Size, genetics and whether it's all our fault.

[OrmIrian]

How much importance does genetics play in your size(how fat you are, not build) as you age. It seems to me that the older I get the easier it is for me to keep weight off. I was expecting to end up like my mum - apple-shaped and increasingly big as the years go by. But it seems that I am taking more after my dad's family - tall, large built and quite slim. With no real attempt to do anything about it. And I've got friends who seem to get bigger as they age so that they resemble their mothers/fathers. Even though they don't eat hugely and take reasonable amounts of exercise.

Does it really make a difference? Or is it just down to your lifestyle.

Me too bink. Being the season of festive over-indulgence and all that Went out for a meal on Friday and I was the only woman drinking alcohol and actually eating the food with enjoyment. And was by far the slimmest.

Orm, I can't remember - off-hand - how many calories you're burning up with exercise; but clearly, you are. And it's working for you. And that's nice

I'm not sure, Ormirian, it depends how hard you are exercising.

I sometimes lose weight without changing food intake but only if I exercise 7-8 times a week for 30mins, proper exercise. Usually I'm too lazy, it's easier to eat a bit less instead.

Isn't it something like 200 calories for a 30 minute run, similar for a 30 min run or cycle ride? but it will depend how hard you are running or cycling or swimming. Uphill and faster, you'll burn more, etc.

I feel a bit of a fraud, am not actually an exercise freak but I do live in close proximity to a few massively energetic and health obsessed people, it rubs off on me.

I will look it up in the Big Book of Exercise and Food at work tomorrow

Ooh does that work fennel? In that case I might find a lovely gym instructor to shag. Waddya reckon ?

After I've eaten some of the rather fabulous butterscotch banana cake the Inferiorettes and I made this afternoon.

Shag energetically, obviously.

According to mapmyrun I burn nearly 900 cals for my mid-pace 7 mile run. But I find that a bit hard to beleive.

Also, Ormirian, maybe it's your size. If you are 5ft11, then you're going to be taller (and presumably heavier without being fat) than most women, so could eat and drink more than the average woman.

Well, you're burning them somehow, so I'd believe if I were you. 'Tis the season for belief, and all that.

I know I should take up running.

700 calories per run is impressive, maybe that does explain why you can lose weight "just" by exercising.

and probably my shagging these days uses up about 2 calories, minus the 3 large glasses of wine to get me in the mood.

Sorry, 900. Even more impressive.

Hello Orm. How you doing?

I think it's mainly lifestyle with some genetics thrown in. dh's family are all big and despite doing lots of exercise and eating fairly healthily he is heavier than average for his height.. He ran a 3 hr 35 marathon at 13 and a half stone (he's only 5ft 9).

I also think that on the whole people underestiamte just how much exercise they need to do (and how hard they need to work) to lose weight (or in my case maintain). This 30 minutes 3x a week is bollocks IMO. If you do nothing it's a good place to start but in reality it ain't enough.

I'm on the fence re metabolism as you get older.At 45 I'm doing no less exercise now than I was 5 years ago but I'm having trouble maintaining my weight. I've all but given up the booze and that has made a difference. I'm definitely changing shape too.

900 is impressive Orm. I estimate than an hour cardio usually burns me maybe 600.

I think it's mostly genetics. I have a huge appetite ( actually embarrassing at times)and am small.

I don't think I've lost an ounce since I started cycling like a maniac! I reckon we are as we are and a certain amount depends on outside influences. If we are ill, our apetite may be effected. If our energy levels are low, we may eat more to compensate. Pregnancy of course changes things dramatically for some of us . I don't find alcohol makes much difference to my weight.

I think my mum is tiny because she spends much of her life in constant anxiety, and my father cooks disgusting food. She's always been skinny though.

It is genetics mrsruffallo (I am like you), but also it is lifestyle and food. I think we all eat a lot more than people did 50 years ago - not so much at mealtimes but with the constant grazing and access to snack food. And even with regular exercise I bet most of us don't burn off the calories like a 50s housewife, washing everything by hand and on her hands and knees scrubbing all day, plus walking to the shops every day etc.

Christalmighty, neither of my grandmothers spent their days on their knees scrubbing!

But neither did they spend hour after hour sitting in front of a computer screen MI. Even the well-off in my grandmother's era who had household staff moved more than the average office worker does now.

I think genetics play a huge part, I eat loads of junk, don't exercise much and am petite/slim. My Dad is slim my Mum isn't.

But most people's Grandmothers probably did, MI. Unless they were the filthy slattern sort

I'm pretty sure (like MI) that neither of my grandmothers ever scrubbed a floor except perhaps in extreme circumstances. But even supervising the women who were scrubbing the floor and doing a bit of flower arranging would be more exercise than wasting time communicating with friends on MN.

I reckon lack of central heating and transport made the biggest difference.

Be interesting to see what happens with the next generation too - whether dd goes the way of her paternal aunts (fairy slips as children, rubenesque+ as adults) or mine (gamine) and what on earth ds (currently channelling bullock, but much taller than dh's family's norm) will end up like.