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Interesting fact...
I was reading an article on MSN News about children inheriting things from their genetic parents. It points out how both environment and genetics affect how we turn out, however, some things are very very much at the mercy of genetics, while some genetic things can be easily counter-acted.
Here is the list the article gave:
Strongly Genetic
- Height
- Body fat
- Fingerprint ridge count
- Depression
- Epilepsy (some forms)
- Cystic fibrosis
- Type 2 diabetes
Moderately Genetic
- Blood pressure
- Maximum heart rate
- Cleft lip/palate
- IQ
- Shyness
- Temperament
- Memory
- Diet preferences
- Type 1 diabetes
Notice anything particular? Like the body fat one? What it basically means, is that overweight people are pretty much NEVER overweight by choice. If their family has an active lifestyle growing up, it will help counteract it, but their genetics will always play an enemy. Now overtime, I suppose one could raise their metabolism to the point of where it will effectively remove fat content pretty well, but unless the person maintains that level of metabolism in some way, it will diminish back down and weight gain will begin again.
This also explains why some skinny people who aren't active and eat a lot stay skinny. Their genetics don't let them gain weight very well. (My roommate has this problem. If he doesn't eat enough, he will actually lose weight. He's 9 lbs. underweight right now.)
My genetics kinda got the better of me you might say. When I was an active kid back in the day, I had an average body. Now that I'm not active, I'm roley-poley.
I'm trying to limit my eating to only mealtimes, and focusing on the healthy foods. I'm not always A+ on what I eat, but I'm trying to change it more. I know it's making me healthier, but I have no idea if it's doing anything for my weight. -_-
I suppose I could attempt Atkins more. Which means cut out all carbs from anything that is primarily carbs. Just take in the carbohydrates from foods like veggies, fruits, and proteins. Since I'm not running 10 miles everyday, I really don't need the extra carbs from breads n' stuff.
In general, people will try to say the Atkin's Diet is horrible. When it's done improperly, it is. But everyone has this idea that the diet is bad because it's all about protein and you can get heart disease. This is NOT the case. Atkins focuses on limiting the intake of carbohydrate-quick-energy. For those who don't live active lifestyles, any carbs taken in just turn into stored fat, because they are not burning the immediate fuel. At this point, the individual really has two choices.
1.) Stop eating carbohydrates.
2.) Start burning off the carbohydrates.
For some, it's easier to make a need for something. For others, it's easier to stop using something you don't need.
http://lifestyle.msn.com/familyandparent
Yes- the fact of the matter is regardless of whether it's desirable or not to be lean or plump (depending on your culture), that people are born with a propensity to different metabolic profiles. This is just as true as having behavioral predilections, such as sexual orientation (though due to social rhetoric discussion on a number of points in this vein are controversial, though generally not so much scientifically as socially). As you say, it seems most useful to think of us as having a metabolic "equilibrium" point, seeing as equilibriums can shift (like a pH buffer).
People will say that *any* diet will not work- the litmus test for this, in terms of weight status, is ultimately what it's going to do for your caloric intake over the long term. People who say that a particular diet doesn't work fail to interpret good plans this way ("I can eat whatever I want and still lose weight"), and where the plan is bad, it's because the diet essentially constitutes starvation of some essential dietary need.
All things considered, your interpretation of how Atkins can be effective is pretty much the way to go. There is just one note: naturally one shouldn't expect to entirely stop eating carbohydrates, as your body needs some assistance in maintaining its blood glucose level. Not eating sufficient carbohydrates to fulfill your daily metabolic requirements will inevitably result in some form of toxic effect as burning fat is not the body's idea of easy fuel (hence why losing bodyfat can be so arduous). It is also good to keep your digestive processes active with (a proper amount of) complex carbs, which will also keep your insulin levels steady and are better at sustaining you for longer.
Again, ultimately it all absolutely boils down to how much you put in. Calorie counting seems to be an essential part of diet management, and anybody who thinks otherwise is probably going to have a hard time getting what they want.