Abnormal (BIG) appetite
 

I'm sure many of you have seen or heard of the hotdog eating contest on TV. No, I'm not a crazy eater like the participants but I do have a big appetite. Being just 5'8" @ 154lbs, I consume somewhere around 5~7 (not include liquids) pounds of food a day. Buffets are about all my family go for lunch or dinner because my two boys (1 1/2 and 3 1/2) eat just like their dad.

Many of colleagues have told me that mother(father) nature will soon catch up to me. Well, I actually weight a couple of pounds less now than I do 4-5 years ago. My body fat is about 9%, I guess that's pretty good. Of the three siblings in my family, I'm the only big eater. Anyone out there on the same boat?

:D :D :D

I'd be more concerned about the impression you are having on your boys. There is a chance they didn't inheirit your blast furnace metablosim and in trying to emulate ole Dad they could wind up seriously overweight in the next couple of years.

Just something to consider.

Actually my kids eat before my wife and I do. They go to homecare when we are at work and they outeat pretty much all other kids there. I don't think they realize how much I consume let alone emulating me.

My elder son ate 10 Chinese dumplings once when he was barely 2. Little one is like a silk worm - he eats all day long. There is no one seriously over weight in either side of the family but I'll keep my fingers crossed. Hopefully they both have my "gift" - eat big but not gain big.

What kind of foods are you eating? Mostly healthy, or unhealthy foods?

I, personally, have a pretty high metabolism, so I can eat a lot and not put on weight (yet), but I still try to eat healthily..

Regarding the eating contests that are sweeping the nation, I was amazed to find out that there are all sorts of food categories, and that the means by which the competetitors prepare is quite startling.

I don't really eat much. For some reason, I'm constantly thirsty. So when I'm out eating, I have probably downed 3-4 drinks before the food gets there, so I usually have something left over after I've had my fill. If I haven't eaten in a couple of days, I chow down.

all hail the fast metabolism, ive been eating more than the heavby weight people i know for a long long time and im still skinny as a bone, one day it might catch up to me but im hoping it wont!

Eating contests are a moral abomination. Anyways, I personally can eat a lot (I used to eat more before I had to start paying for food myself), and I'd say I'm 12-15% bodyfat. I love eating, and I'm glad I have the ability to do so.

A few questions for you:
Do you often skip meals?
How old are you?
What types of foods do you chow on?
Do you keep a regular workout regimine?
How many meals do you eat in a day and are all of them binge eating episodes?

If you can eat that much without ill effects, and enjoy it, I wouldn't knock it. I was there until about 28 or so; then I started gaining weight. Then I started working out and I was there _again_ until about age 35. Since then I've had to watch it.

Eventually it _will_ catch up with you, but so what? At that point, either cut back or change what you eat, or a little of both. I'm still a big eater, but I eat a lot more fruit and other healthy things. That stuff doesn't stick to you, if you're active at all.

Anyway, do you do heavy labor? I was talking bodybuilding once with a guy who complained that he couldn't gain any muscle, no matter what he ate. Turned out he was going to school full time, working part time during the week doing physical labor, and trying to keep up a farm on the weekends! And he was 22! His body had to nuke every single piece of food he ate just to make enough energy to keep going!

I have nibble constantly. I cannot eat a large meal all at once. I did notice a distinct difference in how much I gained once I hit 30. I am very, very active with doing at home day care. I end up carrying 20-40 lb kids several times during the day, go up and down stairs (9 steps to upstairs and about the same to the basment which gets tread twice a day minimum). I am constantly moving. I find it hard to sit still even when at rest. I think it's the activity that makes a big difference in how much I can eat without gaining versus another person's eating habits.

Eat right
Stay active
Don't worry about how much you are eating if you don't gain or you loose weight.

As for your kids - My daughter eats the same as I do but is just as active if not more so. As long as she eats right and isn't over weight I'm not worry about how MUCH she eats.

I know people like this. Their cholesterol is insanely high. Weight isnt always the problem. You may be able to eat as much food as you like with out gaining weight, but you shouldnt just eat what ever is in front of you. Keep an eye on what you and your family are eating.

I'm 2 years shy of the big 4-O. I just went to a health screen this morning, resting heart rate: 56, blood pressure 104/72, no results on blood sugar and cholesterol level yet. I play competitive volleyball twice a week, 3 hrs each session. We have a sizeable backyard so mowing the lawn takes a good 90 min. I haven't played tennis (certified instructor) or touched my softball glove in ages. I do free weights, eliptical and light jogging on the machine.

I, like most guys eat more meats than veggies, but mostly white meats and fish. I'd slap a 2 pound beef steak on the grill every now and then. We normally cook 1 1/2 pounds of spaghetti, I eat that 1 pound and the rest of the family the 1/2. One pound of uncooked spaghetti turns into about 3+ pounds then all the trimmings. My waist line is still the same as I got out of high school, 30".

Our young boys eat the same foods as we do but like all "normal" parents we take them to McD's for fries from time to time. Cookies and candies yes, but only after they have their regular meal.

One other thing, I don't like sweets, well, majority of the time. And no snacking past 9 pm.

Well congrats im jealous. As long as the doctor says your health is okay and your kids health is ok then go for it until they/you start putting on some weight.