Food and our relationship with it.

Everything in moderation is my plan. Not that I stick to it of course.

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Graeme Tomlinson (@thefitnesschef on Instagram), is an Aberdeen based nutritionist and fitness coach. He has a big following on Insta, his advice for losing weight and more importantly maintaining that weight loss is the most sensible I think I’ve ever read. His wee videos are great as is his choice of music.
He is very anti any kind of slimming clubs, special diets, etc. In his opinion, they only give people a dis-ordered view of food, and are often very expensive. He sees no food as being bad, it’s actually very simple, it’s calorie deficit, but over a long period.
He’s certainly made me re-evaluate how I feel about certain foods, and I’m losing weight gradually but steadily although Christmas has set me back a bit what with all the “goodies” I’ve consumed.

I can’t be bothered with diets,either. I am probably more aware of the amount of fruit and vegetables that are supposed to be part of our everyday diets and vaguely try to align with that. These days I don’t drink that much, just a glass of wine with dinner and the odd beer in hot weather because I see my heavy drinking friends have all, without exception, had serious health issues. I have come to the conclusion booze is as bad and worse than cigarettes except it takes longer to ‘get’ you.

I kick start the day with a very healthy breakfast - more brunch time really - then I eat whatever I fancy for the remainder. Worked well so far........

Obesity and overweight are a huge strain on our society and services. However much you quote anecdata about obese alcoholic smokers who live to 100 it is a fact that most of our health (physical and mental) troubles are lifestyle related. Yes, dieting the way many people do it is doomed to fail and as you rightly point out, we have a twisted relationship with food and often use it as a weapon. Most people now have no idea what a healthy diet is, hence two thirds are overweight and a quarter are obese.

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AussieGran, I know someone who is at huge risk of this- but will not change his habits, it is so sad.

Yes, our relationship with food has become so complicated. Obesity is a massive problem argymargy- but so is the opposite, I have currently several friends who were obsessed with dieting all their lives and always remaind very thin (unlike me)- who are all crumbling in the old age of osteoporosis, and nothing can be done. When I had my knees replaced, the surgeon commented that it was much better to be chubby and healthy, with strong bones (NOT obese) and fit and active.

Most of us do know what a healthy diet is Aussiegran but are tempted by the sugary, fatty foods that are being promoted all around us by unscrupulous retailers.
Why are the so called ‘naughty foods’ addictive? Why do they taste so good?

Oh absolutely nail on the head Aussie gran!
Healthy moderation for most days and blow outs now and again. And I believe that’s for all areas. Obesity is a curse in most public settings. Seating is generally for average sized and weighted people. Hospital equipment likewise.
I watched a mother shopping with her small child the other day and was saddened as she was educating her on the fat free options however. As I think children need good metabolism building with decent building blocks.

most people now have no idea what a healthy diet is, hence two thirds are overweight a

How can anyone not know what a healthy diet is these days ? Or rather what an unhealthy diet is ?

Part of the problem is that no-one HAS to drink alcohol or smoke - but we all have to eat. Food is more than just fuel for our bodies and minds. It's a very social thing too, whether that is sitting around the dinner table with family, popping into a cafe for a cake and coffee with a friend or a full-blown celebration meal at a restaurant.

It is not just about diets. It is about your genes, type of personality. inclinations and digestive system. We are all different.

My mum was obsessed with her weight in the 60s sweet things were rarely allowed in the house, a mars bar would be cut into small pieces, all this did her no good at all, she, by her own admission has ruined her bowels, having to eventually have an operation for piles. She also took slimming pills that made her very anxious.
As soon as I left home I lived on chocolate and craved the forbidden fruits. My house was full of treats. Having said that mum is 91 now won’t eat anything sweet and weighs 7 stone I on the other hand am 2 stone overweight, but I do enjoy everything.

I think just try to be sensible. It's not easy I know. I had a friend who was a health fanatic. I used to take my breakfast cereal to eat at work and she'd say 'Try some seeds on that. Try almond milk'. She was very slim. She even brought her own food to office parties - a small salad and some fruit while we all tucked in to party food. She died of cancer at 53 poor soul.

Lucca

*most people now have no idea what a healthy diet is, hence two thirds are overweight* a

How can anyone not know what a healthy diet is these days ? Or rather what an unhealthy diet is ?

I agree, surely the vast majority of people know perfectly well - they just prefer a diet consisting very largely - or even wholly - of unhealthy food.

Before anyone jumps on me for being judgemental, please NB I don’t make a habit of looking, not at all - but now and then when I’m waiting right behind the person at the checkout, I can’t help seeing that the only non-processed food in a full trolley is maybe eggs, and/or a few bananas. Not even a bag of frozen peas.

It's all so tied up with emotions too isn't it?

I have a friend who stops eating when she is anxious, I do the absolute opposite. My stress-buster is to bake - and then I have to live with the consequences!!
We both are fully aware of a healthy diet and usually eat sensibly, cooking from scratch most days.

Witzend

Lucca

most people now have no idea what a healthy diet is, hence two thirds are overweight a

How can anyone not know what a healthy diet is these days ? Or rather what an unhealthy diet is ?

I agree, surely the vast majority of people know perfectly well - they just prefer a diet consisting very largely - or even wholly - of unhealthy food.

Before anyone jumps on me for being judgemental, please NB I don’t make a habit of looking, not at all - but now and then when I’m waiting right behind the person at the checkout, I can’t help seeing that the only non-processed food in a full trolley is maybe eggs, and/or a few bananas. Not even a bag of frozen peas.

Looking at someone's trolley could be very misleading though. I might shop at one supermarket and not have a single piece of fruit or veg in my trolley because I don't rate the freshness of it in that particular store and prefer to buy it elsewhere.

Moderation in all and take it slow and steady and it will stay off.
I came home after staying Christmas week with relations, 2 pounds lighter than when I went. I had eaten well, good balanced tasty food and in a portion big enough to keep me going until the next meal.
I did not like to go rummaging in cupboards for pringles or sugary snacks. Not many coffee shops open for a cappuccino and a slice of cake.
Back home I have put it back on and some. All the chocolates and Christmas treats that would be a shame to waste are gradually getting consumed and my waist is expanding again.
I have learned a lesson and from now on I always leave what I don't want on my plate. I am the post-war eat-it-all-up and clean-your-plate generation.

AussieGran You friend seems to have an eating disorder called Orthorexia neatly defined as^ an unhealthy focus on eating in a healthy way^

Some years ago I got interested in the work of an American food writer called Michael Pollan. He came up with the maxim Eat well, not too much, most of it plants Simple and uncomplicated. Later he said, of food choice ^If it is made FROM a plant eat it. If it is made IN a plant don't

What further food advice is needed?

Witzend You will rarely see fruit and veg in my supermarket trolley, neither you will not see fresh fish or meat. I buy my fruit and veg at my local town market and meat and fish from specialist suppliers. You will not see any ready meals or biscuits either. My trolley is full of food that comes in tins, packets and dairy products.

Knowing how I shop, I do not make any deductions from looking at other peoples trolleys, either.

I am starting the Zoe programme in February. It is designed to help you understand how your body processes different foods and is a guide to having a healthy diet. Generally, I think I eat sensibly, I'm a little overweight and I am finding it difficult to shed those extra pounds not that I obsess about them. There are free podcasts to listen to. In the programme they analyse your gut biome as research suggests this is influential in overall physical and mental health. It's a properly researched programme, nothing weird or wacky about it. Please feel free to message me but you can look up the programme on the internet.

Well, yes, BlondieScot, that’s a possibility, but when it all consists of cakes, biscuits, crisps, mega bottles of Coke, pies and pizzas etc….

Though I have to admit that anyone behind me at the checkout shortly before Christmas might well have wondered about my diet - besides a few toiletries, a fairly full trolley full of tins and packets, nothing fresh at all. However it was all for the food bank - dh’s ‘present’ to me, at my request. (No use getting him to do it, not without the detailed list I’d have had to give him.)

The manufacturers & retailers have a lot to answer for. If they got together with the NHS just imagine what a difference they could make.

Our local convenience store:
Aisle 1: Alcohol, sweets
Aisle 2: Large fizzy drinks + 1 foot on the bottom shelf with squash.
Crisps
Aisle 3: cleaning/household, sugar filled cereals, biscuits, tea/coffee, sugar, etc. desserts, custard, jams
Aisle 4: Cakes, bread, chilled desserts, ready meals, a few fresh fruit & veg, meat, cheese.
Aisle 5: Small fizzy drinks & energy drinks, small section milk.
The small freezers: One all icecream, the other, pizzas, chips & ready prepped food in batter etc.
Tbf, there is a row of peas & one of mixed veg. too!
By the till: More fizzy drinks & energy drinks and 'Healthy' - but still sugary snacks.

But cornershops are for those extra little things and impulse buys, not the main shopping, that is done in supermarkets.

I live in a large village with a small Co-op self service shop. For many of the elderly in the village and for mothers with small children and with their partner using the one car to get to work. They do all their shopping in it and it has a signficant fruit and veg section, plus frozen meat and fish, dairy products. All the basics from flour to tinned tomatoes. It also has good sales of confectionary, sandwiches. pastry products, and canned drinks because it is on a through road and, first thing in the morning and at lunch time has a big clientele of van and lorry drivers who drop in for their lunches on the move.