Do you watch/worry about your weight?

[Constance]

I have to agree with Min. The "energy in = energy out = no weight gain" doesn't take into consideration variances in metabolism. There are those folks who have to put out more energy than they take in to lose weight. One of my son's friends has to be careful not to exercise too much, or he will be even more underweight. He's 6'2" and about 125 pounds. He's got a very high metabolism, as he eats whatever and hardly gains any weight at all.

[Hannah]

Fat people tend to use metabolism as an excuse, when for most of us it's simply a matter of lifestyle. Our muscles hold and awfully lot of glycogen for later conversion into glucose, and getting out there and moving a lot will deplete those stores, which will be replenished from food before any fat is added. Folks think that just walking a lil bit won't help, but energy is energy. My car actually burns more fuel if I drive somewhere slowly, and so do my legs.

This is why I love low carb so much. You get your body in a state where it's always burning fat, even as part of the bmr. 

That's just Nutrition 101, and it's not really my area so if someone hasmore insight into the system I'd love to read it.

[myles]

Can't really lose weight through a diet has to be a lifestyle change. I am pretty active even when I go for week without hitting the gym I  still run at a calorie  deficit. I work in a warehouse part time which burns calories and burn a ton of calories cleaning my house (3 stories makes for a good workout). I finally bought a body bugg when I hit a weight loss plateau at one point  (found out I was not eating enough) so I monitor myself whenever I have questions. Was surprised how much more I burn now that I am on T. I think it works well when you can burn what you eat without having to hit the gm and do it through just everyday activity. Years ago when I needed to lose weight I went on a low carb diet (south beach) now just eat well with less carbs and less crap in my diet. has to be a life change not a fast weight loss or it wont stay off.
Andrew

[jesse]

myles is correct it has to be a life style change or your wasting your energy and effort

[Cindy]

I have to agree with Min. The "energy in = energy out = no weight gain" doesn't take into consideration variances in metabolism. There are those folks who have to put out more energy than they take in to lose weight. One of my son's friends has to be careful not to exercise too much, or he will be even more underweight. He's 6'2" and about 125 pounds. He's got a very high metabolism, as he eats whatever and hardly gains any weight at all.

Well I'm afraid it does. You cannot create or destroy matter. You can alter it but not create or destroy. If someone has a high metabolism for a thyroid condition or other reason they still burn energy that is supplied as food. They may burn (or use it quicker) but they cannot create it. Hence the energy has to be supplied. I reckon if you think about your comment it supports what I said; your friend and Min's Mum don't have to work out at a gym because they already burn energy through other reasons.

Cindy

[tekla]

We are not talking about people with thyroid problems, or metabolism problems, were talking about fat clowns who don't have enough will power to control the input, nor enough discipline to affect the work product.  Though such sad physical cases occur, the majority of fat people are fat, not through physical problems, but though a combination of crappy McDonald's/Herseys diet and watching TV five hours every night.

[Miniar]

I have to agree with Min. The "energy in = energy out = no weight gain" doesn't take into consideration variances in metabolism. There are those folks who have to put out more energy than they take in to lose weight. One of my son's friends has to be careful not to exercise too much, or he will be even more underweight. He's 6'2" and about 125 pounds. He's got a very high metabolism, as he eats whatever and hardly gains any weight at all.

The equation "does" take into account metabolism, but people who use the equation tend not to. Which is what I was referring to.

[qRachelp]

As a MTF who is going to start hormones in one week, I jog every morning before the sun comes up.  I'm skinny, but I do have a "manly" mid-section, so when it drops to my hips and legs, I ought to have the form that my mind wants and knows that I am.  I'm building my leg strength just a bit while I still have testosterone racing through my body, and I'll continue jogging with my woman's body.  Science says that men are stronger, but that women have more endurance, so I may start competing in my city's half marathons (13.1 miles).

XX,
Rachel

[Jeatyn]

In theory, I would like to be one of those skinny emo types, but I just cannot be bothered to work out at all most of the time. I know a ridiculous amount about nutrition and exercise science but I never apply it to myself. It's completely my own fault I'm 5'3 and 160 lbs, 2 year ago I hit my heaviest at around 210 and I've been losing slowly and steadily by just not sitting around so much and stuffing my face. I've hit the point where I'm going to have to put in effort to lose any more.

[FairyGirl]

Lol, I drive 5 miles out of the way, past 4 other filling stations to go to one with Diet Dr Pepper 

OMG my favorite drink too! Okay that can be the official drink of our fairies and vampires club lol   

After losing 60+ pounds before I began HRT, I've managed to keep it off a year later but I constantly and obsessively watch what I eat and make sure I get at least some exercise every day. Just losing weight is good but unless it is truly a change in the lifestyle that got you overweight in the first place, it isn't going to last. That is why many diets fail, because they don't provide for long term weight maintenance but simply cater to the desire to shed pounds quickly and that can't be maintained. I've read that yo-yo dieting is even worse than being a few pounds too heavy, because the more you lose and gain it back, the harder it becomes to lose it again.

[myles]

While I was in boot camp (years ago) I was underweight 5 foot 6 under 120, not a problem anymore. One of my sons is very underweight and it is near impossible to get him to gain weight the doctor says he has a high metabolism and needs to eat an extra 1000 calories a day. He is 10 years old and getting him to eat a good (not just junk food) extra 1000 calories a day is near impossible.  During the summer we spend a lot of our days riding bikes around Portland or hiking in the forest so we are all very active (ok well my SO is not) but the boys and I are. I don't think he will ever weigh much.
Andrew

[deviousxen]

I have high cheekbones that get exposed like icebergs if I don't eat like a pig every second, as well as a hollowed out face...


The fat on my ass though... That stays luckily... Just still can't get it to break the barrier and MORE over my hips (sounds like I'm trying to "storm" it with fat)


And my breasts ... Well... they eb and flow... I really wish I weren't in art school sometimes so I could just eat and do basics, but I doubt that'll matter now. Lol.

[Miniar]

While I was in boot camp (years ago) I was underweight 5 foot 6 under 120, not a problem anymore. One of my sons is very underweight and it is near impossible to get him to gain weight the doctor says he has a high metabolism and needs to eat an extra 1000 calories a day. He is 10 years old and getting him to eat a good (not just junk food) extra 1000 calories a day is near impossible.  During the summer we spend a lot of our days riding bikes around Portland or hiking in the forest so we are all very active (ok well my SO is not) but the boys and I are. I don't think he will ever weigh much.
Andrew

My daughter's like that too. She's eight and I can literally put my hands around her waist.. And she IS well fed.
Plenty of fruit, veg, proteins, whole-wheat breads, etc...
A healthy, balanced diet with lots of food. And she's still so terribly skinny.

[insanitylives]

I'm slightly obsessive....


Actually, I don't think I've eaten today.
(before anyone jumps on me, remember it's thanksgiving in the US, and whether I like it or not, someone is going to try to stuff my face full of fatty food)
Post Merge: November 26, 2009, 11:03:12 AM

Fat people tend to use metabolism as an excuse, when for most of us it's simply a matter of lifestyle

Not just heavy people... My doctor tried to use that as a reason to *try* to convince me to not loose weight.
Apparently I'm supposed to be fat (then again, i'm also supposed to have tits, but that ain't so.)

[Cindy]

It was said that an alcoholic is someone who drinks more than their Dr. It now seems that obese is someone fatter than their Dr

Cindy

[VioletNight]

I worry sometimes. I have always been well underweight and my eating habits are horrible (and unlikely to change in the near future). I view eating as a chore and am usually impatient to get a meal over with (by skipping half of it) just to I can get on with doing something else. I do like snacks though which I have periodically through the day. What little I do eat is pure junk food and it's a wonder I haven't keeled over by now.

I have tried in the past to make myself eat more. Spent several weeks once and basically doubled the amount of food I ate in that time frame. Still didn't gain a pound. I'm also extremely lazy so I don't know where all the food goes. Exercise is the farthest thing from my mind.

[LivingInGrey]

gah. Reading all of this....


I'm 6 foot something and I clock in at 235 pounds (give or take 20 pounds depending on my mood... ok more like give 20 pounds). Don't misunderstand me though, I have a belly but I also carry 80 pounds of stuff up and down ladders all day long (when I'm working).

What I wouldn't give to be 5 foot 4 inches and 135 pounds. Not only would I look better, I wouldn't have to be the one to carry 80 pounds of stuff up a ladder =/


Added note:

the energy in = energy out = no weight change.... When I work full time hours I eat/drink about 4000 calories a day and still lose weight.

[myles]

If you are going up and down ladders  at your height and weight you are definitely burning more than 4000 calories a day. With a job that requires any physical labor even walking instead of sitting you really burn a lot of calories. That is one of the things I love about warehouse work.
Andrew

[tekla]

one of the things I love about warehouse work

The other being the incredible 'free ->-bleeped-<- program' that they have to give you stuff rather than have you steal it?  I worked at warehouses for years and the amount of trade that goes on between warehouses and truck drivers is it's own economy.

[Dana Lane]

I know you will all be mad at me but I lost 6 pounds between Wednesday before Thanksgiving and today.