During my time as a Marathon and ultra distance runner, I had to study the foods necessary to provide that extra mile or two Annie. A simple carb is one that has a simple structure that the body can utilise quickly, but you get an adrenalin rush. A complex carb is as the name suggests, has a more complex structure, like a potato, that the body takes time to digest and is released more slowly into the system.
The trouble comes when you still have a love of these foods but no longer run… 
Perhaps time to take up the accordion again OGF as you will have your hands too full to reach for the spuds. 
Potatoes can be misleading because people think the health benefit extends to a bag of chips.
What is ultra distance running? is it a bit like those quadrathlons in extreme weather conditions where people run 50 miles in the australian desert and then swim in the arctic sea?
(mmm craving a bag of chips now, with salt and vinegar)
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You might be right about those spuds Annie…Another year or two and I’ll look like ‘Frank Cannon’ (remember him?) Ultra distance are distances over marathon distance.
For around ten years between 1986 and 1996 I competed each year in the 'Lyke Wake Race 42 miles over the wildest places in Yorkshire, The ‘Bullock Smithy’ 56 miles around the wildest places in the dark peak district in Derbyshire, and lots of other races over 30 miles including one of 110 miles on the ‘Cleveland Way’ and a double Lyke Wake (there and back) of 84 miles…
Sounds fabulous but a bit scary. But I am also jealous that you did it because I 
the peak district & wild walks. Did you ever have an injury? Some of those boulders on Mam Tor are lethal.
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Never had a physical injury while competing Annie, although while training on the North Yorks Moors my back up (my dad) failed to find the rendezvous point. It started raining and my wet weather gear was in Dad’s car. I was dressed in only vest and shorts and would most certainly suffered hypothermia had I not descended the mountain I was on and took sanctuary in the local police station where hot soup was administered while a police car tracked down my dad…
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As Doc Martin says, Keep your mouth shut!!
(only joking).
Hello Emmanuel Katto! It’s great that you’re taking steps toward a healthier lifestyle. For weight management, consider incorporating lean proteins like chicken, plenty of vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats into your diet.
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In a sentence…
Only eat when you are hungry…Job done…
Hello and welcome to the forums.
For me i found a diet called the Fplan diet. It’s a diet that you can stay with all of the time. I found it very good. It’s a high fibre diet and low in fats and sugars.
At first you have to count calories but once you’ve lost the weight you’ll know how much to eat.
Eat more veg, fruit and fibre less sugar and fats.
From the age of 15 i was always doing the yo yo diets, didn’t know what to eat after losing the weight, but when i was 23 this diet came out, i found the book being sold in a health food shop and never looked back.
But what if someone is always hungry Old Grey Fox
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Strangely enough Aerolor, by stopping eating your stomach will shrink and not need much food before you feel full or hungry. It is hard at the start though…
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I agree it is hard Old Grey Fox, but I have managed it and now only eat one meal a day, but have a snack am and one pm. No food after 6.00pm and plenty of water throughout the day. I count my calories as this is the best way I have found to keep my intake stable. No matter what, once I have reached my limit in calories for the day I eat no more, This works for me and I have been doing this for the last few years now. I also pop a couple of vitamin pills a day along with Marine collagen tabs and iron to make sure I don’t miss out on the essentials.
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I don’t count calories but I do eat more or less the same things on a weekly basis.
I’ve eaten porridge every morning for about ten years. It saves me having to think about what to have for breakfast and I like porridge. Unfortunately I take mine with a sprinkle of seeds and a generous squirt of honey. I also take a multi-vitamin and a primrose oil capsule along with some medication.
Lunch usually comprises a tin of soup with a slice of toast or an egg on toast.
My main meal is around five or six in the evening and could be mash and veg, chips or pasta. I have been the same weight (69 Kg) for 20 years give or take. But since stopping running I have got a little portly around the middle, despite walking most days and jogging when nobody is looking.
I set a limit of 80 kgs, been 83 for a year now but it ain’t slowed me down, I think the family are trying to keep me Chubby 
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I don’t stand much chance of getting slim again. I have to keep taking the tablets and that doesn’t help. A bit more chubby in the face now as well but people reckon I look better for it.
mart, 31000 paces today, 15.5 miles, had the scotch egg, 83.00 Kgs n the morning!
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My problem with weight is not what I was eating but exercise. I was working, looking after the home and 3 Old English Sheepdogs, plus teaching 8 linedancing classes a week.
When I had to stop the weight started to creep on. I knew I would never be so active again so I had to rethink my eating.
I find a slice of toast and a latte does me for breakfast after my swim, then nothing till dinner in the evening, healthy food, no chips, frys, ect ect and no pudding. Lots of water if I’m at home, if out for lunch with the girls then it’s usually a sandwich and another latte, but we only do that once a month.
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That’s a big Scotch Egg Spitty…
Well, I can eat my own weight in Scotch Egg!
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I thought current thinking is that carbs are worse than fats (within reason). Carbs turn to sugar and those get processed into body fat. Good fats aren’t so bad. (Might be wrong here.)
I wonder if the opening post question needs to be reversed - what type of foods should I not eat to become thin? With maybe a supplementary question - what other health considerations, beyond body mass, should I be thinking about with my diet?
And the answer then becomes easy - avoid any ultra-processed food.
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