How do you know if you have a slow or fast metabolism? There are a lot of advice about what to eat and what not to eat in order to stay at a healthy weight, but each person has a different metabolism, right? So how come we all are supposed to eat the same way in order to lose weight? Has anybody heard of the "metabolic type diet"?

Also, I am a bit at lost with all the fuss around carbs and grains: rice and pasta are supposed to play a role in gaining or losing weight, but half of the planet has a diet solely based on white rice and they are far from being overweight (I am thinking Southeast Asia in particular). Are genetics a big part of the equation ?

Thanks!

I understand what you're saying completely. Remember the saying "You are what you eat"? Well, toss that saying out and change it to:

"You are with what you do with what you eat"

Sure, we can all eat the same way (healthwise), but we are talking "quantity" now, and not just quality. We're talking portion size. It's all about HOW MUCH you eat. This is about daily caloric intake. Obviously a person with a slower metabolism will only need to injest a low calorie diet, where as a person with a faster metabolism can get away with consuming a diet higher in calories. You're right in saying that genetics can play a role in what type of metabolism you have. Lifestyles and exercise programs can be a differenciating factor as well.. . a person who sits behind a desk all day doesn't need as many calories as a construction worker who digs trenches all day... a person who exercises as opposed to someone who doesn't... a powerlifter as compared to a cross trainer.

Your example about Southeast Asians... Far from being overweight? Have you heard of a sumo wrestler? It's all about portion size. Those dudes eat rice and carbs too, except they eat BUCKETS of it. They fight their metabolism to gain weight...

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Originally Posted by MassNutrition

Your example about Southeast Asians... Far from being overweight? Have you heard of a sumo wrestler?? It's all about portion size. Those dudes eat rice and carbs too, except they eat BUCKETS of it. They fight their metabolism to gain weight...

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Thanks for the answer MassNutrition. Well, yes, I know about the Sumos and it's taking it to the extreme. Of course if you pig out you're sure to gain weight! You've got to admit though that being overweight is more of a western problem than an eastern one.. . My point was that starch and carbs are usually blamed for weight intake, when obviously it's the staple in many other countries (I mean white bread in France, pasta in Italy, rice in Asia and also Africa) where the average person is slimmer than the average American. I agree though that quantities are a big part of the problem, although if you only eat even small amount of junk food all the time, I wonder what would happen...

But I am also interested in the metabolic typing diet which takes into consideration your blood type and your individual reaction to certain food. Some people will strive with carbs and may actually lose weight, when others will bloat like crazy! This all makes much more sense to me and I was wondering if anybody else had heard or tried this.

In most of Asia, people walk or ride bicycles. In Europe, the mass transit actually serves most of the masses, so they do plenty of walking from the bus or train stop to their workplace. In American big cities, mass transit frequently works. Where Americans must get into a car to do their grocery shopping, they tend to be fatter than city dwellers. That addresses activity levels, not carbs though.

America is fast food heaven. I think adding fat to the carbs is a contributing factor of the American weight problem. There are those who have faulty carbohydrate metabolism. A moderately active woman on a 1200 calorie diet may not lose weight. If she cuts carbs out or reduces them and continues to consume 1200 calories/day, she definitely loses weight. American kids are getting progressively fatter. Don't wonder why, just look at the activity and food intake. America is having a Diabetes type 2 boom, hmmm.

Electronics, cars and fast food. We want it all, and we want it now. And we're getting it. Vegetables and grain grown in the US are far less nutritious that it was in 1950. We have depleted the soil of nutrients.

Genetics? There are some families who's members always get fat, or never. Some of it can be explained by eating habits, but not all.

Metabolism is different for everybody, some are slow and some are fast. As long as your eating healthy and exercising you should see a healthy body, this means smaller portions of whole grains, wheat breads, cereals, pasta and cereals, fruits, veggies and lean meats a serving is 3 oz. for protein. Our foods are loaded with sugar and we are king of the fast food breakfast and lunches, so comparing people throughout the world... Most European people bike and walk, and don't sit in front of computers and TV as long as Americans. And people in general, throughout the world are heavier then people 20-40 years ago. Generics play a part but it's not written in stone if your have heavy folks you will be, I come from overweight parents and have never had a problem with my weight, but I also changed my diet from my parents type diets, which was high in fats and processed foods.