Metabolic shut down

olkr

Hey
Has anybody of you ever experienced a metabolic shut down?
I read about it and I'm a little bit afraid that it will happen to me...
I never eat under 1'100-1'300 kcal, but I'm not eating back my exercise calories.
(I normally do 2 to 3 times cardio (about 500 kcal per time) and light weight lifting two times per week)

Should I be worried?

kk_inprogress

No. It's a myth.

juggernaut1974

Many people experience it. You can find them in your nearest cemetery.

Joking aside, your metabolism will vary slightly depending on your size, body composition, and activity level. But it doesn't "shut down" until you're dead.

That said, if your calorie counts are accurate, you're eating far too few for a sustainable, healthy lifestyle.

CasperNaegle

^^^^ What they said!

senecarr

Your metabolism will never scale down faster than your calorie count scales down. You'll never eat 100 less calories and have your metabolism burn 110 less calories.
Still, the recommended minimum is 1200 kCall, so try to make sure your average is at least that.

Sarah4fitness

Metabolic DAMAGE can occur, not a complete shut-down. If you're not extreme dieting and doing hours of cardio a day (like many amateur bikini competitors are "coached" to do by disreputable coaches) you're probably not at risk.

olkr

Thanks for all the responses

rankinsect

Well, if you ate at such a severe deficit you ended up with malnutrition, you could cause irreparable and fatal damage to your body. For example if you don't eat the minimum protein your body needs, you can eventually die, even if you otherwise have enough calories.

That said, unless your diet crosses the line into eating disorder you are not at risk.