Thinking like a slim person....?

I've found it useful reading the struggles everyone has - especially over the weekends - when beloved family and friends tend to derail the dieting - with love, affection and foodie treats!

I can do "dieting" and I can do "putting it all back on again" - but staying put at a healthy weight is undiscovered territory.

I've been thinking that I need to get "thin people" behaviours into my head - so that I'm not dieting but instead just behaving rationally.

What does your thin friend or relative do when faced with the buffet from hell? Or a cake-fest? Or endless cakes / chocs dispensed by colleagues at work? Or back to back social events across a weekend?

For example, I noticed some years ago that a very slim colleague used to eat a lot of halves of things - half a kitkat, half a pack of sandwiches, half a flapjack. She used to really tuck in and enjoy it, then say, "Oh that was lovely, I couldn't eat another mouthful". She meant it, the rest went in the bin (which I noticed because the waste pained me!).

Perhaps my "waste not want not" philosophy is not exactly helping me here....!

What are your "slim friend's" food and exercise habits? Please share, I need the inspiration!

[Hidden]

I like my spreadsheets, so have one where I record everything I eat on a daily basis. This way I can plan ahead for the week, and I only buy what I need, so no mad impulses to stock up on crisps or sweet treats.

On my second spreadsheet I've recorded all the clothes I can't fit into, then a log of what weight I aim to be on a weekly basis. As the weeks have gone by, I tick off all those clothes that I can now fit into. Some of these have been languishing in my wardrobe for years waiting for me 'to just lose a few pounds.' Well, that time is now. It's my little reward system, and it gives me a real incentive to fit into my favourite jeans without the fear of bursting the zip (or seams)!

Like you, I don't like the idea of wasting food, but that's if I bought it. If it's going 'free' then I'd think it might be going to waste anyway, and saving someone else from over-indulging, so eating half wouldn't be so wrong.

I always remember the line out of Kay Mellor's 'Fat Friends' about a dieting club: 'Nothing tastes as good as slim feels.' I'm not sure if I agree totally without that sentiment, but it's a good mantra to have on standby in case of emergencies. Good luck!

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Jane - interesting thoughts.

Relate to the wardrobe issues. I have worn several things this weekend that I would never have fitted into a couple of months ago - which appeals to the waste not want not part of me, as well as all the rest of it (vanity!).

I have promised myself that as things get too big - this time they will hit the recycling / charity shops before I grow back into them... a mistake I've made before!

[Jenever]

Oh I completely empathise, Believe it or not I'm finding it harder to maintain than to lose the weight in the first place. I've taken a tip from Ruth_canal_runner and have a sliding scale of acceptable, I allow myself 4lbs either side of my target weight, however, I'm trying hard not to go over target instead I'm going to reset my target weight so I have a bit of a buffer! It's hard work this healthy eating lark!!!!

Enjoy your weekend...but not too much!

[Hidden in reply to Jenever]

I, of all people, totally believe you. I'm sure it's the killer for lots of people.

Thanks for passing that on, have taken note of Ruth's advice - I can see the sense of that. When I was younger (20s), thinner (but still no gazelle!) and had stable weight (10 1/4 stone) - I did go up and down 3-4 pounds and I didn't worry about it - I just didn't eat cake again until I was back down again.

Hmmm. Lightbulb moment!

OK - so we have "Don't obsess, allow some slack but then deal with it promptly".

Thanks for chipping in. Good luck to you and very well done for getting to roughly where you want to be!

[Emma-and]

I do the half thing to but tend to keep it to half of something bad and substitute the other half with something good and have that other half another day I use to be terrible of o if I leave it then it will go soggy or what ever and it will be a waste so I always make sure have loads air tight containers in lol x

[Hidden in reply to Emma-and]

Hi Emma

That's sound advice: half "the thing" but fill up (if necessary) on fruit / veg etc. That's got to help with the buffet scenario I think, if my plate is full of salad veg, then I wouldn't get that deprived (depraved?!) feeling...!

Good luck to you for a fun and healthy Sunday!

[Hidden]

I am trying to think " that will damage me" if I eat more than I actually need. I am visualising something's as just things I don't want in my body. This is a work in progress I am a long way from losing my fat.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Good thoughts Aquamarine - nice name too!

I have been noticing lately that I just "feel" better in myself when I haven't filled up on junk - ie more energetic, inclined to "get on" with things etc - I'll hang on to that.

Good luck on your journey - you sound like you are really trying to change the way you think - as well as what you eat - thanks for your thoughts.

[Hidden]

You're absolutely right. I'm in Portugal with friends and she is very trim. She makes a big fuss about food but actually when I've watched her she eats half a piece of the delicious bread when I have 3! She leaves half her meals especially the puddings saying I'm really full. She cooks wonderful meals but only gives herself a small portion. It's this leaving half that I can't do. Really hate waste, was brought up not to do it and it's ingrained. Time to change. You're so right

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

That's really helpful Florence in Portugal!

I wonder if it's the thing the thin people do but don't even notice that they are doing it - they must just be in tune with their "full enough" triggers - what on earth happened to mine?! Missing in action perhaps, I must go back and look for it!

Love Portugal - hope you are enjoying all that lovely fish? We've had some lovely - and healthy - meals there on hols. The markets are beautiful aren't they? All the fresh fruit and veg - delish!

I'm also taking away "small plate" thoughts from your message. I have to feed a houseful of hungry male teens. I think portion distortion is an on-going battle - as well as constant grazing - ie yesterday evening I fed them all at 7pm, but by 9pm one of them had cooked himself some pesto pasta as a snack.....! The lads are all nice healthy weights, growing fast and sporty. Daren't even think what their average calorie intake is - I just feed them constantly and shop regularly!

Have a wonderful time with your friend, and good luck with your weight loss / management.

[Hidden]

One of them stops drinking really quickly! Me - two glasses of wine; her - half a diet coke! HALF! Yes, it's all about choices

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Hi Frankie

Thanks for a very useful weekend message!

A very good point - each choice you make can be a bit healthier, whether that's what you eat or how much of it you are eating....

I'd prefer your wine to the coke I have to confess....

Cheers! (but only a moderate number of times!).

Good luck!

[Hidden]

I think this is definitely it - having a 'slim person' approach - although not all slim people have the same approach! My boyfriend is very slim. He often (i.e. usually) leaves food on his plate, especially when his mother's watching (long history of being told to finish up which makes him very nervous, especially as he doesn't like her cooking!) but can stuff his face if we've been on a long bike ride then gone for fish and chips. I think it's a matter of deciding what you really want to eat, and only eating that. Other things slim people do:

Talk/stand up/dance/walk around at socials - don't just sit still eating

Buy a sandwich and a cake a lunch time, eat the sandwich and save the treat for later, then forget about it, find it tomorrow, have it then instead.

Make food that looks good as well as tastes good - part of the enjoyment is the 'feast for your eyes' - not just about salivating and filling your tum - nice fresh salad, scattered pomegranate seeds - or even not so fancy, just nice coloured plates, a properly set table etc.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Thanks so much Ruth - that's a good list...

And reminds me that quite a few of the thin people I know are more than averagely picky... I guess that gives them a good excuse to not eat things that they don't want / fancy / know will make them feel stodgy.

Party advice - timely for all those Christmas things coming up! Yep, get that - just distract yourself and concentrate on all the other party aspects.

Lunches - yes, you are right, they do that - things sit around for ages in the office (until I get there... or at least the old me got there - new me is very consciously "good" - but I'd like to be unconsciously good without the effort!).

Meal as "event" - not just about "food". You are right - will try and do some more with that this week - fuss around with the aesthetics etc and enjoy that part.

Have a good weekend - thanks again!

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

It's good to think about these things. I'm a classic dinner in front of computer/iplayer person. But I've started eating at the table more. Also, putting 'treats' etc out of sight really helps. I keep my afternoon snack in my desk drawer - helps me forget about it unless/until I really need it. Hope you have a good weekend too

[ann1999]

Yes I think it's true people who are slim eat until they are full and then they stop.

I was speaking to a slim friend who said when she has finished eating a meal she feels guilty throwing her left over food in to the bin. It occured to me that this is something that I never do, I just keep eating until I have finished as I don't like waste.

Lessons to be learn't I think!!

[Hidden in reply to ann1999]

I think we share the same problem here Ann! Breaking those old habits is so difficult - but essential. I'm going to make sure I have a small plate all week and see if that helps with the brain control!

Good luck for your week too.

[ann1999]

Thanks, Good luck to you, it will be interesting to see if it helps.

[smudgersmith]

Hello x people l know who are slim tend not to reward themselves with food but other things manicure, talking to friends and shopping(l want to be like this!!!).

They also seem to have high self esteem towards themselves and enjoy life!!!! They also manage stress better and cope properly with there emotions and feelings. They are also there to help others and are not frightened to show there own short fallings.

But beware, l have known some friends to look slim and healthy but be chain smokers, heavy drinkers and the reason why they are so slim is bulimia/anorexic/exercise addicts x

[DownNotUp]

I once watched a slim friend buy a huge pasty and thought there is no way she could ever eat that. The rest of us in the group all passed on the pasties. She didn't eat it all. First she halved it and gave half to another friend. Then she halved what she had left and gave that to someone else. Then she starting breaking bits off for other people. I was awe-inspired at how she achieved eating only a couple of mouthfuls of pasty while wondering around carrying a huge pasty.

[Jalapenolover101]

Hello people

Let's get real