Set Point Theory

Who here believes in the Set Point theory?

A quick description would be that there are weights (points) that your body will gravitate to. Let's say you are cutting and stuck at 205. It takes forever to break past 205 but when you do you quickly drop to 192 - your next set point. Same as in bulking only in reverse.

The reason I'm asking is that 208 seems to be a pivotal number for me (see update in cycles thread). Ended my last bulk cycle at 208 also. The weight (at least for me) has nothing to do with BF%. Right now I'm at a lower BF% than I was when I ended the last bulk cycle at 208 but never the less, seems like I'm stuck there. Also I was at 208 the last 3 weeks of that prior bulk cycle.

Anyone have any thoughts or comments about the theory?

As for me, I'm going to try to eat myself through the 208 barrier and then back off on calories after I see the scale heading up.

I've noticed that I sometimes get stuck at a certain weight, then all of a sudden, I'll put on 3 or 4 pounds in a flash. I don't know if it has to do with a set point or just the mechanics of ones body, ( I guess thats the same thing as a set point)or the way I might be training or eating.

I have used this and to extent it makes sense, by losing weight to your next set point you metabolism will slow to maintain the weight, the bodys way to avoid starvation. You then up the calories to "bulk" surpassing your sticking point.

Set-point theory is very strongly supported by research, especially with animals, but with humans as well. E.g., if you split up a rat litter, overfeed (give them a high fat diet) 1/2 of them for most of their adult life, then return them to a diet like that of the other half, their body weights will return to that setpoint. You can underfeed rats, then give them enough food to catch up to well nourished rats (from the same litter) and body weights will be the same.

Some of the most interesting stuff comes from studies of twins who ahve been "overfed" or exercised and dieted. The identical (genetically the same) twin have essentially identical weight gains or losses. Fraternal twins are close, but there is a huge range when you look across individuals.

The degree to which our bodies defend a setpoint (and at what weight and body fat it is set) is very variable. Some people must eat buckets of lard to gein weight, whereas others gain weight just by driving by McDonald's.

-Randy

I am also a firm believer in the "set-point theory", Research indicates that it is a point at which your body will either speed up or lower your BMR to stay at a certain weight range.

yes me three, set point is true, I have a set point of 200 pounds, I can hold that easy, but when I bulk to 215 or more its hard to hold even after increasing calories