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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 6

1000 replies

TheLeadbetterLife · 15/07/2022 10:59

Whoops, we let thread 5 get away from us a bit there...

I'm going to boringly copy-paste the previous thread opener, because it's too hot to be imaginative.

Welcome to thread 6 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!

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Aria999 · 21/11/2022 22:19

Wow @samthebordercollie that's slim! Glad you are feeling good.

@Dunkindonuts8 I am so happy it is working well for you. That is very similar to my experience. It felt like a miracle. I hope it continues in similar vein!

TheLeadbetterLife · 22/11/2022 13:07

Hi everyone, hope you're all well.

I am sick as a dog at the moment, been in bed for three days. I haven't been this unwell in years and it's driving me bananas. Can't sleep either, which doesn't help.

I am feeling a bit brighter today so I'm going to try to get out and have a little walk at some point.

Ugh.

I have no appetite, and have just been eating yoghurt, nuts and raspberries for the sake of a bit of nutrition / lining my stomach so I can have painkillers.

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Aria999 · 22/11/2022 18:24

@TheLeadbetterLife sorry to hear that! Do you know what it is?

TheLeadbetterLife · 22/11/2022 18:25

I don't know, some kind of rotten cold or flu. Could be covid I s'pose but I'm not going to bother testing, as it makes no difference if it is.

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Aria999 · 22/11/2022 18:37

I don't know, isn't Covid potentially a bit more dangerous?

You could check your blood oxygen.

samthebordercollie · 22/11/2022 18:39

Sorry you're suffering @TheLeadbetterLife: Thre are some weird viruses going around here too: A friend of mine had one, couldn't eat for a week and lost 5kgs: He's fine now but has no idea what it was, all blood tests were fine:

samthebordercollie · 22/11/2022 18:42

And has anyone hear from @Words ? I hope you are all right if you pick up this tag @Words, we miss you here!

Words · 23/11/2022 19:28

Hello all and thanks for the shout out @samthebordercollie .

I'm really under the weather currently and exercise and food all to pot. I've been stupidly avoiding this thread as it used to be my safe haven and now I feel I no longer belong.

I will be back as soon as I can.

samthebordercollie · 23/11/2022 19:43

@Words I'm so sorry you are under the weather, I wondered! Have a big virtual ((hug)). Please stick around for the chat even if your head's not in the right place to exercise or follow this WOE. @Aria999 will need some support, it's Thanksgiving tomorrow 😂😂

Words · 23/11/2022 19:44

Xx

Aria999 · 23/11/2022 22:45

@Words , it's good to hear from you! Sorry to hear you are having a hard time.

I know what you mean about avoiding the thread at certain times because it makes you feel bad- but you are always welcome here, with or without the wagon!

This is also a friendly ongoing chatty thread without the food component in case you might be interested;

Daily Project - Round Two! www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/4616963-daily-project-round-two

MerelyPlaying · 24/11/2022 07:30

Oh @Words I'm really sorry to hear you've been unwell. Go easy on yourself, get better and you'll get back on track. You have been a huge inspiration to me.

I have been staying away with work, cakes/biscuits during the conference and three-course meals every night, I've been trying to make choices in line with this woe but inevitably a few biscuits have slipped in. However I made a decision not to eat breakfast.

I've been doing restricted-time eating at home, so I have carried on and missed breakfast altogether. Amazingly, I have not felt too hungry, and it's freed up a surprising amount of time! Hoping it will counteract any damage caused by ice cream for dinner 😛

Aria999 · 25/11/2022 12:27

Well, I am 2 lbs up after yesterday so now I just need to hope it goes away quickly while not eating the remaining 3/4 of the pecan pie.

This is a challenging time of year!

TheLeadbetterLife · 01/12/2022 09:49

Sorry you're going through the mill @Words. Do come back to the thread though!

How's everyone doing at the moment?

I was getting very stressed over the Summer and into Autumn, and I now see that I was overeating as a release mechanism. I really need to do some CBT to tackle that response.

I've quit one of my jobs (the one that was causing me stress) and am now working on building up my hours in my remaining one, which I much prefer. Magically, the overeating has stopped and I feel in control again.

Got a spare 3kg to lose as a result though, to get back to my goal weight. FFS.

I'm going to make CBT for overeating my New Year's resolution.

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Aria999 · 02/12/2022 11:55

Hi @TheLeadbetterLife hope you are feeling better after your illness.

Glad you have identified and tackled your stress problems. Sometimes these things creep up on you!

samthebordercollie · 02/12/2022 17:56

@TheLeadbetterLife I Hope thé CBT works for you. Being happier and less stressed is definitely better for not overeating. If I panic about something I head for the chocolate instinctively!

@Aria999 how did your Thanksgiving go? Did you get rid of the 2lbs? If I eat too many carbs (crisps and wine for example) at the weekend it can take up to 5 days to stop the fluid retention.

How's everyone else doing? I'm holding stable at BMI of 19, no intention of losing anymore weight (or putting any on!). Still not running, that's months away, but happily lifting weights and doing Pilates which is really helping my core strength and has the advantage of not making me hungry like cardio did.

Aria999 · 02/12/2022 18:01

@samthebordercollie I love core strength exercises. Make you feel good and look good!

I am still 3-4 lbs up. Pecan pie seems to be peculiarly inflammatory but I have been making other unwise choices (a second time around on the pie, also I got some nice patisserie for DH birthday to make up for us being stuck at home with a snotty two year old and then they needed eating....)

TheLeadbetterLife · 02/12/2022 18:18

I've started my Advent "fast", as I grandly call it. I try to make an effort to be extra disciplined with the healthy eating and exercise during Advent, so that I've got something in the bank for Christmas...

Annoying that I'm starting from a position of 3kg overweight, but ah well. With a bit of luck I'll have lost that by the time the feasting starts.

I'm also not drinking until at least the 19th December, as that's when I'm going to visit some friends in Germany for a few days. I don't think it's reasonable to try to resist the gluhwein. I rarely make mulled wine at home as it doesn't seem warranted when it's 15 degrees and sunny outside. Germany looks unbearably cold though.

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Aria999 · 03/12/2022 23:32

Good luck @TheLeadbetterLife

It would not really be a German Christmas without gluhwein. Or liebkuchen!

TheLeadbetterLife · 06/12/2022 13:15

Have to say I'm not a huge fan of the liebkuchen, my vices tend to be savoury.

Hopefully my metabolism will be working harder to combat the cold, because if our last visit is anything to go by, we will be stuffing our fat little faces with schnitzel and pork knuckle.

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Words · 08/12/2022 07:37

Hello Everyone, I'm back on track, and thanks for the kind words - it will take a while to catch up on everyone's news but in the meantime a big wave to @TheLeadbetterLife , @Aria999 and @samthebordercollie.

I've had almost two months off plan, including any form of meaningful exercise, and my eating went to pot completely. Very relieved therefore to see I have 'only' gained about six pounds. I've got very flabby round the middle though, and my clothes are tight, but I know that will resolve with gym and Pilates.

Getting back on plan the last two days has been easy so far. I'm not craving sugar or carby things ( and boy did I go to town on those !) Gradually resuming my self care routine, including fasting for 16 to 18 hours a day. I find that really helps dispel that woolly, scattered feeling bad eating brings.

I intend to keep on keeping on. It's good to be back.

Words · 08/12/2022 07:39

And thanks for your support too @MerelyPlaying Smile

Aria999 · 08/12/2022 12:04

Yay @Words great to see you 😊

I am still 1-2 lbs up it that could be because I bought DH naice chocolates for his birthday and we have been eating a few each night.

TheLeadbetterLife · 08/12/2022 13:08

Hooray! Glad you see you back @Words !

I too have 6lb to lose (again...), so join the club.

I'm trying not to be despondent about it, and remind myself that a couple of years ago I thought if I could only get down to 82kg I would be more than happy. I'm currently 77kg and this time last year was 74.

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Words · 10/12/2022 07:25

Hello again all

@samthebordercollie - I see you've had your foot surgery- hope you continue to heal well and the alternative exercise plan works for you, and you're coping OK?

I love Pilates- I do the Reformer version - it's a spring loaded sliding platform with looped straps for your arms and legs - I find it much easier than the mat work as it helps maintain the various positions as you move. ( Am badly co-ordinated.) And it produces faster results too. I have noticed how weak and flabby my core has become with several weeks off. But it will return.

Am doing reasonably well food wise. Roasted a chicken earlier this week and had that with veg, and made some great stock in my Instant Pot. Stir fry veg last night with a small portion of steak. Then - I stress ate some chocolate over a to do at work.

I am 56 1/2, and I think it's safe to conclude that I will always have a somewhat disordered relationship with food. Perhaps the trick is I just accept that, ride out whatever storm comes over me periodically, then get back on track, rather than allowing guilt and humiliation to cause me to give up completely into that see saw creeping weight gain we all know about.

The good thing about this plan - protein, dairy, good fats, lots of veg, fewer carbs, is it happens to suit me and my circumstances and preferences so well that it IS easy to get back into it.

BUT your head needs to be in the right place first, as I have found out myself. I didn't want to post on here when I was struggling recently. It's hard.

I have been following the plan for over two years now, with some major lapses, but it's the only way of eating that has really worked for me long term.

Even given my recent lapse my current total loss stands at 3 stones and 10 pounds. Still a little away from my target weight, but proof this thing does work.

Sorry for the epic. I am posting here to get back into everything, and hoping my musings on the emotional side of all this might help someone reading.

Have a good weekend everyone, and keep warm!

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