If you’re not fat will eating way healthier change your life much?

LOL! ?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcOxhH8N3Bo

yes

i second that! YES!!!

Yes to all of those things. Also keep in mind certain health conditions can pop up down the road due to a crappy diet even if you are lean.

I have been skinny my whole life and ate pretty bad end of college and grad school (despite still running regularly). Ate a lot of pizza, ice cream, sugary Starbucks drinks, etc and ended up with high cholesterol and Crohn’s disease years later. Not saying those things are all diet, obviously some genetic pre disposition, but I do think my bad diet during those years contributed. I don’t think you need to totally cut out all those things, but if you are drinking alcohol daily or eating greasy/fried foods every night, would probably decrease the frequency of that. I think you will notice you will feel better and less risk for health issues down the road.

I wish I had paid more attention to nutrition while in college and wonder how much improvement I would have made if I had a better diet than burritos and soda at 11pm. Poor dietary role models in my upbringing. Most of my relatives would be considered obese. My brother worked hard at a physically demanding job and was ripped. My race weight was 147 at 5-11. I was approaching the 4 min mile when I quit and went to work. The first time I actually paid any attention was when I read about Joe Falcon giving up his 6pack of Coke/day habit.

As someone mentioned earlier, yes, you will feel better, look better live longer provided you don't have some latent genetic disposition that can knock you out of the game for good.

I almost had that happen in multiple ways in recent years because I didn't pay attention.

So, 30+ years and +/-50 lbs later, I'm glad I got on the right track with nutrition. I still run/jog 4-7 miles 5-6 days a week and hike/ski with my wife who has never developed bat nutritional habits. I'm lucky I met her and she's been an inspiration and fun to keep up with.

skinny genes wrote:

Serious question. Always eaten whatever I want and run 30-50 mpw depending on training. I’ve been genetically lean my whole life (I’m 36 now). I’m 5’10” and 135 lbs.

I would describe my diet as average. I eat fruit and vegetables and often have oatmeal for breakfast. My dinners are generally not healthy. Burgers, tacos and chips, beer, pizza, spaghetti and garlic bread...typical American fatty foods.

If I start eating really clean, like cut alcohol, cut fried foods, less fatty dairy, more whole wheat...etc...what difference will it make? More energy? Better sleep? Better running? Look better—like clearer skin and brighter eyes?

In your situation, if you're not getting issues with clogged arteries, and no liver issues, you will probably be fine. You were blessed with good genetics and you run.

You are 36. Enjoy your junk food before you get fat. Which is happening as we speak.

A couple more years and your 50 mile weeks will be just good memories.

If you don't change your diet now you will never make it to 56 in a healthy manner.

100% yes. You might have food sensitivities. You might not be getting enough protein and healthy fats. You might be missing essential nutrients from vegetables, etc.

A "fatty" diet is the healthiest thing you can possible eat. The notion that fat was bad was coined right around the same time as the notion you could "carbo-load" extra carbohydrates in your muscles. There were elite runners eating piles of pasta the night before marathons.

What you need is:

) calories. 50/25/25 percentage ratio or thereabouts is best, if you exercise a lot. You CAN'T store carbohydrates beyond that, it just turns to fat.

) vitamins. Don't trust vegetables, the vitamins are locked away behind cellulose you can never digest. You're not a cow. Eat meat, including internal organs. Eat supplements if you can't.

Megadose on vitamins C and D. The recommended doses are for fat people watching tv with low testosterone.

) minerals. The dairy industry sees to it you get your calcium. But you can't reliably get magnesium from the same source. Supplement magnesium! Don't worry about the particular compound, your stomach acid breaks it apart regardless.

and that 50/25/25 ratio means 50% from fat. Don't fear the #1 energy source.

Eating healthy is really important and good for you. I also think that you should take some good and working supplements like those from https://www.canadapharmacy.com/ for example. I am sure that you will like them, you will feel much better!

Nothing you mentioned sounds too terrible. Too much beer isn't great, but a beer with dinner most nights won't hurt. If you cook your own burger and spaghetti, those are good. Bread is fine. Some fried food and fatty dairy is fine. Your best bet for overall health is to keep eating what you like to eat, but decrease the ratio of processed foods to unprocessed meets, carbs, fruits and veggies. And value moderation over deprivation.

The Dirty Duck wrote:

Nothing you mentioned sounds too terrible. Too much beer isn't great, but a beer with dinner most nights won't hurt. If you cook your own burger and spaghetti, those are good. Bread is fine. Some fried food and fatty dairy is fine. Your best bet for overall health is to keep eating what you like to eat, but decrease the ratio of processed foods to unprocessed meets, carbs, fruits and veggies. And value moderation over deprivation.

This is kind of what I was thinking. There's nothing terribly unhealthy in most food you cook for yourself. A lean burger with veggies and a bun isn't awful for you. A pizza (light on the cheese) isn't awful for you, and easy to make for yourself. A taco is basically just meat and veggies...pasta is kind of empty calories I guess...