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Is there such a thing as a lucky metabolism?

intrepidelephant
intrepidelephant Posts: 100 Member
edited February 18 in Health and Weight Loss
Except for my Freshman 15 (which was more like Freshman 7), I never weighed more than 140 lbs until I started drinking 3 bottles of wine a week and stopped weighing myself every day. Normally I'm 5'6, 28 and have about 23% BF. Otherwise, my diet consisted solely of takeout, muffins, potato chips, chicken soup, coffee, tuna sandwiches, breakfast cereals, sushi, and candy. I'm fairly active, but not athletic (I walk 1-3 hours a day). My blood pressure is very low, 111/66.

I had to go on a diet because I ballooned over 145 and was freaked out over the idea of not wearing a size 6. I'm back down below 140 lbs again but I'm wondering how people who are heavier than me, who seem to eat less have such a hard time of it. Is there such a thing as having a lucky metabolism?

My dad eats nothing but hamburger, french fries, ju jubes, popcorn, peanut butter, crackers, and Cup a Soups. He eats fruits and vegetables once in a blue moon. He's 60 years old, 6'0 and 175 lbs with lowish blood pressure (116/75) and clear arteries.

Replies

  • mschicagocubs
    mschicagocubs Posts: 774 Member
    I'm not a genetics expert but yeah ...... there are people that have obesity that runs in their family. So It's similar to "skinnyness"

    But I will say ... My dad was like that ... and now at 53, he has high blood pressure, a big gut and needs to start watching what he eats.

    A girl I knew from high school was the tiniest thing ever and would eat like food was going to not exist tomorrow. She's now overweight after having 2 kids ... so

    I do believe it catches up to people at different times.
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    A lot of things influence metabolism and genetics is one of them. So, yeah, some would call it lucky if you genetically have a faster metabolism. But it can still be slowed by poor diet and lifestyle habits.

    As I've gotten older I sometimes now wonder how lucky those people that could eat a lot and stay thin really are. I have known quite a few people like that who ended up with poor health becuase they ate a poor diet, thinking diet is only important if you need to lose weight.

    Nutrition is always important.
  • Holly_Roman_Empire
    Holly_Roman_Empire Posts: 4,440 Member
    I'm just slightly miffed that you said you "ballooned to 145."

    Then you said: I'm wondering how people who are heavier than me, who seem to eat less have such a hard time of it.

    Do you really know if they're eating less than you or not? You don't. I work with a lady that weighs at least 60 pounds more than me. She ALWAYS eats less than me while we're at work, but based on things she says about her evenings, it's easy for me to see why we don't weigh the same.

    There are a lot of factors that come in to play for weight loss like medical conditions, hormones, metabolism, TDEE, etc. More often than not though, they got that way by eating more than they burn.
  • Showcase_Brodown
    Showcase_Brodown Posts: 919 Member
    Well, I wouldn't say "lucky."

    Metabolic rate is fairly predictable based on the amount of non-fat mass one possesses. So yeah, some have more than others, requiring more calories to maintain.
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