skinny friends who eat tons of junk food

Emeener

I've realized lately that even though I've been totally on track during the week, I always consume more calories than I plan on during the weekend because that's my social time, and everything my friends want to do involves food. The problem is they are all so tiny but they have really fast metabolisms, so they think nothing of downing an entire order of garlic fries as well as pizza and milkshakes all in the same meal. I know obviously the rules are different for me, and I'm done complaining or pitying myself for not having their metabolisms, but how can I prevent myself from giving in to temptation and eating the way they do?

escapeartist90210

Some people just naturally can eat more and that's not fair but then again when was life ever fair? I know it blows, I see dudes and chicks eat more than me but then I think, wait a minute...it's just food. Think body over food and I know from my friends that, they're actually hungry and their bodies are able to take on more calories efficiently.

giggitygoo

Here's what I tell myself: "It's just food. They'll still be making the same stuff next time you come here. This is not a once in a lifetime opportunity."

spaingirl2011

This is a really interesting topic-- and one that I ponder about from time to time. I have a lot of naturally svelte friends who will eat a hamburger and shake in one meal, but if I hang out with them all day, I'll notice that they eat fairly light the rest of the day because they're simply not hungry after a big meal. A small snack here or there, lots of water, etc. I realized that *I* was the one with a warped sense of eating. *I* thought that you had to have 3 full meals a day with snacks in between (without considering that one of those meals was 3/4ths of my calorie allotment for the day . My thin friends are also counting calories, but they tend to do it unconsciously-- which is why they can maintain. There's also the fact-- as escapeartist alluded to, that because they don't yo-yo so much with their weight, they have an efficient metabolism.

I think there are a lot more factors than the ones I mentioned. At least for me, when I look at my skinny friends, I notice a huge difference in our attitudes toward food and eating (that I am working to change for myself).

maddiey

This is what I think, it's really will power. I know what you mean, I would love to eat like that too, but my goals are more important. It just takes will power.

Also, I think this to myself (even though it's sort of awful) people who eat like that now, can't eat like that forever and stay thin. And I just think I let it catch up to me once, but I won't let it catch up to me again!!

kdeaux1959

I've realized lately that even though I've been totally on track during the week, I always consume more calories than I plan on during the weekend because that's my social time, and everything my friends want to do involves food. The problem is they are all so tiny but they have really fast metabolisms, so they think nothing of downing an entire order of garlic fries as well as pizza and milkshakes all in the same meal. I know obviously the rules are different for me, and I'm done complaining or pitying myself for not having their metabolisms, but how can I prevent myself from giving in to temptation and eating the way they do?

Get new friends... LOL> J/K. My doc actually sort of explained this the last time I saw him (not at my request but I digress)... He said it is not rocket science... He said we all see folks that can seemingly eat anything they want to and not gain anything.. .others of us cannot. He said that in most cases, this is because they are simply more active throughout the day. This would explain the middle-aged spread that many of us gain as we go from more active jobs to the higher paying but more sedentary assignments as we progress in our careers. Actually though, it really goes beyond that... muscle tends to burn fat faster than fat so by building a strong muscle base and increasing your lean body mass, you can consume more calories at rest. Also we can all make up our lack of activity by increasing exercise. Therefore I would suggest increasing your activity level on the weekends if you can and enjoy the time with your friends. Also, even if they are having a milkshake, does not mean you cannot make a healthier choice at the same restaurant. Choose wise choices for you and join in with the revelry in moderation. Also, if you happen to go over a day or two a week, the world is not over (as long as you don't go over like 3000-4000 calories those days... just enjoy a day or so and eat a bit more moderately throughout the week. Best wishes as you continue your journey.

Shadowknight137

Define "tons".

You'll find a lot of these people don't eat that much outside of these "big" meals you see them eat. I have a friend - skinny as a rail, just a couple centimeters shorter than me - and who weighs 50kg (110lbs); and I'm light for my height/weight of 5'5'/121lbs.

Yet he eats junk food daily.

Why is he thin, then? Well, since he too is trying to bulk up, I asked him what else he'd eaten (we were at McDonalds, I was eating a bar of Green&Blacks, he was eating a bigMac) - his response was "nothing". To put it straight, he just didn't really think or care about food all that much, except for when he was hungry.
Completely foreign concept for most people.

Warchortle

They probably eat the same amount of calories but substitute normal meals with something like soda and don't eat normal dinners like others.

Plus, if they do have extremely high metabolisms they'll have opposite problems like not being able to gain muscle mass. It's just a different side of the coin. IE: Yea, they might have abs, but I'll trade a 6 pack for a girl who has a decent chest >_<

taunto

Actually no, the rules aren't different for you.

They eat well, they fuel themselves properly. This increases their metabolism. When you try to starve yourself (AKA, eat too little) your metabolism slows down. This is why the Anorexic girls (not saying you're one, just an example) have a hard time when they're trying to recover because their metabolism is completely shot.

Also, these skinny friends of yours are active. Not necessarily meaning working out. But they're always moving around etc. People in Asia are thin because their lifestyle makes them move a lot, increasing their metabolism. Which is why many of them can eat butter deep fried in butter served on top of butter filled bread

Xiaolongbao

To put it straight, he just didn't really think or care about food all that much, except for when he was hungry.
Completely foreign concept for most people.

This. There's no getting around the fact that if you eat more calories than you burn off you gain weight. Yes, some people do have more efficient metabolisms etc but honestly the main difference is probably how your friends eat when you're not watching them. Also notice do they actually finish everything? One of my problems is if it's there I'll eat it. So if I've got fries on my plate I keep eating. Skinny friends may have the same meal as me but if they're full they stop eating.

littlelily613

I would say for the vast majority of people like this, their eating will catch up to them as they get older if they don't eventually make some changes. I know it is so frustrating though!

taso42

They don't have "fast metabolisms". They are just managing to intuitively eat right around their TDEE, so their weight stays about constant.

Unless you have some medical condition, the rules are not different for you; they are exactly the same.

Warchortle

There are exceptions though. My old roommate tall and lanky guy. His maintenance calories are insane. He sits and eats McDonalds and loses weight. He joined the Marines and I helped train with him and even they had trouble putting size on him. He gained a little bit of weight when they gave him double portions of everything, but when he got home and sat and did nothing he lost ALLL of his gainzzzz.

To put it this way I think he's 6"4 and when he joined the Marines he was 143 lbs. He might have gotten up to 170 then is back to his skinny self again. He's not a particularly active person I know this because we became friends at work. We had the same schedule, we'd eat the same stuff, and I actually was more active them he was, but alas...The good news is... I can make gaaaainz way easier than he can.

Cr01502

They don't have "fast metabolisms". They are just managing to intuitively eat right around their TDEE, so their weight stays about constant.

Unless you have some medical condition, the rules are not different for you; they are exactly the same.

Exactly.

They eat at a level that is equal to what they expend.

You eat past that level.

That's all there is to it.

Doctorpurple

This is a really interesting topic-- and one that I ponder about from time to time. I have a lot of naturally svelte friends who will eat a hamburger and shake in one meal, but if I hang out with them all day, I'll notice that they eat fairly light the rest of the day because they're simply not hungry after a big meal. A small snack here or there, lots of water, etc. I realized that *I* was the one with a warped sense of eating. *I* thought that you had to have 3 full meals a day with snacks in between (without considering that one of those meals was 3/4ths of my calorie allotment for the day . My thin friends are also counting calories, but they tend to do it unconsciously-- which is why they can maintain. There's also the fact-- as escapeartist alluded to, that because they don't yo-yo so much with their weight, they have an efficient metabolism.

I think there are a lot more factors than the ones I mentioned. At least for me, when I look at my skinny friends, I notice a huge difference in our attitudes toward food and eating (that I am working to change for myself).

I agree with this. Although I agree that people can have variable metabolism. It's not that much of a difference. Your friends eating burgers, fries and shakes in one meal usually eat lighter the rest of the day. They actually debunked this myth one time between a skinny friend (who supposedly eats a lot) and a fat friend (who supposedly watches what she eats). They tracked their calorie intake for weeks and the fatter friend just simply eats more calories in a day. Perception is all relative. If you come with your "naturally thin" friend to go get your BMR tested. Their metabolism wouldn't be so much more different from you. It's not rocket science, they simply just eat more and move more thats why they weigh less.

alitap

i do envy such friends...but you have to realize in order to introduce a good change in your life, you need to make sacrifices. plus, for all you know, they might be very unhealthy. just because they're skinny doesn't mean they might not have high cholesterol levels or diabetes....

Hbazzell

Maybe stuff yourself on salad and high fiber low cal foods so you will be too full to eat fried things when you go out?

fiberartist219

I used to be that skinny person that ate greasy food and didn't care. It's not worth getting jealous over. I hated it at the time. I used to get a lot more nasty comments about being almost underweight than I ever did when I was obese. I didn't feel like I had any more control of my weight and my metabolism when I was 105lbs than I did at 165 lbs (I'm 5'2"). I believe that my weight is controlled as much by my thyroid hormone levels as is is controlled by what I eat and how much I move.

I also have a friend who is 95lbs that eats like that. It turns out she has Celiac disease. I wouldn't wish that on anyone. She eats, but she doesn't retain most of the nutrients. Her intestines let the food slide right through her without letting her have the benefits of eating. Trust me, when you have constant gas, diarrhea and you look like a skeleton, you would not be grateful to be eating so much high calorie food.

Personally, I'd rather be fat.

Besides, fast food isn't really worth getting jealous over or longing after. If we were talking about a farm fresh, home cooked meal, yeah, I'd want to eat that in quantity... but burgers, fries and shakes? Uh, no thanks.

lyndabraczynski

try to choose a restaurant that offers their cravings but also some healthier choices like a smoothie in place of a milkshake skip the fries and one slice of veggie pizza can fit your plan. i have the same problem especially when I go home to visit.( I recently relocated). Anyway this is how I try to go with the flow without killing my diet. Good Luck

sPaRkLiNgLYFE

if you can't resist, have a couple of bites and throw it away

succubaeangel

Define "tons".

You'll find a lot of these people don't eat that much outside of these "big" meals you see them eat. I have a friend - skinny as a rail, just a couple centimeters shorter than me - and who weighs 50kg (110lbs); and I'm light for my height/weight of 5'5'/121lbs.

Yet he eats junk food daily.

Why is he thin, then? Well, since he too is trying to bulk up, I asked him what else he'd eaten (we were at McDonalds, I was eating a bar of Green&Blacks, he was eating a bigMac) - his response was "nothing". To put it straight, he just didn't really think or care about food all that much, except for when he was hungry.
Completely foreign concept for most people.

So true. Also, junk food is still junk-you can be normal weight and suffer heart attack because of the crap you've eaten all your life.
Try not to think about food and enjoy hanging out with friends and not staring at the stuff they're devouring.

scott1111111

I used to be that skinny person, but I also used to run 40 - 60 miles a week and up to 110 miles when I was racing. The thing is if you do not learn to eat right it can catch up with you. When I had to stop running I kept eating the same, over the years the weight slowly crept up on me. It will catch them too eventually as age and lifestyle changes make how you eat more important. Some are lucky and it doesn't but they are actually rare, most people either have to adapt their diet or work hard to not gain or they end up like me.

I am slowly learning how to eat better after many years of bad eating. It can be hard in social situations but through smart choices and will power you can still enjoy those things and keep on track. I make small changes, so if we go out I drink water, and if they order wings I eat 2 or 3 instead of a dozen. That is working for me some people have trouble stopping though so just order something different. It also helps to eat beforehand so you are not super hungry to start with. That makes it easier to resist.

iorahkwano

Their arteries must take a hell of a beating eating so much junk food. It might not show on the outside, but on the inside they could be storing up that unhealthy abdominal fat between the organs. And more junk means less room for those good foods that do a body good!

I have friends who do a lot of socializing via food. I try to only indulge once or twice a week, but I still portion it and count the calories to make sure it's not 1000 over my limit. When you go out with your friends, order ONE thing (Fries OR a pizza OR a shake) and order the smallest size possible. So you're still eating, but you're getting a 500 calorie milkshake instead of a 1700 fries-pizza-shake combo. Drink lots of water with it too, I often bring a water bottle to restaurants because they don't refill my glass enough.

If I know I'm eating out later, I will eat less calories during the day. Not to starvation, but I will just pick the lower-calorie meals I eat & rethink if I really need the high-cal ones. I will also either exercise the day of the dinner, or the morning after. I find it helps even it out.

genkimomof2

Ugh, I hear you. Social situations are my downfall too. Here is my game plan:
1. during the week, I am exceptionally good, and weigh myself on Saturday morning, so if I go over a bit on Saturday or Sunday, I have time to work it off before the next weigh in.
2. If I know I will be meeting and dining with friends later in the day, I will eat just lettuce, raw celery, etc during the day.
3. If we spontaneously decide to go out together and I have not "banked" calories for the occasion, I tell my friends I'm still quite full from brunch or whatever so I'll just "pick" here and there.
(BTW, your skinny friends probably eat one very heavy meal and eat very lightly other meals, so they will completely understand if you tell them you're full. Unlike you, they CAN leave food on the table and they DON'T feel the need to eat 3 square meals.)
4. Drink lots of water/tea. sip water when you feel you would like to eat a garlic fry. Pick at the appetizer plate or whatever everyone is sharing but don't order a whole meal for yourself.
5. I CANNOT leave food on the table, so I let my friends eat their fill (while I chat and drink water) before I dive into the shared dishes. That way I am not over eating when I finished up the plates, but eating just enough.
6. I pay attention to how much I am eating so I can log it later correctly.
7. If I went over that day, I make sure to eat very lightly the next day but I don't stress over it.


good luck!

babydiego87

i know people who are like this, but the junk food is their main meal. they dont eat much apart from this.

heidihorton

Thought about this not too long ago, my hubby is 5'6 128 lbs and muscular build. He eats non stop once he's home. He eats no breakfast or lunch do to high activity work. Gets home and eats same dinner as me , no portion control though ( still seems about the same qty as me) then proceeds to eat anything in sight till bed! What I found out ( made him wear my fitbit to work) was on an average day he walks over 25000 steps! Also lifts parts and restocks automotive parts all day...no wonder he eats so much! He must burn 1500-2000 calories on average a day. No longer jealous of his eating and actually been adding healthy high protein snacks into his pockets for weeks now. It's not healthy for him to not refuel at least some during the day!

SanteMulberry

What I have always noticed about the "naturally thin" people I have observed over the years, is that they don't have eating "habits". One woman in particular, was quite erratic. She might eat a half box of doughnuts on one day and then, because she was not hungry, eat next to nothing on the day following. My plump friends and I were habitually eating our regular meals and piling on the snacks as well. The "doughnut girl" really seemed to enjoy her food. Never knew her to gobble as though she couldn't wait to get through what was on her plate. I never analyzed her intake to see if she was getting the appropriate nutrients, but I think she was an "instinctive" eater. By that, I mean that I think she instinctively ate what her body was calling for. On the day that I saw her eat the doughnuts, she had just finished about three hours of cross-country skiing (a BIG energy user). Her body was calling for calories, and she supplied it with the doughnuts (she probably could have supplied the calories with more nourishing fare but the doughnuts were handy). I don't think the "naturally thin" are necessarily any healthier than others but their bodies seem to tightly control their appetites.

wllwsmmr

Yeah agree that some skinny people naturally don't eat much even though they indulge in calorie ridden meals at times, but I do know of a couple of people that really eat quite a lot and hardly exercises (and these are usually males!) but are still skinny like nobody's business!! I GET SO JEALOUS... But I only have myself to blame since I screwed up my metabolism and now struggle with my obsession with food...
What I do notice though is that most people actually watch how much they eat, especially those that do not know much about or count calories, and eat anything they want, but they eat a reasonable amount and that's it. That is how a lot of people I know eat like. So to be honest I'm just pissed at myself with my binging and wanting to eat everything and losing my sense of satiety and control.... Now every food item is just calories in my eyes.....

I just remind myself that eating healthy is better for my body! Think health, skin, hair, energy! And I actually like my healthy foods though I feel really self conscious being so healthy... I'm learning to work with it.

haroon_awan

They don't have "fast metabolisms". They are just managing to intuitively eat right around their TDEE, so their weight stays about constant.

Unless you have some medical condition, the rules are not different for you; they are exactly the same.

This is a really interesting topic-- and one that I ponder about from time to time. I have a lot of naturally svelte friends who will eat a hamburger and shake in one meal, but if I hang out with them all day, I'll notice that they eat fairly light the rest of the day because they're simply not hungry after a big meal. A small snack here or there, lots of water, etc. I realized that *I* was the one with a warped sense of eating. *I* thought that you had to have 3 full meals a day with snacks in between (without considering that one of those meals was 3/4ths of my calorie allotment for the day . My thin friends are also counting calories, but they tend to do it unconsciously-- which is why they can maintain. There's also the fact-- as escapeartist alluded to, that because they don't yo-yo so much with their weight, they have an efficient metabolism.

I think there are a lot more factors than the ones I mentioned. At least for me, when I look at my skinny friends, I notice a huge difference in our attitudes toward food and eating (that I am working to change for myself).

I agree with this. Although I agree that people can have variable metabolism. It's not that much of a difference. Your friends eating burgers, fries and shakes in one meal usually eat lighter the rest of the day. They actually debunked this myth one time between a skinny friend (who supposedly eats a lot) and a fat friend (who supposedly watches what she eats). They tracked their calorie intake for weeks and the fatter friend just simply eats more calories in a day. Perception is all relative. If you come with your "naturally thin" friend to go get your BMR tested. Their metabolism wouldn't be so much more different from you. It's not rocket science, they simply just eat more and move more thats why they weigh less.

Agree with these three posters.

never124get

Define "tons".

You'll find a lot of these people don't eat that much outside of these "big" meals you see them eat. I have a friend - skinny as a rail, just a couple centimeters shorter than me - and who weighs 50kg (110lbs); and I'm light for my height/weight of 5'5'/121lbs.

Yet he eats junk food daily.

Why is he thin, then? Well, since he too is trying to bulk up, I asked him what else he'd eaten (we were at McDonalds, I was eating a bar of Green&Blacks, he was eating a bigMac) - his response was "nothing". To put it straight, he just didn't really think or care about food all that much, except for when he was hungry.
Completely foreign concept for most people.

Sounds like my younger brother, he can go all day and not think about food, not have to worry about his calorie intake because hes 5'7" 15 years old and 110 lbs yet all he eats is junk, and I know because he lives with me! He sometimes doesn't eat during the day at lunch so he can save the lunch money for the weekend. He doesn't have an eating disorder, he just eats to survive. He has basically one huge meal a day and like a couple sodas. He said he was sick of being too skinny to shop at stores he wants to and I told him to start bulking up, he has the same problem with trying to eat more for more muscle.

Emeener

thanks everyone. I'm actually surprised at how insightful some of you are. you've given me a lot to think about, and mostly it's all coming down to this warped perception I probably have about food quantities and consumption. Today I'm going to try to eat like my thin friends by just listening to my body and only eating when I actually feel hungry. Then I'll tally up the calories and see how much I really need.