[jlebrech]

your body's ability to metabolize will increase too as you eat more. that's why skinny people who eat massively for a single meal once a week don't really gain weight, it's the regular over eating that does it.

[mod]

I don't think that's why. Those people would gain weight, but it's hard to "massively overeat" for one week to the tune of "noticeable amount."

You're talking 1 lb, maybe 2 if you really go overboard.

[mikeash]

A pound of fat is about 3,500 calories of overeating. Real hard to do that much in one sitting for someone who doesn't do it constantly.

[jlebrech]

3,500 calories of fat, or 30% extra of carbs or protein. protein is also insulinogenic so eating too much fat along with similar amounts of protein will make someone balloon (i.e fried chicken)

[ap3]

Yes but how much of those calories are you burning off every day ? - you would need 3,500 above your daily burn rate

[mikeash]

That's what I meant by "overeating": whatever is beyond what you need to sustain.