What do Thin People Eat?
 

I've been thinking...my friend Pam is in her 50's and she's been thin her whole life. We went to lunch the other day and I noticed that she only ate half her food. Which is pretty standard b/c that's what I do on a daily basis if I eat out. However, I can't help but wonder, what do thin people who have never had weight issues eat? What type of physical activity do they get? Does anyone else wonder that?

I'm only curious because I've been 250lbs before and I know if I got like that once, I can get like that again! I would LOVE to eat whatever I wanted, but my whole lifestyle change prevents me from doing that. Although lately I find myself wanting to eat poorly b/c the bad food is SOOO good. My fiance' can eat a 3,000 calorie dinner, and he remains the same weight! Some men are lucky!

But seriously, have you all ever studied the eating habits of a thin person and their physical activity?

I have a couple thin friends. Some of them are very athletic and others have never set foot in a gym. But for all of them, they eat everything in moderation. Others are blessed just to have an incredible metabolism. It sucks though! It's frustrating for them to not worry about anything, while I count every single calorie and have to constantly watch what I eat or I'll gain.

My husband is naturally thin, he's 6'3" and weighs about 168. He eats whatever he wants, when he's hungry. Sometimes he eats healthy, sometimes not. But that's what I'm noticing more and more as I try to lose weight. HE EATS ONLY WHEN HE'S HUNGRY, at least 90% of the time he eats. He doesn't eat when he's stressed out, he doesn't eat just because it looks yummy, he doesn't eat because other people are eating. Now, to be honest, he is also a smoker (which is a very unhealthy habit that needs it's own forum) so I think he does more of the smoking when stressed or bored.

But I've noticed other people at work who have been thin the whole time we've worked together. Some eat healthy, some do not. I wish I could figure it out. All that I've come up with so fat is that none of them seem to be OBSESSED with food the way I am. I also would love to figure out how naturally thin people do it.

My best friend is my same height and she weighs about 40 pounds less than me. She's got good genes going for her (her mom is 44ish and actually fit into her youngest daughter's prom dress...and looked hot!). But I agree with what others have said...they eat when they are hungry. My best friend does not work out, but she doesn't obsess about food like I do. If I get something on my mind, I have to have it. When we do go out (usually fast food because we are broke), she usually only gets one thing (ex. chicken sandwich)...not the whole combo like I used to get. And she drinks water, with a soda on occasion. Her mom walks a lot and LOVES carbs (cookies, bread, all that yummy stuff), but she doesn't eat that much of it. I guess the difference is I want it all, where they eat until they are satisfied. I know I can't eat that crap because I'm not satisfied until it's all gone! ;)
I'm trying to not feel bad when I leave food left on my plate. I used to be "leftover girl" and everyone knew it. I'd eat my dad's leftovers and my leftovers. Since meeting my BF, his family knows I like(d) to take leftovers for lunch, so I'd eat theirs, too. I've decided I'm no longer going to take leftovers home with me. Okay, random tangent there, but you see my point. I want it all. They are happy with "normal" amounts.
Another side note: I love that you guys are at or close to your goal weight, yet you are still active on these boards. It is such an inspiration to hear from you. It makes me realize that I CAN get there and when I do, I want to be around to help others like me. Thank you. I can't express how much I appreciate you being here!

That makes a lot of sense, I guess the disconnect with me from once being overweight, is that I still obsess with food, and I am a major stress eater. Sometimes carrots don't cut it, and I want the chips! Of course being pregnant with "cravings'' isn't any easier! haha, I was doing so well with food diversions, now I want this and that, but I've managed to do it in moderation.

ade903-You are too sweet! This forum helps me in so many ways, I still go look at the girl's picture that motivated me when I started, and I now I'm on that Goal section too! It keeps me going, and helps me maintain! Talking with all you wonderful, beautiful, ladies always makes my day! I know when I can't ask a question in my everyday life, I can come here. :) You rock ADE!

I had never thought about my relationship with food, I wasn't always like that, not until I was with my ex-husband. I'm glad he's my ex! lol Sometimes I think he kept me fat on purpose, but that's a whole other issue!

I just know when i comes to food, I can not eat something, do a quick calorie count, and either go for it, or pass. It's almost like all food comes with a big red flag that I need to weigh out. And having to choose what foods I'll eat, like I'll eat this slice of pizza for lunch, but I can't have that icecream cone for dessert after supper, makes it hard. I'm still a work in progress! Whew, feels good to let that out! Time for some carrots... :(

Originally Posted by ChubbyBun:
I've always wondered the same thing. Like what seperates my thin friends from myself and why it's so difficult for me to be thinner. I was discussing it with one of them about a year ago and she had the nerve to say she had "better genes" than I. Ugh, still can't believe she said that to me.

But I think what it comes down to is portion control. I've known her since childhood and I've watched her eat. The girl eats all the time, but she eats very small portions and gets full faster. When I eat the same way, I lose as well. Most of the thin people I've watched eat, are the same way. They tend to eat what they want, and just not a lot of it in one sitting. Also, most of the thin people I know smoke. Maybe that helps control their appetite. I dunno. I think it's mostly how much they eat. And the fact that they're thin enough to do basic activities like walk or run longer and further that helps them maintain it.

Chubbybun-Love your name, it's awesome, but I wanted to add that I had a girl tell me that "she thanks Jesus for staying thin" It's amazing how I don't think naturally thin people really understand how fortunate they are. I guess food is just our addiction or obsession to a certain extent maybe? But saying she had better genes was a tacky response! Portion control does make a lot of sense, ah to have that will power they have. I hadn't taken the stamina part into consideration. Less, weight, less to carry, the more and quicker you move! However, I'm still tired, and lazy when it's 104 degrees outside!

My sister who is 3 years younger has always been the thin one. We're pretty much the same height, same genes, and raised in the same environment but there is definitely something different about our approaches to food.

When we were kids and had seperate candy stashes such as Easter baskets or Halloween candy mine would be gone in less than a week. Hers would get stale she'd forget about it for so long. Then I'd steal the stale candy.

As adults, we'd eat at each other's house. When I cook I make sure there is enough so that people can have seconds, and like folks to linger at the dinner table. She cooks just enough for single serving for each person. Doesn't bother her at all if everyone is ready to leave the table 10 minutes after they sit down.

When her daughter was in Girl Scouts, she was "cookie mom" and so had many, many boxes of GS cookies. She can open the sleeve of thin mints, eat a few and put them back. For me one sleeve is one serving. And I'm thinking about that other sleeve I left in the box.

Interestingly, the only time she had food issues is when she joined Weight Watchers to take off a bit of middle age spread. She called me and apologized for ever wondering why I couldn't stick to diets. As soon as she was trying to restrict what she ate, all she could think about was food and she was hungry all the time.

On activity level, she does not exercise formally. Hates it, but will sometimes walk when she tries to get more active. However, she's physically busier around the house than I am. Nice day? She'll use it to get yard work done while I'll be heading out for a hike. So I'm fitter than she is and have healthier medical numbers, but by weight she'll likely always be the skinny sister.

Originally Posted by guamvixen:
Chubbybun-Love your name, it's awesome, but I wanted to add that I had a girl tell me that "she thanks Jesus for staying thin" It's amazing how I don't think naturally thin people really understand how fortunate they are. I guess food is just our addiction or obsession to a certain extent maybe? But saying she had better genes was a tacky response! Portion control does make a lot of sense, ah to have that will power they have. I hadn't taken the stamina part into consideration. Less, weight, less to carry, the more and quicker you move! However, I'm still tired, and lazy when it's 104 degrees outside!

Haha thanks :) I have a rabbit and call her chubby bunny, but that was taken, so I shortened it. Figured it suits me as well lol.

Wow, thanking Jesus for her thinness..... That's um... interesting. I wonder if he'd bestow thinness on me if I pray while I eat fries. Maybe that's what I'm doing wrong. lol *ponders*

I think people who have never been significantly overweight don't even consider it most of the time. They're thin, it's all they know. That mindset and those habits are probably second nature and just on autopilot for them. I think kind of the same way overeating and making bad food choices are for me. If you do something long enough, you become a pro at it and it becomes habit. I think my thin friend with the "good genes" naturally picks at her food on and off and doesn't have to think about overeating because she hasn't done it enough for it to become an issue or habit. She might put on or lose 10lbs or so in her life because she decided to eat out a lot one week, but I don't think portion control has ever been a huge problem for her, regardless of what she eats.

I don't really think thin people are just lucky or better or immune to weight gain, I think they just have a different set of learned habits and behaviors that they don't deviate far from. They'd probably struggle to eat more having eaten less all their life, the same way I struggle to eat less, having eaten more all of mine. I've never seen my thin friend eat more than like a cup and a half of food in one sitting in our entire lives. She's trained her body to eat that way and to be thin and feel full and satisfied with those amounts of food. I haven't. I think it's really just learned behaviors that separate the thin from the overweight. Not that it's easy to change them haha.

And yeah, I like to think the more weight I lose, the more physical activity I can do to maintain whatever weight I'm at. Being heavy really does limit you. Being fat is exhausting haha.

Ew 104 degrees! And with Guam's humidity! Ack, that'd kill me even if I was skinny haha.

Interesting thread. Thanks all. A lot to think about here.

I think genetics, childhood environment, and family traditions all play a role in our predisposition to being overweight.

Here's a good article: Why People Become Overweight

Originally Posted by Sherrie568:
I think genetics, childhood environment, and family traditions all play a role in our predisposition to being overweight.

I agree with your comment and that article for the most part. Thanks for sharing :)

Although I don't think a person's genetic makeup is largely the cause. A person may metabolize food differently, faster, slower, or whatever, but then it's ultimately their choices and responsibility to maintain that calorie intake/calories burned ratio to compensate for their body type. You can have a slow metabolism and still be in great shape, as long as you understand the way your body processes what you put into it.

Not only that, but many people's metabolisms slow down BECAUSE of the weight gain, or due to other factors such as age and other medical problems. They may otherwise have normal or fast paced metabolisms. But again, one can usually compensate for it by changing their eating habits and lifestyle. I don't buy that "Some people are just genetically predispositioned to be fat" stuff. Not unless a person has a medical illness or disability that just completely inhibits their ability to lose or maintain a healthy weight. For the most part, genetics sounds more like an excuse for not being able to eat more of the things you want, or for not being able to eat the exact same things as someone else, than a significant cause of weight gain. I really do think what you choose to do with the body you get, and the influences you're exposed to are what determine your weight and health.

I always wondered that question. And then I moved in with my boyfriend's family. They have a really big, nice house with lots of kids. There's 2 fridges, and a huge freezer, 2 pantries, and LOADS of food. I used to have excellent control on my eating. I learned to eat in moderation, and it was very easy for me to say no. I still ate a lot of junk food, but it wasn't an every day thing, so it balanced out. I've been losing weight since Sep. 07, so it just became a habit.

Then I came here. I opened the freezer, and there was like 4 containers of Dryers in various flavors, Oreos in the pantry, a Costco pack of chocolate bars. Tortellini, cheeses in a million flavors, everything. You name it, these people had it. It was, and is, a NIGHTMARE. I have zero control over the food in this house, only what I buy and eat. It's hard.

But the weird thing is, nobody is really fat in this family. In fact, you'd expect mama bear to be chunky. Everyone I talk to does, 5 kids, loads of junk food. But no, she isn't. She's tiny. It's the strangest thing, because they don't eat healthy AT ALLLLLLL. In fact she makes fun of me for buying low fat. I've never seen so much junk food in my effing life, and no obese people to go with the food. So, they were an interesting case study for me.

These people just have the little indicator in them that stops eating when they're starting to get full. They don't eat when they're not hungry either. By boyfriend is like that, he doesn't eat unless he's hungry. He rarely snacks out of boredom. I think the discomfort of being too full is just that to him, discomfort. It's the same with everyone else. None of them have an obsession with food, they know if they want it, it's there. I think that's the biggest key, is only eating when they're hungry and stopping when they're satisfied.

Sadly, I don't think I'll ever be like that. I can train myself to be LIKE that, but I don't think I'll ever naturally be that way.

I think that some people never make the association eating=happiness. They remain thinner.

Originally Posted by souvenirdarling:
I think that some people never make the association eating=happiness. They remain thinner.

I agree. I grew up where food was the celebration after good grades, dance performance, band gig, etc. Any happy occasion was celebrated with food. Now it's "I lost five pounds! Celebration dinner! ...oh wait. that defeats the purpose." I'm trying to train myself to celebrate in different ways. Trying to eat for fuel, not based on emotions!