymethat.com/r/0QJwDV8vs/slow-cooker-mozzarella-and-herb-soda-bre/

It works well. Mine was a little heavy so I sliced the loaf and froze it in packs of two slices so I could use it once in a while.

Re O 3 and 6 : I don't get too worried about that, tbh : but I have switched to buying wild salmon rather than farmed and using that to boost my O 3. The price is coming down somewhat, and Ocado sell it.

I took fish oil supplements for a while too but the jury is out on how effective those actually are. They deteriorate quickly and I read that the type of O 3 they contain is apparently of limited use to us anyway.

Have a great week !

50FootWave · 28/02/2022 07:32

Amazing advice, thanks, @Words.

That makes sense re ancinet grains and nuts - I'll use sparingly but not stress too much. And the Omega 6/3 advice is clearer now, too.

I take a supplmnet for the menopuase but will hit the HRT if things get messy. For now this diet is ticking all the boxes.

Thank you for the recipe.

For the first tme in yonks I haven't had that Monday weigh in/feeling of doom that I always get. In fact - no weighing for all of March for me. Rather radical!

Have a great week, too, and everyone else!

50FootWave · 28/02/2022 07:40

Spelling clearly optional today!

JesusMaryAndJosephAndTheWeeDon · 28/02/2022 15:05

I think my weight is coming down slowly, only a lb or two, but I think my stomach is less bloated too.

I am not being very strict yet but I think gradual changes is probably the best way.

YoungBritishPissArtist · 28/02/2022 16:27

Hi everyone

I was a poster on the first couple of threads and completely fell off the wagon Blush

I’m back and ready to commit! I deleted MyFitnessPal just now. I know Dr J says in the book that it’s useful for tracking carbs but I just focus on the calories and get fixated on it.

50FootWave · 28/02/2022 16:43

Hello @JesusMaryAndJosephAndTheWeeDon and @YoungBritishPissArtist

My initial feeling is a sense of calm about food and diet for the first time in a long time. A gradual change of approach and attitude seems really appealing to me after decade of obsessing about my weight and never, ever being happy (or 'winning').

TooExtraImmatureCheddar · 28/02/2022 18:00

Checking in for some accountability - have had a bad weekend, went to my sister’s on Sat and got trolleyed. Sunday involved bacon rolls and a lemon muffin in a failed attempt to fix my hangover! I am just not used to drinking much any more. I have another night out on Friday this week but I’ll be catching the bus home so damage will be limited.

Words · 01/03/2022 06:33

Morning Everyone. So glad results are starting to show, and welcome back @YoungBritishPissArtist.

I stress ate some chocolate last night. Completely unnecessary and now I wish I hadn't. I will probably never learn, so will just have to accept that it happens every so often and move on.

My approach to carbs is very approximate. Small rather than large spoonful of mash, etc. I don't enjoy counting things, and I am aiming for that state of nirvana when I can eat largely intuitively. I will allow myself the odd chocolate lapse, being realistic.

Alcohol- these days I find I am so much better not touching it at all. Since meno, I just can't tolerate it anymore and it always leads to rapid weight gain - in the empty calories, the appetite stimulant effect and the disinhibition around self control. It just becomes a downward spiral - and an upward surge on my Fitbit weight graph. The transient pleasure simply isn't worth it for me.

That's just me though, so don't despair - you might be fine with it!

50FootWave · 01/03/2022 08:53

Hello @TooExtraImmatureCheddar - I'm afraid I have no wise words as very new to this, but I get the impression this is a happy space, and no judgement. Life happens, as they say.

@Words don't worry about the chocolate - as you say, accept it, it's fine. I think the diet industry has done a right job on so many of us, using guilt and shame to trick us into buying into weight-loss plans, and setting us up to fail.

OMG, drinking! I gave up drinking in December 2019 for personal reasons which are starkly similar to yours @Words regarding self-control. It was one of the best things I have ever done on many levels - especially as the C word was about to hit the world and we, like others, had a very tough time. If I had been drinking during lockdown(s) it would have been a disaster.

And now the menopause is kicking my arse, so one less trigger for a hot flush seems sensible.

I've just come back from a very gentle and enjoyable swim. Have also been doing the 16:8 the last few days, so REALLY looking forward to my breakfast at 10am!

Happy Tuesday everyone, whatever you are doing.

Words · 01/03/2022 10:39

@50FootWave - I am doing 16:8 too! I don't mention it too often on here, as this is about Jenkinson, but I really have noticed the benefit and haven't found it anything like as difficult as I anticipated.

Helps curb appetite if anything, and has really improved my mental focus and memory - both of which were really beginning to worry me.

50FootWave · 01/03/2022 10:48

Ah, sorry to have mentioned it - wasn't thinking!

But snap again on similar experiences. Smile

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