by Michelle Wilkinson

Created on: June 08, 2009

We would all like to believe that naturally slim people are just lucky enough to have the right genetic makeup, and although genes can influence a person's weight the truth is that these individuals have got into good eating habits which have helped them maintain a healthy weight. There are no real diet "secrets" to staying slim - weight control depends on balancing the number of calories going in with those going out. "Naturally" slim people have simply managed to find a way to ensure that they don't exceed their calorie requirements, enabling them to remain at a healthy weight. If more people learned to monitor their calories more closely perhaps there wouldn't be the problem with obesity that there currently is.

The recommended calorie intake for the average woman is 2,000 calories and for men it is 2,500 calories, with other factors influencing how many calories are required by individuals. A person's size, weight, gender, basal metabolic rate (BMR), and activity levels all contribute to the calories required on a daily basis. How people choose to spread their calorie allowance across the day is up to them, but slim people tend to eat frequently but in small portions. A balanced breakfast containing protein and complex carbohydrates is a priority for most slim people, since it kick-starts their metabolism and gives them energy.

Eating breakfast makes it less likely they will turn to junk food in order to give their energy levels a quick boost mid-morning, and their bodies won't go into starvation mode, which would happen if they didn't have breakfast. When the body goes into starvation mode the metabolism slows down and can interfere with how quickly calories are burned. That is why it is a good idea to eat as many as six meals a day, since it can increase the body's metabolism. Clearly slim individuals know how to control their portion sizes which is why they are able to eat so frequently.

Slim people are also likely to make the most of their food, chewing it properly and taking time to enjoy it. They prefer to eat a balanced diet so that their bodies get all the nutrients required to continue functioning effectively, from the complex carbohydrates found in wholemeal bread to the vitamins and minerals found in fruit and vegetables to the protein found in meat and beans. They also leave a place for fats, but primarily the good fats found in foods such as nuts. They might eat junk food occasionally, but the chances are that keep the presence of junk food in their diet to a minimum. Slim individuals also tend to keep an eye on their drinking habits, avoiding drinking too much alcohol especially.

Finally, to complement a healthy, well-balanced diet slim individuals are able to remain that way because they are physically active. Maybe they do have a 'day off' when they allow themselves to eat exactly what they want, but any occasional lapses in their diet is usually counterbalanced by the calories they burn off through exercise.

It might seem that some people can stay slim without even trying, but the truth is that generally they are so used to eating well and exercising that their habits are normal to them, and thus are not that difficult to follow, which is why they are able to make staying slim look so easy.

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