How to become that skinny friend who eats what they want and dont gain weight
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My daughter is one of those people and her eating habits are weird. They have been since she started eating solid food. She can stuff her face with a whole pizza one day but for the next several days she'll eat like a bird. I call it her "bird phase", where she'll barely eat or forget to eat. It all balances out for her. Unfortunately I am not like that
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maybe the person OP lives with has an underlying condition making them thin as well? I was thin clear up into my late 20s early 30s and was taken off a medication for asthma(it wound me up so I was always on the go). I could eat all day long,
Im talking about several slices of pizza,soda after soda and on and on. even while pregnant I only gained 40 lbs with each kid(I ate healthy with them) and lost it very soon after birth. But once they took me off the meds,I started moving less but eating the same amount. needless to say I gained weight.I stayed like that until 5 years ago when I started moving more and eating less.
Back then it was believed that if your parents were thin you would be thin because genetics. not true at all. I got fat because I ate more than I burned. thats usually how it happens.my mom no matter what she ate stayed thin all her life,but she was always moving and doing things.so if the person OP lives with is thin and stays that way many factors can play into that. OP everyone is different so and you cannot eat like the person you live with,its life and sure it sucks sometimes but thats just how it is.you cant compare yourself to others. wanna eat more then move more5 -
Echoing all the posters saying that activity levels matter in this equation.
For example, I run long distance 6 days a week (basically a half marathon distance or so five days a week, Saturday long run around or above marathon distance) and walk all around town all day shuttling my oldest two to and from school and running errands. As a result my maintenance as a 5'10" 130lb female is 3500-4000 a day. People who see me out of activity related context would think I'm some mythical thin person who eats everything when in reality I'm just incredibly active in my life
So a good long think about what this other person is doing when they aren't eating is worth considering.8 -
As the skinny friend, I’ve learned not to make a big deal about the little things I do to save calories, or to talk about my diet, or exercising, to heavier friends. They never want to hear any of it! Even when we would all be out eating, and they’d start talking about their current attempt at Atkins, or whatever, I would be the one who didn’t understand and was obviously just “naturally skinny”. If I did something like ask for dressing on the side, or no cheese, they’d (partly) tease “oh, you don’t need to do that!” People say the same things about me working out 5 days a week, and remark that I don’t need to be working out so much.21
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This might be the one dewd2 was thinking of??
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/7838668.stm
https://topdocumentaryfilms.com/why-are-thin-people-not-fat/
No, it was a segment on a show. I can't find it in my history. I originally found it from a link on this forum.
The bottom line was that heavier friend ate way more calories than the skinny friend. The heavier woman under estimated her intake and over estimated her friends.maggibailey wrote: »I remember the show about that, I've been trying to remember what it was called for a week it was so much fun to watch!
are you talking about supersize vs superskinny?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hj5TKcvXOY8
I've watched a bunch of these and there was even one where the girl was like 16 BMI and all she ate was candy bars, sausages and full sugar soda. Turned out when they counted her calories she was only eating 1600 a day and walked a LOT.4 -
How to become that person who can laze around, eat to excess and remain skinny? Choose different parents.10
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be born to different parents5
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My brother is one of these. His secret? He only eats once a day, and sometimes only ever other day. For whatever reason, he just doesn’t get hungry, and won’t eat unless somebody reminds him to. He’s been like that his entire life.
Seems like that would make it difficult to get adequate nutrition. Poor guy! I'd not trade my love and enjoyment of food for anything.
He’s definitely not the healthiest person I know, I’m trying to change than. But whatever it is, he doesn’t have the in-built desire for food that I, and most of us here I suspect, have. For him eating has always just been something he does to keep from dying.
The funny thing? He’s a manager at a restaurant, and occasional chef.5 -
I think in most cases, barring medical conditions, it comes down to the individual either being more active and having a higher NEAT or they simply eat intuitively, meaning that when they have a meal out or do have a hungry day, they will consume a substantial amount, but they will not be hungry the next day and so will naturally balance it out. I think some people are also just less interested in food in general and to them, it is fuel ... sure, they will find enjoyment in their food but they have so many other things taking up their focus that food slips into second place.
I am sure that there are a few outliers who maybe are blessed with a more efficient metabolism, especially when younger, but beyond that, yeah, I think it is down to activity levels and being in touch with one's real hunger signals. When I am not logging and am generally active and not bogged down by depression, I pretty much will maintain a BMI of around 21 and always have done, so long as I have plenty to occupy me and as long as I am eating the things that I enjoy. If I had a large, prawn mayo baguette for lunch, for example, I would end up eating much lighter later on because I was full. I was most likely naturally eating the correct amount to maintain a healthy weight.
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My brother is one of these. His secret? He only eats once a day, and sometimes only ever other day. For whatever reason, he just doesn’t get hungry, and won’t eat unless somebody reminds him to. He’s been like that his entire life. Seems like that would make it difficult to get adequate nutrition. Poor guy! I'd not trade my love and enjoyment of food for anything.
He’s definitely not the healthiest person I know, I’m trying to change than. But whatever it is, he doesn’t have the in-built desire for food that I, and most of us here I suspect, have. For him eating has always just been something he does to keep from dying.
The funny thing? He’s a manager at a restaurant, and occasional chef.
Wow that's a very interesting career choice for someone who doesn't really like food! I suspect you're right - I know my love of food has contributed to my being here.1 -
My brother is one of these. His secret? He only eats once a day, and sometimes only ever other day. For whatever reason, he just doesn’t get hungry, and won’t eat unless somebody reminds him to. He’s been like that his entire life. Seems like that would make it difficult to get adequate nutrition. Poor guy! I'd not trade my love and enjoyment of food for anything.
He’s definitely not the healthiest person I know, I’m trying to change than. But whatever it is, he doesn’t have the in-built desire for food that I, and most of us here I suspect, have. For him eating has always just been something he does to keep from dying.
The funny thing? He’s a manager at a restaurant, and occasional chef.
Wow that's a very interesting career choice for someone who doesn't really like food! I suspect you're right - I know my love of food has contributed to my being here.
I actually wonder about this a lot. I’ve only recently learned that not everyone LOVES alcohol the way I do. I’ve never understood how defensive people get about “junk” food, when for me, it’s just not the logical decision. I wonder if it doesn’t give me the extremely good feelings, but it does for other people. Sure, I like butter, but it’s nothing for me to eat a baked potato plain, if I want to cut calories. I’m also someone who doesn’t eat when stressed. The idea nauseates me. On the other hand, I seriously don’t want to cut out alcohol no matter how logical it is.9 -
Sunnybrooke99 wrote: »My brother is one of these. His secret? He only eats once a day, and sometimes only ever other day. For whatever reason, he just doesn’t get hungry, and won’t eat unless somebody reminds him to. He’s been like that his entire life. Seems like that would make it difficult to get adequate nutrition. Poor guy! I'd not trade my love and enjoyment of food for anything.
He’s definitely not the healthiest person I know, I’m trying to change than. But whatever it is, he doesn’t have the in-built desire for food that I, and most of us here I suspect, have. For him eating has always just been something he does to keep from dying.
The funny thing? He’s a manager at a restaurant, and occasional chef.
Wow that's a very interesting career choice for someone who doesn't really like food! I suspect you're right - I know my love of food has contributed to my being here.
I actually wonder about this a lot. I’ve only recently learned that not everyone LOVES alcohol the way I do. I’ve never understood how defensive people get about “junk” food, when for me, it’s just not the logical decision. I wonder if it doesn’t give me the extremely good feelings, but it does for other people. Sure, I like butter, but it’s nothing for me to eat a baked potato plain, if I want to cut calories. I’m also someone who doesn’t eat when stressed. The idea nauseates me. On the other hand, I seriously don’t want to cut out alcohol no matter how logical it is.
I'm very take it or leave it with alcohol. But I'd rather not choke down a plain baked potato! Which is why there will never be a 'one size fits all' diet plan
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Op, maybe your friend has tapeworm? I have heard that back in the day, people would ingest tapeworm so they could lose weight!!
Seriously though, some people are just like this. They have an easier time, higher metabolism.2 -
I don't think I could ever forget to eat2
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Why are ppl questioning you so much lol. I live with ppl who STUFF themselves with tons and tons of food and remain the same. Activity level you ask? None. Don't question me because I live with them haha.20
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How come some skinny people eat more than an overweight person and remain the same ?I see so many skinny people stuffing their face constantly and they stay the same all the time.I dont get it do you ? I would love to be one of those people lol
Yes, I get it. I was one of those skinny people who appeared to eat a lot for most of my life.
My secret ... I exercised a whole lot. Nope, more than that. More than you can probably imagine.
Happily, after a few years of easing back on the exercise, I'm building back up again.
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For 40 years I was that skinny friend that couldn't put on weight no matter what I ate. I was 5'6, 120 lbs. and constantly nagged about how I was too thin.....which by the way is just as painful as calling a person fat. Then I suppose my metabolism slowed down (which is why BMR's drop with age) and I got fat over a 10 or 15 year period. I believe that genetics plays a big part on how many calories our bodies burn during the day. Although I was energetic and active (always moving), I didn't exercise. I ate a high carb/high fat diet....never was big on protein. I used to make drinks with ice cream, heavy cream, and weight-on powder to gain weight...didn't work. Never thought a thing about eating an extra midnight meal, or a few donuts for breakfast. In my younger days I also drank a fair amount of alcohol on a pretty regular basis, but probably danced it off. I'm sure I ate 3000-3500 calories per day and somehow burned them off. Now I'm on a 1200 calorie diet starting to lose some weight and probably will never be able to eat more than 1500, even though I still feel like I'm always busy doing something.4
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My brother is one of these. His secret? He only eats once a day, and sometimes only ever other day. For whatever reason, he just doesn’t get hungry, and won’t eat unless somebody reminds him to. He’s been like that his entire life. Seems like that would make it difficult to get adequate nutrition. Poor guy! I'd not trade my love and enjoyment of food for anything.
He’s definitely not the healthiest person I know, I’m trying to change than. But whatever it is, he doesn’t have the in-built desire for food that I, and most of us here I suspect, have. For him eating has always just been something he does to keep from dying.
The funny thing? He’s a manager at a restaurant, and occasional chef.
I bet he gets sick of being around food & finds it extremely boring when it comes time to make his own meals or deciding what he simply wants to eat.3 -
A friend at work eats a lot of chips. She sometimes can eat 2-3 big bag of chips a day (going by what she said) among other stuff she eats. Many people always make comments that she eats so much & is on the thinner or average size & if they eat that much they would be as big as a house.
What I've picked up on is the fact that there will be days that she says she doesn't eat much & she'll also say she's not hungry a lot.
I've also explained to her when she says that she doesn't gain weight from all the food she eats that she eats under her TDEE for the day/weekly average & could have a higher metabolism than most.1 -
Sunnybrooke99 wrote: »My brother is one of these. His secret? He only eats once a day, and sometimes only ever other day. For whatever reason, he just doesn’t get hungry, and won’t eat unless somebody reminds him to. He’s been like that his entire life. Seems like that would make it difficult to get adequate nutrition. Poor guy! I'd not trade my love and enjoyment of food for anything.
He’s definitely not the healthiest person I know, I’m trying to change than. But whatever it is, he doesn’t have the in-built desire for food that I, and most of us here I suspect, have. For him eating has always just been something he does to keep from dying.
The funny thing? He’s a manager at a restaurant, and occasional chef.
Wow that's a very interesting career choice for someone who doesn't really like food! I suspect you're right - I know my love of food has contributed to my being here.
I actually wonder about this a lot. I’ve only recently learned that not everyone LOVES alcohol the way I do. I’ve never understood how defensive people get about “junk” food, when for me, it’s just not the logical decision. I wonder if it doesn’t give me the extremely good feelings, but it does for other people. Sure, I like butter, but it’s nothing for me to eat a baked potato plain, if I want to cut calories. I’m also someone who doesn’t eat when stressed. The idea nauseates me. On the other hand, I seriously don’t want to cut out alcohol no matter how logical it is.
Oh I'm 100% convinced that some people just don't like food the way that others do.
I LOVE food. That's why I'm here, I mean, one of the things I love the most in life is having delicious foods. I would plan trips just to get to taste the food there, for example, and would have no issue driving one hour to go a specific restaurant or try a new bakery (I'm usually disappointed in those)... I'm quite sure that most people would think I'm crazy to do that...
Somehow the idea seems to offend some people though, when I imply that maybe the reason that they can eat things easily in moderation is because they don't like food as much as I do, but we all love different things to different degrees, how is that a crazy concept? And that's your point with alcohol. I don't care for it. I have a drink maybe twice a year. I have no problem cutting it.
But I've had those 'how can you stay so skinny while eating so much' comments (I've never been skinny but whatever). They just didn't know that I kept a deficit all week to make room for that party, and that I force myself to walk 15k+ steps a day.12 -
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suzannesimmons3 wrote: »Sunnybrooke99 wrote: »My brother is one of these. His secret? He only eats once a day, and sometimes only ever other day. For whatever reason, he just doesn’t get hungry, and won’t eat unless somebody reminds him to. He’s been like that his entire life. Seems like that would make it difficult to get adequate nutrition. Poor guy! I'd not trade my love and enjoyment of food for anything.
He’s definitely not the healthiest person I know, I’m trying to change than. But whatever it is, he doesn’t have the in-built desire for food that I, and most of us here I suspect, have. For him eating has always just been something he does to keep from dying.
The funny thing? He’s a manager at a restaurant, and occasional chef.
Wow that's a very interesting career choice for someone who doesn't really like food! I suspect you're right - I know my love of food has contributed to my being here.
I actually wonder about this a lot. I’ve only recently learned that not everyone LOVES alcohol the way I do. I’ve never understood how defensive people get about “junk” food, when for me, it’s just not the logical decision. I wonder if it doesn’t give me the extremely good feelings, but it does for other people. Sure, I like butter, but it’s nothing for me to eat a baked potato plain, if I want to cut calories. I’m also someone who doesn’t eat when stressed. The idea nauseates me. On the other hand, I seriously don’t want to cut out alcohol no matter how logical it is.
Oh I'm 100% convinced that some people just don't like food the way that others do.
I LOVE food. That's why I'm here, I mean, one of the things I love the most in life is having delicious foods. I would plan trips just to get to taste the food there, for example, and would have no issue driving one hour to go a specific restaurant or try a new bakery (I'm usually disappointed in those)... I'm quite sure that most people would think I'm crazy to do that...
Somehow the idea seems to offend some people though, when I imply that maybe the reason that they can eat things easily in moderation is because they don't like food as much as I do, but we all love different things to different degrees, how is that a crazy concept? And that's your point with alcohol. I don't care for it. I have a drink maybe twice a year. I have no problem cutting it.
But I've had those 'how can you stay so skinny while eating so much' comments (I've never been skinny but whatever). They just didn't know that I kept a deficit all week to make room for that party, and that I force myself to walk 15k+ steps a day.
I'm weird...im a fatty that doesn't really like "food" I got fat eating biscuits and chocolates and avoiding all the food stuffs. Too many calories in biscuits sadly.
Why don't you see biscuits and chocolate as food? That is what I would call loving food (eating too many of certain foods that taste good). Someone who hates food is someone who regularly just forgets to eat or only eats because it's a chore and a necessity and is annoyed when they have to stop their day to eat.10 -
It's either one of two scenarios- either their calorie intake is at a reasonable number to sustain and not gain. Or- their metabolism is very high but trust me it will eventually catch up to them. It does to everyone if they over eat consistently. It happened to me, haha. My entire life up until I was 22 (24 now) I weighed between 125-130 pounds at 5 foot 8. I was very very thin- but I was not educated on a caloric deficit nor a healthy lifestyle and within the past two years I have put on about 40 pounds. It always catches up!2
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Lol, lots of people live with others and have no idea about their lives outside of what they personally see. So yeah, it's EASY to question it unless you're documenting everything they do everyday for say like a week or so.Why are ppl questioning you so much lol. I live with ppl who STUFF themselves with tons and tons of food and remain the same. Activity level you ask? None. Don't question me because I live with them haha.
The EASY answer is that they plain just burn more calories than they eat. Believe it or not, most people that can eat a lot, eventually gain weight because somewhere along the way, they reduce their physical activity, but not habitual eating habits.
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Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
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How come some skinny people eat more than an overweight person and remain the same ?I see so many skinny people stuffing their face constantly and they stay the same all the time.I dont get it do you ? I would love to be one of those people lol
You're only seeing a snapshot of their daily life...6 -
suzannesimmons3 wrote: »PaulaWallaDingDong wrote: »
So you're like with them at work/school, dates, out and about, etc. or just when they are home?Because I live with one and I do see them all the time and have friends also who are like this
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
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Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
Well the roomie doesn't work, and I'm guessing the OP does? So I'm thinking hidden cameras.
I'm thinking op.should spend more.time worrying about herself than her room mate.
Is it just me that thinks of single white female.here
Haha you are so immature .Who said it was my roomate ? And who said I was worried ?Seriously you guys on MFP need to be a bit more educated and maybe read over what I posted again
Here, from page 1 of this thread - your words:Because I live with one and I do see them all the time...
So, who said it was your roommate? You did. Just in different wording.
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TavistockToad wrote: »TavistockToad wrote: »PaulaWallaDingDong wrote: »
I dont even need to do that .Okay let me tell you what their typical diet is like.Morning breakfast 2 fried eggs 2 sausages 2 rashers 2 pudding 2 slices of toast.Dinner a nine inch pizza with fries and garlic bread.Then a big tub of ben and jerrys later on then a family pack of doritos and a chocolate bar.Then before they sleep they eat sausage rolls more buttered toast and some cookies .Now honestly that has to be atleast 4000 cals
And what do they do all day?
They dont do anything they dont work
So you sit at home with them all day doing nothing?
No I dont .Okay dont believe me then but I know this person inside and out and they have always ate lots of junk food all the time and stayed the same weight
Are they male or female? Males can eat more than women.
Are they bigger than you? A bigger person can eat more than a small one.
Are they healthy? Some people have gut problems and do not absorb all the calories they eat.
Are they you? Some people an simple eat more than others of the same size and sex.
You can't change your genetics. You can be more active and develop more muscle, those will allow you to eat more.6 -
In a controlled environment most people burn roughly the same number of calories when controlled for size and gender. I’ve never once seen a dietary study where one of the participants had a TDEE significantly higher or lower than the average.
The idea that some people just have “crazy metabolism” is pure woo we invent to explain things we’re uncomfortable admitting to ourselves. “Oh that person eats all the time and stays skinny, their metabolism must be super high.”
Noooooo, either that person isn’t eating as much as you think, or they’re much more active than you think.
Energy is the physics of heat. We all have nearly identical body temperature. If somebody actually was burning more calories than you, doing the same activity, while weighing the same or less, then their body temperature would be higher than yours. Simple physics.
There’s no magic genetic trigger that makes a person burn 3000 or 4000 calories a day doing nothing.15 -
Activity level can seem like notNeed2Exerc1se wrote: »TavistockToad wrote: »TavistockToad wrote: »PaulaWallaDingDong wrote: »
I dont even need to do that .Okay let me tell you what their typical diet is like.Morning breakfast 2 fried eggs 2 sausages 2 rashers 2 pudding 2 slices of toast.Dinner a nine inch pizza with fries and garlic bread.Then a big tub of ben and jerrys later on then a family pack of doritos and a chocolate bar.Then before they sleep they eat sausage rolls more buttered toast and some cookies .Now honestly that has to be atleast 4000 cals
And what do they do all day?
They dont do anything they dont work
So you sit at home with them all day doing nothing?
No I dont .Okay dont believe me then but I know this person inside and out and they have always ate lots of junk food all the time and stayed the same weight
Are they male or female? Males can eat more than women.
Are they bigger than you? A bigger person can eat more than a small one.
Are they healthy? Some people have gut problems and do not absorb all the calories they eat.
Are they you? Some people an simple eat more than others of the same size and sex.
You can't change your genetics. You can be more active and develop more muscle, those will allow you to eat more.
+1
Plus honestly, sometimes you feel that people 'don't do anything' but unless they're glued to the TV all day, they're probably still burning calories moving around somehow.
That, and sometimes people eat junk but don't really have meals so the calories are just not as bad as you think at the end of the day.suzannesimmons3 wrote: »Sunnybrooke99 wrote: »My brother is one of these. His secret? He only eats once a day, and sometimes only ever other day. For whatever reason, he just doesn’t get hungry, and won’t eat unless somebody reminds him to. He’s been like that his entire life. Seems like that would make it difficult to get adequate nutrition. Poor guy! I'd not trade my love and enjoyment of food for anything.
He’s definitely not the healthiest person I know, I’m trying to change than. But whatever it is, he doesn’t have the in-built desire for food that I, and most of us here I suspect, have. For him eating has always just been something he does to keep from dying.
The funny thing? He’s a manager at a restaurant, and occasional chef.
Wow that's a very interesting career choice for someone who doesn't really like food! I suspect you're right - I know my love of food has contributed to my being here.
I actually wonder about this a lot. I’ve only recently learned that not everyone LOVES alcohol the way I do. I’ve never understood how defensive people get about “junk” food, when for me, it’s just not the logical decision. I wonder if it doesn’t give me the extremely good feelings, but it does for other people. Sure, I like butter, but it’s nothing for me to eat a baked potato plain, if I want to cut calories. I’m also someone who doesn’t eat when stressed. The idea nauseates me. On the other hand, I seriously don’t want to cut out alcohol no matter how logical it is.
Oh I'm 100% convinced that some people just don't like food the way that others do.
I LOVE food. That's why I'm here, I mean, one of the things I love the most in life is having delicious foods. I would plan trips just to get to taste the food there, for example, and would have no issue driving one hour to go a specific restaurant or try a new bakery (I'm usually disappointed in those)... I'm quite sure that most people would think I'm crazy to do that...
Somehow the idea seems to offend some people though, when I imply that maybe the reason that they can eat things easily in moderation is because they don't like food as much as I do, but we all love different things to different degrees, how is that a crazy concept? And that's your point with alcohol. I don't care for it. I have a drink maybe twice a year. I have no problem cutting it.
But I've had those 'how can you stay so skinny while eating so much' comments (I've never been skinny but whatever). They just didn't know that I kept a deficit all week to make room for that party, and that I force myself to walk 15k+ steps a day.
I'm weird...im a fatty that doesn't really like "food" I got fat eating biscuits and chocolates and avoiding all the food stuffs. Too many calories in biscuits sadly.
I totally understand how that would work too. On days when I'm not really in the mood to eat anything specific but too lazy to cook, it's too easy to end up eating high calorie/no preparation stuff like breakfast biscuits, fast food etc.1
This discussion has been closed.
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