<p>So, I know we have many very petite, tiny little women here who have maintained a wonderful figure through the years. I really want to be thinner and of course now, I think I’ve completely lost sight of what a real person eats. Someone who weighs 120 lbs and wears a size 4. Saying 4 because someone here recently said that is what a 10 was 30 years ago. Give me an example of what you eat in a day, examples of what makes up a breakfast, lunch or dinner for you. Do you drink alcohol? If so, do you find yourself just naturally cutting back on other daily calories to account for it?
My boss did Jennie Craig last year and though I did not know her weight, I am guessing she went from around 140 to about 115, maybe less. And now, truly, she barely eats; she NEVER participates in us getting take out or celebrating a birthday, not even a bite of cake; she didn’t even partake of our holiday potluck. Everyone jokes “oh everyone knows J doesn’t eat”. I really think so. You can either be tiny OR you can eat regular food but not both.</p>
<p>I am average height and weigh about 125 (10-15 lb heavier than I weighed in college, but I’m not concerned about that). Here is what I eat on a typical day:</p>
<p>Breakfast: 2 eggs, 1-2 slices of cheese, half of FiberOne muffin, small cup of greek yogurt, coffee with milk, berries or watermelon (1-2 cups)
Lunch: 1/2 cup green peas or a cup of cauliflower or broccoli, chicken breast (or salmon, or steak - have no idea what it weighs), cup of greek yogurt, unsweetened tea, pear or apple (sometimes soup replaces the veggie/meat combo)
Dinner: green salad with veggies and some sort of meat, 1 bowl of peanuts in shells. sparkling water.</p>
<p>I almost never snack, but sometimes I leave my apple or yogurt from lunch until 4 pm, and it becomes a snack. I drink wine, but very occasionally, and beer is my post-long run recovery drink (never as a drink to supplement a meal). My diet is not low-carb, but I rarely eat muffins, donuts, candy and chips. So I eat a lot, but I run and do some light weights. 
I would never skip a company celebration (I just take a small piece of cake).</p>
<p>I dropped some weight by watching calories and exercising. I used MyFitnessPal to track my calories during the process. Once I reached my target weight, I continued tracking calories for quite some time until I figured out my calorie intake to maintain that weight, and then to get used to what a normal day of eating should be. I no longer track on a daily basis but will do so occasionally to stay on track. I am fairly thin now, but do not obsess about my food. While I was losing weight, I definitely changed my eating habits and am a much healthier eater now. I eat a lot of vegetables and fruits and smaller portions of meat, pasta, etc. I don’t typically eat cheese or use sour cream. However, I still go out and eat with friends/ family etc. I just use common sense. I often get a to-go container right up front and put half my entree in it for later instead of stuffing myself. I will split a desert with someone. I may have a beer or glass of wine but never more than that. I am not much of a drinker so rarely drink anyway so it’s not a big deal for me. I did not drink while losing the weight. The big thing for me is exercise!!! I found a gym doesn’t work for me but I do use exercise videos (Shaun T’s Rockin’ Body was a great one to start with for me) at least 4 times a week plus walk/run every day for at least 30 minutes. It was hard at first but now I enjoy it. </p>
<p>I do know people who go overboard after losing weight but I feel like I’ve reached a good balance of eating foods I like while controlling portions. </p>
<p>For anyone who is interested in portion control and exercise, this is a very worthwhile read:</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Drop-Two-Sizes-Proven-Clothes/dp/1609614631”>http://www.amazon.com/Drop-Two-Sizes-Proven-Clothes/dp/1609614631</a></p>
<p>Or join us in the Diet/Exercise thread! There are some hard-core talks about $2K bikes and Boston marathons, but on average we just talk about everyday exercising and healthier eating.</p>
<p>I’m pretty slim considering my height (5’7, BMI of 20) and I think it just really depends on your metabolism.I eat five small meals a day to keep my metabolism running nicely, and I’ll have a big cup of tea if I ever am just bored and want to eat more. I don’t eat much of any sugar, I stay below about 30-40 net carbs, avoid dairy, and drink at least half a gallon of water. I eat a lot of vegetables, lean protein, and berries. So long as I don’t over eat during the five meals, I can easily lose more weight if needed, and simply up the calories to maintain. I normally have about 150-300 calories per meal, or approximately 1200-1500 calories per day. I’m never hungry, and if I want a piece of cake, I’ll have a piece, but everything in moderation. If I know there’s a party or event coming up, I’ll simply eat very carefully the week prior, and then eat without guilt during the party. Whatever I gain is quickly lost within the next day or two. If I eat something very sugary or fattening, I just drink a gallon of water before bed, and the next morning, I haven’t gained an ounce, in fact I normally lose a pound. </p>
<p>To answer your question, a typical meal for me looks like:
Breakfast: Silk tofu+Almond milk+Strawberries+Stevia or Veggie Sausage or Tea or Handful of berries or some almonds (depending on how hungry I am)</p>
<p>Lunch: Salmon or atkins bar (if I’m on the go) or veggie meat + low-carb tortilla or chicken or any of my breakfast options</p>
<p>Dinner: Same as lunch or breakfast with more vegetables, fancier recipes and slightly bigger portions (normally 300-400 calories)</p>
<p>I have two snacks in between breakfast/lunch and lunch/dinner which normally consists of some berries, almonds, or an atkins bar.</p>
<p>I struggled with unhealthy eating habits and my weight for years, and this has worked wonderfully for me. Hope it helps some.</p>
<p>Bunsenburner; help me understand. I think you are saying a typical breakfast includes half a muffin, among other things, but you also rarely eat a muffin. I’m not sure I understand. </p>
<p>I’m not a carb fan, mostly because I crave intense flavors, but also because carbs make me too full too quickly, and seem to make me sleepy in the late afternoon. Sushi is perfect but expensive. Carnitas is second best.</p>
<p>The problem I have had is that people at work don’t realize how often they go get takeout, bring in birthday cake, have lunch meetings, etc. In the last two months I think I have literally been asked to eat unhealthy food 12 times at work. I could only say yes to maybe a third of those and still maintain my figure, and that would be INSTEAD OF going out for dates with my fiance or having dessert at home-- I would rather indulge with him than at work! You have to prioritize those extra calories. They get annoyed that I say no all the time but they don’t realize how often they ask-- to me “every now and then” is once every few weeks, to them “every now and then” is once or twice a week. They could ask me for takeout one day and I go, then two days later we have a mandatory lunch meeting-- well, there goes my weigh in for the week. I can’t afford to not prioritize. </p>
<p>There was a time when I could afford one “cheat” meal a week, that had me stalling out at a size 10. To get to 6 I had to go to 1-2 cheat meals a month. That doesn’t mean all my other meals aren’t delicious and filling, if they aren’t you’re doing it wrong, but those high calorie indulgence meals like takeout, pizza, and most restaurant food really needs to be a <em>sometimes</em> occasion or you just won’t have the kind of figure you want, unless you have very high metabolism. That’s just a personal choice you have to make about what is more important to you. I do drink alcohol and soft drinks but for me those make me retain a LOT of water-- one drink and I will be 5lbs up, so I don’t have more than one a week or less. I like water so I drink a lot of water to give me the freedom to have a pepsi with my burger or tacos on my cheat days or to have a drink after a hard day of work. I am not able to do that every day and maintain my figure, YMMV. </p>
<p>My coworkers tell me I hardly eat at all, too, but I think that is just because they are used to eating giant portions. I am never hungry anymore, I eat a little something every few hours. Usually some fruit and/or some eggs in the morning, a chicken salad and either a half chicken or turkey sandwich or a cup of soup for lunch (usually split into two small meals, one at 11am or so and the other at 2pm so I don’t get hungry again until dinner). Dinner is usually some kind of chicken and vegetable or brown rice, we eat turkey and a little fish, too. I eat chocolate every single day for dessert. We keep different snacks in the house to supplement if we get hungry. We could have a LOT more variety than we do, but I am picky and I love the food I eat-- someone less picky could do a LOT more with my same calorie range. This might not seem like very much food, but like I said, I am never hungry anymore-- and I used to be able to take down an entire bag of tater tots in one sitting and want more. Your body adjusts.</p>
<p>I’m 5’7 and a size 6, I could not be any thinner than I am and be a healthy weight. I’ve lost 40lbs over the last two years or so. I lost the first 20 just through portion control and exercise, eating the same foods I always ate-- which were very low fat and reasonably healthy but too carb heavy. The second 20 I lost with weight watchers, which helped me learn that “a calorie isnt really a calorie.” I started out being able to eat 27 points in a day, my first day eating my normal food 27 points was only 600 calories-- I was eating COMPLETELY the wrong foods and though they were reasonably healthy they were not calorie efficient at all. I had to learn how to select foods that brought me in the 1200-1500 calorie range while still staying at my 27 points. That taught me to pick much more calorie and nutrient “efficient” foods. To me, I really had to get my diet and nutrition down to a science to get down this low. The first 20lbs were more forgiving than the second.</p>
<p>In the beginning you do have to make some hard choices and make some priorities and it isn’t always fun. But the longer you do it, the easier it gets. I used to want to go out to eat every weekend and now I couldn’t even do that without making myself sick, my body doesn’t want that kind of food anymore. I ate pizza and cake at a party last night and feel like I have a hangover, I feel like crap. So what was a sacrifice in the beginning is second nature now. And being able to buy clothes in a size “Small” is quite nice. :)</p>
<p>I heard that 85% of people will either be overweight or struggle to keep weight off. Well, I’m part of the “other 15%” I’m a little underweight. I never diet or count calories. But I have very little interest in food. Same weight since college and I’ve given birth to 8 children. (I would gain 25-30lbs and then lose it again–I did breastfeed long-term. I don’t like it when moms use having had children as an excuse for being overweight.) I can still easily fit into my wedding dress, I’m 5’7" always weigh 110-115. When overweight people say they "hardly eat anything-- I wonder, what do they REALLY eat? If they were handcuffed to me for a week and ate exactly what I ate and had the same physical activity–would they actually lose weight? My eating habits are “strange.” I rarely eat meals. For breakfast I might have a bowl of oatmeal OR a banana with peanut butter OR one egg and toast. I snack all day and eat random things like a greek yogurt here, handful of trail mix there, a cookie, a piece of chocolate, fruit, handful of chips. Sometimes when I’m working I’ll drink “Ensure-type” meal “shakes” for lunch. For dinner I will have something like pasta or fast food (burgers, tacos, pizza) or some type of meat with veg/salad. Sometimes I don’t eat dinner–I’ll have popcorn or toast or more snacks. Whatever I eat, it is a small portion. If I go to a sit-down dinner–I eat everything–including bread and dessert (but I will feel uncomfortably full afterward). I never pass on birthday treats or potlucks. I eat any kind of junk food, I like sweets. But I don’t eat more than one at a time. (One donut, one piece of cake. . one handful of chips, one junior burger and a few fries, one or two small tacos.) I do think portion control is important. But here are a few other things that might keep weight down: Almost all of my beverages are tea, coffee, water. And I will have multiple cups of tea or coffee a day (usually with soymilk). I rarely drink soda, juice, or alcoholic beverages. (Never say never, but these things are “treats” associated with celebrations). I am lactose intolerant, so I avoid milk products except yogurt ( cuts a lot of fat and calories if you like cheese and ice cream. . .) I will take pills if I really want to eat pizza with cheese. . . One other thing: I dislike fried food–just gives me an uncomfortable/bloated feeling in my stomach. So I rarely cook or eat it. (Maybe KFC a few times a year. . .) I don’t work out, but do a little walking and housework (stairs, hauling groceries, gardening), so I’m not in bad shape. H is a little overweight and I think the biggest difference in our eating habits is that he has no portion control. I can eat chips or trail mix out of a bag–have a little bit and put the bag away. H will “eat to the bottom” of any container no matter how big it is. ( I try not to let him “eat out of a bag” or big bowl for this reason!) I eat whatever I want. I just don’t get that hungry or have much interest in food. I dislike cooking/preparing food. Especially meat–I rarely eat meat, and if I do, it is a small portion. I’ve heard of people who eat more when they are stressed. I am the opposite. If I am stressed, I just run all day on adrenaline and a cup of coffee. Please don’t hate me, but I could never relate when women talk about tempting foods/diets/clothes sizes, etc. Maybe it’s genetic. (If I could bottle it and sell it, I’d be rich 
) I’ll shut up and go have a pop-tart now. . .</p>
<p>So, atomom, it sounds like you eat a decent breakfast and some crap, but not a lot of it at anyone time but keep very active, if not athletic. But you’re snarking on people who are overweight and brag that you’re UNDERweight because you control yourself while eating crap for dinner. I’m not very impressed.</p>
<p>I have been working on losing weight eating very much what Bunsen burner is eating. I got the basic menu from a diet plan and BB is right-it’s very filling because although you are eating a lot, it includes a lot of veggies and other low-calorie and high fiber foods. Few or low-carbs are important for me, for the reasons others have given above, and for me, because they are my trigger foods. So I don’t keep many around. </p>
<p>OP, I’m not so sure the story about clothing sizes being THAT much bigger today is true. My D is a classic model-type figure and wears a size 5-6 (except for tops-she is a 34DD edging towards a DDD). She also collects vintage clothes and has more than one pair of pants 20 years old or more and they too, are size 6. She also just bought, on the same day at the same resale shop a vintage dress and a current style from WHBM and they are both 8’s. So while some clothing has “expanded”, I don’t think it ALL has. </p>
<p>@sseamom do you always have to bring negativity to threads? Please word your thoughts a little more respectfully. We’re all just trying to offer some well-intentioned advice here.</p>
<p>I have a small frame and was always thin, eating pretty much what I wanted (and running) until about two years ago. At that point I had a lot of stress in my life and started drinking more and eating a lot of “comfort foods” (carbs). I counted calories and exercised and lost the same few pounds over and over. Going through menopause probably didn’t help.</p>
<p>I did a lot of reading and have come up with a diet that seems to work for me. For breakfast I have something high in protein (two eggs, smoked salmon, cottage cheese, greek yogurt) and some fruit. Before I exercise (around 10:30) I have a snack, maybe fruit and a few nuts, a little hummus and veggies. After I workout I make a huge salad. I use four or five cups of greens and top it with whatever looks good in the fridge-- some dinner leftovers, tomatoes and feta, pear and blue cheese, a can of tuna if I’m low on protein-- and any other veggies I care to toss on. I usually dress it with kalmata olive oil and fresh lemon juice. Dinner is always different but I try to go heavy on the salad and veggies and keep the carb portions small. (If you asked me a year ago I would have said I could never do that.) We don’t eat out often and I don’t buy highly processed foods. I have cut way back on my IPA consumption and lately have been drinking gin and diet tonic, or an occasional glass of wine. I do like to have a cocktail while I cook. It’s a relaxing way for me to end the day. :)</p>
<p>I’m pretty active. I try to run three days a week, work out with my trainer twice a week and once on my own. I walk four or five miles a day with my dog and also take care of all the housecleaning, lawn mowing, spend a lot of time in the garden and try to “run” errands on my bike.</p>
<p>It’s been a few months and am pretty happy the with eating plan. We’ve taken a couple of short vacations and I’ve eaten what I wanted but kept portions small and only splurged on things that really looked worth the calories. (I did pack protein bars for breakfast and tried to have salads for lunch.) I’ve lost the ten plus extra pounds I’d been carrying around and also redistributed the weight I have. More important than that is that I am stronger at 55 than I have ever been before in my life. It is really good to feel back in control of this part of my life. (I am 5’5", 110 pounds, size 2.)</p>
<p>Not trying to snark or impress anyone. Just in a misunderstood minority that rarely gets asked for its input. So the OP is asking slim women to tell about their eating habits. I am honestly answering the question. I am underweight NOT because I “control” anything. I am probably genetically different from most people. I just don’t have a big appetite. I eat what I want, which happens to be small portions. Anyway. Snacking all day works for me. I don’t actually eat “crap.” (Gosh, I just knew people would hate on me for being thin without trying. . . seriously, I was born this way. Someone is wondering how slim people stay slim. There are a variety of ways people do that. Some people work hard at it. But there are some who don’t work at it. Are you angry at me for NOT working at it?) I don’t think my suggestions are bad ideas: avoid soda/alcohol/high calorie beverages, avoid cheese/ice cream/milk, avoid fried food, small portions of meat only.</p>
<p>It totally depends on your activity level & health.
When I was doing landscaping ( until five yrs ago), I ate whatever I wanted ( although I didn’t eat junk), but as soon as I stopped(for health reasons), even though I cut way back on what
I was eating, I gained weight, not that much, but when you are petite it shows.
Some clothes sizing may have changed, but I have some high end things that are 35 yrs old & a size 4, ( when that was the smallest size available without leaving adult clothes) and I could wear all of them until a few years ago when I lost my mobility and gained inches around my waist.
( and 5 years ago, I probably weighed 20 lbs more than when I bought them, if not 30lbs)
I think clothing was perhaps designed to accommodate a broader range of shapes, and so had more built in ease)
My medications make it difficult to lose weight & they also increase my appetite. 
</p>
<p>My husband is blessed with a robust metabolism, on the way home from the grocery store he ate two donuts, then he had a steak & baked potato with butter& green beans. ( fist size portions)
After he will probably eat a couple bowls of ice cream. For breakfast he has a maple bar & a breakfast sandwich, for lunch, meat sandwiches from home & potato chips & cookies.
It’s all I can do to get raw things in him.
He weighs the same as when he was 21, actually a little less because he doesn’t drink beer anymore.
He doesn’t snack & he has a physical job. We also usually walk for most of our errands ( and walk the dog frequently, although our knees don’t allow either of us to run as our dog would like)</p>
<p>I used to run 30 miles per week or more and swim 3-4x a week. I ate probably 3500 calories a day and was a lean and steady 138 pounds at 5’7. I pretty much ate whatever I wanted and according to hunger and energy needs. I ate a good base diet of three squares plus snacks, snacks being lots of nuts and also lots of cookies. </p>
<p>Now I run maybe 12 miles per week, swim 2 times and have to be much more careful about what I eat! This is an ideal menu, one without cookies: Always breakfast, where I try to eat a little protein, maybe eggs, maybe pb. A latte mid morning. Lunch is also some sort of protein plus fruit and leaves. A planned mid afternoon snack of a sandwich or not too many nuts. Dinner a protein and veggies. I do have wine maybe twice a week. </p>
<p>I weigh a little more than I did due to my sweet tooth. I am trying to eat more fruits and veggies and fewer processed foods. The best for me is to have a plan every day. If I don’t know what I am going to have for a mid afternoon snack, for example, I am likely to polish off a sleeve of Oreos in no time. </p>
<p>Clothing sizes have changed in my experience. I was a ten as a young 125 pound woman and am a four as an older 145 pound woman.</p>
<p>I find that stopping when full and only eating when hungry are key to my losing weight. I tend to eat out of boredom or to finish what’s on my plate, not good! Working out is healthy, but I don’t find that it significantly affects my weight. I just need to eat less high fat foods and it comes off. Actually, I need to work on that as I am creeping up a few pounds! </p>
<p>I consider someone saying more or less “I’m thin and I can eat what I want but if those fat moms would just do what I do, they wouldn’t be fat” to be kind of snarky. And fat-shaming. And I consider fast food crap, but I own it-I’ve been known to pick up a meal at a fast food place or two myself. But I don’t eat a bite or two, I eat the whole thing. Of course, now that I am losing weight I am trying NOT to eat at those places. It happens on days when we’re sherpa-ing our D all day long.</p>
<p>I was a size 6-7 when I got pregnant at 40, which was soon followed by menopause and having a desk job for the first time in my life. The results weren’t pretty. I wold love to be able to fit into my wedding dress again, but I’m not seeing that happening anytime soon. I’m not looking to be a size 2 or 4-I don’t think I have been since I was a pre-teen-hips, you know, but an 8 would make me happy. </p>
<p>I just started dieting a few weeks ago and really didn’t think I had been eating much until I started keeping track of what I was eating–a lot of high fat, high calorie foods. I’m in a weight-loss class and we were told to watch the fat for now (we’re doing everything slowly). Fat has more calories than protein and carbs so by cutting fat, we’ll automatically cut calories. We are also supposed to eat according to the food plate (no longer a pyramid). </p>
<p>Here’s what I ate today:</p>
<p>Breakfast: 1 1/2 C of Total cereal (2 servings–1 wouldn’t fill me up all morning) and 3/4 C skim milk w/ 1/4 C reduced sugar craisins.</p>
<p>Lunch: Several cups of spring greens, 1/4 C non-fat feta cheese (that was too much and I’ll use less next time), 1/4 C reduced sugar craisins (that was too much and I’ll use less next time), a slice of red onion (diced), 1 T Marie’s raspberry vinaigrette dressing; 8 cooked medium sized prawns and cocktail sauce.</p>
<p>Snack: 6 unshelled salted peanuts.</p>
<p>Dinner: Grilled Rosemary Lemon Chicken (first time I made it and it was delicious) - 1 piece, red potatoes (about two potatoes) and garlic (all sprayed with olive oil), 1 1/2 C cooked mixed veggies, 5-6 pear slices. </p>
<p>That was a little over 1300 calories. </p>
<p>I have a drink if I’m out with my friends for happy hour or book club but I only have one drink and then switch to water. For me, alcohol is a waste of calories so I’m not drinking unless I’m in a social setting. At this point in time I’m not cutting back on the calories earlier in the day to make up for the drink, I’m just enjoying that night with my friends and eating one serving of whatever we’re eating whether it’s high in fat or not.</p>
<p>It’s not just a matter of how much you eat – what you eat is part of the equation too. </p>
<p>You know those Lean Cuisine frozen dinners? The ones that have about 300 calories on the label? When I’m feeling too lazy to cook for myself, that’s often what I have for dinner – that is typically all I will have and I will feel fine. I think I eat larger portions when I cook for myself - but I generally cook mostly veggie-based meals for myself. If the meal includes rice, chicken or fish, the portions of the grains or meat are more leaning toward the vegetables. You can eat a LOT of zucchini without getting putting on weight. </p>
<p>Of course I watch what I put on as a topping too – I mean, I’ll make salads for myself and just spray the greens with balsamic vinegar – no oil. I use nonfat yogurt as a topping for cooked veggie – never butter or margarine, and certainly not sour cream.</p>
<p>I have largely cut out alcohol because of the calorie issues – it’s just that I decided long ago that I could have X calories as a “treat”, and that treat could either be dessert or wine, but not both… and chocolate won out over burgundy.</p>
<p>But if you only moderately overweight, I would just recommend making gradual lifestyle and dietary changes – its more likely to be something you can stick with if you can take a one-at-a-time approach.</p>
<p>I do have to note that living alone makes it all a lot easier for me. I always end up eating too much when my kids are visiting, or if I am traveling and staying in different places or eating out. I don’t have a lot of discipline and if there is a bowl of chips sitting out on a table then I will eat them. But there are no chips at my house – the bowl on the counter is filled with cherry tomatoes – so that’s what I snack on.</p>
<p>“Bunsenburner; help me understand. I think you are saying a typical breakfast includes half a muffin, among other things, but you also rarely eat a muffin. I’m not sure I understand.”</p>
<p>Not “half a muffin”, but half of a “FiberOne muffin”. HUGE difference!! :)</p>
<p><a href=“Breads & Mixes • Fiber One”>http://www.fiberone.com/products/bread-products/english-muffins</a></p>
<p>It is 110 calories apiece, so my portion is 55 calories. So yes, I do not eat muffins.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Well, then.</p>