Is the key to weight loss eating like a man?

Posted on Aug 8th 2007 8:10PM by Martha Edwards

Filed Under: Diet & Weight Loss, Men's Health

My partner, Jon, seems to live on things that I hardly ever allow myself to eat -- instant ramen noodles (two packages at a time), pizza, Chinese food, convenience store hoagies, triple-patty bacon cheeseburgers, meatball subs ... you get the picture. The only time he eats healthy is when I cook for him. And yet he never gains weight while I have trouble losing one pound. It's frustrating at the best of times, and I'm sure everyone knows a man like that, who can eat without abandon and not gain an ounce.

But the secret to men's diet's isn't what they're eating, according to this article. It's how they eat. Think about it -- when a man is frustrated or upset, does he reach for the ice cream? No, but I sure do. Men, particularly my man, eat when they're hungry and stop when they're full. It's as simple as that. Though that doesn't mean we have the go-ahead to eat like Jon as long as we stop when we're full -- he is extremely active so that contributes to his lean physique.

I think this makes a lot of sense -- don't you?

Source

17 Comment

Tags: diet, eating, emotional, full, hungry, jon, meat

Around the Web

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Theodosia 8-14-2007 @ 12:17PM

What men have to realize is that women must diet and exercise to keep their weight down. Women cannot get enough intensity from regular household activity to keep their weight down, so men have to learn to be supportive and help women make time for exercise. Also, men have to be supportive about not demanding that women cook for them or go to restaurants, barbecues, tailgates, etc. They have to realize the work it takes for a woman to stay in shape. They have to care enough about their partner's health to really make some sacrifices and put some serious time into supporting the woman's efforts to keep her weight down.

EW 8-14-2007 @ 11:45AM

Yes it seems true..... women eat when they are upset not when they are hungry.... Doesnt look like guys eat because they are upset..... and women seem to have a harder time keeping weight off once its gone. Many guys are big bellied.....because of too much beer

Tim 8-14-2007 @ 8:28AM

Theodosia, men have do this and do that and they have realize this and then support that. GET OFF YOUR FAT ASS AND MOVE then QUIT STUFFUNG YOUR FACE. Thats it............

Chris 8-14-2007 @ 11:44AM

The key to your man's equation: "he is extremely active."

I have lost 60 pounds in the last two years by burning calories through bicycling. I have become more mindful of what I consume, but early on, I made two important decisions:
1) I refuse to eliminate foods and drinks I enjoy.
2) I refuse to feel guilty about anything I consume.

I especially enjoy two items which would be considered taboo for most diets - chocolate and Coca-Cola. A day hasn't passed since I started my weight-reduction program (NOT a diet), that I haven't had some chocolate and at least 16 ozs of coke.

But, I have ridden my bike faithfully during that entire time - that's the difference!

The only calories I count are those that I burn, and I only do that after a particularly long ride.

I feel better, I look better, and ALL my vitals are better. Pulse is down, blood pressure is down, cholestoral is down, triglycerides are down. ENERGY IS UP!!!

The Tampa Tribune did a story about my weight loss success. If you're interested, you can read it here:
http://www.tbo.com/life/health/MGBX0ZYZC4F.html

If you want to contact me directly, my e-mail is:
CLauberFL@aol.com

Mark Claytor 8-14-2007 @ 11:44AM

Theodosia's comments seem to imply that it's a man's "fault" for a woman not being able to lose weight and it's a matter of men understanding and being "supportive"; BULLSHIT!

Any woman has to accept responsibility for her own weight and physical health and deal with it. The easy way is to blame someone else for your own personal problem.

Dot 8-14-2007 @ 11:39AM

NO, IT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE. IF MEN CONSUME 3500 CALORIES A DAY FROM EATING CRAP LIKE TRIPLE PATTY CHEESEBURGERS, PIZZA AND MEATBALL SANDWICHES, DOESN'T MATTER WHEN THEY EAT. OBVIOUSLY MEN ARE CAPABLE OF CONSUING MORE CALORIES WITHOUT GAIN REGARDLESS OF WHY OR WHEN THEY EAT. THEIR METABOLISM IS DIFFERENT, PERIOD. IT'S NOT THEIR BEHAVIOR.

Cindy 8-14-2007 @ 11:39AM

This isn't really true that men lose weight faster. This must be one of AOL's only articles because they keep recycling it. It has to do with metabolism, and my metabolism is much higher than my husband's. Men generally weigh more than women to begin with, and so when they lose 5 pounds it might be quicker than women, but it's relative because 5 pounds is more on a smaller person. If I have a friend who weighs twice my weight, she will lose the weight quicker, but it will be relative because 5 pounds on a smaller person means more. The whole "eat like a guy" thing is demeaning to women, as I don't want to be anything like a "guy." The best way for anyone to lose weight, man or woman, is to eat small meals throughout the day, get cardio exercise and work with weights. It's been my experience women lose weight "better" because women are more motivated and disciplined, while men are running off for the beer whenever it gets tough. So maybe the next article should be about what men can learn from women about being more disciplined.

kathy 8-14-2007 @ 9:22AM

I don't see why this is relevant. Women's and men's bodies are simply different. Women tend to carry more weight in thighs and hips, while men tend to have the "beer gut." Women's bodies are the way they are so we can continue the human species for Pete's sake! Part of the problem is not inherently genetic, but that women "diet" too much and this actually lowers metabolism. Otherwise, there is no reason that women cannot lose weight quickly.

Men die quicker than women. Women's bodies are designed in a way that allows us to live longer. This is genetic. So maybe men can try to figure out how to live as long as us. We're obviously doing something right.

Annette 8-14-2007 @ 11:42AM

Modern females love to blame men for everything, and it seems Theodosia is no exception. Women have a problem when it comes to personal accountability.

I'm female. I lost well over 100 lbs 7 years ago just by cutting down on how much I ate and by going back to an athletic lifestyle. That's it. I lost it all and never gained any back. To top it off, I'm post-menopausal (the time when they say women have a really hard time keeping weight off), yet I've had no problem.

I think too many women are just plain lazy. Most women I have talked to hate exercise, too. Nothing happens overnight or without a lot of work!

Another thing, I overate years ago out of boredom. Once I filled my life with more things to do (esp. exercise), I found I barely have time to eat the few small meals a day I DO eat!

Strstarma 8-14-2007 @ 12:18PM

ive never been so motivated to add my opinion as i was today. the seemingly angry comments that mark made about theodosia's comments. She is not saying it is ou mens" fault "that woman are overweight, you are right. We are the ones putting the food in our mouths and not getting excercise, but to have someone especially the one who is supposed to love and support you , say to you "hey you are doing a great job", not "hey wanna big mac" really goes a long way to helping you acheive your goals.

Dr Steve 8-14-2007 @ 11:44AM

As a man, innately emotional eater, recent loser of 90+ lbs., a trained chef with over 15 years in the business, and a doctor trained in alternative medicine (chiropractor of 15 years experience and some local infamy), I feel "largely" qualified to "weigh in" on this subject.

IMHO, ANYTHING related to a person's metabolism is 50% nature and 50% nurture. I know from personal experience as both my parents were morbidly obese around the time of my conception through early childhood, both have since largely shed the excess weight (my parents were divorced when I was 3), and being raised by a single emotional (Jewish) mother, I have twisted memories of seeing her, during a rough period, with a tablespoon in one hand and a half gallon of Rocky Road and a jar of peanut butter on her lap shortly befopre being ushered quickly to my room for the night. Next day I had neither ice cream nor peanut butter, but found in the fridge the typical baked chicken breasts (always too dry) and steamed broccoli like any dieter would have in their fridge.

The combination of being raised by "a pack of women"-grandmother/aunt/mom's friends included- my genetic tendency to easily gain weight, and the innate response to eat during emotional times caused me to gain weight. Understand, I am a mesomorph with ectomorphic tendencies, a football player/wrestler style body with a cut V shape when working out intensely and dieting hard, but a belly, butt, thighs, and even "manboobs" when heavy. Recently, a combination of meditation and positive affirmations, massive amounts of exercise, and a semi-strict eating regimen have contributed to my huge weight loss. Still, a few good meals and missed workouts and the scale shoots up 10, and when the ghosts of last year's super painful break-up haunt me, out come the Wendy's Spicy Chicken sandwiches, tostitos and picante sauce (yes, the whole bag), and twix bars or Baci chocolates. It is a constant fight from a physical, mental, and emotional standpoint and the three cannot be separated. Only getting healthy in all three areas, and a healthy dose of daily exercise, can control cravings, blood sugar fluctuations, emotional eating triggers, and ultimately blobbishness. Good luck to you all

PS my diet consists of essentially a moderate calorie, balanced Zone type diet avoiding white sugar, flour, and salt as much as possible during the day, more like Atkins in the evening and night, one daya week of normal eating to reset my body's internal BMI setpoint (starvation response that lowers metabolism and slows weight loss), and the exercisae started as walking a mile (rehabbing from my many injuries and recent surgeries) a day and now consists of prudent weightlifting, 30+ miles per week of roadwork-jogging as much as posssible and walking the rest, and anything else active I can add to my day-stairs before elevators, etc.

Annette 8-14-2007 @ 9:52AM

In reading the replies, I notice that the men generally have an attitude of "just suck it up and lose the weight", while the women describe many elaborate reasons why they feel it is so "hard". And then something dawned on me.

Most men have far more testosterone than women do. Some women (like myself) have testosterone levels that are higher than the average female. And I know based on my reading of testosterone studies, that one advantage of testosterone is that it makes building muscle mass easier, it gives better confidence, and it enables men to focus on a task until they complete it. It also gives better drive and ambition.

This may be a reason why women seem to have more trouble losing fat than men do. Maybe most women are victims of their own estrogen!

Mick 8-14-2007 @ 11:43AM

When will women in this country quit considering themselves victims and blaming their fatness on men's indifference to their suffering???

warren skydell 8-14-2007 @ 12:33PM

Quit whining about how you cant lose weight and start exercising

EW 8-15-2007 @ 3:12PM

well, it seems men can be grossly insensitive to womens needs..... but women can be totally oblivious (totally) to mens needs as well.......Maybe thats why dog is mans best friend...at least they dont complain when you suggest going for a run or going rock climbing.... the way girlfriends seem to

EW

EW 8-15-2007 @ 5:17PM

women seem to inclined to socialize and form tight bonds with other women friends, and maybe food is part of the package...probably going back to the cave days when men had to be silent and active hunters travelling long distances, while women stayed behind in larger groups.... socialized the kids, took care of the kids and kept the home, or cave fires, burning. A lot of this is in the genes I think...maybe its best to ackowledge it and try to have more empathy for ones opposite sex.... IF thats possible. I dont think some people are able to do that !!!

~`:-joanna 9-02-2007 @ 1:11PM

The KEY to weight loss is supporting one another. My man supports me, I've dropped 17 pounds, he's dropped about 6. We are both maintaining at that.
We have both started eating and incorporating whole foods that we order on line from "The Wholefood Farmacy" at http://www.farminabag.com
The foods are all natural, no preservatives, and good to eat.