Genes are a major component?

mmargarette

I have two older male siblings and I SWEAR no matter how much they eat, they do not get fat. My brothers are slim as heck. My eldest brother DOES NOT WORK OUT AT ALL, eats whatever he likes and is still a stick. My second oldest brother is more sporty but right now is inactive but he still got his figure right and he eats a lot too. I'm the only one who's so sensitive when it comes to gaining weight and getting a huge tummy. My siblings and I pretty much have a huge stomach for food. What sucks is that I got the "bad" gene in terms of weight gain and what's weird is that it's ONLY my tummy that gets fat, I promise you. If I had to look back on my heritage, it's in my mother's side of the family where I got this because even my mom and her siblings are so slim except for the tummy! But why are my brothers' not subject to this? It kinda gets me down sometimes because why meeeee. But I know I should be optimistic and this Jan. 6 I'll be doing T25 and having a more healthy lifestyle. Pray I get to stick with it for a month because the farthest I've done is 3 weeks.

fruttibiscotti

I understand, same issue goes for me too.

MysteriousMerlin

My grandma, her sisters and my mom are overweight, as I am, but all three of my aunts are slender, as well as sister & brother. I have 2 overweight cousins on my mom's side, but the other 9 are slender.

I'm overweight because I compensate for bad feelings by eating. Working on doing more positive actions rather than using food for comfort.

JUDDDing

No, genetics are not a major component.

JUDDDing

Over time, a couple percent adds up though.

But you know that.

And you are here.

cwolfman13

I don't think it's so much genes as it is your sexes...keep in mind that males in general can eat more because their bodies require substantially more calories...this is due to the fact that in general males have more muscle mass than females and are larger/heavier in general...women in general, even fit women carry more body fat. On top of that, I'm assuming that they are in the teens and/or twenties...when most boys/young men of that age can eat until the cows come home...I know I could.

You're never going to be able to compare what is appropriate for your calorie intake vs. what is appropriate for a male counterpart...I'm pushing 40 and need nearly 2,800 calories per day to maintain...sometimes more...and I'm oldish....and that number is paltry compared to what I used to consume. When I was in my twenties I was easily consuming 5,000 + calories per day...granted I was pretty active, but even without my activity I could easily eat 3500 - 4000 and still not put on any weight...i was skinny as a rail.

....Then I turned 30....

seltzermint555

I think it's best not to worry about the whole "it's not faiiiir" stuff.

My mom's side of my family, my grandmother and all 5 of her daughters (my mom and 4 aunts) had a pear shape and were thin until their mid-20's to early 30's and then got enormous bums and hips and flab on their arms and legs. ALL of them practically overnight. Their daughters? All skinny as can be, until at least age 30. Now they all have that same body except the 2 who work out 24/7 to stay skinny. Me? Chubby since age five. Obese since my teens. Totally did not have that "warning" of you're gonna pack on the pounds when you're 25. While I'm ok with that, yeah it shows that the "family thing" only goes so far.

Don't even think about that. Don't blame it. Don't use it as your excuse. Just work with what you have to work with.

P.S. I can't wait 'til people invade this thread claiming your brothers really aren't eating as many calories as you are. That's total BS in my opinion lol. I've had skinny friends & acquaintances who eat a crapload of calories and have done so their whole lives.

mmargarette

I doubt my brothers' aren't eating their supposed calories. Although I don't know by how much. My brother's are 6ft/23y and 5'8/21y respectively and I'm 5'2/19y. (Not only did I get the fat gene but also the small gene; L O L *sarcasm*) I'm not really complaining but I'm just really wondering why this is so and so. I only started gaining weight when I turned 18. For real. 15 pounds over a year and still counting!!! :sad: :sad: :sad: But I appreciate the comments though. I guess there's no point lingering in such thoughts.. might as well get my *kitten* to work :ohwell:

nataliesweet19

I can relate. My sister eats junk food all the time and never works out and stays thin. I stay thin only if I workout and watch what i eat. I know it can be frustrating at times but remind yourself that you are setting good habits that are very important when you get older and metabolism slows down.

Holly_Roman_Empire

I doubt my brothers' aren't eating their supposed calories. Although I don't know by how much. My brother's are 6ft/23y and 5'8/21y respectively and I'm 5'2/19y. (Not only did I get the fat gene but also the small gene; L O L *sarcasm*) I'm not really complaining but I'm just really wondering why this is so and so. I only started gaining weight when I turned 18. For real. 15 pounds over a year and still counting!!! :sad: :sad: :sad: But I appreciate the comments though. I guess there's no point lingering in such thoughts.. might as well get my *kitten* to work :ohwell:

But do you know how much they're eating and burning?

Stop worrying about them and worry about yourself. Put all that energy into the workouts you need to be doing.

ETA: They are going to be able to eat a lot more than you since they are growing boys and much taller than you. That's just something you're going to have to accept.

cwolfman13

I doubt my brothers' aren't eating their supposed calories. Although I don't know by how much. My brother's are 6ft/23y and 5'8/21y respectively and I'm 5'2/19y. (Not only did I get the fat gene but also the small gene; L O L *sarcasm*) I'm not really complaining but I'm just really wondering why this is so and so. I only started gaining weight when I turned 18. For real. 15 pounds over a year and still counting!!! :sad: :sad: :sad: But I appreciate the comments though. I guess there's no point lingering in such thoughts.. might as well get my *kitten* to work :ohwell:

Again...men/boys in general can eat far more than women...it's not genes, it's sex. Women tend to be shorter and carry more body fat than men...therefore they do not require the same number of calories for day to day functioning. Men tend to be taller and larger and carry more muscle mass which requires far more calories...maintaining and building muscle requires a substantial amount of calories.

It isn't genes...it is sex and activity...they are "growing boys"....we can eat a lot.