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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.

Eating only when hungry….how?

13 replies

Bikeybikeface · 04/01/2023 11:51

I understand this is the ideal way to eat but how do people manage it in real life?
If I’m meeting with friends for a meal at a certain time, what if I’m not hungry? Do I just not eat? What if they’ve prepared it, do I sit there and say “ you all eat, I’ll have mine in a doggy bag for later”.
I love eating together as a family but how do I manage that under this intuitive eating lifestyle?
Is this style of healthy eating incompatible with real life. If you do do it, how? Do you commit fully or do you work it around your family and friends?

OP posts:
iammarleysmummy · 04/01/2023 11:52

You can order something very small to nibble on.

Nordix · 04/01/2023 12:11

It’s about planning. If you know you’re going out for a nice meal later, or dinner at someones house, only have a small breakfast/lunch (or none). I mainly do this because the hungrier you are, the more you’ll enjoy the nice meal. Ordering food in a restaurant when you’re not hungry for it seems such a waste.

But if for some unavoidable reason you aren’t very hungry when you go out to lunch, I would just order a salad.

nomorespaghetti · 04/01/2023 12:12

I tend to eat my meals at the same time each day, and I don’t snack. So come 7am, 12noon and 5pm I’m always hungry, as that’s when my stomach is expecting a meal. If I’ve had a really big meal for lunch say, and I’m not hungry by 5 then I’ll wait till I am hungry.

Jinglecrunch · 04/01/2023 12:15

I tried the intuitive eating thing for a bit. Turns out I skip a lot of meals, and eat a lot of processed foods when left 'to my own devices' so I'm not sure that works well for me.
Also, I am never hungry at breakfast time, but then have a wobble mid morning if I hadn't eaten anything (and can't always eat then because I'm working or looking after small children). So then by lunchtime I'm too hungry to make good choices. Basically it all ends up with me having a chocolate bar mid morning and a takeaway at 10 o'clock at night and that's what I'm trying to get away from.
So now I have meals 3x a day every day. I'm not big on breakfast, but I make sure to have something usually a yoghurt, a protein bar or at the weekends something like bacon and eggs or porridge when I have more time. Then lunch I eat something but if I'm not hungry I'll have half a sandwich instead of a whole one, or just have the soup but no bread with it. Things like that.
In the evening I eat with the kids, but whereas I used to eat whatever they were having, now sometimes I cook something different for myself but at the same time. So because that's a bit early for me I'll often make them cooked food, but have a salad myself. But what I do do is plate that food up, so that when I get hungry later I have food ready for me to eat. But I don't make myself clear my plate anymore, so I still plate up whatever it is and I use full fat and don't go light on the carbs, things like lasagne with chips, or toad in the hole with mashed potatoes. I eat the protein bit first because usually that's expensive and keeps me full, then I have the veg because it's healthy, and eat the carbier bits last. Often that means throwing away a few chips, a piece of garlic bread or a bit of mashed potatoes, but I am getting better at serving myself a bit less and knowing my limits aren't what I thought they were (I used to eat massive meals but would feel over full which I try to never be now). I always have a dessert available. If I've not finished I tend not to eat it though, because if I'm full of dinner I'm too full for pudding, but if I fancy it half an hour later I'll have it. I generally have things like jelly, fruit or yoghurt but sometimes I'll have some kind of pastry or cake, and recently more hot desserts like crumble and custard.
I'm not losing weight but am maintaining it and feel much more in control of my eating, and my life!
I find so called intuitive eating doesn't fit very well with real life, so I've found a mid point where I can eat what I want, not follow a crazy diet plan, not binge eat and let food find a more balanced role in my life. I do need to lose a bit of weight health wise, but I think I'm going to stick to my eating style now, and try and improve other areas in a balanced way, like increasing my general activity level and doing some more structured workouts as well.

I've found exercising intuitively works much better for me, I've found activity I enjoy but leaves me feeling healthier and more energised, not exhausted and self punishing regimes like I used to do. I'm not doing enough at the moment and got into bad habits again with that, but now I am looking forward to exercising because it is something pleasant to do, now I just need to make space to do it more. For me that is walking briskly, some short Pilates work outs, a bit of yoga and stretching, and short bursts of HIIT.

StarsSand · 04/01/2023 12:16

I'd eat less before I go to lunch or whatever so I am hungry when I get there.

If you're not hungry you could have something very light or eat a very small amount.

Fivemoreminutes1 · 04/01/2023 12:19

Plan ahead. If you know you’re going to be eating with the family at 6.30, don’t have a snack at 4!

Caspianberg · 04/01/2023 12:22

You just wouldn’t eat a late or large breakfast if eating big lunch out. Or if I wasn’t that hungry I would buy a smaller thing like soup

Speedweed · 04/01/2023 13:07

@Jinglecrunch thank you so much, your insights are really helpful.

I struggle with this too, and again it's because of not eating regularly, so it's useful to hear how you've built this into daily life.

Bikeybikeface · 04/01/2023 13:08

Righto, I’ll give some of those tips a thought, thank you 😊

OP posts:
Gwenhwyfar · 04/01/2023 13:11

I don't agree with this. I eat at meal times.

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 04/01/2023 13:13

Gwenhwyfar · 04/01/2023 13:11

I don't agree with this. I eat at meal times.

I do too, I find it works well as I don't need to snack in between. Obviously of I e had a huge breakfast I'd have a smaller lunch.

astronewt · 04/01/2023 13:14

If I knew I was going out for a meal, I'd eat a small light lunch and not snack, so I'd definitely be hungry at the time of the dinner. My eating naturally balances itself; if I've had a heavy meal elsewhere and then am eating with the family, I'll eat a small amount and focus on vegetables.

Pr1mr0se · 04/01/2023 13:18

You need to start by eating at the same time each day. If you are going out with friends for a meal don't eat for 4 or 5 hours beforehand so you can have a meal with them. Basically if make sure you are hungry by not eating or snacking at all beforehand.

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