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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 · 16/06/2022 09:51

Mmm. I can see a new use for my previously redundant hot chocolate maker!

NoAprilFool · 16/06/2022 10:12

Well done on the size 12s @Words !!

welcome @PotatoSlayer , I’ve been enjoying cream in my coffee this week. I just have one cup, good coffee, cream and thoroughly enjoy it

Aria999 · 16/06/2022 14:26

NSV, I can easily fit into my crop trousers from 5 years ago when I had an inexplicable slim phase.

They are probably hopelessly out of fashion by now but never mind 🤣

Words · 17/06/2022 05:55

I am as fashion forward as you @Aria999 Tennis

Hold onto things long enough and they come back into fashion again!

It is a little depressing at my time of life, to realise that stuff I have in my wardrobe has passed from retro to vintage...

NowYouListenToMeFella · 17/06/2022 09:11

Well done words on the jeans and staying on track when you have had a crap week.

Potato is the bulletproof coffee nice? I have heard of it before but can't get my head around putting butter in it.

Still sick here, not covid so don't know what I have. So happy it's Friday and I can rest for the weekend. I feel like I slept for three minutes last night.

Had planned to make a cauliflower and chick pea curry during the week but there isn't a cauliflower to be had. I don't know what's going on.

Looking forward to getting back into a proper eating and gym routine next week.

Aria999 · 17/06/2022 23:01

@NowYouListenToMeFella could you do it with frozen cauliflower? It sounds lovely!

DH thinks cauliflower is the spawn of satan so I can only have it when he's not around 😢

NowYouListenToMeFella · 18/06/2022 11:08

Aria999 · 17/06/2022 23:01

@NowYouListenToMeFella could you do it with frozen cauliflower? It sounds lovely!

DH thinks cauliflower is the spawn of satan so I can only have it when he's not around 😢

I never even thought of looking for frozen cauliflower. Thanks a mill.

NoAprilFool · 18/06/2022 13:28

@Aria999 my family agree (also aubergines, cabbages etc!!) but I love it.
@NowYouListenToMeFella frozen cauliflower is brilliant for smoothies - my husband and daughter have no idea they’re having it 😂😂

I'm struggling. It’s evening snacking (on UPF) that’s mainly my downfall. The easiest thing would be not to have it in the house, but I don’t buy it for myself in the first place.

Aria999 · 18/06/2022 14:01

@NoAprilFool normally I don't have upf snacks in the house if I can help it but when DH and DS have them I stuff myself with cubes of cheese and olives and hope for the best...

Words · 18/06/2022 18:16

@NoAprilFool Hope you are over Covid- has your sense of taste returned, I hope so.

Re the snacks, can you put them somewhere you don't regularly see them? I've moved my chocolate stash to the back of a top shelf. That way I am not reminded of it every time I open the cupboard.

Another good loss for me this week. Hopefully genuine!

Walked 18 miles Shock in the hills today. It's great to feel strong and healthy ( if still overweight BMI wise) again.

Cauliflower - I've started having it roasted, cut into little florets, with cumin or zaatar spice mix.

Tiredandbored · 19/06/2022 10:20

Hi everyone, I haven't been posting for a long time now as life has been somewhat challenging over recent months, but I'm hoping to be able to keep up with this thread again now.

Great to see so many new faces joining us, welcome everyone! Great also to see so many regulars still posting, thank you @TheLeadbetterLife for keeping the thread ticking along.

I haven't been following the eating plan properly over the last 6 months, but I'm back on it again now. Definitely noticed a significant downward difference in my mood and general well-being, as well as my weight, so I'm looking forward to getting back on track again.

Words · 20/06/2022 05:58

Welcome back @Tiredandbored !

I have been off plan too in the last eight months or so, and the difference getting back on track has made is huge. As you say, it's not just the weight, but also mood and energy.

I have a couple of days away this week. It's self catering so should be fine. Apart from the fish and chip supper, but that's mandatory Grin

Words · 20/06/2022 12:21

I made this yesterday. Very tasty. Very retro Grin
It does need the basil.

www.copymethat.com/r/RkUcbGZMb/marry-me-chicken/

TheLeadbetterLife · 20/06/2022 12:35

I saw that recipe recently Words, it does look nice. I was thinking of doing something similar tonight with some leftover roast chicken. Or a laksa.

OP posts:
Billybagpuss · 20/06/2022 14:02

Hello everyone and welcome back Tiredandbored. Hope everyone has had a good week so far.

I’ve been sugar free for 15 months now, this has included fizzy drinks. Yesterday we did a long walk and I was feeling shaky when we got back so decided to have half a glass of lemonade, honestly I have never tasted anything so disgusting in my life, it was too sweet, sickly and very artificial. I used to guzzle the stuff daily. This woe has definitely changed my taste buds 😂

Tiredandbored · 20/06/2022 14:48

It is so true, I have noticed that I appreciate good food with proper flavouring much more now. Sometimes if I eat something processed I realise how bland and unappetising it actually is, though in a past life I would have just shovelled it into me without even really thinking about it.

Aria999 · 21/06/2022 12:24

Yes I find this too. Also when I go to the bakery section in the supermarket these days (American so not the very fresh lovely goodies we get in the uk) I can really smell the sugar. It's very off putting.

Tiredandbored · 21/06/2022 17:27

Meals today: porridge for breakfast, vegetable stir-fry for lunch (leftover from yesterday's dinner) and salad for dinner.

Words · 21/06/2022 17:45

Leadbetter I used it to liven up leftover chicken- rather than cooking the chicken in the sauce- it was very good.

Off on my brief road trip tomorrow. I've cooked a frittata with roasted red peppers and some sausages as my picnic contributions. Plan to pick up some nice cheese from a deli I know en route.

Filled car up with diesel, and apart from nearly dying of shock at the cost, I really noticed the shelves and shelves of UPFs. It's wall to wall, with virtually no fresh food at all.

TooExtraImmatureCheddar · 22/06/2022 09:59

Have a lovely trip, Words!

I'm still here, plugging on slowly - bit of backsliding at the weekend with Aperol spritz and hangover toast in the morning. I've been trialling Green Chef delivery boxes - like Hello Fresh but lower carb. Not massively impressed tbh, recipes aren't very exciting and just meat plus lots of veg, which I could do on my own without paying £50 for a box! In my trial of different food boxes, Gousto had the nicest recipes so far but it was harder to choose suitable meals because lots had pasta in them.

Tiredandbored · 22/06/2022 19:40

The price of fuel is horrendous at the minute Words, but I'm also noticing such an increase in the cost of food. I am finding it much harder to eat as healthily without spending more.

When I started this WoE I bought things like cod fillets or halloumi cheese to have with a stir-fry, I would buy a wide range of vegetables and have lots of strawberries, raspberries etc.

However money is a lot tighter at the minute and it's really made me realise that eating healthily is so much more expensive. Yes, I can get things like beans and eggs relatively cheap, but a lot of the healthy food recommended on this WoE (grass-fed beef, fish, olive oil etc.) costs a lot more than the mass-produced UPFs.

I'm trying not to let things slip, but I'm definitely finding it much harder now that I have less money.

Arcadia · 23/06/2022 22:32

TooExtraImmatureCheddar · 22/06/2022 09:59

Have a lovely trip, Words!

I'm still here, plugging on slowly - bit of backsliding at the weekend with Aperol spritz and hangover toast in the morning. I've been trialling Green Chef delivery boxes - like Hello Fresh but lower carb. Not massively impressed tbh, recipes aren't very exciting and just meat plus lots of veg, which I could do on my own without paying £50 for a box! In my trial of different food boxes, Gousto had the nicest recipes so far but it was harder to choose suitable meals because lots had pasta in them.

Have you tried Mindful Chef? Really recommend.

Words · 24/06/2022 06:22

Had a wonderful few days, and the weather was sublimely beautiful. Stunning wildflower meadows.

Despite averaging about 15 miles a day of hiking, I have gained slightly. Maybe it's all that muscle I am building up. It's my story, and I am sticking to it. Blush

Re costs of eating healthily tired, it's tough. Protein is the most expensive thing, and that is shooting up in price. And on this plan, we're avoiding the traditionally filling wheat things like pasta, so it's not easy.

My butcher who also farms, told me that his lambs are fetching almost twice the price at market at the moment, and of course that is reflected in the price we pay.

Why We Eat (Too Much) Thread 5
Why We Eat (Too Much) Thread 5
TooExtraImmatureCheddar · 24/06/2022 11:30

That's so beautiful, Words! Glad you had a lovely trip.

I haven't tried Mindful Chef - will have a look at that one, Arcadia.

I go on holiday on Mon, and I have lost a total of 6.5lbs since March. I had hoped it might be a bit higher but I'm happy to have lost anything!

NowYouListenToMeFella · 24/06/2022 11:45

That looks stunning Words. Glad you enjoyed your trip.

Agree with you tired on the cost of everything going up. I really need to do an eat the freezer week. Lots of protein and cooked stuff in there. I need to make use of it.

Had a boozy weekend so didn't weigh. Putting it off until next week. Bad idea I know. I did get back to the gym. Working out in a billion degrees is not fun. Although I'd take it over the torrential rain we are having today.

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