How do people stay thin?

[scythian0528]

") somehow can stay thin without working out and despite apparently eating a lot (hell, I'm in much worse shape than my girlfriend, yet I have an easier time walking, thank you Mini-Boot Camp). "

Metabolism in her case. Won't work for you, sorry, life isn't fair. The solution is to frequently work out, that means weights and cardio. Dieting won't work alone, you need exercise to burn off fat. 'starving yourself' burns off muscle, which makes you weigh slightly less and still look terrible. If you get enough exercise, you can eat whatever you want as long as you eat real meals and don't have any prexisting conditions(avoid anything over 700mg sodium, any transfat and high cholesterol)

My advice is to not have any junk food, or soda in your house and to avoid alcohol. These cravings will pass.

 

[Jessta]

I make sure that I exercise right before eating (either I run to the store to pick up my groceries or I do 20 pushups/situps before hand).

Although ya a good deal of this is all about genetics, I know a couple of brothers who eat twice as much as me entirely in fatty foods like pizza and soda and never exercise yet you can see their hearts beating through their chest they are so thin. I also know several families of native guys who carefully diet and make sure to get plenty of exercise yet are like little dumplings compared to me they are so fat. Not saying that the entire game is genetics just that its certainly a factor.

 

[rammst13n]

Meth, the fastest way to lose weight, 0/10 doctors recommend it

 

[Ninonybox_v1legacy]

Don't eat
*actually reads OP*

Anyway, the only way that I can think of is having a good metabolism...or having my recent gift of eating and never exercising and somehow loosing weight. I am 5'10 so maybe that has something to do with it.

 

[Sentox6]

I'm one of the lucky ones. I weigh about 67kg (6'1"), and I eat insane amounts of food. I'm not exaggerating either; everyone I know is generally stunned by the amount of food I consume. I don't exercise particularly much, either.

 

[Mad World]

Wow... are people really arguing about whether or not genetics affects your weight? Genetics isn't the entire picture, but it's definitely a significant part.

 

[mattaui]

Cut all the carbs from your diet immediately and see how that impacts your weight. Some people are simply prone to pack on the pounds and are even more prone to do so when eating a lot of carbs. Sugar is by far the worst, since it keeps you hungry and encourages the body to store fat.

Yes, it means you have to get your calories from somewhere else, and that somewhere else is fat and protein. But really, if you can just do one thing and cut out the -sugars-, you'll be doing yourself a world of good right there.

Being fat for many people has very little to do with exercise. It's largely how and what they eat. Exercise has its own rewards, of course, but we're improperly conditioned to think that the one true path to not being fat is being excessively active. It simply isn't.

See: Gary Taubes, 'Why We Get Fat' and Google 'Dr. Lustig' for his discussion on sugar.

 

[scythian0528]

Wow... are people really arguing about whether or not genetics affects your weight? Genetics isn't the entire picture, but it's definitely a significant part.

It's also not an excuse. I have a friend who went from 350lbs to 140lbs within 4 years through diet and exercise changes.

 

[dex-dex]

A good thing ot do is track everything that you eat for a week. and i mean EVERYTHING!
what time, what the food was and how much of it.
then take out the food that is just crappy filler food such as chips, pop and chocoalte bars.
and plan out what you eat.
hope it helps!

 

[RedDeadFred]

I walk for about an hour a day just to and from school and walking to various classes. I also eat moderately healthy. I barely drink any pop or eat things with lots of sugar.
I also swim about once a week and ski A LOT in the winter.
So ya, exercise a decent amount and don't stuff your face with junk food and you'll be fine.
Also, another important thing is getting a good amount of sleep each night.

 

[countrysteaksauce]

Get rid of sodas completely or replace them with club soda. It works well.
Always take the stairs (within reason)

 

[RedDeadFred]

Meth, the fastest way to lose weight, 0/10 doctors recommend it

Considering your avatar, I thought you would say shrooms.

 

[dex-dex]

I'm slightly underweight, and I could easily create the mirror version of this topic, "How do people get fat?" I cannot gain weight for anything. I don't exercise or eat especially well, but I have a ridiculous metabolism and a very weak stomach that prevents me from eating much at breakfast or lunch. I'm like a scarecrow.

Your just like my best guy friend. He is really thin and was really self conscious about it. He works out at a gym and built some muscle mass so that is one way of doing it.
but unlike you, I bet you can get pants that actually fit you off the rack in the same country. He needs to go to america to get pants to fit him. so just be glad your not that skinny.

 

[quantumsoul]

I've stayed skinny by not eating so much. It's quite effective. Fat requires materials unless your body can somehow create matter, then you're shit out of luck.

 

[Dags90]

but unlike you, I bet you can get pants that actually fit you off the rack in the same country. He needs to go to america to get pants to fit him. so just be glad your not that skinny.

For serious? Coming the U.S. to get pants that are skinny enough? You know were like, fattest of the fat countries. The British call us fat.

 

[lacktheknack]

I've wanted to lose weight for a while now, and I have tried nearly everything (except diet pills and starving, I have my standards). The weird thing is that quite a few people I know tend to stay thin despite regularly eating burger king and such. I know some of them do work out, but some (like my girlfriend) somehow can stay thin without working out and despite apparently eating a lot (hell, I'm in much worse shape than my girlfriend, yet I have an easier time walking, thank you Mini-Boot Camp). I gotta ask, when it comes to those people, what's their secret?

Metabolism.

Do some research for metabolism enriching foods, and eat more of them (I'm pretty sure fish is the big one still). That's the only thing that let's them live the way they do without weight gain.

You'd be better off following this, though: If you could grow it yourself, it's good for you. If you have to eat packaged foods (like dairy products and canned foods), a smaller ingredient list is better for you than a large one. Half an hour of cooking can replace a full hour in the gym, as you'll eat healthier and less fattening foods. Either eat three normal meals a day, or eight snacks, not both. Basic common sense stuff.

 

[dex-dex]

but unlike you, I bet you can get pants that actually fit you off the rack in the same country. He needs to go to america to get pants to fit him. so just be glad your not that skinny.

For serious? Coming the U.S. to get pants that are skinny enough? You know were like, fattest of the fat countries. The British call us fat.

yeah I know! I asked him what the hell when he said that.
but supposedly in the far off land of Buffalo New York (not really far considering I live in Toronto). there is such a thing as small waist pants I still need to go with him in person to see if this myth is true.

 

[The Last Parade]

if you eat several small healthy meals by day your metabolism will quicken, that'll help =)

 

[Icehearted]

Okay, not everyone metabolizes their food identically. Have thin friends that eat junk? They get away with it because they can, and unfortunately, you may not be so "lucky". I'm one of those that no matter how I try I will probably never be a big guy. Some people are lactose intolerant, for example, and some are not.

It's actually not as much metabolism as it is other factors. You have to know your own body, and realize what you should and should not eat to be healthy. Most importantly, if you are not eating healthy foods (if it has high fructose corn syrup in it, that's NOT HEALTHY) and are not exercising, you really have nothing you should complain about, because it is evident that you are not taking enough practical or sensible action to become healthier, or at the least lose weight.

I never got why people just think they will lose weight by staying as sedentary as they always were and eating better, or funnier still just not eating as much of the same junk that made them gain weight to begin with.

Know your body, read up on foods, do what's right instead of what's easy (sometimes not mutually exclusive), make fewer excuses, and most importantly, don't give up.

 

[svenjl]

As many have pointed out, diet is really important. Not going on a diet, but eating in terms of nutrition and the composition of your diet. Most science based approaches to health and fitness completely shit on low carb diets, given that carbs are the primary source of fuel for muscles. The average American diet (and most Western diets) contains enough of your body's protein requirements even for people who exercise regularly and intensely. So protein supplements are unecessary. The main issue for many, many people is that they eat too much fat OR they just eat too much and are not physically active enough. Consuming high GI foods is also problematic.

So the main points of a lifestyle conducive to losing and keeping off weight are:
- reduce fat and processed sugar intake (cut right back on soda, sweets, deserts, fried and fast foods, salad dressings)
- eat foods with a low Glycemic Index (oats, muesli, wholemeal pasta and bread, certain fruits)
- increase fruit and vegetable intake as important sources of vitamins and minerals
- reduce alcohol intake (empty carbs)
- drink water
- reduce portion sizes at meal, or don't have seconds, specially at dinner.
- exercise regularly and increase your lean muscle mass, which will in turn increase your metabolism.
- exercise at an intensity high enough to elevate your heart rate above 120 bpm and "burn" fat i.e. cardio work is unavoidable if you want to get rid of fat.

Apologies if this is repeating what others have posted. Cant't read them all ;-)