Is it REALLY possible for people to be naturally thin and never gain weight?

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Replies

  • gabrielleelliott90
    gabrielleelliott90 Posts: 854 Member
    amberkhan75 wrote: »
    I didn't read all of the comments so I apologize if I'm repeating something. If you look around you in a crowd of people, you will see so many different body types. Tall, short, slim, heavyset, 'skin-and-bones', athletic, pear-shaped, etc. Every BODY is different. That said, just because a person can eat whatever they want, doesn't mean they are healthy. Quite the contrary. Have you heard of skinny-fat? This is the visceral fat that accumulates around the organs. It's very dangerous and usually undected in these individuals.

    Unfortunately, I have heard of skinny-fat. I have it. I'm thin and I still carry fat on my stomach, abs and lovehandles, very unhealthy place to carry it, but hey that's genetics. Pain in the butt to get rid of.

  • Basilin
    Basilin Posts: 360 Member
    There are different "types" of metabolisms that affect the speed of breaking down foods and other substances. It's studied heavily in the pharmaceutical industry (if you can imagine). Here is an example: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/11/081127204342.htm

    When I was a kid people frequently commented on how much I ate. I'm told I ate as much as an adult when I was six or so, having an entire plate of food and then asking for seconds, and then wanting to eat two hours later, and people were confused because I was small; I was even called anorexic in middle school. I ate like that up until I was about 23, and finally at 25 - 26 realized that I couldn't eat whatever I wanted anymore without consequences. :cry: Can't drink anymore either. My body says, "LOL NOPE" for pretty much any sort of indulgence. It does change as you age...
  • maria0elisa
    maria0elisa Posts: 199 Member
    I used to be like you.... never thought about food and was naturally skinny. Then I did start overeating just a tiny bit- it added up, and I suddenly became one of those people who had to think about food and watching my weight :/

    I think 'naturally skinny' people just have never gone overboard with food and are used to having small portions, so don't have large appetite.
  • MsHarryWinston
    MsHarryWinston Posts: 1,027 Member
    I had a friend in the 8th grade. She was the "skinny" friend in the group. I would say she was slim. Average slim girl. She ate TONS of calorie dense food all the time and never gained a pound for years. We told her that her metabolism may slow down one day but she said it never would. She turned 19 and BAM!!! She flipping BALLOONED. Like, her puberty clock flipped and and was like "NOPE NOPE NOPE SUCKA!"

    Whereas my bestie was INSANELY skinny in highschool. Like baby giraffe, all long limbs. Once she hit her 20s she filled out all super gorgeous but still very slim. Extra small/small size but 5'8". Her dad is the same. 6 foot something and INSANELY a skinny. She eats junk food sometimes but it's mostly pretty healthy foods. Smaller quantities and not really insanely calorie dense 24/7. She grew up eating really healthy. Also she's always been super sporty.
    Shes always had a REALLY hard time gaining weight. But her lifestyle and eating habits also just aren't conducive to it. She would need to actively overhaul her eating and start lifting weights in order to pack on the pounds in a healthy way.

    Anyway this is just my two examples of how the whole "naturally slim" thing can go.
  • castlefuzz
    castlefuzz Posts: 99 Member
    I guess it depends on the person and the person body.Everyone is different.For some people have medical conditions like my self with seizures.Other people are not as motivated as other people.
  • DawnieB1977
    DawnieB1977 Posts: 4,248 Member
    I've known people who can eat loads and not gain. I had a French friend who was 5'10 and a UK size 10 (us6) and I've actually never known anyone eat so much. She kept a tub of Nutella in her room lol. She said her dad was the same and one of her sisters, but her other sister just normal! It's genetic, and people do have different metabolisms. Of course it's not necessarily healthy to be able to eat lots of junk!
  • Ruzuki
    Ruzuki Posts: 136 Member
    I was dating a guy once who was one of those skinny people who ate like a cow, mostly junk food... he played video games most of the day, his part time job only required him to sit in a chair at a mall stand... I lived with him for a few years and saw just what he ate, and how much of it, and how little physical activity he did, and he never gained any weight. Last time I saw him, he was STILL super skinny. Made me so mad...
  • DawnieB1977
    DawnieB1977 Posts: 4,248 Member
    ythannah wrote: »
    wilsoncl6 wrote: »
    Some peoples metabolism just runs faster for longer because of genetics.

    Yep. I'm living proof -- been underweight all my adult life, just like my dad. Although I've been slowly creeping toward normal weight with age, at a rate of about half a pound every two years.

    And I don't eat less. In fact, I eat significantly more than most women my size/age. I eat as much as my 250 lb SO, sometimes even more. Nor do I do lots of cardio. I didn't start doing any regular exercise until a couple of years ago.

    I'm sure someone will come along to disprove this now! Not sure why people are so against the idea we all have different metabolisms and genetics.
  • darrensurrey
    darrensurrey Posts: 3,942 Member
    edited November 2014
    __drmerc__ wrote: »
    She eats less that's all, no magic

    Agreed. She probably also does a lot of exercise, avoids food between meals, maybe even pokes her tonsils a bit.

    At the moment, I can pretty much eat what I want and not put on weight because I'm doing so much exercise. As a minimum, it means 5 hours of tai chi a week and 3 hours of strength training but depending on the weather and time, I can also do up to 5 hours of tennis and 3 hours of dodgeball. It's no wonder I can happily eat a Chinese buffet insolvent. On Monday, I ate the equivalent of 3 share bags of crisps ("chips"). :smiley:
  • paperpudding
    paperpudding Posts: 9,304 Member
    For most slim people, yes I think they just eat less and are more active, wtihout conciously trying to do so.

    But metabolism does vary between people - and there are some people who could never get fat without eating a very specific diet, so IRL this is very unlikely to happen - you know, people with medical conditions that interfere with absorption of food - like Crohn's disease.
  • Grace215lbs
    Grace215lbs Posts: 129 Member
    Yes, but it's not a positive in the way people constantly think it is. My father and both my brother and sister spent most their lives underweight. They couldn't gain no matter what. My dad however started gaining once he hit 40. So he had to start watching what he ate.

    My sister ended up being put on medications to gain weight and with in about 6 months of eating how she always did, she became obese and is now trying to find that balance. And my brother is currently gaining now with medication and he's finding it's hell. He was bullied most his life for being so thin despite eating more than most. He has to eat around 4000+ each day and he finds it very hard as he can't just eat burgers and chips as he'll end up having a heart attack. He lifts weights and he has to buy more food so his diet is very expensive. It's not an easy life that people make it out to be. They still need to work out to look good.
  • Alluminati
    Alluminati Posts: 6,208 Member
    edited November 2014
    The only reason I'm even privy to skinny people eating huge a amounts of food is when we are at social gatherings, which is an occasion when most seem to indulge. That's why we get the impression that they eat all the foods and don't gain. In the meantime I work with a couple skinny friends who either eat small portions for luncch or skip lunch. So I get a glimpse of where it evens out. They all seem to be active as well, judging by their adventures after work/during weekends.
  • eldamiano
    eldamiano Posts: 2,667 Member
    " I know some people can eat heaps of pizza etc and never gain any fat, have a really good body"

    You dont. You saw this on a film about fairies and goblins in a world that doesnt exist.

    Back on planet Earth, people who do this either exercise a lot or put on weight.
  • hupsii
    hupsii Posts: 258 Member
    gabrielleelliott90 wrote: »
    Right, I used to be quite thin, but then my diet crept up with me, I gained it. Luckily, now I am at a healthy weight range. I never dreamt of that happening to me, but it's all fine now I'm thin again. I have a friend who is literally skin and bone, naturally. Her mum is quite thin also. I think she does eat, but she is so thin. I'm pretty sure it runs in her family. However is it possible to have a body that never gains weight no matter what it consumes? I know some people can eat heaps of pizza etc and never gain any fat, have a really good body. Do you really believe they can always stay like this? is it possible to have a body like this forever?

    My husband is like this - he eats whatever he wants - loads of chocolate - and never gains weight - but when he is full, he leaves the last morsel on his plate and no one can make him eat it ! I guess, his brain just tells him STOP !!! Wish mine would do the same ... :-)
  • sardelsa
    sardelsa Posts: 9,812 Member
    There are a few things that can definitely affect how much people can eat. NEAT, exercise level, muscle mass, medical conditions, etc. If someone were to follow me around all day they would be shocked at how much I consume, but once they find out more about me it makes sense. I am breastfeeding, I lift weights 4x per week, I move around a lot, etc.
  • cosmichvoyager
    cosmichvoyager Posts: 237 Member
    I don't know but some always-thin friends do seem to be less "hungry" than I am. I can eat lunch 2x in 4 hours etc and they don't or can't.
    As we age though, even those friends have started to get bigger butts and hips etc--maybe from sitting around more ... getting older I guess it just happens.
  • slimwithoutgym
    slimwithoutgym Posts: 4 Member
    most skinny people I know love salad and have nice skin
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  • Kellyfitness128
    Kellyfitness128 Posts: 194 Member
    My ex was extremely skinny and about 6' (24 years old). He wouldn't eat much during the day, but at night (and almost every night, different foods but similar quantity) he'd devour an entire medium pizza and almost a pint of ben and jerry's...In addition to beer. Super unhealthy, but he always stayed slim and I was so jealous, especially because we lived together and there I was counting calories and portioning everything... Haha, it'll catch up to him one day!
  • LumberJacck
    LumberJacck Posts: 559 Member
    gabrielleelliott90 wrote: »
    However is it possible to have a body that never gains weight no matter what it consumes?

    Yes, it is possible. I recall an article on one guy who had a medical issue and he could not gain weight. I can't remember is name, sorry. Also that medical experiment where they overfed prison inmates and some stopped gaining weight.
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    Grace215lbs wrote: »
    Yes, but it's not a positive in the way people constantly think it is. My father and both my brother and sister spent most their lives underweight. They couldn't gain no matter what. My dad however started gaining once he hit 40. So he had to start watching what he ate.

    My sister ended up being put on medications to gain weight and with in about 6 months of eating how she always did, she became obese and is now trying to find that balance. And my brother is currently gaining now with medication and he's finding it's hell. He was bullied most his life for being so thin despite eating more than most. He has to eat around 4000+ each day and he finds it very hard as he can't just eat burgers and chips as he'll end up having a heart attack. He lifts weights and he has to buy more food so his diet is very expensive. It's not an easy life that people make it out to be. They still need to work out to look good.

    Ok I still can't really feel sorry for them, lol.

    I had a friend in high school who ate a ton, finishing people's plates at lunch, and was extremely thin. But I have no idea how much she ate the rest of the day, so...
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