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🙏 Is it actually possible to eat barely anything and still gain weight?
Can you really have a slow metabolism, and if so, what can be done to jumpstart it and change things up?

Steven Brown9 said:🙏 Is it actually possible to eat very little and still gain weight?
Is it possible that my metabolism has just slowed down, and if so, what can I do to fix it?

It’s absolutely possible!
You know how people always say dieting is just the funniest way to gain weight?😬
That happens because when you constantly deprive yourself of food, your body basically adapts to that scarcity, making it hyper-efficient at storing everything you *do* eat. Honestly, instead of starving yourself, I’d really recommend trying the Zone diet. I’ve already dropped 6 pounds using it, and the best part is that there’s NO deprivation involved. It isn't nearly as complicated as people make it out to be.

Look, I’m not going to recommend a single diet to you—and I can already hear the critics sharpening their knives—but I’ve seen far too many people cycle through these fad programs only to end up right back where they started, weight regained and all. My actual advice? Just stick to working out and try to space your meals out more frequently, maybe five small bites throughout the day instead of a few heavy hits.

Yeah, this feels more like something for the lifestyle subforum.

Actually, you can tackle this issue without even hitting the gym too hard, though honestly, getting some exercise in is definitely recommended. The trick is to eat quite heavily every third or fourth day. Think of it as two days of being disciplined with your portions followed by one day of eating normally. That way, you stop your body from adapting to a low-calorie regime and keep your metabolism from stalling out. Also, try to space things out—both on your low-calorie days and your higher-calorie days—by aiming for at least five balanced meals throughout the day.

On those days when you're cutting back on calories, try to keep your carbs to an absolute minimum and lean more heavily on protein instead.

You might want to consider getting your thyroid checked out; if things aren't functioning correctly there, it could very well be the underlying culprit behind any weight gain. Besides, certain medications are notorious for causing people to pack on the pounds—usually through water retention and other physiological quirks that are hard to account for.

I didn't really spot anyone particularly overweight in those photos from the concert camp—though, I guess, maybe some of them were just dealing with thyroid issues or messed up hormones and metabolism. It happens.

Just cut back on the portions—instead of eating five small meals a day, try sticking to three, and keep them light.

If you eat like you’re stuck on a hospital diet for 40 days, you could easily drop 20 pounds. (Well, that depends on how tall you are and what you weigh to begin with, but somewhere in that ballpark.)

crimsonhound80 said:Cut back on portions. Don't eat five times a day—just three small meals.

Oh sure, and then after being starving and cranky, you'll pick a fight with everyone, accidentally kill the neighbor's poodle, lose your mind, and empty the entire fridge. That’s exactly what I’d do if I were eating like a tiny little bird three times a day, especially since I weigh less than 130 pounds.

Kimberly Davis52 said:And then, once they've snapped after fighting with everyone because they're hungry and irritable—maybe even killing the neighbor's poodle in a fit of rage—they'll just head straight to hell and leave the fridge completely empty. If that were me, I suppose I’d rather just eat like a little bird three times a day, especially since I weigh less than 130 pounds.

I really must agree with you just this once.😬

Look, just ignore anyone telling you to starve yourself or stick to those tiny little meals three times a day. Honestly? You’re just gonna wreck your system that way. If you actually want to drop body mass for good without feeling like death, there are really only two rules you need to follow:
1. Get your nutrition dialed in
2. Step up the physical activity

First thing's first—you gotta figure out your daily calorie burn (your BMR plus everything else you do during the day). Once you have that number, build a meal plan around it. I’m talking at least five meals—actually, the more frequent the better, since it keeps your metabolism from dragging. Aim for about 1,000 calories less than your total burn. Stick to that for three days, then on the fourth day, bump your intake back up by 1,000 compared to what you did for those three days. Then repeat. Oh, and save the carbs for the morning only. It also helps a ton if you throw in some actual movement—like power walking or a decent bike ride through the neighborhood.

If you do it this way, you’ll shed maybe 7-9 lbs in about 4-6 weeks (and honestly, anything faster than that isn't healthy anyway).

Hey everyone, figured I’d jump into this thread since I’m dealing with some similar stuff myself. So, here's the deal: I've got about 50 extra pounds on me—I'm 5'8" and weighing in at around 260 lbs. Honestly, I'm feeling a bit stuck and just don't know what my next move should be. I actually have an appointment at the Mayo Clinic in two weeks to check in with their specialists, so maybe they can help me figure out a solid game plan.

Where on earth are you going? I don't get it at all.

Have you given any thought to getting a gastric band (that's what Iva Balent - todorić performed for you)?

You have to find what works specifically for you. They say it takes a thousand different approaches to please a thousand different people, and metabolism is exactly the same way. The key is listening to your body instead of trying to outsmart it with logic. For me, that meant cutting out heavy fats, sweets, and bread, then loading up on fruits and veggies—and making exercise non-negotiable. Without the movement, nothing happens. I managed to drop 60 pounds by sticking to one diverse, nutritious meal a day and hitting the gym six times a week. In my case, it was swimming—not just casual splashing around, but serious laps of freestyle, backstroke, and breaststroke 1.2 miles a day. There’s no magic pill, and there are no shortcuts that don't involve some sacrifice. Ultimately, it's about protecting your health; after I finished my regimen, I went in for bloodwork and was stunned to see that every single marker came back perfect. It worked because I stayed varied, ate clean, and kept moving. Good luck!

Hannah Bishop said:Hey, I wanted to jump in on this thread because I’m dealing with the same thing. I’m carrying about 110 pounds of extra weight right now—I’m 5'8" and weigh around 260. Honestly, I’m at a bit of a loss, but I have an appointment at the Mayo Clinic's specialized department in two weeks. Maybe they’ll have some answers for me.

Good luck with that. Though, if I’m being honest, I don't think anyone can really step in and fix this for you until you decide to help yourself. I could certainly walk you through the mechanics of it—show you how to meal prep properly, how to eat cleaner, and all that jazz—but none of it matters unless you've made that mental switch and truly want it for yourself. Until then, we're just spinning our wheels. Regardless, I'm rooting for you!

Just cucumbers and nothing else. Not even gum. You'll be finished very quickly.🙂
If you manage to survive, you'll drop 45 pounds in a month... then the weight keeps falling until you're dead.

I dropped 20 kg in about 8 months. It wasn't just one thing—it was a total overhaul of my diet, how much I was eating, and honestly, my entire mindset. Here’s the breakdown: cut out all the sweets, ditch the grains, and say goodbye to dairy and cheese. I started eating more frequently, leaned heavily into stews, and tried incorporating some eggplant into things. Basically, eat what your body actually needs and start working out. 👋 🙂 And look, this could actually work. It’s about being steady, not starving yourself, but still making those sacrifices. Right now, I’m basically living on vegetables—just hitting the salad bowl multiple times a day. At the end of the day, you just have to WANT it. Without that mental shift, none of those trendy fad diets are going to do a damn thing for you. 👍

Since everyone else is just talking nonsense here, I might as well jump in too.
Fasting is definitely not the answer!
Cutting out specific foods isn't it either.
The whole thing is just about eating normally without overdoing it, you know? Like, avoiding those massive portions.
Three meals a day, maybe some fruit in between.
Load up on veggies during your meals.
And get plenty of exercise.
Has anyone actually read that study where they found that short bursts of sprinting—like 60 seconds—followed by walking is way more effective than just jogging for half an hour?
So, I guess you don't need to label certain foods as "unhealthy" and ban them; it's more about how you prep them. I mean, boiled chicken and something deep-fried in oil aren't exactly the same thing, right? Or what you pair them with. A steak with potatoes and bread is a heavy combo, whereas boiled meat with a salad is actually great.
I also read in this one book that since lunch is usually your biggest meal, it’s probably good to wait a few hours before having anything else, just to let your stomach do its job in peace.
There's this book called "The Weight Loss Diet" by Isabelle Martin that's pretty interesting. It's got a lot of fluff in it, but I liked the parts about food combinations and using different spices or veggies to help stop the body from holding onto extra fat.
Anyway, that's all I've got.
Good luck! 👍

So you end up depressed and stuck taking Prozac, wow... just great!!
Total Twiggy vibes!!

🙄 🙄 🙄

That sounds awful... may God forbid that happens to you!!

Look, you definitely have to cut certain foods way down if you actually want to drop the weight...

As for gaining it all back? Honestly, that’s just what happens to people who can't stick to the plan..

If you ask me, the best—and honestly the least painful—way to slim down is sticking to carbs in the morning and hitting those proteins hard at lunch.

Get your calories right, maybe supplement with things like inositol, betaine, or carnitine, and just follow some basic rules, like staying around 2,000 calories a day. If you do that, the weight loss is basically guaranteed. At the end of the day, success goes to the ones who refuse to quit, right?

Don't skip dinner!!!

Michelle Cook83 said:Don't eat dinner!!!

That’s a mistake. Look, avoiding heavy carbs right before you hit the sack is definitely a smart move, but skipping food entirely isn't the answer. Having something light—maybe some low-fat cottage cheese with some veggies or a bit of healthy Omega-3 fatty acids—is actually quite beneficial. If you try to play the "no dinner" game every single night, you're eventually going to snap and end up bingeing on whatever is in the pantry. Plus, if you don't give your body any fuel, you'll just end up losing muscle mass instead of fat, which completely defeats the purpose of trying to lean out in the first place.