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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!

OP posts:
Thread gallery
29
Sunlightonthewater · 30/08/2023 16:16

Wow that is expensive @Aria999 . You might have to set up your own creamery/fromagerie at some point!! I can see why you love coming back here for the bread - that co-op cheese sourdough is amazing - it’s on my “things I must never buy otherwise I will eat them all in one day” list 😬

Sunlightonthewater · 30/08/2023 17:34

Wrapunzel · 30/08/2023 14:57

Thanks for the welcome!
I'm doing pretty well on day 2 and feel like this is going to work for me. I've still not finished the book though but have the main concepts sorted.
How bad is Pepsi max for insulin etc? It's my vice, is a can a day too much? I've been drinking three Blush

Hi @Wrapunzel from memory (in books about fasting) artificial sweeteners do raise insulin levels. But from reading these threads I think one thing everyone agrees on is that this woe has to be sustainable - and not to change too many things at once? Reducing to one can of Pepsi Max sounds like a good goal!

Wrapunzel · 30/08/2023 17:36

Thanks sunlight
I love bread so much that the Pepsi feels like a step too far at the same time!

samthebordercollie · 30/08/2023 18:23

Welcome to @Sunlightonthewater @Wrapunzel @Writingonthewalls
I'm afraid I haven't been posting much because I'm sort of following this WOE but having listened to the Chris Van Tuleken UPF book twice, I prefer his approach, not cutting out whole food groups, and as I'm into weights now as well as running I'm trying to maximise protein intake via wholefoods, so 128g per day for each lb of body weight. There is no evidence that omega 6 on its own is dangerous, but the fact it is used so liberally in ultraprocessed food has lead to it being villified. So I think the whole 'nuts are bad' thing is ridiculous. I also think that eating as much fat as you want is dangerous, you can put on weight eating too much of even good fats as the food is highly calorific.
I'm still avoiding the boulangerie for the most part, maybe a croissant every 6 months and bread (but only wholegrain[ when I eat boiled/poached eggs. I'm eating loads of dairy, lots of Greek yoghurt and cheese, which is easy as we have so much of it here in France.
My weight has been the most stable it has ever doing eating like this in conjunction with lifting weights 5 times a week, running 4 times a week and lots of walking, so it works for me and I'm never hungry.
I just feel a bit of a fraud being here now 😳

Wrapunzel · 30/08/2023 22:25

Thanks Sam
It's great to hear about a success story and making the woe a long term lifestyle choice Smile

Words · 31/08/2023 06:30

Hello @Writingonthewalls - welcome to the tribe!  so glad you're feeling the benefit already!

@samthebordercollie - of course you're not a fraud! I think we've discovered that this plan needs to flex a little to suit each person's needs, and we're also learning a lot from each other about gut health and fasting too. Please stay!

Hello @Aria999 and@TheLeadbetterLife - wow, that does sound impressive. So glad your sleep has improved. It's so important.

Interesting writing about bread not spiking when eaten with fat and protein. I find the same if I have a slice of sourdough with bacon and egg. Jam on toast, on the other hand ( even home made with a fraction of the recommended quantity of sugar ) sets me off.

All being well, I will be moving to a new house in October with a big garden and... hens! So will be asking advice from Leadbetter shortly.

It's all in that scary hypothetical stage at the moment with no dates for exchange as yet, so very stressful, and the agents are very pushy. I am managing more or less to keep on track with the food, which is a miracle in itself. Weight was drifting North but seems to have stabilised again.

So glad this thread has reanimated!

Wrapunzel · 31/08/2023 09:36

That is interesting about the bread with protein. My downfall is marmite with cream cheese so hopefully when I reintroduce the odd bagel it won't spike too much

TheLeadbetterLife · 31/08/2023 18:45

Hurrah for hens, @Words! You won’t regret it.

Why We Eat (Too Much) thread 6
OP posts:
Sunlightonthewater · 31/08/2023 18:58

“@samthebordercollie - of course you're not a fraud! I think we've discovered that this plan needs to flex a little to suit each person's needs, and we're also learning a lot from each other about gut health and fasting too. Please stay!”

I completely agree!! @samthebordercollie you are a critical member of the thread!! I’ve been very interested in your variations to this woe and also your recommendations to articles, books, podcasts etc.

On that note, has anyone read “Dark Matter” by Dr James Kinross? It’s about the gut microbiome (and other bodily microbiomes that I wasn’t aware of!) I’m only part of the way through but it’s totally fascinating - the gut microbiome seems to be connected to everything from our hormones to our immune responses and he thinks the fact that it has been disastrously impacted by the “western diet” is resulting in a surge of diseases which were previous far less common (autoimmune diseases for example). It is full of anthropological evidence, which I find very interesting. I think it will tie in with this woe due to the importance of eating a variety of whole foods, restricted upf etc.

I’m going to try to link to a summary here (but it may not work or may be behind a paywall my apologies if so.)

https://apple.news/AW8loElypTNqg1pQsDHR-HA

Allergies and weight gain: it’s all about the gut — The Times and The Sunday Times

These days it’s not unusual for Dr James Kinross, a consultant surgeon and clinical senior lecturer in colorectal surgery at Imperial College London, to see thirtysomethings in his clinic with bowel cancer. “This is no longer a disease of older people,...

https://apple.news/AW8loElypTNqg1pQsDHR-HA

Words · 01/09/2023 06:51

Can't wait, Leadbetter!

That sounds really interesting, sunlight . I'm going to order a copy.

samthebordercollie · 01/09/2023 09:44

@Sunlightonthewater Thanks for the link on the Dr James Kinross book, I've just downloaded it, it looks fascinating!
@Words Having hens is wonderful, how many are you planning on having? I've been getting around 5 eggs a day for months now, I eat at least 2 eggs a day, they really are a superfood. The rest go into baking, crème brûlées, gateau breton, fondant au chocolat, far Breton (none of which I eat as my favourite dessert is Greek Yoghurt[ but the family polish them off pretty quickly!

Words · 01/09/2023 11:09

Well I will take on the two residents and then see how it goes. Maybe two or three more?

Sunlightonthewater · 01/09/2023 11:13

We have chickens too @Words, I love them! They have their own little personalities and ways of communicating. I also find it incredibly relaxing and de-stressing just watching them pecking around! The eggs are a bonus!

Words · 01/09/2023 11:33

Ooh this is fantastic!

I've heard other people say that too about their characters. A neighbour has offered to go round when I am there to offer advice and check re fox proofing and advise on deterring rats etc.

My only slight concern, except a fox massacre, is that it might put me off roast chicken. Which is one of my Favourite Things.

Sunlightonthewater · 03/09/2023 09:33

That hadn’t happened here luckily (perhaps surprisingly) @Words - still lots of roast chicken dinners (not to be mentioned in front of the chickens of course).

How are you getting on @Wrapunzel?

I’ve had a bad few days - I’ve got some kind of bug and my eating has gone haywire. I find it really hard to eat healthily when I’m feeling ill 🤦‍♀️

Wrapunzel · 03/09/2023 14:40

Ahh thanks for checking! All good, 3lbs off in three days and stayed off by day 6. I miss bagels though Blush

Sunlightonthewater · 03/09/2023 15:48

That’s brilliant, well done!!
Maybe you could make bagels out of chickpea flour or something 🤔…

bjall4u · 03/09/2023 21:34

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Wrapunzel · 03/09/2023 21:42

Sunlightonthewater · 03/09/2023 15:48

That’s brilliant, well done!!
Maybe you could make bagels out of chickpea flour or something 🤔…

I just need something that I can toast and have marmite and melted cream cheese on! Or I can wait until I reach my goal and maybe have one a week?
Sorry that you're struggling btw. I will soon! I watch my (tiny) mum who's done this WOE for as long as I can remember and I envy her not defaulting to bread at every meal!

Words · 04/09/2023 06:05

Excellent @Wrapunzel

Melted cream cheese you say ? Mmmm. I experimented with grilled cheese on oatcakes for a while. That worked ok. You can get wheat free, olive oil oatcakes ( clearspring) to keep within the woe, but they're quite pricey. Or make your own, which I also did for a time, until a few bad batches put me off.

Very much enjoying the James Kinross book on the microbiome, . @Sunlightonthewater . Thanks for recommending. It's fascinating.

I've bought a secondhand bicycle. I live in the Pennines. This may not have been my wisest purchase. GrinI feel very régal sailing around town on it though.

It's killing my tailbone unfortunately.

Words · 04/09/2023 06:19

Oatcakes:

www.copymethat.com/r/xFRiLFjHR/easy-oatcake/

Wrapunzel · 04/09/2023 07:14

Thank you! Oatcakes it is

Wrapunzel · 05/09/2023 06:51

Just checking in after a week completed
4lbs off
No hunger, just serious pizza envy.
I know it won't be this quick longer term, I'm expecting less than a pound a week but I already feel slimmer and more energetic. I feel like a quitting smoker with bagels though Blush I've had one a day most days for 20 years.

Words · 07/09/2023 07:12

Fabulous work @Wrapunzel , well done!

The sense of wellbeing and alertness is just great, isn't it.

I've found when I fall off the plan, that's the first thing to disappear.

The reason I've stuck with it for so long is it's such a great way to eat, so it's easy to hop back on.

You may find things call to you less as your body and brain adjust.

Wrapunzel · 07/09/2023 10:07

Thanks words Halo
I had a chat with my (tiny) DM this weekend when she stayed with us. This is her woe all of the time, unintentionally, she finds this is how she stays slim and healthy at 70. She never eats bread and seldom has chocolate. I used to feel a bit sorry for her boring diet but now I've realised it was mine that was boring. Hers is a nutritious, nourishing rainbow diet and mine was UPFsBlush

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