Because I’m not really hungry. I don’t want to eat an apple or some grapes or a hard boiled egg. What im craving is a bag of chips or a bowl of ice cream. Looking better is worth passing that up.

As for exercise, I love lifting weights in the morning and going for a walk after dinner. It’s just part of my routine.

I go for two or three walks a day, for a half hour to an hour per walk. I don’t think I eat crazy amounts of food. I am 230 lbs. The ONLY way I will lose weight is by waking up hungry in the middle of the night. Since I’ve started doing this I’ve lost 25 pounds.

Because feeling good about myself and the way I look is more important than eating cake and icecream.
I am happier with myself, my kids, my husband, etc.

I have never been overweight, but I do need to watch what I eat (not so much how much) if I want a flat stomach and thinner legs. I am short (5’3”) so adding lbs is noticeable right away…

Because going hungry just isn’t that hard for me. I do intermittent fasting. I eat between 2-6 pm. I don’t even find it hard. I don’t do it when at events or dinners with friends.

I have a lot of reasons that I like to be thin, but mostly it’s for myself.

I think that for many of us, the idea of "going hungry" has nothing to do with what our bodies need for fuel. All of the adulterated and processed food in our diets has led us to a place where "hunger" is more about what we've trained our bodies to crave though our diet. We aren't always hungry because our bodies need fuel, we are hungry because of habit and hormonal issues triggered by our diets. Ignoring those hunger signals, within reason of course, and eating what we know our body needs not wants, allows us to get to a healthier weight.

Anonymous wrote:Eating normally is so subjective and loaded.

I don't starve myself - I eat as much fruit, vegetables, lean proteins and whole grains as I want - but I limit processed food, takeout, dessert, added sugars, alcohol, and refined grains to maybe 5-10% of the time. For me, this is 'eating normally' but it requires discipline. To answer your question, I do it because it is more worth it to me to feel good in my body all (or most) of the time than the short-term good feelings of indulging in that list of things that tastes good but carries marginal to no nutritional value, and would cause weight gain and leave me feeling sluggish.

This is exactly how I eat, too. I would definitely prefer to drink wine every night, but I don't. Not sure if that qualifies as "going hungry" but it is restricting myself.

Desserts and sugary foods are not appealing to me, though. It's more the fatty and salty food that tempts me to overeat.

Don't want to have to buy a whole new work wardrobe. That's pretty much the main reason for wanting to be a certain size, more specifically than just to be healthy.

Anonymous wrote:Perfect, I was in the mood for popcorn.

I hope it is air popped with no oils, salt or butter.

Because being thin feels good and looks great. I like when my stomach is flat and my waist is small and tight. People treat me better: men flirt more and women say things like, "you're sooo thin!" with a mixture of envy, admiration and a touch of disgust in their voices. I feel powerful and confident when I am thin. It is worth the effort.

Eating normally is so subjective and loaded.

I don't starve myself - I eat as much fruit, vegetables, lean proteins and whole grains as I want - but I limit processed food, takeout, dessert, added sugars, alcohol, and refined grains to maybe 5-10% of the time. For me, this is 'eating normally' but it requires discipline. To answer your question, I do it because it is more worth it to me to feel good in my body all (or most) of the time than the short-term good feelings of indulging in that list of things that tastes good but carries marginal to no nutritional value, and would cause weight gain and leave me feeling sluggish.

Anonymous wrote:Because what I look like normally includes a spare tire around my middle. That is a huge health risk that I’m trying to mitigate. Unfortunately for me that means being hungry!

Huge health risk? It comes with some elevated risk. But so does spending years ignoring your biological cues to put fuel in your body.

Not to mention the mental toll of being hungry. Doesn’t seem worth it to me.

Because if I "eat normally" (for an American- with normal American groceries, even skipping the snack foods and processed desserts) and "exercise" (for a suburban American- half an hour on the Peloton or a 3 mile jog in the morning before driving to work, sitting at work, and driving home to take care of kids and pass out in bed), i'd be overweight, like the vast majority of Americans. Our food supply and our suburban layout aren't conducive to being a healthy weight. So if I want to be a healthy weight, and I don't have the luxury of living in a city with a robust public transport and an assumption that you'll walk a few miles each day as part of a normal routine- and I have to eat highly processed breads, meats, etc unless i want to spend a fortune or just skip bread and meat altogether- I have to eat a lot less and actively "work out" a lot more.

Because what I look like normally includes a spare tire around my middle. That is a huge health risk that I’m trying to mitigate. Unfortunately for me that means being hungry!

Perfect, I was in the mood for popcorn.

I’ve been thinking about this lately. I’ll start by saying that health is wealth, and maintaining a nutritious diet, being active and exercising, and maintaining healthy blood pressure/cholesterol etc are important. That being said, for a lot of people, especially women, the emphasis isn’t on health but on being skinny. If it takes so much work (and hunger!) to be as skinny as you think you’re supposed to be, why do you do it? Why not be content with what your body looks like while eating normally and exercising?