Tell me why? Only serious replies please.

joleenl

After following the forums for quite sometime, it seems to me that most of the more educated or more experienced people on here give the following advice:

1. There is no starvation mode unless you haven't ate in over 48 hours.
2. There is no magic eating times or amount of meals to eat.
3. A calorie is a calorie (in regards to energy not nutrition)
4. The only weight loss formula is calories in < calories out.

So based on this information, is ok for me to only net under 1000 calories a day? I'm 5'7", 173 pounds, 40% BF, 35 years old, female. I believe my BMR is around 1400 and TDEE is around 1800 to 1900. ( I have a desk job and I use to eat back exercise calories so I calculate my TDEE with light activity). My trainer and I, are doing an extreme cut right now and since starting my net calories are very low. We are trying to rapidly bring down my 40% BF. My trainer is certified, educated, and a pro-body builder so she knows her stuff.

I don't want a flood of responses that tell me to eat more or to eat TDEE - 20%. I want to legitly know, with back up, what the problem is with me netting less then 1000 calories while trying to lose weight. I know that you need a certain amount of calories just to function but will my body not used the stored stuff if I do not feed it enough? I am told body builders net extremely low prior to shows and it works for them with little to no side effects?

Some more things to consider, I am making sure I eat at least 100 grams a protein daily. I haven't been eating the healthiest all the time. I do take BCAA supplements to help retain muscle from my extreme calorie burn. Keeping in mind this cut is a phase, so a temperary program to give specific results. Please don't responsed with eat more calories, eat more protien, starvation mode, eat healthier.... etc. Just please give me only serious answers to my question.

tricksee

Something tell me that no matter what advice you get from us, you're going to do whatever your educated, certified & professional body-building trainer says.

Good luck.

Mokey41

It's not a popular belief here but I think if you take in enough nutritious calories that your body gets first dibs on what it needs to maintain itself. If you work off a lot of what you take in calorie wise your body will still have gotten the vitamins and nutrition that it needs. It's probably not something you'd want to do for a long time but if you are careful with your nutrition I can't see any long term bad effects.

Too me there is a big difference between only eating 1,000 calories of lettuce and "diet" foods and eating 1800 calories of good food and then working off 800 of it.

ami5000psu

So you only want responses that will tell you what you want to hear? Netting less than 1000 calories is not healthy no matter what your educated, certified, body building trainer says.

BusyRaeNOTBusty

This is the best explanation of "starvation mode" I've read:

http://body-improvements.com/resources/eat/#starvationmode


The other problems with very low calorie diets are:

Adherence (it's hard to stick with).
Muscle loss
Low energy, just feeling crappy.
Poor performance in sports and/or lifting
Hair loss, brittle nails.
Food is yummy


Also, "a calorie is a calorie" in regards to weight loss. Not energy. I have WAY more energy if I include carbs in my diet.

yankeedownsouth

Something tell me that no matter what advice you get from us, you're going to do whatever your educated, certified & professional body-building trainer says.

Good luck.

Me too.

However, my response is that personally, if I ate only 1000 calories a day, I'd lose weight, but I'd be so hungry that I wouldn't be able to think straight. I wouldn't have any energy for my workouts, and I'd be a crabby *itch to live with. Not worth it to me. I'd rather do things the more enjoyable way, even if they're slower.

joleenl

Something tell me that no matter what advice you get from us, you're going to do whatever your educated, certified & professional body-building trainer says.

Good luck.

Not true. I really legitly want to know what the possible harm is in netting below 1000 calories with some sort of research. Just because she does it and it works to acheive her goals doesn't mean it's safe which is why I am asking for reponses with back up.

taso42

But why even hit 1000? Even the HCG people hit 500. Come on, you can't let those HCG dieters show you up. I say go for 250/.day. You got this!

KatLifter

It seems like people respond differently to these super-cuts. Molly Galbraith is writing a blog series about women's stories on these bodybuilder-type cuts. Yesterday was The Good, and The Bad, today is going to be The Ugly. You can read these women's stories and make a decision for yourself.
http://mollygalbraith.com/category/blog/

Personally, I would really recommend against it. But then again, I like food, having energy, and losing fat mass over muscle. It sounds like you are focused on losing fat % instead of scale numbers, which is great. I've read studies that low carb, high fat diets are helpful for achieving that goal.

joleenl

This is the best explanation of "starvation mode" I've read:

http://body-improvements.com/resources/eat/#starvationmode


The other problems with very low calorie diets are:

Adherence (it's hard to stick with).
Muscle loss
Low energy, just feeling crappy.
Poor performance in sports and/or lifting
Hair loss, brittle nails.
Food is yummy


Also, "a calorie is a calorie" in regards to weight loss. Not energy. I have WAY more energy if I include carbs in my diet.

Thanks for the article. I will read it as soon as I get a chance.

tricksee

I really legitly want to know what the possible harm is in netting below 1000 calories with some sort of research.

It's not good because you are simply starving yourself. There isn't really any research needed.

SarahAnna87

The reason that eating under a 1000 calories daily is that if your body feels that it is "starving" itself, it will go after the most easily accessible form of energy, which is muscle not fat. Fat is energy dense, with the average gram containing 9 calories. Your muscle tissue is made of mostly protein and water. Protein on average contains 4 calories per gram. This is easier for a body to access. Keep in mind as well that your brain needs around 700 - 800 calories alone. Yes your body won't go into starvation mode for 48 hours, but keep in mind that starvation mode can occur even with the ingestion of calories.

As much as we rely on trainers to give good and proper information, it does not hurt to talk to a registered dietician or nutritionist. People on weight loss programs often miss key nutrients because of our limited diets, which is why a multivitamin is reccommended. But if you cut to many nutrients the multivitamin may not be enough.

Try the calorie intake that your trainer reccommends but pay attention to your body. If you are taking too long to recover from workouts, ie. being sore for more than 24-48 hours or are abnormally tired, these are signs that you are probably lacking some basic nutrients.

I wish you the best of luck in whatever choice you make on your weight loss journey.

Unknown

This content has been removed.

Machafin

Some bodybuilders do extreme cuts before shows but inevitably sacrifice their metabolisms doing so. They will go to very restrictive diets that are either low or almost completely void of fats. Try eating more protein. I gram of protein has 4 calories in it and the thermal index is either .8 or 1.2 calories, I cannot remember, meaning that, for every gram of protein consumed, it takes .8 or 1.2 calories just to digest it.

rosemaryhon

Something tell me that no matter what advice you get from us, you're going to do whatever your educated, certified & professional body-building trainer says.

Good luck.

Me too.

However, my response is that personally, if I ate only 1000 calories a day, I'd lose weight, but I'd be so hungry that I wouldn't be able to think straight. I wouldn't have any energy for my workouts, and I'd be a crabby *itch to live with. Not worth it to me. I'd rather do things the more enjoyable way, even if they're slower.

So if 1000 calories/daily didn't leave you hungry, low energy, and crabby, you'd do it?

Yanicka1

Starvation mode may not existe but Adaptive thermogenesis is quite real and well documented.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20935667

Adaptive thermogenesis in humans.
Rosenbaum M, Leibel RL.
SourceDivision of Molecular Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA. mr475@columbia.edu

Abstract
The increasing prevalence of obesity and its comorbidities reflects the interaction of genes that favor the storage of excess energy as fat with an environment that provides ad libitum availability of energy-dense foods and encourages an increasingly sedentary lifestyle. Although weight reduction is difficult in and of itself, anyone who has ever lost weight will confirm that it is much harder to keep the weight off once it has been lost. The over 80% recidivism rate to preweight loss levels of body fatness after otherwise successful weight loss is due to the coordinate actions of metabolic, behavioral, neuroendocrine and autonomic responses designed to maintain body energy stores (fat) at a central nervous system-defined 'ideal'. This 'adaptive thermogenesis' creates the ideal situation for weight regain and is operant in both lean and obese individuals attempting to sustain reduced body weights. Much of this opposition to sustained weight loss is mediated by the adipocyte-derived hormone 'leptin'. The multiple systems regulating energy stores and opposing the maintenance of a reduced body weight illustrate that body energy stores in general and obesity in particular are actively 'defended' by interlocking bioenergetic and neurobiological physiologies. Important inferences can be drawn for therapeutic strategies by recognizing obesity as a disease in which the human body actively opposes the 'cure' over long periods of time beyond the initial resolution of symptomatology.

Frankly you do what ever you want it is your body and your health.

joleenl

I am actually serious people. I like food too. I eat more then 1000 calories everyday. I NET LESS then 1000. I aint doing it for life. I am doing it as temporary cut. Like cycling between cuts and bulks.

billsica

Because you have a child, and you need to be responsible.


Actually I have netted 300 calories once a week when I am doing my long runs and grossing 2400-3000 calories or so.
How many calories are you actually consuming per day?

joleenl

The reason that eating under a 1000 calories daily is that if your body feels that it is "starving" itself, it will go after the most easily accessible form of energy, which is muscle not fat. Fat is energy dense, with the average gram containing 9 calories. Your muscle tissue is made of mostly protein and water. Protein on average contains 4 calories per gram. This is easier for a body to access. Keep in mind as well that your brain needs around 700 - 800 calories alone. Yes your body won't go into starvation mode for 48 hours, but keep in mind that starvation mode can occur even with the ingestion of calories.

As much as we rely on trainers to give good and proper information, it does not hurt to talk to a registered dietician or nutritionist. People on weight loss programs often miss key nutrients because of our limited diets, which is why a multivitamin is reccommended. But if you cut to many nutrients the multivitamin may not be enough.

Try the calorie intake that your trainer reccommends but pay attention to your body. If you are taking too long to recover from workouts, ie. being sore for more than 24-48 hours or are abnormally tired, these are signs that you are probably lacking some basic nutrients.

I wish you the best of luck in whatever choice you make on your weight loss journey.

Thanks

joleenl

Because you have a child, and you need to be responsible.


Actually I have netted 300 calories once a week when I am doing my long runs and grossing 2400-3000 calories or so.
How many calories are you actually consuming per day?

HUH? What does a temporary cutting phase have to do with be responsible with my child (Which is an adult now)

rml_16

You're setting forth a scenario, asking for people's educated opinions and then telling them specifically what you want them to tell you, which is that what you're doing is fine.

So, sure, what you're doing is fine. :flowerforyou:

IronSmasher

My whole body is covered in scars from rapid weight loss. So there's that.

joleenl

You will lose weight, but your metabolism will slow down, you will lack the energy to properly fuel any reasonable level of intensity for you workouts, and you will burn a higher portion of muscle, so it's a case of diminishing returns. Then of course there is the more obvious issue of a lack of proper nutrients that is likely to come since you don't have enough calories to fit them into your diet. And what about fat? Where does that fit into the remaining calories? There are all sorts of medical problems associated with taking in insufficient fat, perhaps the most superficially noticeable being significant hair loss. No, you're not going to die if you only eat 1,000 calories per day but yes, it's going to negatively impact your health. Is remaining at 40% BF a little longer a bigger detriment to your health? No idea.

Thanks. I am a little worried about my metabolism which is why I asked the question. I am eating more then 1000 a day. Just netting below 1000. Most days I eat between 1400 - 1800 somedays higher. My works outs have been burning about 1000 calories at least 4 times a week.

geekette411

So you only want responses that will tell you what you want to hear? Netting less than 1000 calories is not healthy no matter what your educated, certified, body building trainer says.

^This.

TavistockToad

the most annoying part of this thread is the use of 'legitly' as a word!

joleenl

You're setting forth a scenario, asking for people's educated opinions and then telling them specifically what you want them to tell you, which is that what you're doing is fine.

So, sure, what you're doing is fine. :flowerforyou:

Not true. I want to know what the harm is to NET under 1000 calories on my workout days with evidence. Is that so hard?

joleenl

It seems like people respond differently to these super-cuts. Molly Galbraith is writing a blog series about women's stories on these bodybuilder-type cuts. Yesterday was The Good, and The Bad, today is going to be The Ugly. You can read these women's stories and make a decision for yourself.
http://mollygalbraith.com/category/blog/

Personally, I would really recommend against it. But then again, I like food, having energy, and losing fat mass over muscle. It sounds like you are focused on losing fat % instead of scale numbers, which is great. I've read studies that low carb, high fat diets are helpful for achieving that goal.

Thank I'll look into this.

3foldchord

I am actually serious people. I like food too. I eat more then 1000 calories everyday. I NET LESS then 1000. I aint doing it for life. I am doing it as temporary cut. Like cycling between cuts and bulks.

It is my understanding (but not from experience) that people who are properly cutting and bulking have specific macros for both (not just eating less food sometimes and more other times) and bulking is eating at or over your TDEE. Is that what you are doing?

If you eat less than your BMR your body will not have the energy to run everything it needs to run and will eventually have to slow down or shut off areas it can't maintain do to lack of fuel. I have read that for obese people it's OK to drop below BMR sometimes, though.

Do research on BMR and what your body requires for the bare minimum functions and what happens when you don't give it proper fuel. Do research on when and why your body uses fat for fuel vs muscle mass for fuel. I always highly suggest doing your own research.

jonnythan

I am actually serious people. I like food too. I eat more then 1000 calories everyday. I NET LESS then 1000. I aint doing it for life. I am doing it as temporary cut. Like cycling between cuts and bulks.

So net 300 a day.

Seriously.

Of course, if you won't do that, tell us why not.

Docpremie

I switched to the TDEE methods several months ago. If you use the spreadsheet, you can track lean body mass. When you lose weight you will lose both lean body mass & fat mass no matter what. What you WANT to do is lose more Fat mass than LEAN mass. I can attest to the fact that the TDEE method works. I have lost some lean body mass, but much more fat mass. Your lean body mass is what drives your BMR, if you lose lean body mass (i.e. the muscle) then you BMR slows down. That is physiology NOT bro-science!!! Everyone's body works according to that physiologic rule! Lose muscle mass & your BMR will slow, no way around it. If you have been following all your measurements over the course of months/years, download the Excel spreadsheet from the "In place of a roadmap" thread & plug in your numbers going back in time; that way you can see the changes in your lean body mass, which have already occurred. I wouldn't endorse eating a net 1000 calories ever (I'm a physician), but if you're going to try, at least follow your numbers, so you can see your changes in lean body mass. If you start dropping precipitously, then "get out"! I don't think it will take long to see that 1000 calories isn't healthy!

BaconMD

You're setting forth a scenario, asking for people's educated opinions and then telling them specifically what you want them to tell you, which is that what you're doing is fine.

So, sure, what you're doing is fine. :flowerforyou:

Not true. I want to know what the harm is to NET under 1000 calories on my workout days with evidence. Is that so hard?

Is www.google.com so hard?