Set Point Theory
Your set point weight is the weight at which your body functions optimally. Our bodies feel their best at this weight, and have everything it needs to maintain all our daily functions. Our bodies will do everything in its power to maintain that weight. Each and every one of us have a different set point weight. Changing this is out of our control, despite what diet culture might tell you.
Unfortunately, there’s no way for us to calculate, or know exactly what our set point weight is. Generally it’s not an exact number, but a range within 10-20 pounds. This falls in line with normal weight fluctuations that we know to be perfectly normal and healthy.
Set point is a survival mechanism that our body has really perfected. When we don’t get enough food our bodies go into survival mode, our metabolism and all non essential functions slow down to conserve as much energy as possible. Once we start eating again, our bodies hold on to those calories. Instead of burning them for energy our body will store them for the next time it doesn’t have enough food. This is a survival skill that was developed during times of feast and famine, but your body isn’t able to distinguish between not having enough food to eat, and us just wanting to lose a few extra pounds. This is why so often the fad diets that may cause us to lose weight in the beginning typically backfires. We know that more than 2/3 of dieters gain back all (or sometimes more) weight than what they originally lost, and every time we do this, and start a new cycle its harder and harder on our bodies.
So how do we know if we’re above or below our set point? Here’s a few questions you can ask yourself.
Am I above my set point?
Do you regularly eat past the point of comfortable fullness? Feeling stuffed or overly full?
Do you yoyo between eating nutritious meals and meals that feel more crazed and out of control?
Do you frequently feel guilty about certain foods eaten, or the amount of food eaten?
Do you eat so quickly you feel like you weren’t able to enjoy your food, or maybe even taste it?
Is eating a frequent coping mechanism for how you are feeling? Eating when angry, sad, bored, etc?
Do you restrict your meals in an attempt to “save up” for a special event - usually resulting in overeating at that event?
Am I below my set point?
Do you often feel intense, gnawing hunger pains?
Do you wake up extremely hungry?
Do you have infrequent periods or have they stopped all together?
Are you preoccupied with food? Thinking about it all the time, what to eat, when, etc.?
Do you often feel cold?
If you answered yes to any, or even most of these questions, it doesn’t mean that you automatically are above or below your bodies set point. These symptoms can also be attributed to other medical conditions, but asking yourself these questions is a good place to start!
