Do you agree with the statement you are what you eat

I was a very, very skinny child who was always encouraged to 'eat up' and try to finish my dinner (which was healthy, lots of homegrown veg etc).
It wasn't until the hormones started rising that I put on a bit of weight.

I do find portion control difficult which could be a result.

I read that one needs 5% fewer calories every decade which is sad news.

I have been on a diet since I was about 15 and have a very restricted intake now as, if I put on weight, I cannot lose it again without near starvation - which is horrible.

I am slim but, as I'm over 60, I haven't much else going for me. It has had ravaging effects on my face compared with chubbier folks with lovely smooth skin. I eat frugally in the week and have ordinary food at the weekend, when I also have a drinkie and some chocolate.

My DC both have their DF's chubby genes and love food and eating as does he.

I can see that from their eating and weight and my own, that calories and exercise really do have an effect. Eat fewer and stay slim, eat more and exercise less and the weight stays on.

Jennifer Eccles your right, I was that fat child and am now a fat adult. I ate the same as all the rest of the family who were all slim, I am talking about the late 40's early 50's so no fast food outlets, no pocket money so no way of eating anything more than was put on the table. When I was a teenager the slimmest I had ever been was a size 16. Now well into my 70's and still fat.

My friend sent me this after her new year resolution went askew !

A friend of ours (male) only eats once a day, Kim19 and he stayed slim for years, although he's put a bit of weight on recently.

DD reckons 5 small meals a day is best and she is slim.

4allweknow
That reminded me that potatoes used to comes in stones and half stones

I remember being sent to the shop for 'half a stone of potatoes'.

Very good C! I eat a few prunes daily and now I plan to pinch your wit. Hope that's ok?! Incidentally, I have one meal every day (read of a famous man doing this) and it works wonderfully for me both in out of kitchen time and feel good. Lost a lot of weight eight years ago by simply eating less of everything (no exemptions) and have managed to keep it off. Only sorry it took me so long to apply what I always really knew in my head/heart.

It's probably why I'm so sweet!

I have been veggie 40 years and became plant based in my eating 18 months ago. I am healthy...never even have a cold. A few years ago I lost 21 lb and was taken off of diabetic medication. I don't have a sweet tooth...can't remember last time I ate a biscuit. I still have to watch my weight...still need to loose a stone. I just can't do it though. So am I what I eat. My good health is, I think, due to my veggie diet. My meals are red, yellow and green...rarely eat a meal that does not include these colours. I will say that bread is my downfall...love a piece of toast and peanut butter.

If there was a famine, I would live longer than most.....hardly need any calories to survive....very depressing.

Callistemon ?

4allweknow my mum did the same. I think we have got used to bigger portions.

When I was told I had high blood sugar I cut down on carbs and had a tiny portion of potatoes. My husband who always had a huge plate of potatoes cut his too and now we have 1 large potato between us and he couldn't actually eat more.

@BBbevan
How long did it take you to reverse your T2? I'm at the point of seeing a diabetic nurse after my sugar levels showed 9.6.
Since before Xmas I've concentrated on healthier foods and have lost 13lbs. I need to lose another 4st..I'm 71. I'd rather not take medication. I think my numbers were a blip. I'd been feeling fatigued and my blood test shows too many red blood cells which causes the tiredness. In my fatigued state I didn't eat very healthily and grabbed quick snacks. I'm on a mission now!

I am constantly analysing where I am going wrong with food and I think it's portion control mainly. I thought back to being younger - a lot younger - and my mum used to buy half a pound of mince to feed 4. Potatoes were 7lbs and they lasted for days. I am sure with all the packaging basically standardised in large amounts we eat more then we need at one sitting hence the weight gain at least for me.

Unfortunately I got rid of the Christmas chocolates by eating them! Am regretting that now but oh it was nice!!!

According to a documentary I saw a while ago, weight can be affected by gut bacteria, which is why some people can eat for England and stay thin. But there is no doubt that the older you get, the harder it is to keep the weight off, and lack of hormones means it tends to redistribute itself.

you are what you eat

I just ate prunes.
Dried and wrinkly.

I agree, cancer is no respector of diet or age. But surely the availability of snacks and cheapness of “junk” food is the reason the population as a whole is overweight and diabetic. That and lack of exercise.
Having said that, in my 70s and overweight, I try very hard not to put more weight on...
moderation, moderation, etc.

Back on to the original topic. Two women went on holiday. One - the larger one - protested that she hardly ever ate. The other, smaller, lady watched with horror as her friend ate a large breakfast, one or two 'elevenses', a substantial lunch, a snack for 'tea' and a very substantial evening meal. And the larger woman still insisted she didn't eat much!

There's lots of advice given on foods that are carcinogenic and which foods help to protect.

No food 'protects' against cancer. I did the healthy eating lark - five+ portions of fruit and veg per day for years. Then got cancer. One of the plus sides was giving up so-called 'healthy food'. Cancer has no rules - I can't emphasize this enough.

Yes, you are what you eat and it's not all about weight. It's what you ingest and how your body is able to deal with it. When you have a healthy diet and exercise you sleep better and feel more awake during the day. All sensible things we knew growing up, but with all the snacky food tempting us these days we've lost sight of this a bit

Me neither Trendy.
My sister could eat for England and not put an ounce on and I put it on just looking at it.
If you are what you eat I`m officially a vegetable .

I agree loveOc. I was making the point that my friend followed all the advice but it made no difference. We can take care of our bodies but often illness is beyond our control.

For this reason I think those who are ill should be treated better in the workplace. People don't actually want to be ill, but I am off topic....

Haha Chestnut, dinner is one pm, tea is eight pm.
My schedule is abit skewwift I suppose, we are all different aren't we?

Bluesky

I also used to think that as long as you eat healthy foods and don't smoke or drink you stay healthy

Sadly I know now it is not the case. However I still eat healthy and do not smoke or drink.

But I no longer judge other people for their habits and preferences. Well I try not to.
Though I have now come to to believe that being a vegan is a minus......I have been vegan and veggie and was pushed back into eating organic meat for the sake of my health.
It is not as cut and dried as people want to think.
Some of us need meat, some have to avoid dairy and wheat.

Though eating processed foods is probably never the right thing to do.