I keep seeing postings here and on subreddits for slim individuals wanting to gain weight, such as r/gainit, about how your metabolism doesn’t matter. But, if this is true, why are some people naturally thin while others struggle to lose weight?
Despite eating a lot, I am a very underweight male, as are the majority of my family members, particularly those my age. On the other hand, I have overweight pals, and I don’t understand how our disparities could be caused by anything other than metabolic variations.
Here in the UK, there was a rather unscientific TV show about people who claimed they could eat whatever they wanted and never gain weight. They followed them around and monitored their food for a time, and it showed out that 95% of them simply ate the appropriate number of calories to maintain their weight. Only one had a higher-than-expected TDEE.
I felt the same way about my sister’s always-thin figure until I looked into her lifestyle. When we bought sandwiches for takeaway and had the option of fries or broccoli as a side, she invariably chose broccoli without thinking about it. She gets up early every day to work out, but I like to sleep in and then fight to get myself to exercise later. She prefers nutritious snacks such as nuts and dried fruit over chips, like I do. It doesn’t feel like she’s ever been on a diet; she’s just always been inclined to make healthier choices and is used to it, as if it doesn’t require “willpower” from her.
People in that area are literally discussing putting peanut butter in their smoothies. Like those people have a hard time eating. They eat one slice of bread and are full. Which is completely the reverse of this sub because here we enjoy our food loll.
Hello, my brother. He had been struggling to gain weight for a long time, and I told him to watch his calories. He was eating way too little and very active! Duh! But then he says, “I’m so full, I can’t eat anymore…” Put a few tablespoons of peanut butter on some ice cream for dessert, guy; it’s not hard!
I had a cousin who couldn’t gain weight because she had severe hyperthyroidism and eventually had to have her thyroid removed since it was so damaged. Clearly not just “fast metabolism.”
Yes, same. I know some “naturally skinny” folks, and they all eat sparingly. They just have very small appetites, have food concerns (allergies, intolerances, pickiness, finding chocolate horrible in all forms, etc.), are so used to restricting that it has become second nature and they have become accustomed to their modest portions, or are avid athletes.
All the slim folks I know eat very little. They just say they “eat whatever they want” since their habits have prevented them from needing more food. They’ll order a burger meal once every six weeks or so, eat the patty, half of the bun, and 1/4 of the fries, and say, “Oh, I’m so full, I can’t eat any more!” and then say they periodically consume fast food till they’re stuffed and can’t eat any more. Which is accurate in some ways, but.
He had been struggling to gain weight for a long time, and I told him to watch his calories. He was eating way too little and very active! Duh! But then he says, “I’m so full, I can’t eat anymore…” Put a few tablespoons of peanut butter on some ice cream for dessert, guy; it’s not hard!