Metabolism vs Appetite on "Eating whatever you want"

[momeNt]

I read a lot about people who eat whatever they want and never gain weight. I'm of the opinion that they simply just don't have the appetite to eat enough to actually gain the weight...

People used to think of me that same way but I moved out, ordered pizza 2 nights a week, the people at wingstop (great hot wings and fries) began to know me as one of the main regulars, and my passenger seat began to smell like chipotle from all the burritos I would drive home to eat while watching something on netflix! Gained about 30 pounds before I was like whoah WTF! Now im running 8-10 miles a week (trying to work up to 30 long term), lifting, and now make sure my kitchen has enough chicken for 1-2 weeks of dinners and fruit and vegetables to keep me from snacking on garbage.

So are there really people out there that could have lived my lifestyle and not gained the weight? desk job, couch potato/video games, and probably 2,500 calories on a GOOD day, average day would be anywhere from 3-4000?

 

[Whisper]

I'm certain that appetite plays a big part; many times, people will think they're eating a lot more than they actually are (the opposite can also be true, of course). However, I would imagine that genetics and natural metabolism also play significant roles. I couldn't tell you which contributes more, though if I had to guess, it would be appetite.

 

[JayBlay77]

Well as a college kid in the dorms I can say that I never gained weight I ate all kinds of food. There would be the main entree which would be something like hamburgers, honey dijon chicken, beef stroganoff, fried chicken, general tso chicken, tacos or some other entree type food. Then there would be the sides of noodles or fries, etc. I also pretty much had at least one bowl of lucky charms if not two. Two glasses of milk and a soda. Then I would have a big bowl of ice cream and with sprinkles. I would usually have 2-3 plates of food plus two bowls by the end of the meal.

Then we'd go down for late night around midnight where it's pretty much everything that is bad for you. I'd usually just get a cheese burger and a basket of fries or some bosco sticks a lot of the time. But there was ice cream and other desserts that I would get from time to time too.

In terms of activity I spent a significant amount of time in front of a computer or at a lecture hall for the most part. I might play some volleyball or basketball over the weekend. I've always been skinny and athletic (bball and track in high school). But I was lazy in college. In any case, I came in at 6'1" 165lbs and when i started working out again in my junior year I was 6'2" 165lbs.

It was terribly unhealthy and my friends always swore up and down my metabolism would stop and I was gonna get fat. I loved it though cause I could eat what I wanted and stay the same size. I think it was just good genetics. Nowadays I'm wayyy healthier. I decided I wanted to start putting on mass, and cardio-wise I was sooo out of shape which I hated. I work out 6 times a week and eat moderately healthy as well. Still eat more than a lot of my friends, but obviously now I've got the activity to go with it.


Cliffs: Ate a ton of not-so-healthy food for two years in college without gaining weight thanks to a great metabolism aka genetics. Workout a bunch now and am much healthier, and probably happier too.

 

[CPA]

dude, I worked in a pizza shop until I got out of college. I was still a beanpole. In fact, I have never had a problem losing weight until recently (I am not 41), but even then, I'm still 6' 200lbs. So, yes, there are some of us who can or could eat anything we wanted and not gain weight.

 

[momeNt]

Surprising stories, I always just figured there was an element of bragging involved when people touted their metabolism as high. But for every person who brags about it I suppose there is one who laments it because it keeps them from gaining muscle when they decide they want to get bigger.

I think maybe my metabolism just dropped off earlier at 21 instead of the more typical 25-30. I'm just glad I woke up at 30 pounds overweight (6'2" height), could have obviously gained a lot more and hit 3 spins on the scale pretty easily really...

 

[darkxshade]

Genetics is just an oversimplified way of explaining differences of hormonal responses to diet between say 2 otherwise completely physically identical persons(height, weight, bf&#37 where one has to work harder to maintain while the other has to eat harder. Some people can eat a ton because they are fortunate much like diabetics are unfortunate.