How do people stay thin?

[Vivi22]

This is all incorrect.

Actually, it wasn't. mysecondlife and Zetion were pretty bang on about what to eat and what not to eat to lose weight, though I would actually recommend getting rid of all grains myself. Some aren't as bad as what's used to make the bread you buy in the store, but it's still not great for managing blood glucose, and there's no nutritional value you can't get elsewhere in your diet much more efficiently. Actually re-reading x EvilErmine x's post, they're not totally wrong either. There's no evolutionary reason to consume three meals a day. You can consume less or more and be fine. If you're eating the right types of food you will actually stay full a lot longer since your blood sugar isn't crashing two hours later and the fat content will give you plenty of energy to carry you for hours. So eating when you're hungry you may find that you eat less, or at least less frequently.

The only person you quoted who was actually incorrect about anything was Mallefunction when they said not to avoid carbs. Sure you don't want to avoid all carbs. vegetables and the occasional piece of fruit are fine. But you do want to avoid sugar, starch, and grains if you want to lose weight and be healthy. But he was right about not limiting fat intake. It's what will give you good energy throughout the day and leave you feeling full longer. It's also required for the proper development and functioning of the human brain and immune system. Limiting fat is only hurting you.

I can assure you that limiting carbohydrate intake is not some "crap people made up to sell books." Though eating as many carbs in the form of grains that the USDA recommends IS crap that they made up to sell you the grains they heavily subsidize.

 

[Dastardly]

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?

The folks telling you to count calories are exactly right. Don't trust fads or tricks, just trust basic science -- namely, the "law of conservation of matter." If you don't eat it, it can't add mass to your body.

Of course, as mentioned, eating too little sends your body into "emergency mode," which means when you do eat, more of it gets stored as fat -- your body thinks you're in the middle of a famine!

My personal experience on this? I knew I'd have to fight this battle on diet, since I just don't have the time for regular, rigorous exercise. I cut down to diet/zero-calorie sodas, and mostly decided not to change what I ate, but how much of it. That meant a cheeseburger instead of a double, a small candy bar instead of a king size... One change I did make, though? High-fiber snacks -- low calories, highly filling.

It made a big difference. See, you're usually "full" before your stomach can get the message to your brain. By eating less (and a bit slower) you avoid cramming more food in past your "full line."

Change your eating habits to match your lifestyle, rather than changing your lifestyle to match your eating habits (which rarely lasts, and weight loss is an endurance game)

 

[jonoortrev]

high metalbolism, walking everywhere even when the nearest everywhere is 2 miles away, enjoy not sitting still for more than three seconds, stage diving, punching people you don't like at gigs (the back pummell is by far the most hilarious one to watch), not drinking alcohol, not eating food that clearly hasn't heard of 'balanced diet' ever. Having breakfast before 9am is good, just having breakfast when you've woken up is good too.

 

[Continuity]

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?

My secret? mystery digestive disorder. I'm loosing weight even though i'm trying to put weight on. Seriously, I would be very happy to put a stone on right now.

Just be happy your digestion works, and maybe eat a few less mars bars.

If you're honestly trying to gain weight and you're actively getting thinner, you might want to see a doctor. I mean, if I saw one of my cats exhibiting symptoms like that, I would seriously start wondering if they had worms. I don't mean to compare you to a cat, but humans can get the same sort of parasites, and even if it's not parasites, there's probably some sort of explanation -- some of which can be quite serious.

I said "mystery" for a reason, i.e. not just a mystery to me but also to my doctor and a GI consultant (after a full battery of tests and examinations) and to a dietician. hence "mystery".

 

[JediMB]

My high metabolism (and whatever other functions may be involved) has kept me fairly thin for most of my life... unlike my brother, who's quite overweight despite that we have mostly the same eating and non-exercise habits.

But, yeah, since college I've started putting on some weights. Mostly on my legs and hips. My brother and I now exercise regularly. We're starting off with 40 minutes, 2-3 times per week, but intend to increase that as we get used to the exercise.

I can still wear t-shirts I've had since I was a little kid, and hopefully I'll soon be able to fit into the jeans I got only a couple of years ago again.

 

[floppylobster]

(1) DO NOT drink coke or any similar sugary drink. (this includes Coke Zero or Diet Coke etc...)

(2) Exercise at least a small amount of time, every day. Take the stairs not the lift. Park further than you need to. Walk if it's only five minutes away.

(3) If you're feeling hungry do some exercise. It will help stave off hunger pangs.

Number 2 is very important. If you're not exercising in some way then your body will start storing fat.

Avoid sugar. And learn where sugar is hidden. Know why do McDonald's fries and hamburger buns taste good? Because of the sugar in them. Avoid.

 

[Loki J]

Pick up a copy of "The 4-Hour Body", by Timothy Ferris and he'll tell you how to get the most out of doing the least.

Z

 

[go-10]

-go to GMC buy a bottle of Carnitine take as directed
-on a daily basis try running/walking/trotting 2 miles
-try doing at least 15 sit ups and 15 jumping jacks
-do as many push ups as possible, not until you're tired, do them until you can't physically do another one

carnitine helps you accelerate your metabolism and digestion when mixed with exercise, running will bring down the pot belly, while sit ups, jumping jacks, and push ups help you burn the excess.
also you can replace all exercise and running with swimming but you need to swim for a good 2 1/2 hours which might be murder at first

 

[Mausthemighty]

My formula is: Eating a lot of vegetables, doing sports, I take the bike whenever I need to get somewhere and using the normal stairs instead of an escalator or elevator. Oh and lots of sex.

 

[Vivi22]

The folks telling you to count calories are exactly right. Don't trust fads or tricks, just trust basic science -- namely, the "law of conservation of matter." If you don't eat it, it can't add mass to your body.

People who state such a gross oversimplification of fat storage as fact have no real understanding of the processes which actually occur in the body to store glucose in fat cells. And conservation of mass does not apply to counting calories for a number of reasons. First it would assume that everything you eat is either burned off or stored which is a load of crap (pun partly intended). Second, think about the equation that people use as the formula for weight loss. Calories in-Calories out = weight gain/loss. Or to state it another way, energy in-energy out = change in mass. Show a formula like that to a physicist and they will laugh at you.

 

[Owyn_Merrilin]

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?

My secret? mystery digestive disorder. I'm loosing weight even though i'm trying to put weight on. Seriously, I would be very happy to put a stone on right now.

Just be happy your digestion works, and maybe eat a few less mars bars.

If you're honestly trying to gain weight and you're actively getting thinner, you might want to see a doctor. I mean, if I saw one of my cats exhibiting symptoms like that, I would seriously start wondering if they had worms. I don't mean to compare you to a cat, but humans can get the same sort of parasites, and even if it's not parasites, there's probably some sort of explanation -- some of which can be quite serious.

I said "mystery" for a reason, i.e. not just a mystery to me but also to my doctor and a GI consultant (after a full battery of tests and examinations) and to a dietician. hence "mystery".

Not to be too alarming, but have they tried ruling out problems that aren't directly tied to the GI tract? For example, some types of cancer can cause weight loss -- and I mean the cancer itself, not the treatment. I'm sure you're already doing this, but if I were you, I'd be badgering my doctor to look at every possibility.

 

[Vivi22]

Also, grain based products are perfectly healthy. Nothing wrong with them. Your suggestion of not eating them at all is harmfull for certain; anything that involves never eating any specific food group any longer is harmfull. There's a reason we humans have a varied diet.

There is a mountain of evidence that the introduction of grains into the human diet has been disastrous for human health. I'd recommend checking out the book wheat belly if you'd like a thorough look at the research behind this: http://www.amazon.com/Wheat-Belly-Lose-Weight-Health/dp/1609611543/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1319026173&sr=8-1

But for a quick run down of some things to consider about wheat, first off, it wasn't consumed at all until agriculture became prevalent in human society some 10,000 years ago. The actual amount of time that grains has been part of the human diet is miniscule in comparison to the amount of time that humanity has existed on this planet, and there are still cultures in existence which eat little to no grains whether due to lacking the climate or even the knowledge to grow them. What people tend to find in these cultures is much lower prevalence of chronic diseases like heart disease. There is also plenty of evidence indicating that since the introduction of grains to the human diet, people have gotten shorter, fatter, and sicker.

I could go on, but actually looking into that book and other research available will give you a far more complete picture. Suffice it to say, there is little nutritional value to grains. Period. You won't get any nutrients from them that you can't get in larger quantities from other types of food like vegetables, and without suffering a spike in blood glucose as a result which is what triggers the body to release insulin and store fat. Not only that, but cut out grains and you will be healthier, and feel better throughout the day.

Remember, I'm not saying cut out all carbs. Just the ones that are bad for you, which includes wheat. There is nothing about them that is "perfectly healthy" and cutting them out is not harmful. Quite the opposite.

Losing weight is about nothing more than letting the sum of what you eat minus what you use up be a small negative number, and keep that up. All else is just fried air.

This is a fallacy which is not based on good science, and does nothing to take into account how the body actually goes about storing fat. If you don't control your blood glucose by cutting out foods which cause glucose levels to spike (with grains being every bit as bad as sugar), that equation will get you nowhere.

 

[SckizoBoy]

By virtue of a balanced diet, regular exercise a generally active lifestyle, and the blessing of an insane metabolism.

But, that's just me...

 

[Zakarath]

I hold steady at about 15 tons eating a cow and a half or so per day.

 

[6037084]

Don't see eating as something holy you must do at a certain time, eat when you're hungry and/or smaller portions more often during the day, also put less on your plate so you won't get the urge to eat more than you should simply to clean your plate etc. Well that's how I stay thin anyways.

 

[Jernau]

fuck it be like me, I train the times a day and eat 5000-6000 calories a day. And i'm pretty slim, body fat 8%, still weigh 96kg though.


Oh, I'm also an olympic hopeful. But you asked how I did it!

 

[Dastardly]

People who state such a gross oversimplification of fat storage as fact have no real understanding of the processes which actually occur in the body to store glucose in fat cells. And conservation of mass does not apply to counting calories for a number of reasons. First it would assume that everything you eat is either burned off or stored which is a load of crap (pun partly intended). Second, think about the equation that people use as the formula for weight loss. Calories in-Calories out = weight gain/loss. Or to state it another way, energy in-energy out = change in mass. Show a formula like that to a physicist and they will laugh at you.

And people who quote some tidbits they heard from a science class really love to tell people what they "don't understand." But it's okay, I'll play along:

1. Obviously there is waste. That doesn't change the basic idea. If you were going to eat a Twinkie, and you did not eat the Twinkie, then nothing about that Twinkie can add weight to your body -- regardless of how much waste results from the digestion of that Twinkie.

2. "Cal in - Cal out = Weight loss" is a simplification of the process. That's obvious and intentional. Simplifications don't make things incorrect. "Sunlight + Water + Carbon Dioxide = Sugar + Oxygen" is an intense over-simplification of photosynthesis... but does that mean it has no value for teaching the basic concept to beginners? You try talking to a group of sixth graders about adenosine triphosphate and see how far you get.

If you subtract 10-15% of your daily caloric intake, and maintain your current activity level, you're going to see weight loss. Not instantly, of course. And not without a price -- you're going to feel hungry, because your body has built certain habits and expectations.

If you cut too much, as nearly everyone warns you, your body goes into an "emergency" mode and will burn things other than fat (like muscle, which burns calories itself) and shut down a few "non-essential processes." Of course, when this happens, you're actually seeing a net decrease in your caloric demand, so even then the basic principle holds up.

But the science clearly states that mass and energy can't come from nowhere. Refute that, and maybe you'll show me what I'm "not understanding."

 

[Tien Shen]

I like to use my sisters as an example. My sisters always complained to my doctor dad,"How come he can eat so much but never get fat while we have to watch what we eat cause we put on weight so easily?" and my dad goes,"Cause he got my genes and you got your mom's".

 

[v3n0mat3]

Metabolism, metabolism, metabolism.

Yes, this is the truth.

All you really have to do to increase it is walk every day. Walk between meals. Jog a bit. A mile (roughly 2 km, for the sake of Metrics) every day helps you get in shape. Or, do an entire hour. 30-mins every other day of Cardio exercises help your blood flow, which burns fat, which builds lean muscles. Wanna sculpt? Strength exercises. Push-ups, weight training, resistance bands, you name it.

Diet: No soda period, drink water or juice instead, limit sugars (remember, you need some sugar in your diet), low carbohydrates, low sodium, eat leafy, and dark green veggies, NO RED MEAT (Beef or pork), and, finally, NO SNACKING. Unless you're eating fruits, you should be drinking water. Drink a good 2-3 liters of water per day. You won't feel hungry, and you'll flush out your system, and you'll feel that much better.

 

[UnderCoverGuest]

Metabolism, cardiovascular exercise, diet, genes; most important, dedication.

With eight pages worth of posts, I'm sure some of the amateur "I heard it from a friend" or "I learned it in my human physiology class", or "I looked it up on google" kids have already put on their toy Personal Trainer certificates on their walls and cheerfully responded with all the advice that hasn't worked for them.

But the best thing to do if you want to lose weight is to see a licensed nutritionist and visit your local gym and get some personal training advice from a qualified professional. Reading forum posts and all may make you feel knowledgeable, but it certainly ain't gonna make you feel thin or fit. Visit the gym, talk to someone. If you don't like the way they talk, you don't have to go back. If you're serious and have the self-determination to do what you want to do, you'll find that half the gyms aren't mean or offensive to people--they're just irritated with people who aren't committed.

If you show you're committed, you'll be treated alright. Half the scrawny or super overweight guys I see come into my gym I never see again after a month or two. You have to remember, a gym isn't just a fitness service, it's a business--and business needs costumers. If you can stick it through, you'll be a valued customer. If you fall out after a free week's trial period, of course you're not going to be treated as politely as you want. It's something you have to earn--a reward. It's not something you're simply given on a silver platter.

Coincidentally, it's the same with a lean physique.