How come some people do not gain substantially by eating carbohydrates and sugar?

(Danielle ) #1

Hi there,

I have a lot of friends that consume substantial amounts of carbohydrates, such as crisps, cookies, pizza, bread, et cetera, every day. One of them are basically underweight and the other two thin. I have seen two of them getting a tiny belly, but nothing serious. After cutting down some snacking and exercising a bit more their tummy is flat again.

This makes it very hard for me to explain for them why I am fasting, and why I am cutting down carbohydrates to lose weight. I think they believe I have been eating gross amounts of candy and donuts, which I have never done.

My spouse is the thin type, and he only does ketogenic now, and he is seeing benefits like muscle gain, more hair growth, less pale skin and more energy and mental clarity.

However, I still can’t get my head around how they can eat like this. It is McDonalds always every day and just junk food and sugary beverages. Is it because they are still young? They are between 21-25? Are they “lucky”? Am I faulty?

(Ethan) #2

If you have a good metabolism without insulin resistance, you won’t be as likely to gain weight when eating carbs.

(TJ Borden) #3

Well I suppose the first, and main point, is being thin doesn’t mean someone is healthy. Search the forum for TOFI. Obesity is a marker of metabolic issues, but that doesn’t mean someone that appears thin isn’t having the same issues happening on the inside, in fact it can almost be worse because there’s a perception that they are perfectly healthy if they appear thin.

There’s also an element of evolution that plays into it. Some people can handle the SAD because their bodies have adapted better to it. Evolutionarily speaking, if we continued the SAD un-checked, those of us that can’t handle the refined and processed sugar would die off and those that could would continue to adapt and at some point would be able to survive on a pure sugar and starch diet just fine. It would probably take hundreds, if not thousands, of years to get to that point.

(Bunny) #4

Two factors:

  1. Gut flora biome ratios

  2. Epigenetics (your are what your ancestors ate?)

(Empress of the Unexpected) #5

Yes, all of the above, plus they are young. I only started having a weight issue in my early fifties. Everyone in my family starts out thin.

(Omar) #6

insulin resistance can start 20 years before causing t2d

(TJ Borden) #7

My little brother was that way. I was always jealous because he was…well not skinny, but not fat, until his mid 20s, whereas I was over 200lbs by the 6th grade.

I’m working on him to follow keto since I want him to be around for my nieces, but a do take a little joy knowing that within the next year or so, I’ll be smaller than than he is for the first time in our lives.

(Empress of the Unexpected) #8

That’s it-a picture is worth a thousand words. Hope your brother starts Keto.

(TJ Borden) #9

Once I’m smaller than he is, I don’t think he’ll have a choice. His Father-in-law has also been doing it for almost a year and reversed T2D and is completely off insulin, with a 40lb weight loss as a fringe benefit.

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #10

I was able to eat anything in any amount and not gain weight until my mid-twenties, when it all changed, and the fat started to show.

Dr. Phinney estimates that about 20% of the population is carbohydrate tolerent and can eat all they want (I suspect, for various reasons, that too much sugar would still be a problem for them, however). I am definitely a member of the 80%!

(Linda) #11

This chart from Dr. Lustig is quite informative. Note that there are more metabolically unhealthy thin people than fat ones.

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#12

I don’t think we are faulty :smile: but I think its a ton of different factors that make perfect storms.

I know people whom are 40 and never became overweight their entire lives and eat the worst possible diet and have no medical issues.

And then there are people whom have to try really really really hard.

Factors that can be contributing that I have noted:

  • DNA markers
  • Palate from birth to age 4
  • Epigentics
  • Gut flora
  • Insulin response to foods

Anecdotal evidence:
Husband and I both mapped our DNA and our markers for fat, metabolism, T2D, etc are very very different from each other.

My husband can eat higher level of carbs like around 60 to 80 and never leave ketosis. (blood ketone level 0.5 and greater)

If I eat just 25 carbs I am almost knocked out. (below 0.5)

He feels awful when eating high fat but amazing when eating fruits. He also hates the taste of fatty food.

Fruits make me feel awful and I crave fatty food above all else.

He has remained skinny his whole life until we had a kid and he gained some dad weight but its falling off of him by just cutting back on calories…seems like the calorie type doesn’t even matter he just cuts back and weight falls off.

Last opinion; if I just eat what I crave regardless of diet, I have always craved fat, meat, eggs and dark greens. (when I am not in a sugar cycle because of western diet packaged foods)

When being stuck in a sugar cycle where something in my gut flora is screaming for some sugar so it can live I eat the world of things and still not feel “satisfied”.

(Danielle ) #13

Interesting points!

According to studies the “fast/slow-metabolism theory” hasn’t been supported. If that is what you mean with “good” metabolism? Or did I misunderstand?

I completely agree that many people are unaware what happens on the inside of it isn’t visible on the outside. For instance, as I said my spouse had issues with energy, and other things, which was solved with the ketogenic diet.

Another thing I have noticed is that my friends, all of them, always are hungry, and get dips in mood and energy several times throughout the day. Many of them have asthma, panic disorders, take anxiety pills regularly, and so on. One of my friends, the really thin one looks very pale, very thin hair, thinning eyebrows and she is taking loads of medication as well for asthma, adhd, anxiety and some others. I feel like she is “aging” very rapidly. She is now 25. I have told her to consider changing to a better lifestyle pattern, as she only eats takeaway and drinks alcohol everyday, however she is always very lazy and tired. Hurts me to see her changing like this physically and having all the issues inside, and not doing anything about it.

Could these things be connected with carbohydrates and sugar consumption?

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #14

They certainly are the sorts of things that improved in my life when I eliminated sugar and most carbohydrate.

(Danielle ) #15

This is so interesting! If I could afford it (both me and my spouse are graduates) I would love to do a DNA test!

My spouse has always been thin, and he tried to do everything to gain weight. He ate large portions of pasta and everything. I have never seen anyone eating as much as him. He was late in puberty, problems with some depression in the teens, and energy. Constantly tired and needed naps during the day. He was pale, skinny and he didn’t have a lot of body hair. However, when he stopped eating sugar and carbs all these stuff improved. Energy, and skin colour is more “healthy” looking, also his acne disappeared and he started growing more body hair. He is so happy he is finally building muscle. He loves the food on ketogenic with all the fat and cheese and bacon and eggs, et cetera. He also seems to go into ketosis very fast and stay there, like your spouse!

#16

So fast!! Also mine has like no body hair. He doesn’t have to shave except once every two weeks because so little hair growth.

Sign up for 23andMe notifications, twice a year they sell the kit for around $30 dollars instead of $99

#17

Just want to highlight this so it doesn’t get lost. So important!

(Danielle ) #18

I live in the UK! :slightly_frowning_face: Maybe I can find something similar here!

It is just so funny how we can be so different from our spouses, although we both thrive on low-carb/ketogenic.

#19

It can be ordered anywhere. I am not sure how much it is in EUR. You get mailed a kit and deposit saliva and then mail it back and get your full genome.

Also, you only need the ancestry version, do not upgrade to health version. I will edit this post and put all of the free websites that you can use that analyze your genome.

(Danielle ) #20

I agree! So important, my spouses father was also always thin, he now have several issues, where one is a chronic mysterious pain and numbness in the leg (maybe diabetes?).