What Actually Makes Naturally Thin People Thin
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We all have skinny people in our social circle who seem like they can eat whatever they want and never gain weight.
Although there are tons of opinions about why exactly thin people are thin, we’ve decided to ask someone who will actually know the answer – a scientist in human biology, Dr. Zachary Evans.
And he not only provided a clear answer but also gave a bulletproof solution to tackle excess weight and become leaner and healthier safely – with a science behind it.
“So, what is it that makes naturally thin people thin?”
As a doctor and scientist, I see a lot of conflict about the eating habits of thin people.
We assume that they eat healthily on most days or are very active.
However, it’s often a misconception.
Thin people are thin not necessarily because they eat less.
Overweight people have excess weight not necessarily because they eat too much.
There is something else.
Our thin friends order takeaways, drink sugary drinks and are not hesitant to have some wine or beer when they get home from work every day. Just like everyone else!
So HOW on earth do they manage to stay thin?
Answer 1: Our slim friends sometimes do consume fewer calories throughout the day. They will have pizza for lunch but will skip dinner, for example.
They might also be more active, not necessarily by going to the gym daily, but by walking more, being fidgety, parking a car further from the shop… But it’s just a small number of them.
Answer 2: It may sound difficult, but bear with me if you struggle to lose weight!
Thin people have an active enzyme that regulates metabolism and is often not activated (although there are ways to “fire it up”) in overweight and obese people.
It’s called an AMPK (5′ AMP-activated protein kinase), an energy sensor within our bodies.
If activated, this enzyme stimulates metabolism, improves insulin sensitivity, decreases inflammation, and improves muscle performance.1
AMPK is also involved in several longevity pathways and may promote healthy aging.2
Because of AMPK, thin people have a faster metabolism, an answer to why they eat what they eat and are still slim, yet others eat the same thing and wake up 2 pounds heavier the following day.
If you want a faster metabolism, lose pounds, and improve your health, pay close attention to this next part to find out how you can fire up your AMPK.
AMPK is emerging as one of the most promising targets for preventing and treating major chronic diseases, such as obesity, inflammation, and diabetes.3
Good news, ANYONE can activate it (!), thus improving metabolism, which can mean you eat the same amount of food, but you’re dropping weight!
Here are the 3 common ways to activate an AMPK (use at least one of the methods below to activate it!)
High-intensity exercise
It includes running, speed walking, climbing stairs, jumping rope, and many more. Although for a beginner, it is always safer to work out with a trainer and start at a lower pace to avoid injury.
Pros and Cons
Unfortunately, high-intensity training is not immediately possible for everyone, especially if they’re already fighting the excess pounds. Yet exercise is widely accepted as one of the best ways to improve health and activate the AMPK.
Ice baths
Emerging into the cold seems to have gained more attention recently, as it is beneficial if done safely.
Pros and Cons
Ice baths have been shown to activate AMPK in tests with rodents. No studies on humans have been done yet, but considering how similarly we react to stimulus, this might also have the same effect on people.
So if you’re comfortable with the cold, consult your physician and try this method out.
Guided intermittent fasting (not a starvation diet!)
I can’t express this enough. I’ve seen many people fail their intermittent fasting journeys because they limit themselves to the minimum, thinking they should starve to get the results.
To activate the AMPK through intermittent fasting, a person should never decrease the amount of food drastically.
Instead, they should follow a personalized fasting approach. It also eliminates worries like tracking, looking for healthy recipes, calculating, and many others.
For healthy weight loss and improved metabolism, it is essential to follow a personalized approach to fasting.
What eating window suits you best to lose weight and activate AMPK?
My patients often ask me to create fasting programs for them, which I sometimes do.
But if I don’t have time to create a custom fasting plan for them, I recommend completing a short and free DoFasting quiz.
And I advise my patients to use this app because it’s personalized and includes features that are vital for maximum weight loss results by activating an AMPK.
It is also very similar to what I sometimes create for my patients.
Can the amazing transformation be just one quiz away?
For anyone who doesn’t want to minimize their food intake or bathe in ice-cold water to speed up their metabolism and lose weight – personalized intermittent fasting is the way to go.
In the science community, we love to say that AMPK through intermittent fasitng is a guardian of metabolism and a weight loss accelerator.
Imagine eating the same amount of food but still losing weight!
Take this free intermittent fasting quiz to see predictions on how fast you can start losing weight (improve your AMPK levels) and get your own personalized fasting app! Click below for a free quiz!
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Fasting or getting hungry for certain 3-5 hours works for me.. I'm slim healthy and being selective I go for organic and white meat for less fats. Processed foods increase my weight.
I do saunas followed by ice bath, but I’m finding that adding apple cider vinegar to my routine is really helping. Maybe not for excess pounds, but definitely for the bloat.
Fasting works well for me and what makes it easier is that I was never a breakfast eater, so from 7pm to 12pm the next day I fast and I have the same weight as I had in my 20s, without depriving myself that much. I do exercise with weights 10-15 minutes a day, I also do enjoy golfing and biking regularly. I’m 66,...
Fasting works well for me and what makes it easier is that I was never a breakfast eater, so from 7pm to 12pm the next day I fast and I have the same weight as I had in my 20s, without depriving myself that much. I do exercise with weights 10-15 minutes a day, I also do enjoy golfing and biking regularly. I’m 66, soon 67 and great!!
Being overweight doesn’t mean you eat too much now. You may have stabilized at this weight. It does mean at some point you were consuming too much! You gained the weight by over eating. Sorry. And it’s hard to lose now because you have to maintain a calorie deficit for a substantial amount of time which is hard! You get hungry !
I have been intermittent fasting for a while 16/8 and I lost weight so quickly I can’t believe how fast it is falling off and I am in my 50s. I eat in my window what I want and within reason but enjoy the odd dessert and have pizza if I fancy, mixed with healthy choices and incorporate yoga and walking. Dropped 10lbs so...
I have been intermittent fasting for a while 16/8 and I lost weight so quickly I can’t believe how fast it is falling off and I am in my 50s. I eat in my window what I want and within reason but enjoy the odd dessert and have pizza if I fancy, mixed with healthy choices and incorporate yoga and walking. Dropped 10lbs so far and still losing.
I am a 30 years old man and i am 1.80 m long. I have had the same kg since high school which is 52 kg, I went so many doctors and dieticians but i have not gained even a gram. I wanted to gain weight hence i have been over eating for years, i even deliberately lead a sedentary lifestyle. But nowdays I...
I am a 30 years old man and i am 1.80 m long. I have had the same kg since high school which is 52 kg, I went so many doctors and dieticians but i have not gained even a gram. I wanted to gain weight hence i have been over eating for years, i even deliberately lead a sedentary lifestyle. But nowdays I am accepting my body as is. But this article have given me some insight into wants going on in my body. Thanks
I have always been fat because of metabolism and hormones, but I never believed in intermittent diets. I could try
This is so true! It’s so simple, but we over complicate it don’t we! Haha intermittent fasting has changed my life, I’m not strict with it, but it’s allowed me to skip meals if I’ve eaten too much at breakfast or lunch and not live by the ‘having to have breakfast, lunch and dinner everyday’ theory.
Interested to hear more.
I’ve been doing intermittent eating all my life. It’s not true that helps to loss weight. I’m stuck 84 kg and can’t pass the 80kg Sadly can do more. Have and stricter diet and nothing helps
I am too thin and want to gain weight, how to deactivate AMPK a little? :)
It's was so nice to learn something new
As a French person who is also thin while eating whatever I want I agree with this article. One main key is fasting. I don’t fast but I follow my French habits of having 3 meals a day with 0 snacking. It’s similar to fasting without the constraints. North American are just too often used to snack and eat all day long. The best...
As a French person who is also thin while eating whatever I want I agree with this article. One main key is fasting. I don’t fast but I follow my French habits of having 3 meals a day with 0 snacking. It’s similar to fasting without the constraints. North American are just too often used to snack and eat all day long. The best example is airports in North America and Europe. Even for a 2 hours flights North American can’t help themselves but get chips and over unhealthy stuff. I’m Europe we would not eat anything assuming we ate the meal before and we will eat the meal later. We also have stronger tolerance to being hungry. If we are hungry but it’s mid day, we are used and ok waiting dinner to eat as opposed to North America where one cannot pursue his activities if he is hungry, and must instantly eat something. And yes if you grab a iced coffee mid afternoon full of sugar, you’re not fasting.
Wow! You really made intensive training attractive!
Thank you for this article. I’m naturally thin. I eat what I like when I like. But love going to the gym. I’m always on the go. Struggle to just sit quietly. But like overweight people, thin people get critizied about their size too. I’ve had lots of horrid comments said to me at step class, gym session, saying I’m going to be ill...
Thank you for this article. I’m naturally thin. I eat what I like when I like. But love going to the gym. I’m always on the go. Struggle to just sit quietly. But like overweight people, thin people get critizied about their size too. I’ve had lots of horrid comments said to me at step class, gym session, saying I’m going to be ill by not eating and exercising too much. Little do they know. I go home, eat biscuits, toast, coffee. Even out and about people can comment telling me ‘can’t see you if you stand behind a lamp post. I can’t stand being outfaced by a huge plate of food; I eat a little but often. I get hungry quickly. But now after your article instead of being hurt by remarks I’ll quote your article so many thanks.
The article explains why I am this thin.
I am 52
Began 16/8 intermittent fasting in 2018. I was 65. My jogging time was a consistent 25:00. First day, jogging at hour 15, felt a tiny bit stronger and faster from the beginning. My time was 23:00. No way!!! Must have made a mistake. Two days later. At hour 15 once again, 23:10. It was not a mistake. And over the course of the next...
Began 16/8 intermittent fasting in 2018. I was 65. My jogging time was a consistent 25:00. First day, jogging at hour 15, felt a tiny bit stronger and faster from the beginning. My time was 23:00. No way!!! Must have made a mistake. Two days later. At hour 15 once again, 23:10. It was not a mistake. And over the course of the next 9 months it dropped all the way down to 21:00. INTERMITTENT FASTING.
Wow, this is such an eye-opening story! I’ll give the app a go because I want to lose fat and just be healthier for my family, but I just don’t know where to start. Wish me luck! :D
Eating food because it is fun ->stretched stomach->harder to get full->more food eaten and more time spent eating. I was fat for most of my life, but that is no longer the case. Doctors blamed my hormone levels and genetics and whatever else. Now I fast and eat at the right time.
Food is addictive, and it's hard for so many people to recognize that and break away from it, especially since it's everywhere. But fasting works. I also used the app to learn how to fast correctly. I noticed that I eat the same amount of food, but at the right time, and I’m losing weight. Great article!
Want to try intermittent fasting
Thanks