Metabolism and under eating

06cindy
06cindy Posts: 81 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I have been so busy this week that I didn't work out or eat enough. I'm a little worried my calories have been too low and my metabolism is going to slow down. Anyone know (generally) how long it takes of under eating to slow it down? Is it weeks, or days, or a few months?
I'm 5ft 5in and 125 lbs., 12-13% body fat. Thanks!
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Replies

  • PeachyCarol
    PeachyCarol Posts: 8,029 Member
    It takes quite a while before adaptive thermogenesis happens. You're fine. Months and months.
  • snowflakesav
    snowflakesav Posts: 649 Member
    This is an individual thing. I don't think there are going to be many women with under14% body fat who don't struggle to maintain that without being incredibly conscious about the quality of their nutrition and fueling their body for the 2 to 3 hours of training they are doing with a coach.

    Your coach or trainer is your best resource here to get you back on track.
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  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,971 Member
    06cindy wrote: »
    I have been so busy this week that I didn't work out or eat enough. I'm a little worried my calories have been too low and my metabolism is going to slow down. Anyone know (generally) how long it takes of under eating to slow it down? Is it weeks, or days, or a few months?
    I'm 5ft 5in and 125 lbs., 12-13% body fat. Thanks!
    I truly doubt 12%-13% body fat. Your arms and legs would be totally striated and you pic doesn't show that. You look to be between 20% and higher.
    As to your question, any deficit will slow metabolic rate some. Duration will and amount will dictate to what degree.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
    9285851.png

  • 06cindy
    06cindy Posts: 81 Member
    Thanks for the reply. I had a hydrostatic body composition done that says I'm 13.6%BF. Are those often off that much? I went the hydro route since it was supposed to be most accurate.
  • livingleanlivingclean
    livingleanlivingclean Posts: 11,751 Member
    Mine dropped about 500 cals in 10 weeks of hard dieting.....managed to get it back up though (plus some).
  • portugaline
    portugaline Posts: 95 Member
    can be days can be months...

    diet is not the only thing that affects your metabolism, but 1 week is nothing to worry about..
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  • Charliegottheruns
    Charliegottheruns Posts: 286 Member
    06cindy wrote: »
    Thanks for the reply. I had a hydrostatic body composition done that says I'm 13.6%BF. Are those often off that much? I went the hydro route since it was supposed to be most accurate.

    Under weighing is the most common technique used in exercise physiology laboratories to determine body composition. Bone, muscle, and connective tissue (lean mass) sinks, whereas body fat floats. In essence a person's weight is compared with a persons' weight underwater to determine fat percentage. So to try and answer your question. Hydrostatic testing or Profile picture observation guesstimate ?
  • Jruzer
    Jruzer Posts: 3,501 Member
    MrM27 wrote: »
    06cindy wrote: »
    Thanks for the reply. I had a hydrostatic body composition done that says I'm 13.6%BF. Are those often off that much? I went the hydro route since it was supposed to be most accurate.

    They are wildly inaccurate and highly dependent on hydration. I have had instances where I was 10% and and got readings as low as 6.2%.

    I'm genuinely surprised by this. I though immersion was one of the best methods out there. How did you know you were 10%, compared to the 6% measured by hydrostatic testing?
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  • 06cindy
    06cindy Posts: 81 Member
    edited May 2015
    I had a dunk test done. They do two and average the total results.
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    So you're down to essential bodyfat?
  • 06cindy
    06cindy Posts: 81 Member
    rabbitjb wrote: »
    So you're down to essential bodyfat?


    IDK, because from my reading, essential BF for women ranges from 15-8%...depending on what source. I'd like to get to the 10% range, just to do it at least once in my lifetime...but I don't have quite enough motivation at the moment. I've been cutting and have lost a few pounds, but the past two weeks went off track and stopped counting macros altogether even though my overall calories have been low.
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  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    Yes

    And it's a temporary stage ready state too

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  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    Are we sure OP is female? Did anyone ask?
  • TR0berts
    TR0berts Posts: 7,739 Member
    Um... It's a picture of a female, and the profile says she's a female.
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    TR0berts wrote: »
    Um... It's a picture of a female, and the profile says she's a female.

    Aiming for 10% body fat

    What? You never heard of Bruce Jenner?
  • 06cindy
    06cindy Posts: 81 Member
    OP is here...I'm a lady. I'm not making up the hydrostatic weight results. They state I am 13.6% body fat. Technically my height is 5 feet and a tiny bit shy of 5 inches. I do believe its entirely possible the underwater test results are not totally accurate. But, there is no way in hell I'm 20% BF. I have clearly defined abs and am quite lean. I've spent many years watching what I eat, and working out. Peace and Love to everyone.
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    You do know what 20% fat looks like on a woman don't you ?
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    edited May 2015
    body-fat-percentage-picture-men-women.jpg


    body-fat-percentage-women.jpg
  • 06cindy
    06cindy Posts: 81 Member
    rabbitjb wrote: »
    body-fat-percentage-picture-men-women.jpg


    body-fat-percentage-women.jpg

    Yep.
  • 06cindy
    06cindy Posts: 81 Member
    rabbitjb wrote: »
    You do know what 20% fat looks like on a woman don't you ?

    If I compare myself to those pics I'd say I'm a 14-15% BF. I guess my profile pic makes me look average.
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  • gothchiq
    gothchiq Posts: 4,590 Member
    If it's just one week, I think you will be fine. to the best of my knowledge, it takes a full two weeks to begin to detrain if you miss all your workouts. If you're in decent health, your metabolism won't be that fragile. :) Just get back to your routine and take care of yourself.
  • star1407
    star1407 Posts: 588 Member
    Go on girl, stick a bikini pic up and shut up the doubters lol :D
  • 06cindy
    06cindy Posts: 81 Member
    Here's a recent pic- 74ewhnh75x57.jpg
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