Relationship between our body and food

[1leechristopher]

Hi all! How do you balance enjoying your favorite foods while still managing your weight sustainably? Please share your tips as I am having hard time dieting as a beginner. Thank you!

[TheTabbyCat Administrator 13kg]

Hi 1leechristopher and welcome to our weight loss support community. That's an interesting question, if you join in with our Daily Diary and Weekly Weigh you may find some tips. You'll find both of these posts by clicking on the link below.

healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh...

Good luck with your weight loss journey🍀

[BridgeGirl Administrator 2 stone]

Maybe it's about trying new foods so you find new favourites; and shedding the idea of 'diet foods'. Have a look at our current challenge on increasing our plant intake: healthunlocked.com/weight-l... I'm sure you'll like the look of some of the meals members are enjoying

[PandQs Maintainer 3st 7lbs]

What are your favourite foods that you think are problematic? There are many ways to tweak meals into being healthier but it would help to know whether you’re talking about sweet/savoury, home cooked or takeaways.

[Frenchfields 2024 January]

Hi 1 LC, welcome. As others have said , learning to enjoy new foods and tweaking recipes is a great idea. But you also have the option of calorie counting, which would mean no food is off llimits but you have to fit it into your ’calorie’ budget. Or you can perhaps be super-strict with your intake during the weekdays and maybe relax a little at the weekends and enjoy a ’treat’ meal or a cake with your cuppa. Make sure your meals are satisfying and a good mix of nutrients which will help reduce the desire to snack. And, just don’t buy the biscuits or cakes or whatever you feel is a temptation. Hope you choose to join in with the forum, its great for support. Have a good week.

[focused1 Maintainer 13kg]

Don’t eliminate anything. Just have it very infrequently. This is a lifetime lifestyle but if you restrict what you really like to never having it again you could be on a pathway to fail . I have a glass or 2 of wine mainly socially at weekends knowing I have eaten / drink sensibly for the rest of the week . I may have crisps and nuts then the rest of time it is a no as restrictive food intake to the point of total guilt would class as a diet and I can’t do diets . Mentally we all need a balance . Don’t lose your friends who aren’t healthy eaters Modify and the good tip from P and Q’s about tweaking what you like . Shop with meal plans . Think before you buy as if it isn’t in your cupboard you can’t eat it . Take this as you doing it for you . If you can get anyone to eat the same then this could be helpful as my husband eats what I cook and his health has improved greatly.

[Iro1 2024 February]

HiI have struggled with my weight since my mid 30s; I am now 60.

My weight got to over 140kg, BMI 42.

All kinds of health issues.

I realised that indulging my preferred food just led to weight gain. A specific diet, no alcohol and then exercise has led to me now being 94kg and a BMI of 27, still overweight, but I wear 46 inch chest blazer and 36 inch white chinos, so I am happy at this weight.

Processed food has not attraction to me, fish, seafood, steak, vegetables, salad, sushi, fat free yoghurt, all types of fruit.

Some pasta at lunch, porridge for breakfast with blueberries.

Every Sunday at 5pm I begin a 36 hour fast, during the period of the fast, depending on which bits of my body are working I will swim, play tennis against the machine, base line left then right then volley or use the stationery bike in 5 minute bursts exchanged with bicep curls and what are known as Arnie thrusts.

Exercise when your body is plugged into your inner battery 'viseceral' fat has a profound benefit.

A garmin fitness watch, a body weighing machine that also analyses fat percentages, total, viseceral as well as lean muscle.

Plenty of time and access to a pool etc are the secret.

Iro

[focused1 Maintainer 13kg]

You have some great tips but those on meds should ask GP about fasting . My husband is on a varied cocktail of drugs and he needs regular food to digest his tablets. I chat and meet loads of people via gym , work etc and those that are slim/ ish and keep the weight off do moderation . Like you exercise and portion control but I have seen the yo yo body which isn’t healthy long term and hard to maintain if you want a social life as fasting is very restricted in terms of going out and entertaining . It is what works for you but I doubt whether slimming clubs would be such profitable businesses if we all just stopped snacking , ate unprocessed and stuck to 3 meals a day . I tried everything from less fat , less sugar etc . I took a reflective look at my parents - never had weight issues , who ate varied from scratch meals . Looked at my school photos where there was only 1 child overweight then my son’s 2015 teenage photo where half the class had issues. Clearly processed fast food and acceptable unnecessary snacks