Rasczak posted the following in the Change one thing thread in response to me saying I had a slow metabolism (which is why I am overweight).

I didn't want to hijack the other thread with this conversation but I was just wondering if he would like to expand on what he meant here.

well, you won't starve that easily if your body can build up reserves.

Some "overweight" is even healthy.

That's what I would say.

Maybe he was referring to something different, like islamofascism...

While we were evolving, as the story goes, hunting and gathering was sort of a seasonal thing. In other words, it was easier to find something to eat in late spring that it was during deep winter. I'm sure all sorts of other things contributed to dry times here and there.

Those who were most likely to exist through hard times are those who could store extra energy most efficiently - humans store energy in fat cells - the ones that burned off every calorie they consumed and then some died off quickly.

Metabolism is affected by lifestyle. The more physical activity you do, the higher your rate of metabolism. Eating a decent breakfast (cereal, fruit, toast etc) between 6am and 10am in the morning will increase your metabolism. This is also the best time to exercise if you want to lose weight. The biggest meal of the day should always be lunch, between 12pm and 2pm. This is when your metabolism is at it's highest, it is also when you are more focused and have a higher level of concentration. Always try to have dinner before 6pm as after 6pm your body starts to prepare for rest, metabolism slows right down and anything you eat is not processed properly. Never eat within 3 hours of going to bed.

I think the times are not really relevant. Italians and the Japanese usually eat big dinners very late and are generally rather healthy.

We had dinner 9 or 10 pm when I was a child and that's ordinary there.

Lunch is more like a little snack.

We have 2 breakfasts though.

I think all that is true, but not contradictory in any way to the main point I made.

It is 100% relevant but doesn't apply to everyone. As a general statement not trying to go off topic, our bodies' timing is in sync with the cycle of the earth, moon and sun. We are affected emotionally with the seasons and lunar cycle. The menstrual cycle of women is affected also by the lunar cycle. The way our bodies react to these cycles affects how we behave and feel and even if Asians or Italians are 100% healthy, if they adopted a life style in sync with the natural cycles there will be a huge positive change with their eating habits and metabolism and general health.

That may be generally true, but I think there are some exceptions. I promise you that my metabolism doesn't slow down at 6pm. Still going strong until after 10pm. That's me. I know it isn't really in line with the average person though. I also don't really get moving until at least 2 hours after I get up, breakfast or no.

I would agree with some general principles along the lines of what you're saying though.

Unfortunately I don't keep normal hours and often work though the night. This is why I don't eat at regular times.

Surely evolution should be compensating for the fact that I'm no longer a hunter gatherer.

Probably, but these things take time. It's only within the last couple hundred years that we have begun to hold hunger at bay as a society. That's a drop in the bucket from an evolutionary view.

On the bright side, we are very well designed and can tolerate a good deal of what subject ourselves to.

For damn sure. Humans are nothing if not adaptable.

Word

my bacteria friends laugh at you!

Some types of bacteria are certainly adaptable. Here's a difference though, we adapt the world to us, rather than adapting to the world. Interesting isn't it? Especially from an evolutionary point of view. We arose from the world, mastered it, and are able to form it to our will. How long before we learn to free ourselves from the world altogether?