How can some people eat so much junk and gain no weight?
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I'd say there is no good in worrying about it. People burn calories at different rates, and trying to compare two people is useless. Maybe he has a super fast metabolism (some people do, or they fidget a bunch, or they have naturally higher testosterone and build muscle easily) or maybe he has a stomach issue that tkeeps him from absorbing all the nutrition in his food, or who knows. Does it change what you need to do? No? Then stop worrying about it.
I could spend all day obsessing about why my sister eats a bunch and never gains weight, or why my husband can eat double what I'm allowed to, but it doesn't change what I need to do and only breeds discontentment.14 -
singingflutelady wrote: »sashayoung72 wrote: »my brother in law is a fidgety type, adhd, constantly moving and up until a recent injury that keeps him way more sedentary he was as skinny as a rail, it's just the luck of the draw I suppose!
Luck of the draw? Nah, he was active and not eating more than he burnt. That's how it works
I mean he "drew" the faster metabolism, the fidgety helps with that (is part of that) but if you saw the amount of beer this man consumed while staying rail thin you'd be amazed.2 -
heatherheyns wrote: »I'd say there is no good in worrying about it. People burn calories at different rates, and trying to compare two people is useless. Maybe he has a super fast metabolism (some people do, or they fidget a bunch, or they have naturally higher testosterone and build muscle easily) or maybe he has a stomach issue that tkeeps him from absorbing all the nutrition in his food, or who knows. Does it change what you need to do? No? Then stop worrying about it.
I could spend all day obsessing about why my sister eats a bunch and never gains weight, or why my husband can eat double what I'm allowed to, but it doesn't change what I need to do and only breeds discontentment.
My husband too! I know he's more active but i'll take 3 months to lose what he will in 3 days LOL2 -
OP, it just happens. I've known a couple people like that... ate WAY more than me and just never gained weight. One is my sister's boyfriend and she DOES live with him and see how he eats, lol.
And yes it's unfair and there's nothing wrong with venting a bit!14 -
My husband was really active when he was in the military, fidgeted, and had a high metabolism. He was always super skinny growing up. He has always eaten more than me and his habits rubbed off. In the last 4 months, I have managed to lose 20 pounds and he has lost 15. I have tried hard. He hasn't tried at all. He has just cut back on some of his food choices. Me....exercise, less food, weighing everything.
It could be a number of reasons why your friend doesn't gain weight. I find that it is easier for me to focus on myself and what I am doing. I may be frustrated at losing only 20 pounds, but I worked hard for it and am proud.2 -
Unless you're with someone 24/7, you simply don't know what they eat when you're not around.
Also, though the general rules about Calories out>Calories in applies to everyone, some people do have more muscle and burn more calories merely sitting than others do. At my current weight and body fat% I burn more calories at rest than I used to. I maintain at about 2050 instead of 1850 like I used to at this weight.2 -
Anyone have the link to the British show where there were 2 friends, one thin and one obese where the obese friend was so sure her friend had a high metabolism and could eat whatever she wanted? they tested them and in fact the obese friend's metabolism was higher than the thin one9
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Perhaps he has an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism)?4
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I know the answer you were looking for was likely along the line of "yes, it is so unfair that he is a special snowflake and can eat endless amounts and not gain weight" but the reality is, he simple just doesn't eat more than he burns. You may get the impression he eats more than he does but unless you monitor his intake 24-7 over the course of months, you simply can't know how much he is truly eating.4
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singingflutelady wrote: »Anyone have the link to the British show where there were 2 friends, one thin and one obese where the obese friend was so sure her friend had a high metabolism and could eat whatever she wanted? they tested them and in fact the obese friend's metabolism was higher than the thin one
I remember that.
I wonder if people who get caught up in "it's not fair" develop confirmation bias when they see these people eat. For a while I just couldn't believe the enormous amount of garbage hubby could eat. He is very tall, very slender. He renovates kitchens and bathrooms for a living. That is very far away from being sedentary. I tried to estimate a couple of days and with doing very hard physical work all day he might eat up to 3500. Given all the factors, it's not as much as it seems in context.4 -
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This is my nephew on the left age 21 weights 8st 6lb. This is the massive food potions he eats everyday, he bakes cakes, breads at least 3 times a week and eats it all to himself, he enjoys going to eating places where they have plate challenges you finish in the allotted time you get the meal for free. The only exercise he does is a hour swim once a week and a 15 mile walk once a week, he can't seem to put any weight on. Some people say they can't believe how little I eat except I'm 4 stone overweight. Everyone is different.4 -
1.) He may actually eat less than he appears to. I know sometimes my friend's husband will go for a long stretch of time without eating, but when he eats he EATS. Those who don't know him as well might see him eat and be led to believe he is just lucky to be able to pack that away. He looks like a small guy with clothes on but he is pure, solid muscle which also likely factors in. Also, your friend may not be eating everything on his plate all the time.
2.) Maybe you'll see him gain weight in the future if he really IS eating as much as you say. I know a guy who was considered a "little guy" who packed food away like nobody's business. Everyone kept saying things like "how can such small guy eat like that?" Well, turns out he couldn't. Now he's not what I consider big, but he definitely has packed on a decent amount of weight. It caught up to him, and maybe it will catch up to your co-worker. If it does or doesn't though, that's his business.
3.) Maybe he's way more active than you think he is.
It seems like your concern for what he eats is harmless, but be careful about comparing yourself to others! It's kind of like comparing your life to what people post on social media- it's tempting to think that others have perfect lives but everyone has their own things that they're dealing with that you DON'T see. You don't see what this guy does all day, you just see what he shows you.
Edit to remove my point #2 which doesn't apply here.6 -
Looking at your "one meal"....and if you indeed eat that meal..... that is about 1000 calories in sausage links ( about 250 calories a link)
ad the sauce and rice and huge amount of fries and you have there a meal of over 1500 easily ( close too 2000 calories)
So that is reason number one...you eat more than you think
Other reason is your friend is not 24/7 with you... you dont know how much he eats and how active he is.
And if you want some advice...stop looking at others..start weighing your food...ALL your food so you know what you are eating in calories
Be active and eat enough to be strong...so 1500 is low for a man i would shoot for way more....and the weight will still drop off this way...guaranteed ( if you dont have any medical issues)9 -
leejoyce31 wrote: »You people are so mean.
Who was mean??? Please quote them. I saw nobody being mean.8 -
I wonder how that guy feels hearing stuff like this from others. I'm THAT coworker at my job. "How are you SO skinny when you eat SO much?!" I'm 5'3" and 111 pounds. I maintain my weight on 2000+ calories on most days. The other night at my cousin's surprise party at a BBQ restaurant I easily had twice as much food as anyone and received similar questions; one 300 pound guy said I ate as much as he does in four days (he's obviously underestimating his consumption). That particular day I was very hungry as I walked 44,411 steps the day before and didn't eat as much as I should have because I was too busy all day.
I try to roll with it but it gets annoying. I workout every morning, I get 15K+ steps per day, I have a good amount of muscle, and to top it off I'm very fidgety. Sometimes I eat several small meals per day, sometimes a few large ones; after that huge BBQ meal I could only consume 660 calories the next day.
If you're so certain he really does nothing at all, maybe he's got hyperthyroidism and doesn't know it or want anyone else to know about it. Either way, comparing yourself to others is not a good look. You want to eat more? Move more.18 -
singingflutelady wrote: »Anyone have the link to the British show where there were 2 friends, one thin and one obese where the obese friend was so sure her friend had a high metabolism and could eat whatever she wanted? they tested them and in fact the obese friend's metabolism was higher than the thin one
I remember that! It's funny because some of the people I know always comment on how I manage to stay so skinny (I'm not!) while eating so much. But they see me twice a year at potlucks when I probably eat 3000 calories of food (easily). They don't see what I do the rest of the time.
But just because typically thin people who eat a lot of junk don't eat that way all the time, doesn't mean that there aren't people who do indeed eat a lot without gaining weight. It just doesn't happen as much as we think.3 -
He isn't eating as much as you think. So there is this guy in my office, and everyone talks about how much he can eat, and how he stays in such good shape, because everytime there is free food here (which is a lot) he will take 3 or 4 plates full. Well I sit next to him, and he eats like a bird sits here all day with open big plate of food that he picks at all day, never finishes it, and brings the leftovers, plus the other 3 plates home to have as his meals through out the week. Things are never what they seem.7
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I eat more than my husband does. I do in his presence at night and on the weekend. During the week he does send me food porn. I think its what he wants to eat!
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although when you put in your details, MFP sets you a calorie allocation, some people burn less and the lucky ones burn more
maybe he is one of the luck ones, maybe he has a high metabolism
but if he is just eating crap, then it will catch up to him eventually due to the lack of nutrients etc1
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