Why can my husband eat ridiculous amounts of food and not gain a pound and I can't?
bnmoyler
Posts: 133 Member
My husband is thin. He hasn't always been though. He's 5'11 and at his heaviest weighed around 180. Due to lifestyle change, improved eating habits, and so on, he now weighs around 165. He's very thin but eats sooo much. He can eat a large bag of chips, whole box of whole wheat spaghetti filled with butter and sauce, and a small baguette before he's satisfied. He can eat like this every day and still won't gain a pound. He does not exercise and has a sedentary job. For breakfast, he'll drink a grande green tea frappucino with whipped cream and eat a vegetable and fontiago sandwich (900 Calories). And he can always eat no matter the time of day. I mean just don't get it. I work out, monitor my intake, and I don't have a sedentary job. If I ate like that, I'd gain weight right away. Why is this?
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Replies
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Genetics.0
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It'll catch up with him one day
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So he's eating like 3000 or so calories. That isn't a lot for a 30 year old (I assume he is the same age as you).0
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I don't know.
Most people can eat more than I can. If most people my size averaged 1200/day, they watch the weight fly off. I struggle.
On occasion, I'll start being jealous of someone else or doing the "I wish I could eat that much" thing. I quickly remind myself that there are others who cannot lose and what life was like for me when I couldn't lose. Then I remember to be grateful and happy with my weight loss. It generally comes naturally, but once in a while I have to remind myself.
Try not to compare yourself to others. There is almost always someone better or worse and that doesn't change you a bit, so just forget about them.
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auntrhon66 wrote: »Dchristinev297 wrote: »It'll catch up with him one day
Doubtful...why would you even think that?
he's only 30... my hubby was the same. Once he hit 45ish the weight started piling on. He just can't eat what he used to and still stay slim.
I was the same in my 20's and 30's. I could eat what I wanted and not gain weight. However, once I hit 40 that all changed unfortunately. Now I have to work at staying at a healthy weight
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Because your caloric needs are different.
As a man, he requires more calories just in general.0 -
Over-active thyroid?0
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I think it's called genetics that provide an above average metabolism coupled with age. I am 20 and basically the same way. I am mostly sedentary, but those around me are amazed at what I can eat despite the fact that I'm very skinny.0
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It just seems that way.0
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I used to think my thin husband ate "a ton". But he is 30, works and active job, eats lighter in the day, and takes in most of his calories in the evening before bed.
He was playing around with myfitnesspal, and found out he averages 2,500-3,000 calories per day, not including the activity he does.
SO, not really that much. It just looks like a lot because he takes them in a go.
Edited to add- My husband is only 5'7, so your hubby needs more calories than mine does, at 5'11.0 -
There are a ton of different reasons and variables that cause this.
Another thing lots of people mention on these forums...some people either overeat or even binge, for years and years, and still don't reach ENORMOUS size. For example I have been up to 307 lb, I have many friends who I guarantee ate more than me and their heaviest weight was maybe 200-220 lb. I have also met people on these forums who have weighed 400. It is calories in/calories out to a great extent but there are genetic, age, and health related reasons that one person eating a LOT gets to just 200, rather than 500 lb...sorry I went a bit off topic but I have seen that come up a lot.0 -
Everyone is different.0
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Does he log his calories on here? If not, your perception of his total average intake can be vastly off. And as a guy he requires more calories. Heck i am a 32 yo male at 5'11 and 180 and maintain at 2500 without exercise. Which is a lot more than most active women.0
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I do think it is genetics and age. My husband is like this. I cook his food and we also work together all day, so I know what he eats - about 3500 calories a day minimum. But he is 6'3", young and muscular with very little body fat, and I am 51 and not muscular, so I need an awful lot less. There is a downside for him - if he undereats, he sheds weight very fast and catches anything going. He has to keep eating lots and sometimes he wishes he didn't have to.0
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Because life is unfair.
And wait until he's older and thinks he's average weight when he has 20 extra pounds plus on him. ;-)0 -
christinev297 wrote: »It'll catch up with him one day
You mean like it caught up with me?
Oh wait, it didn't.0 -
LiftAllThePizzas wrote: »christinev297 wrote: »It'll catch up with him one day
You mean like it caught up with me?
Oh wait, it didn't.
It did for me and hubby, and most people I know who are over 40!
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life is not fair0
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Different metabolism. I have non identical twin boys. The thin one eats constantly and in huge amounts but stays stick thin. His taller twin has to be careful with whats he eats and the amount that he eats, and has to stay physically active or he puts on weight very quickly. They have always been like that.0
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auntrhon66 wrote: »My husband is thin. He hasn't always been though. He's 5'11 and at his heaviest weighed around 180. Due to lifestyle change, improved eating habits, and so on, he now weighs around 165. He's very thin but eats sooo much. He can eat a large bag of chips, whole box of whole wheat spaghetti filled with butter and sauce, and a small baguette before he's satisfied. He can eat like this every day and still won't gain a pound. He does not exercise and has a sedentary job. For breakfast, he'll drink a grande green tea frappucino with whipped cream and eat a vegetable and fontiago sandwich (900 Calories). And he can always eat no matter the time of day. I mean just don't get it. I work out, monitor my intake, and I don't have a sedentary job. If I ate like that, I'd gain weight right away. Why is this?
Because you are two different people and no two people are the same.
amen.. metabolism, genetics, etc. There are so many factors.. You shouldn't even compare! My brother and I are the same way; he eats carbs galore (bread and other simple carbs) and a lot of fat and doesn't have an exercise routine. I have to watch watch what I eat and have an unhealthy relationship with both food and exercise. But I know that we are 2 different individuals; built differently and have different needs.0 -
christinev297 wrote: »LiftAllThePizzas wrote: »christinev297 wrote: »It'll catch up with him one day
You mean like it caught up with me?
Oh wait, it didn't.
It did for me and hubby, and most people I know who are over 40!
I just turned 40 in May and am the same weight I was at 18. I gained a lot in my 30's, but at 37 started losing it all and I haven't had any trouble keeping it off. I don't believe that your metabolism really changes dramatically at some magic age like 40. I think it's more gradual than that and small changes can overcome it anyway. Maybe at menopause there is some dramatic shift, but haven't hit that yet, so we'll see.0 -
Ugh, I know it sucks. This may sound very Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm-ish, but when I start to feel this way, I remember that there are things about my life that other people envy. Everyone has something in life that seems "harder." Everybody has something to deal with.0
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Don't waste your time comparing yourself to other people, not even your husband. Even though it appears he eats a ridiculous amount of calories, the amount may be appropriate for him.0
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I gather from your profile you weigh quite a bit less than 165. And since you're female you're likely not anywhere near 5'11".
Your husband has put on weight by exceeding his caloric needs, and has apparently lost weight by doing the opposite.
If you ate like your husband, you would be exceeding your caloric needs, just as your husband exceeded his caloric needs once upon a time.
You're 2 different people.
I wish I could eat like someone who weighs significantly more than I do and who is significantly taller than me, and somehow maintain a healthy weight for my frame... but I can't. Would be nice though.0 -
christinev297 wrote: »LiftAllThePizzas wrote: »christinev297 wrote: »It'll catch up with him one day
You mean like it caught up with me?
Oh wait, it didn't.
It did for me and hubby, and most people I know who are over 40!
I just turned 40 in May and am the same weight I was at 18. I gained a lot in my 30's, but at 37 started losing it all and I haven't had any trouble keeping it off. I don't believe that your metabolism really changes dramatically at some magic age like 40. I think it's more gradual than that and small changes can overcome it anyway. Maybe at menopause there is some dramatic shift, but haven't hit that yet, so we'll see.
If you refernce many of the metabolic formulas (katch mcardle or harris benedict) there is little variation in rates between a 20 year old and 40 year old. IIRC, its something like 200 calories. Generally the bigger factors are lifestyle changes and exercise.
Edit: with my stats, adjust age by 20 years alters metabolic functions by 140 calories.0 -
christinev297 wrote: »LiftAllThePizzas wrote: »christinev297 wrote: »It'll catch up with him one day
You mean like it caught up with me?
Oh wait, it didn't.
It did for me and hubby, and most people I know who are over 40!
I just turned 40 in May and am the same weight I was at 18. I gained a lot in my 30's, but at 37 started losing it all and I haven't had any trouble keeping it off. I don't believe that your metabolism really changes dramatically at some magic age like 40. I think it's more gradual than that and small changes can overcome it anyway. Maybe at menopause there is some dramatic shift, but haven't hit that yet, so we'll see.
If you refernce many of the metabolic formulas (katch mcardle or harris benedict) there is little variation in rates between a 20 year old and 40 year old. IIRC, its something like 200 calories. Generally the bigger factors are lifestyle changes and exercise.
Edit: with my stats, adjust age by 20 years alters metabolic functions by 140 calories.
yeah, that makes sense. i'm sure it is gradual too. small changes can easily overcome that. i became super lazy in my 30's. i think that's a big part of why i gained weight. tried to stop that as i approached 40 and lost a lot of weight.0 -
Mine is like that too. All the adults on both sides of his family are really thin and can eat whatever they want.wish i was that lucky lol0
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Another thing: As I've been thinking, 5'11 165 pounds is not terribly thin to be eating that amount and not gain. If he were more like 150 pounds at that height and eating that amount of food (which I'm thinking there are probably some people that can do that), then it would be more remarkable.0
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But is he healthy?
I have a friend who eats large quantities of Chinese or Indian take away food every day. Rice, deep fried chips, battered chicken balls, sweet and sour marinated pork... He looks healthy but he probably has cholesterol, high blood pressure, etc.0 -
Because men suck.
/End Thread
(I got one of those too).0
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