I think the fact that a) people can weigh 500lbs and b) people can die from anorexia proves that of course set point theory is not the be all and end all but that most people to have a genetically or environmentally (let's not get into a silly nature vs. nurture debate because they interact) set weight range. Obviously if you eat a ton or eat a very little you will break out of that range.
I think in the process of weight loss, it has more to do with the body getting used to certain patterns. Same exercise, same foods, that kind of thing. Once the body figures out the routine, it knows how to do what it wants to do, which is maintain weight. I find that shaking things up as far as exercise or trying new foods always helps.
I think that there is something to the theory, but whether it's genetically encoded or whether it's psychological -- it exists.
Right now, my body doesn't want to get back 160. I've been going from 161 to 165 for the last three months.
Is a physical thing? I don't know, I do have PCOS, maybe it's that. Is it what I'm eating? I'm trying to change that right now to see if it gets affected. Is it psychological? Then again, I haven't been below 160 in a decade or more.
But I do think there's something there and my philosophy has been, so far, that maybe the body just needs a little time to stay at this weight before it can continue pushing on down. I tell my body, when I remember, "It's okay, body, I'm not starving you, I'm not hurting you, we just need to reach a normal weight range so the doctors stop complaining."
JohnP no offense taken! that was an interesting point. I've lost all my weight on the stationary bike and Jillian Michaels DVDs. Just started couch to 5k and loving it. Hoping the change will help too
Rana I'm thinking the same thing, your body gets to a point where it may need to stay there for a bit before it can lose again
Wicked I'm changing up my exercise, so I hope that works. Also inclined to believe that our bodies get used to the same thing over and over again. Like, I'm a server, and all the running around used to allow me to eat more, but after years of working there it doesn't seem to count anymore
I always wondered about the set point theory. I didn't watch what I ate, but I exercised and I maintained in the 190-200 range for several years. I don't know how much I was eating, but by my estimates I should have probably weighed a lot more, even when taking my activity level into account.
I don't know if my body settled at that weight (which I lost somewhere around 20-30lbs to get to) or if I just happened to be eating enough to maintain and I have a faster metabolism or something
During my weight loss I did get stuck for a short period of time at two different points (170 and 136) but never for more than a month. After that I continued to lose at a steady rate.
Yeah I know what you mean. For months of not working out and eating almost everything I wanted I still hovered in the 170s, and now I'm working out, dieting, and I still seem stuck. Don't get me wrong, I'm not looking to make excuses. I'm sure I need to workout a bit more the closer i get to goal, but seeing that so many people get stuck around a certain number or range makes me feel better because I feel like my body isn't failing me. I also don't feel like I'm failing anymore. It seems to happen to more than I thought, and it also seems like a lot of people break out of it by just doing what they had been doing. Thanks everyone!!!
that was an interesting point. I've lost all my weight on the stationary bike and Jillian Michaels DVDs. Just started couch to 5k and loving it. Hoping the change will help too
