Interesting Conversation with an Always Thin Man
 

I mentioned on another thread recently that I was in the midst of planning an engagement party for my daughter. Well my husband and I went to see the caterer last week, a very friendly, VERY slim man in his upper 30's, and while discussing the menu, my DH mentioned that I was very health conscious, I cook amazing low calorie, healthy foods all the time (how cool is that?), he even asked for my salad recipes and I gave several of them to him. He tells me how health conscious his wife is, in fact she just had a baby and 6 weeks later, 6 WEEKS LATER, she's down to her old slim self, they have a treadmill in the home and she sees a personal trainer 3 times a week, he was even complaining about the cost (though not the results).

It then comes up how slim he is and he mentions how he eats like, his words - "A PIG, A PIG, A PIGG!!", (yes he was shouting this at me). And I tell him, "it's impossible, just impossible." He says he has a great metabolism, although it's slowed down a bit, that he REALLY used to be skinny (I can't imagine him weighing any less ).

Okay. He continues to say eats like a pig. I'm refusing to believe it - me being me - I delve. He says, "Oh yeah, I can sit down in the kitchen (the catering kitchen) and devour 3 chicken bottoms and 2 potato bourrekas (knish-like, mashed potatoes in puff pastry dough) in a matter of minutes." Not that that's unheard of, but I say, "but I bet you do that once in a while, maybe twice a week". And sure enough, he says, "yup, twice a week is about right". And I said, "I bet you're one of those that forgets to eat till 3:00 in the afternoon", and he says, "yeah, that's true too, sometimes, later." And I said, "I bet you can barely look at most of the food you prepare", and he says, "yeah, I haven't in years." And I said, "I bet you hit that treadmill first thing in the morning every day", and he said, "oh yeah, everyday, first thing in the morning, always have, always will".

There you have it. What one skinny man describes as "eating like a pig". At least he didn't say "I eat whatever I want." Although essentially it would have been the same thing. He just doesn't *want* all that much. Not that that's how I would have ever wanted to be slim, but it would have beaten how *I* ate like a "pig" back in the day.... 3 chicken bottoms and 2 potato bourekas - ha. Interesting, no?

Robin, in speaking with my naturally slim friends I've determined that they generally exercise regularly and are naturally able to self regulate themselves when they overeat or purposely undereat to prepare for a larger meal or party. I wish that I was one of them that it all came to naturally to. But I still need to plan and really listen to my hunger.

Oh, I'm with you.

But the thing that got me with this person, was that he really THINKS that he "eats like a pig". He didn't even realize that nothing could be further from the truth. He's going around telling people, when it comes up, that he does indeed eat like a pig and that he eats whatever he wants. And then people are bewildered as to why can't they be like that. Why can't they eat like pigs and whatever they want - AND still be slim? Well they could - if they defined it in the way the this man does...

It's all in the perception, isn't it? Just like when I used to say, "I don't eat that much, how can I be this big?"

Howdy,
I am hoping over time, and with the use of my apps (which makes calorie counting a breeze), that I will develop this habit of self regulating, even at 47 yrs of age.

Thanks for posting this dialogue.
Karen

Interesting Robin. It is amazing to get the skinny on being skinny from a skinny person!

I have one "naturally" thin friend who has never had a weight problem and I have really watched her over the years. I hear other people talk about her, (in a good way) how she can eat as much and whatever she wants and never gain weight, and it is absolutely true. First off she NEVER sits down. We lovingly call her "Thumper" because she's just always on the move. She doesn't "work out" she just NEVER sits down. I have patterned my exercise after her in a way. She does have an ice cream or a couple cookies...but she orders a single scoop or has just 2 cookies, (not a pint and a dozen like I did/can). She drinks regular pop, (not diet), but has one or 2 a week. (Not per day). We were at a local bar/grill with her family a while back and her and her dh split a steak dinner and ordered an extra dinner salad. She had one light beer, not a dozen like I would have had. She does eat whatever she wants...she just doesn't want that much. It's so awesome to know that "normal" really does exist.

My husband is one of those naturally thin men and the people at work joke about all his meals because he eats throughout the day. I was joking with him recently because he eats 2 dinners (he calls them dinner and supper). Since I cook fairly healthy, I usually have to give him extra food that I don't eat or larger portions. He didn't used to exercise every day but now he exercises most days, at least something light if anything. I'm not exactly sure how many calories he eats per day, I'd say 3,000 to 4,000. Of course every day is different.

Interesting post. Have you ever read the "The Hacker's Diet"? It was one of those things that I read when I first started on this journey. The author describes three different types of people: Skinny Stable Sam, Overweight Oscillating Oscar, and Bulky Blown-up Buster

Reading your post made me think of Skinny Stable Sam.

I found the Hacker's Diet an interesting read with many points that rang true to me. Of course, I never understood Skinny Stable Sam or your naturally thin man. :)

I liked that time2lose!

Nelie, I think the difference between your husband and the man I spoke with is that your husband really DOES eat a lot. But "my" man - doesn't. He just *thinks* he does - but I think he doesn't anymore. I think I really pointed out to him that he's not eating all that much.

Regardless, I'll never be like either one of these men.

Plan, plan, plan. Track, track, track, Plan, plan, plan. Oh and execute, execute, execute all that plan, plan, planning.

And LoriBell I was certainly never like your friend either, although I am more like her NOW. Occasionally, in very controlled settings, under certain circumstances. Though certainly not every day or even every week.

It's so true.

I was in a sorority in college and the girls all watched their weight (or so they claimed) but I would always see them "pigging out" when we were at social gatherings and I thought they ate like that all the time and I was envious.

Now that I look back .. I realize some of them skip eating ALL DAY for that gathering.... when we go out to eat.. they save half their food for "later"..

I have a 110 lb friend who claims she eats 2 Twix bars a day and can eat 1 pint of ice cream a day BUT I know she skips regular meals so she eats those treats as "meals"... she can't run on the treadmill longer than 5 minutes... she has no muscle mass... so a skinny unhealthy person.

I realized what people eat behind closed doors is a secret so I shouldn't assume anything.

I really get this.
I remember that many years ago, when I was in the mid 200 lb ranges,
I admired a petitie colleague of mine.
She was (like me) about 5'0"tall, but tiny, probably not more than 100 lbs.
She was about 10 years older than me.
I had just read some diet book that told me to find out what a naturally thin person does and then imitate that behavior.
I had been watching her at luncheons and social events etc.
When I saw her, she ate almost nothing.
So one day I asked her about her normal food and exercise.
She told me, and
I was amazed that any healthy person could eat so little food.
Privately, I thought her behavior was strange enough for her to be an alien creature.

She did not participate in any formal exercise or sports.
She knew nothing about calories, and had never counted them
or been on any kind of diet.

Her breakfast was usually an 8 oz glass smoothie made of skim milk, 1/2 banana, and brewer's yeast
(because she didn't like eating breakfast).
Her lunch was 1/4 to 1/2 sandwich with a small side salad.
Her dinner was about 2 oz roast chicken with a few bites of pasta or rice
and a small amount of veggies.
She didn't care for sweets, so only ate a bite or two of dessert...rarely.
She seldom snacked...because she didn't feel hungry between meals....

My calculations were that, on a normal day, she ate between 500 and 600 calories.
No health worries about eating less than 1200 calories etc, etc. etc.
in fact, no comprehension of calories at all.
She ate what she felt was nutritious food that she liked, in the amounts she wanted.

Now that I'm older, and also small, she frequently comes to mind,
when I am bemoaning my own metabolism.
To me 1000 calories a day seems like such a pitifully small amount,
but then I remember that I spent many years of my life
with binge days where I ate from 5000 to 10000 calories.

How much food I WANT to eat,
and my concept of what I SHOULD be able to eat
is based on truely distorted information...
both from my own history, my observation of most other people,
and from generalizations by nutritionists....
....which are primarily based on calorie stats which reflect an average of the needs of active, mid-sized, young females,
and don't reflect MY own actual needs.

This guys story doesn't surprise me - but it's certainly not the only story out there. I've known people with very different metabolisms and activity levels (probably every combination).

My dad was very slim most of his life, and really did have a hummingbird's metabolism. He'd eat several helpings at dinner, and almost every evening he'd have a a sleeve of oreos, half a dozen home-made cookies, or a pint or more of ice cream.

He was a bread delivery guy, and never took a lunch, because every day someone on his route - the school cafeteria ladies, the restaurant cooks... would gift him lunch and treats. The way he talked, it didn't sound like he ever turned anyone down (that's how he ate at home, too).

At home he wasn't very active, but I know his job was very strenuous. Sometimes the guys had to load their own trucks, and in the early days their trucks were neither air-conditioned nor heated. He'd been raised on a farm, so was used to heavy labor.

My brother was also a huge eater, yet extremely thin - even lankier than my dad. He tried in high school to "bulk-up," because he wasn't just thin, he was scrawny. Every day for breakfast, he'd eat a mixing bowl of cereal (not the smallest mixing bowl). It wasn't at all unusual for him to eat a box of cereal and half a gallon of milk for between breakfast and snacking (and he still ate regular meals).

Retirement caught up with my dad - only after retirment did he start putting on weight (he never gained any weight in his face, arms, or legs - he just started looking pregnant). He's managed to get most of the weight off (he's probably 10 lbs heavier than his youthful weight - though he's still in a health range at his highest weight he was never more than overweight).

My brother's retired/disabled military (navy) and only in his last few years in the military has he finally gained the weight he wanted to in high school. He's still at a healthy weight and muscle ratio. He finally has the "buff" body he wants (though with disability, he says he has been gaining some in the waist - his solution has been to cut starchy carbs and eat more protein. His wife says he's still a huge eater).

My grandmother ate very little, and was about 60 lbs overweight at her highest weight. She wasn't very active, and she had health issues that lowered her metabolism even further, such as severe arthritis, diabetes, hypothyroid and she was often on steroids due to asthma and emphysema (even though she never smoked).

Even though I've been morbidly obese or even fatter since grade school.
When I was young, I have to admit I had a high metabolism - just not high enough for my appetitie. I never tried to tell doctors that I didn't know why I was fat, or try to claim I "ate like a bird." I was just ravenously hungry all of the time, and didn't know why (and no one else could tell me why, either).

On the same calorie level that I now struggle to maintain my weight on - during many (actually most) times in my life I would (and did) regularly lose 8 - 9 pounds a week on (and up to 12 pounds on numerous occasions).

When I was younger, I assumed that the fat women who claimed they didn't eat much were all liars. I knew I was fat because I ate insane quantities of food, but couldn't seem to control the hunger. I suspected that if I could control the hunger, I could control my weight - but never found the key to controlling the hunger. Dieting meant being absolutely miserable - feeling like I was starving all of the time.

Ironically, when I finally found the key to controlling my hunger, my metabolism had collapsed. I eat probably 1/3 the calorie level, maybe even less - and the weight doesn't come off. Not only am I less active - I'm exhausted more of the time and my body temperature is a couple degrees lower. A lower body temperature takes fewer calories ot maintain (at it's not like that's under conscious control - I can choose to exercise more - I can't choose a higher body temperature).

The variances in metabolims are interesting, but I don't think any conclusions can be drawn from individual examples.

Kaplods, that's the thing. This man was telling me that the reason he was slim was because of his *metabolism*. But that has nothing to do with it. It's the fact that he just doesn't eat that much and he exercises. Metabolism - in this instance - has nothing to do with it.


How much food I WANT to eat,
and my concept of what I SHOULD be able to eat
is based on truely distorted information...
both from my own history, my observation of most other people,
and from generalizations by nutritionists....
....which are primarily based on calorie stats which reflect an average of the needs of active, mid-sized, young females,
and don't reflect MY own actual needs.

Bright Angel - so true! As another 5 footer I couldn't agree with you more. What I eat to maintain my weight doesn't make sense to most people. We without a doubt have got to figure it out for ourselves. There is nothing "average" about me and for me to follow preset guidelines would send me right back into obesity. There is no one size fits all plan. I wish that were more "out there" and more people would be aware of that.

Like Meg always says, we are all experiments of one.

Since June of this year I've been eating just once a day. At night when the bf and I can sit down for dinner after he gets home. Usually between 1-3 am, but then we go to bed around 6.

The first week was an accident. I was working on a project and I was really stressed. I can't eat when I'm stressed or I just get sick.

Anyway, I realized after a few days how much better I felt and how much more effective my workouts were. Plus I didn't feel bloated all the time so I continued it.

In July the bf and I went to a baseball game for his birthday. I decided to "cheat" and eat earlier since it was a special occasion. (The first one that came up since June.) Well, I ate some chicken fingers and felt awful the rest of the day. After that I've had no desire to cheat. I've gotten through every other special occasion including Thanksgiving without even WANTING to eat. And I only drink water and black coffee during the day.

It's also nice because most restaurants aren't open as late as I eat so I have to cook which means that the food is usually better for me. We sometimes have fast food (which is always open :rolleyes:), but only because the bf wants it. My body has figured out that since I'm only going to eat once a day it had better be FUEL. So my body craves healthier food now. There have even been times his fast food craving sounded downright gross to me, so I ate something else.

Just throwing that out there. I'm probably going to be scolded for sharing this, but it's working somehow. I weighed myself when I first joined 3FC in late September, but I have no idea what I weighed in June. I do know I was close to a 22 in jeans though, and now I'm wearing 14-16. I've lost a few pounds since September, just "not enough" so I haven't changed my ticker.

Sorry for the long post, but I felt I had to justify myself. The reason this ties in is because I mentioned it to a couple of different always skinny friends who I've seen TOTALLY pig out, like box-of-doughnuts-and-bucket-of-chicken-pig-out and they were like "Oh yeah, me too. I seldom eat until an hour or two before bed". I think we've been BSed our whole lives, ladies! :chin:

I think that this just proves, yet again, what we say around here at 3FC all the time...that everyone is different.

I have known many thinner folks who just eat less naturally, or self-regulate their intake better than I do...while they're eating the burger and fries at dinner, they're not eating much the rest of the day, or they're really really active and need the extra calorie intake to fuel that.

I have also known several thinner folks who eat as much food or more as I did at my heaviest weight. I've spent several days/weeks straight with these folks, so I saw what they were eating (one example is my step-father-in-law, who I've stayed with for a few weeks at a time), and it was easily 3000-4000 calories in an average day, more when something special was going on. These people were moderately more active than me at my heaviest (my SFIL walks the dogs each morning and did some yoga 3-4 times a week), but not enough to offset the intake by a mile.

There are many types of "naturally thin" people, each as unique as every one of us...All the more reason to remember that we're all experiments of one, and comparing to what other people do eat/can eat without gaining isn't productive. I know what I can eat without gaining, and I stick with that, no matter what other people can do.

I think that we have been conditioned not to realize
that eating throughout the day, whether 3 meals, or 3 meals 3 snacks etc. etc.
is a SOCIAL CUSTOM not a BIOLOGICAL NEED.

There's really no reason a person can't eat one meal a day.
There are research results out there saying one large meal is less healthy than 3 small ones, BUT....

There's a saying...when searching for an answer to a diet question, "follow the money".
The food industry has had a tremendous influence on our eating patterns, for MORE than 100 years.
It turns out that when we eat more frequently, profits of the food industry rise.
Nothing surprising about that.
Food Companies and Drug Companies fund Scientific Research projects
which are designed to increase profits.
Also, nothing surprising about that.

This was my point. One thin person describing his relationship to food (regardless of whether his assessment is accurate or not) has no bearing on the individuality of experience.

There was a recent study done that found that thin folks are just as unaware of their calorie intake and the calorie content of foods as fat people. Earlier studies have found that fat people tend to understimate the calories in high-calorie meals - but the recent study found that always-been-thin folks do the same thing (and with no significant difference as to the degree of error - the thin folks were off by just as many calories as the fat folks). So what?

There are fat folks who have a below average calorie level and an above average activity level, yet remain fat.

There are thin folks who have an above average calorie level and a below average activity leve, yet remain thin.

And there are many people in-between.

AND of all THOSE people, some are very aware of what and when they eat - their caloric intake/expenditure - and others not so much.

Again, so what?

That one thin guy doesn't eat all that much and exercises regularly - isn't really news to me. That he (erroneously) thinks he eats what and when he wants - or thinks that he "eats like a pig," again, not news. There's no reason to think this guy is typical (or atypical for that matter). It's just one of many possible variations.

All it "proves" is that he's no more aware of his eating/activity levels than many other people of various weights and habits.

This guys actual behavior makes more sense than his perceived behavior. That's true for many of us (thin and fat), there's no "news" there. But as to his actual behavior, again there's no "lesson" to take away, in that I've also known many people whose weight did NOT jive with their actual calorie/activity levels (on occasions of my spending enough time with them to be reasonable sure they weren't closet-eaters/purgers or sleep-joggers).

In essence personal experiences (except my own) have absolutely no bearing on what I need to do to lose weight and maintain the loss. In regards to weight, I've found that I don't benefit from comparing myself to others, and for that matter I don't benefit much from comparing myself to former versions of myself. It is what it is, and I have to deal with my current reality, the rest is trivia.

That some thin guy thinks he eats more and exercises less than he actually does, isn't really earth-shattering news to me. I could just as easily show you a thin person who really does have a much faster metabolism than his or her body weight would justify. Or a fat person who really does eat less and exercise more than his or her body weight would justify. I could show you people of all sizes who accurately assess their food/activity behavior - and the same for people unaware.

It also doesn't matter if I (erroneously, or rightly) believe that I am average or exceptional - neither changes the fact of what it is. Whether or not I believe I have a fast or slow metabolism (in comparison to other people), it doesn't change my metabolism. Again, it is what it is.

For myself, I do much better when I don't try to compare myself to someone else - especially an "average" that I have no way to determine - or change.

I think the point was not what people actually eat, but that what people report about their eating habits doesn't mean what we think it does. That we get ideas about what is normal because of what people say, or even what we see them do (at limited times), and it's not even accurate. However, I expect it's all balanced out by all the people who claim they just don't eat much, but they're a wee bit wrong about that. In other words, regardless of what people say about their eating, you probably can't put much stock in it, especially if you're not around them *a lot.*

On the other hand, the point is also true that it's kind of a moot point. It doesn't really matter much whether people report to us accurately, because even if they did, it tells us very little about what will work for us. Still, it takes away one more layer of misunderstanding.

Yes Julie. Exactly. THAT was my point. I've heard people describe how they perceive OTHERS eat, but to hear someone describe how they themselves eat and for it to be so inaccurate (to me anyway) is what I found interesting.

Myths I've heard in person from others. Funnily enough, they seem to be pretty commonly heard in this thread:

"I eat whatever I want" (thankfully I only want to eat lettuce but you don't need to know that)
"I eat like a PIG" (every so often, when I skip breakfast and lunch, maybe once a month, but you don't need to know that)
"I don't exercise" (but I never sit down all day and am always on the go)
"I never plan my meals" (but I am a marathon runner and balance my proteins/carbs/fat for training reasons, but you don't need to know that)
"My weight hasn't changed since High School cause I'm naturally thin" (and I weigh myself every day and cut back if I go more than 4 pounds above my usual weight, but you don't need to know that)

I spent alot of years being angry that I wasn't "normal" but I didn't really know what normal was. I knew what people who had a normal weight said it was. Today, I could care less about what others claim or do. I only care about what I do and what works for me. I know that what works for me might not work for others and I know that I could spend years trying to listen to everyone in the diet industry tell me what is best. I know I used to listen alot and just got confused and bogged down. I tend to listen to what has worked for others who actually have lost the weight and kept it off. The rest to me is just exagguration or rationalization of behaviours. There is alot of self-delusion on both ends of the BMI scale, ya know? (I'll save you all the aggravation of hearing the delusional stories my obese friends and family tell me about their eating habits and "reasons" for why they are in an unhealthy state!)

Sure, whatever works. But, by the same token, there is NOTHING wrong with eating 3 meals/3 snacks a day if that's what works. I get super hungry, to the point of dizziness (rarely), so I eat every 2-3 hours.

It has nothing to do with a social custom for me, that's what I like and it's what works for me. (my snacks are stuff like string cheese, or a piece of fruit). I get hungry, so I eat (biological need?). Plus, I looove eating. Love food, look forward to food. I wouldn't want to only eat one meal a day, because...I like to eat! I am the same person I have always been, just a slender version. I made a plan that fit me and what makes me happy.

Sorry to be so fussy, but I always hate it when someone makes a post that makes me sound like a freak. You want me to accept your plan, okay, I am pretty cool with everybody's journey. But, show the same respect!

Oh - and one more post to talk about my glamor-puss, always slender mother. Thin all her life, always moving, fidgety, smoker, about 115 lbs (5'4"). I have seen her put away amazing amounts of food. Her last visit, we went to the Original Pancake House she had 2 eggs benedict AND pancakes and ate everything (I had oatmeal, natch). But, she also forgets to eat or just has a handful of Crunch & Munch for dinner.

Here she is the previous trip, polishing off an entire plate of crepes.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pi...&id=1401845193

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pi...&id=1401845193

I hope I look so hot at sixy freaking four.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pi...&id=1401845193

Hopefully!

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pi...&id=1401845193

Maybe I've had a lot more experience with folks whose actions didn't reflect their statements on the subject, and maybe even also more experience with folks being disbelieved and accused of deception (or self-delusion) whose description of their situation turned out to be accurate and truthful. Maybe that's why I don't find it particularly interesting.

That some people lie, misrepresent or aren't self-aware of their behavior doesn't surprise me in the least. On any subject, I tend not to assume that someone is being completely honest and truthful (intentionally or not, with themselves or others), but I also likewise don't assume that a person's statements are inaccurate, either, without evidence.

When I've made either of those assumptions, I've often been proven wrong.

IMHO that sums up this thread in a nutshell. And if every person wrote down exactly what they ate and how they exercised or moved or whatever every day (like most of us do to some extent) most of them would be quite shocked at the difference between what they think they do and what they actually DO!

I eat 3 meals and 2 snacks every day or I get dizzy and trembly etc. but my DH tends to consume most of his calories at dinner. Neither one of us is wrong or right (though it does make meal planning a bit difficult :p).

Dagmar :cool:

My take-away from this was that perception of what and how much one eats can be way off reality. And, for myself I need to track and not depend on my self-perception.

And that's the truth. I read a study done with registered dietitians who were asked to track how much they were eating (sorry, I can't find the cite). And even when they tracked to the best of their ability, the pros underestimated their total calories by 20%. Most of us are off even more than that, I'd guess.

Our bodies and brains are all different and it's pretty useless to compare what people say they eat. Amanda summed it up best:

WTH is a "chicken bottom"????

Funny. I took it to mean the thigh and drumstick portion of a chicken.

You know how people "shadow" one another on the job, to learn what a particular job is like & how people get their work done? Well, I have done that with a "naturally thin" friend's eating, although I did it inadvertently.

A good friend of mine & I were attending an out-of-town wedding & were thrown in together for three straight days, during which we were rarely apart, due to having to share a guest room & a rental car & etc. We had a day away from the festivities during which we visited museums & saw a play together. We slept & ate at pretty much the same hours.

As always, when I travel, I brought healthy snacks -- nuts & fruit -- in case I got hungry between meals. But other than that, I decided I'd follow her schedule.

Oh, and with one other difference -- I exercised both mornings at the gym at my friend's apartment complex. An hour of cardio each day, plus weights one day & floor-mat exercises another day.

Let me tell you, I was ravenous half the time. My friend got by on very little food & sometimes left that unfinished. Most of the time, food seemed to be the furthest thing from her mind. Except when it came to the wedding dinner, when, unlike me, she drank her glass of champagne & ate a bit (though not even half) of the wedding cake. "Too sweet," she said. She thinks wedding cake is always too sweet.

It wouldn't have been too sweet for me, so I didn't even dare take a mouthful -- just ripped it up with a fork and pushed it aside firmly.

And when I got back from this vacation, I'd lost three pounds trying to adjust to her eating schedule. But I was on edge much of the time & feeling under-nourished.

I can't turn myself into her. She can't turn herself into me. We are like two different kinds of machines, performing different jobs, programmed differently. I concluded that I just have to find my own way. Which this thread just reinforces for me.

Love how you worded that, yes we are all unique individuals and what works for one, would rarely work for others.
Saef, everytime I see those eyes, I immediately think you are Jennifer Aniston by the way and wanted to tell you that! ~ wendalyn

My DH was part of a study when he had his cancer treatment. One day he was talking to one of the researchers about this study and asked about the statistics. The guy told him "don't worry about them. The only statistics you should care about are your own." This kind of sums up weight loss/eating as well. None of us can control anything beyone our own eating/exercising, and are results are as individual as we are. I would dearly love to be able to eat/have the metbolism/whatever that my DH does. He works hard to keep his weigh up to 140! :)

Since I have started recording what I eat, I am shocked at how many calories I was consuming. Yes, off more than that is probably true. I make a cheesecake on request, put it in a recipe analyzer, 531.9 calories! I have made this for over 25 yrs and had no idea. To me this summarizes the not knowing of my eating.

Very interesting thread.

Karen - which recipe analyser are you using?

I was just thinking about this perception thing in regards to myself. One time in particular comes to mind. It was last year and it was the holiday of Hanukah. Well I had two buffet type parties back to back. One was a big family party on a Saturday night followed by a big party at a friends house Sunday afternoon.

As many of you know, I look at my social calender for the month in advance and decide which events I will splurge at and which ones I won't. Well I decided to splurge at the Saturday night event, it was dinner time and the Sunday afternoon one was at an odd time - 3:00 and that's just how I decided to handle it.

Okay. Saturday night rolls around, I eat fairly well during dinner. Some salads, and a couple of sweet potato latkes (potato pancakes), which I had made myself and brought for the entire crowd. Well then my MIL brings out dessert. And I OVERindludged - waaay too much ice cream (when will I learn with that stuff?) AND apple pie AND if I recall correctly maybe even a couple of cookies or 3, or was it 4? My SIL's and nieces were looking at me like I was crazy. How in the world does this woman stay so slim eating like THAT??? Man, she's so lucky. Well I don't stay so slim eating like THAT. Because I eat like THAT rarely.


The next day, Sunday rolls around. After overindulging the night before, I'm really determined to keep my calories in check at this party, and given the off hour (3:00), I'm not that interested in eating anything much AT ALL. I walk in, there's pastas of all sorts - baked ziti, lasagna, fettuccine alfredo, cheese filled crepes, blueberry filled crepes with sour cream, thick dough-y homemade pizzas, bagels, all sorts of cheese-y quiches, homemade ENORMOUS chunky chocolate chip walnut cookies, fudge brownies, jelly donuts and oh gosh - so much more.

And then there I see it, and I'm good and happy - a GIGANTIC raw veggie platter. And I become good friends with it throughout the couple of hours that I was there for. Lots of celery sticks, cuke sticks, grape tomatoes. And everyone is just chowing down and I'm HAPPILY (though they didn't know it) chowing down on those celery sticks. And they're all looking at me thinking, poor Robin, no wonder she's so slim. She eats nothing but raw celery sticks, who wants to live like THAT? Well I don't live like THAT - very often. I eat a wonderful balanced, nutritious, delicious and voluminous diet.

I actually had a better time at party number two - the celery stick one. I was with people I haven't seen in a while and I greatly enjoyed their company and I felt elated by the fact that I adhered to my plan having ZERO feelings of deprivation.

Robin, I love this post ^^^.

I knew a man who could eat anything he wanted and was thin. The difference is, is that he didn't snack.....He just ate his meals....while they were big and loaded with all kinds of "bad" stuff....he never gained weight.

I also worked with a girl who was thin.....she could have a package of M&Ms at her desk all week....she didn't try to be thin she just didn't snack a lot. Also, her meals were small..but enough. She didn't overeat.

For me, the mindless snacking is what I was doing. Before I knew it...I would eat the whole package of M&Ms and almost didn't even know I did....cause I was distracted by TV, computer, etc. Being accountable for me is what I am working on...

recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-calculator.asp

Thank you.