Set point?

bytheplanets

Hey guys

So do you believe in a set point? I weighed myself at the doctors last May and I was 188 lbs

The past year I did not weigh myself at all. Some months I ate a ton and didn't exercise, other months or weeks I was a little more controlled.

I finally weighed myself again this April and I am exactly 188 lbs

I know obviously one can work hard and lose weight, or indulge and gain weight - by do you think our bodies are working towards a set point?

Editme12

Generally, yup.

spiffychick85

I'm not sure...my body works towards my deficit...then I maintain there eventually. I feel like I'm in control of this ship, if I want my weight a few lbs lower than before that's my choice etc. I won't stop until I'm happy...if you're happy then keep on maintaining.

Christine_72

I find my appetite matches up with my current weight without much effort, so this could be my set point.
I was 6lbs lighter last year and i had to work really hard to stay there. I was meticulous with my food weighing and logging, it was frickan draining!!

So yes, it is possible to lose weight past your "set point", but i think it all depends if you have the motivation and will to get there, and more importantly.. stay there. At this point in time, i do not.
It doesn't help that I'm happy at my current weight, what I've got left to lose are just vanity pounds. My hunger for food is outweighing my hunger for that number on the scale.

TimothyFish

If there is one it is due to behavior rather than physiology. Your body isn't working against you if it isn't at it's set point. Rather, there is a point at which calories in and calories out reaches equilibrium. If you were to change your behavior by eating a different amount or by exercising a different amount the weight at which equilibrium is reached would change.

MaddMaestro

Set Point, to me, is an excuse for not breaking a plateau. You've even said there were times when you ate a ton of food and other times you were more controlled. Sounds like you're doing a good job maintaining your weight. If that's your goal, don't worry about it. If you want to lose/gain weight, do the research and work harder to achieve those goals.

heiliskrimsli

Set point is another BS term that was made up because people eat more than they should. It means nothing more than that you're eating at maintenance for your weight. If you eat the right amount of calories for your age, activity level, height, sex and a different weight guess what?

You'll be "set" at that "point" instead.

Maxematics

I'm another person who doesn't believe in set point, especially since I often see it used as justification as to why someone isn't losing weight. It's as common as the amount of women who claim to have a muscular frame/gain muscle quickly.

My highest weight was in high school at 190 pounds. I lost weight shortly after high school and got down to 115. I've fluctuated between 141 and 115 a few times. 141 seems to be my highest possible weight, as I simply can't eat more than that amount of food and I have only ever been that weight at absolutely sedentary times in my life. I started MFP at 139 pounds almost two years ago after one of those sedentary periods. I got down to 115 easily and I've maintained my weight ever since.

My lowest weight was 107 last summer but I put a bit back on since then. I'm 113 now and am eating over 2000 calories per day. Some days I eat more, sometimes less, but I don't find it hard to maintain this weight and, if I'm not careful, still end up losing weight due to my activity level. The only point where my body seemed to work against me was at 107, as it was the summer and my appetite was shot but I was going on long runs without eating beforehand. That was more of my own fault though and having to learn how to manage my appetite and fuel properly.

I've seen set point being used to justify a "plateau" and/or being used for someone who, no matter what they do, their body "makes them" return to a certain weight. More often than not, it's a weight that is on the brink of obesity or overweight. I don't believe in either of those versions of set point. There is absolutely nothing wrong with wanting to maintain a weight that is on the top end of a normal BMI or even going into what is considered the overweight category but to say your body is forcing that no matter what you do is a bit silly in my opinion.

SusanMFindlay

I believe that everyone has a particular bodyfat percentage below which their body "fights back" by increasing production of hunger-inducing hormones. For the most part, this is to prevent the person from getting so underweight that their health is at risk, so it's a good thing. Also, barring hormonal issues, it doesn't happen when the person is overweight; it happens at the low end of that individual's healthy weight range.

So, if that's a "set point" then, yes, I believe in them. It's a bit different from the "I find this weight easy to maintain because this is the equilibrium weight for my particular combination of diet and activity level" definition though.

SCoil123

I have 2 weights where I get stuck for a few months. It has happened both times I've lost weight. One is 180lb, then when I get more aggressive with my goals and break through it goes smoothly till I hit 160lb, then I need to switch it up again. I don't think these are "set points" though. I just consider them the points that my body adapts and I need to switch it up.

GottaBurnEmAll

SusanMFindlay wrote: »

I believe that everyone has a particular bodyfat percentage below which their body "fights back" by increasing production of hunger-inducing hormones. For the most part, this is to prevent the person from getting so underweight that their health is at risk, so it's a good thing. Also, barring hormonal issues, it doesn't happen when the person is overweight; it happens at the low end of that individual's healthy weight range.

So, if that's a "set point" then, yes, I believe in them. It's a bit different from the "I find this weight easy to maintain because this is the equilibrium weight for my particular combination of diet and activity level" definition though.

This.

If I'm not mistaken, someone like Lyle McDonald (or maybe it was Layne Norton) has written or spoken on the subject.

JeromeBarry1

The evidence that individuals have a 'set point' of weight that they tend to stay on is strong. In my personal life, not so much.

Seffell

It's all about learned behaviours. Of course if you're used to eating a set amount of food and do a set amount of exercise your weight will be set there.

The whole point here is to change our habbits and lifestyle for the better, right?