Body wants to be a certain size?
AspenDan
Posts: 703 Member
Do you ever feel this way? Seems like my body doesn't gain weight easily after this point where I'm at (235lb), and it certainly doesn't lose weight easily..
I realize this is fairly irrational, and you'll definitely lose weight if you maintain a caloric deficit, but I'm just wondering if anyone else ever feels this way
I realize this is fairly irrational, and you'll definitely lose weight if you maintain a caloric deficit, but I'm just wondering if anyone else ever feels this way
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At 230ish I felt that way and figured, "I had kids, this is my new normal.". But being 157 now I'm gonna say that my brain just needs to learn to stick to facts
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Set point is a myth- keep working and the weight will come off.9
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I get what you mean, I seem to bounce back up to the same weight approx 90kg, I've gone a few kgs over but never for long. Each time I get down to 80kg I stall and slide back up again.
I was doing a online nutritional type course and one lecture was talking about your set point, the weight your body naturally fluctuates to. It also said that fat cells deflate during weight loss but it will take approx 18mths of sustained weight loss before the body actually expels the excess cells so filling them back up is easy as opposed to having to make new cells. It did also say that you can change your set point but it takes effort. Looking back I havent been able to manage the 10kg weight loss longer than a 18mth period I have usually given up and fallen into bad habits by then so for me it does hold true, although with consistent effort and catching myself I have been able to manage to hold around 85kg over the last 18mths. Currently I am just over 85kg after a 2 week holiday and a week back of gorging myself with whatever is in sight. Time to get started again:)
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I used to believe that 180 was the weight my body wanted to be because it seemed to hover there. The reason, however, was simply because I was used to eating at the maintenance calories for that weight. It was habit. So when I'd lose weight, I'd go back to eating that amount and gain back to that point. I've since learned that it was simply that my eatinf habits made me stay that weight (until I slowly crept higher).18
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I know my appetite wants me to be at a certain size...24
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I totally feel this way. I'm at a point where I haven't weighed any less than I do now since 5th grade (was an overweight kid). I maintain at 1500 cals/day or 2000 cals, and even when I stop tracking altogether. The only times I've been lighter are during stomach bugs and illness and then I bounce right back up to that hover point afterwards.0
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I felt that way for a long time, and even voiced it "My body just isn't meant to be lighter than **" "My body just wasn't designed to be less than a size **"...
And truth be told, I have felt like that every time I have reached a plateau/maintained for a while... But then eventually I figure out a way to up my game, lose more weight and then I maintain at a lower weight.2 -
I used to believe that I wouldn't go above 300. Then I hit 340 and said no more. I lost 155 pounds and still want to lose more.9
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heatherheyns wrote: »I used to believe that 180 was the weight my body wanted to be because it seemed to hover there. The reason, however, was simply because I was used to eating at the maintenance calories for that weight. It was habit. So when I'd lose weight, I'd go back to eating that amount and gain back to that point. I've since learned that it was simply that my eatinf habits made me stay that weight (until I slowly crept higher).
This. I maintained within a range for most of my adult life regardless of activity (remained overweight whilst a full-time dance student). It's not my body's set point, it was my hand to mouth's set point! I'm heading for being smaller than I ever was back then and it hasn't been hard at all as long as I use simple science and maths to do it.
Set point is a myth. Ingrained habits that by human nature are very very hard to change, not myth.15 -
I also think it is a case of being harder to change habits.
I have maintained very different weights for long periods of time as an adult. I don't believe that my body has a set point. It is just eating or burning the right amount to be that weight and I can change that. It isn't impossible for me to weigh less.
I've been a sedentary person most of my life. My hobbies are sedentary. My lifestyle is geared toward being sedentary. It is hard to change that. I like to cook and eat. I could easily eat 2,000 or more calories every day if I wasn't logging. It is easy to eat my maintenance level or above. It is harder now that I am getting to a healthy weight and my calorie goal is lower to lose weight than when I was my highest weight.1 -
I do not believe in this setpoint thing. I beleive that you can maintain on any weight you want to, does it take a little more diligence to your diet to for example to maintain a certain BF%, absolutely.
I will say that I feel better and look better at a certain weight, and being a woman we may fight the hormonal issues that our bodies are designed to do in order to keep us protected in the old age of famine. That is not a myth that is fact.
Lyle McDonald explains this a whole lot better than I can1 -
Omg these feelings so much. I've lost 75 pounds and I've been stuck at 165 for a year.
My mom is 175 and a size 10/12. All 3 of her sisters are 175 and a size 10/12. My grandmother was 175 and a size 10/12 her entire life. Her mother, too. My body is fighting me at every step. It wants to be 175 and a size 10/12.
I really want to get to 145 and a size 6/8 (I have a big frame. I'm a 10 now at 165). I don't know if it's gonna happen. You can only stare at the same number so long without giving up.6 -
It's a myth. My appetite kept me at the size that I was. Period. I have realized that as I have lost weight that along with it came fewer calories to "maintain" my size....so while my maintenance levels were probably around 2300 without activity before...now 50 lbs lighter, my maintenance calories are around 1800.3
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Omg these feelings so much. I've lost 75 pounds and I've been stuck at 165 for a year.
My mom is 175 and a size 10/12. All 3 of her sisters are 175 and a size 10/12. My grandmother was 175 and a size 10/12 her entire life. Her mother, too. My body is fighting me at every step. It wants to be 175 and a size 10/12.
I really want to get to 145 and a size 6/8 (I have a big frame. I'm a 10 now at 165). I don't know if it's gonna happen. You can only stare at the same number so long without giving up.
I do believe in set point theory. I am at 165 pounds also and have been "stuck" there for a couple years. I want to lose the "last 10 pounds" and form a new set point. But I have to lose 10 more pounds in order to do that. It is a "catch 22" kind of situation. My body rebels and fights to stay within a couple pounds of 165.
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In my opinion, it is more likely our habits keep us at a certain weight. The more we commit to different healthy habits, the more our physique will reflect that. That's why swimmers have a different build than mountain bikers or weigh lifters or couch potatoes.
It's true we are fighting against homeostasis, so ever increasing effort will be needed to continue to drive change. However our bodies can only compensate to a certain degree- so it's not impossible!
Keep pushing forward with more strenuous and varied activity. Be diligent with accurate logging of foods. And get routine check ups to ensure there are no underlying illnesses slowing your progress. You can do this!4 -
In my opinion, the set point theory is mainly used as an excuse when it shouldn't be. I can't count the number of times I've seen people on here post about how they could never be xxx weight because they haven't weighed that much since they were a teen. It's like they feel pressured to justify settling for a weight that is still at the tail end of being overweight or even at the very top of a normal bmi.
The fact of the matter is that it's okay to feel comfortable at a certain weight and it doesn't require justification. Getting to a very lean weight is not an easy task and if you can't handle the maintenance calories for a certain weight there is no need to force yourself to do so. On the other hand, most people who lose weight slowly but surely get back to their old habits so they believe their body must have a "set point".
I'm 31 years old, 5'3", and 111 pounds. I have not been this weight since I was around 7 as, due to a dysfunctional family dynamic, I was already 120 pounds by 8 years old and reached a high point of 190 pounds by the age of 18. If I don't watch what I eat, I usually get up to 130 pounds and 140 pounds is my "you're going to be obese again if you don't control this now" point. 140 pounds is easy for me not to exceed because I can't eat that many calories per day on a regular basis unless I'm highly active. The only difference between prior weight loss attempts and now is that this time I'm aware of CICO. There's no way my body is going to force me to get back to 130 pounds. The only way that is going to occur is if I get lax about my calorie allowance or stop being as active. I have control of my body and choices.
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I only felt this way when my thyroid was out of control. I weighed 158 lbs for a few years, had a baby, and within 6 weeks got back to about 158. I tried fairly aggressive diets, intense exercise, and never went lower. I was sedentary and overate and never went higher. It was bizarre.
But absent medical issues, I think it just comes down to your habits. Not realizing what your activity level and food intake is really doing.2 -
I mean, every species of animal has a range of sizes. There are big horses and small horses of the same breed. There are big fish and small fish of the same species. Phenotypical variety is a fact of nature. If it wasn't, evolution couldn't happen.
It's the same with humans. There are women who can reach 100 pounds easy. There are other women who would be unhealthy at 100 pounds.
I don't think you can lose weight indefinitely. Not if you want to be healthy. Eventually, you're going to be fighting nature. Everyone gets to a weight where if you go any farther it's not healthy. I believe that weight is different for everyone.
Not sure what I think about a set-point that occurs way before you're underweight (like my example where all the women in my family are 175), but size has such a huge genetic component, I don't think it's right to just discount that.8 -
...Eventually, you're going to be fighting nature. Everyone gets to a weight where if you go any farther it's not healthy. I believe that weight is different for everyone.
Not sure what I think about a set-point that occurs way before you're underweight (like my example where all the women in my family are 175), but size has such a huge genetic component, I don't think it's right to just discount that.
I do think genetics play a role. My mom weighed 109 and was 5'4". She wanted to gain weight because she was bony. My brother took after her and was a skinny kid. You couldn't even pinch any fat on his midsection. It was just about 1/4 inch of skin! I have always taken after my dad and can bulk up easily with muscles and am on the high end of normal BMI. --kinda "thick". I would love to be thin but the effort to overcome what my body tends to want is tough!2 -
You don't have a set point, everyone has variable appetites. Many of us, unfortunately have a big appetite and that is what is difficult (or impossible ) to change. I'm so jealous of people who can eat half a sandwich and be full. I've pushed down to 145 and to maintain that I have to basically be mildly hungry at all times. I've talked to my girlfriend who is very thin and she told me she's hungry all the time and just does mental gymnastics to keep from eating.
My body is full at 2200 cal or so. However, I maintain or gain at that. I a perfect world our appetite would match to an ideal weight.6 -
Well I think there have been some valid points made both for and against the concept..personally I believe it's a thing, but a very little thing, and is 90% mental as opposed to physical.5
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Your current weight is a direct result of the calories you consume. If you eat at a level in which you are content and your weight stays that same, but you want to lose weight, you could add exercise to the mix. It would allow you to continue to eat the way you are and lose weight and transform your body in the process. Of course it'll take longer without adjusting your diet, but it'll still happen. Doesn't have to be a lot of exercise, just remember 1 lb a week is roughly 3500 calories. So over the course of say 5 days, if you could add in 700 calories of exercise you could lose a pound a week. A lot of people have trouble burning 500 calories a day using exercise, so if that's the case, and you still want to lose 1 lb a week, you'll need to adjust your diet to match the missing calories. But going forward.. once the diet is over, if you want to keep the weight off and eat at your previous levels, you are going to have to find a way to keep up that exercise to sustain your weight at that level of maintenance. All of this is what we learn using MFP and other calorie trackers/counters/diaries. Start thinking of things in the terms of weeks/months rather than days and you'll get a picture of what you can expect going forward. If the weight loss has stopped for a long period of time, your body is getting exactly the amount of calories it needs to sustain your current weight. If that seems not to be the case, then take a good look at your logging because there's an error somewhere.
I am now eating at a level at which I think I want to maintain going forward. Problem with that is it means burning 800 calories a day 6 days a week. That's a problem for me, one that I want to solve before I can stop logging food and counting calories. Because I'm not sure I can maintain this level of activity forever. I have no doubt I'll solve it, but it's still going to take time, and probably another year or more even though I'm now at maintenance.2 -
When you're a normal weight and trying to go down more? Maybe. I'm often hungry and often struggling maintaining my 135 pounds (but it also have to do with eating habits).
When obese? Definitely not.1 -
Do I believe that the hypothalamus strives to maintain homeostasis of hormones and blood pH and blood sugar? yes. Fat cells release hormones, just like every other cell. When the blood passes through the hypothalamus (and other stuff elsewhere) this can trigger other processes elsewhere in the body depending on the concentration of hormones and other messengers. It seems to me that the hypothalamus just wants to keep everything the way it is. Every time you plateau for a couple month-ish, I think the body says "ok, this is the new norm." Unless you change your body composition (by adding or losing muscle, for instance) or move more (or less) or eat differently, I think in a healthy human the body will try to stay at that spot. But, it's not like it's a destiny thing that can't be overcome (within reasonable parameters). Social norms and expectations will put you in a particular frame regarding what you think dinner "should" be and how much activity is "normal." If you keep doing what is "normal" and what you think people "should" eat, then sure, that will be a set point based on your average intake and activity. Change your intake, habits, activity, body composition.... BAM, new "set point," if you want to call it that. Metabolically healthy individuals can gain and lose weight depending on their deficits and surplus energy consumption. The body has tons of mechanisms to maintain the current weight. But really they're mainly just messages you can consciously ignore, should you choose. Just like folks can ignore the feeling of fullness and keep eating (to a point), one can ignore the feeling of hunger (to a point).5
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I don't think there are "set points" per se, buuuut... In gaining and losing weight over the course of four pregnancies I have noticed that certain weight points are harder for me to get past. They tend to correspond to weights that I spent considerable time at (at least a year) earlier in life. For me it's 180, 165, and 150. I'll lose steadily until I get to those points, then it takes about 6-8 weeks of discipline and patience to see the scale budge again. Once I get below those numbers, by at least 3-4 lbs, weight loss seems to resume more easily (no more bouncing around losing and gaining the same pound or two). Is it a "set point", or simply coincidence (all four times, lol) that I happen to experience diet fatigue and end up "cheating" more often at those weight levels? IDK. I do know that with consistency and time I do get past those points (I'm at 142 now, and thinking I'd like to stop losing weight, but my body wants to keep going!). So even if it is a "set point", they aren't insurmountable obstacles.3
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I've never been obese, and was in normal BMI until the last 10 years. My body tries to naturally maintain. But when I got into overweight BMI it tried to maintain there also. I've lost 10 pounds and am working to lose the last 10 to get securely into normal BMI. It is difficult.0
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I don't know. I gain and lose the same stinking 4 pounds over and over.1
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Tlflag. That is encouraging0
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I think it's just so much easier to lose weight when you're starting off coming from a place where you don't make an effort to watch how much you eat and are not active at all. Then you reach a point where you're doing the right things--counting calories and being physically active--and there aren't any more easy things to change or if there are, they are changes that make only slight differences in the short term and you have to (im)patiently wait to see their long term effects. That's when it can seem that your body doesn't want to make changes when in reality it's just that the changes come much more slowly.7
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