Nutritionist says my body is in starvation mode....will I ever recover?

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Replies

  • kimny72
    kimny72 Posts: 16,013 Member
    amanymorad wrote: »
    kimny72 wrote: »
    • Enter your stats into MFP and choose a goal of one lb per week (that's 2 kgs)
    • If you don't have one, get a food scale.
    • Use the food scale for everything you eat except for liquids - this includes pre-packaged items, nut butters, yogurt, everything.
    • Log everything accurately and consistently. Eat to your calorie goal.
    • Log your exercise and eat back some of those calories

    Meal timing, types of foods, number of meals... these are all personal preference. All that matters for weight loss is eating less calories than you burn.

    If I'm doing the math correctly, you are under 5', yes? When you are that short, you just don't have as many calories to work with. You might actually want to settle on a goal of 1 kg a week for now just to make it a little easier.

    Please take a deep breath. You will not lose weight every week, even if you are perfect. You do not have to follow a bunch of "food rules" unless they make it easier for you to eat the correct amount of calories. Take care of yourself, and good luck :drinker:

    MFP won't allow me to go on less than 0.6 kgs a week, with a 1,200 calorie goal (which didn't get me anywhere when I did follow, accurately and consistently.....plateau then weight gain...even when I went as low as 800 cal)

    Yup, I'm 4.9 ft

    Thank you so much for your advice :smile:

    I don't think you've answered this - are you using a food scale? How often? Or are you using measuring cups and spoons?
  • amanymorad
    amanymorad Posts: 11 Member
    ouryve wrote: »
    amanymorad wrote: »
    3bambi3 wrote: »
    Yes, he is talking nonsense. No, his logic is not solid. Think about it: if you eat less than your body needs, how on earth would you GAIN weight? If starvation mode like he described was real, no one would ever die from lack of food. You gained weight because you were eating more calories than your body requires.

    What's the reasoning behind 9 meals a day? How many calories are you eating? Are you weighing your food on a scale? Also, how is he measuring changes in body composition?

    All that is required for weight loss is a calorie deficit; how you get there is entirely up to you.

    For me to go below my current metabolic rate, I will be eating less than 1190 cal a day (which is LESS than the recommended 1200 to begin with) with around 300 cal for example....so around 900 cal...how is that healthy??

    You're short, so your calorie targets are always going to be quite low <eyes husband enviously>. How fit and active are you, generally? When you don't have a lot of calories to play with, you can give yourself a little (or a lot) more simply by walking a little (or more) each day.

    I'm really active, but not at all fit XD as in, I'm an actress (hobby) so when I have a show coming up , it's 12 hour rehearsals 7 days a week, in which we do not stand still...i also use public transportation and walk everywhere.....but when I'm at home, I'm the couch-iest couch potato you'll ever meet....I do not have an exercise schedule, because frankly, I hate exercising....I used to dance for a year with professional training for performances, but not anymore (long story).

    If I already need to consume very few calories, wouldn't exercising be counter-productive ? (other than the endorphin and feeling light and fit and blah blah blah...)
  • Jcl81
    Jcl81 Posts: 154 Member
    edited August 2016
    It should be called metabolic damage or metabolic adaptation, not starvation mode.

    It doesn't mean it's forever though.
  • VeryKatie
    VeryKatie Posts: 5,961 Member
    edited August 2016
    kimny72 wrote: »
    • Enter your stats into MFP and choose a goal of one lb per week (that's 2 kgs)
    • If you don't have one, get a food scale.
    • Use the food scale for everything you eat except for liquids - this includes pre-packaged items, nut butters, yogurt, everything.
    • Log everything accurately and consistently. Eat to your calorie goal.
    • Log your exercise and eat back some of those calories

    Meal timing, types of foods, number of meals... these are all personal preference. All that matters for weight loss is eating less calories than you burn.

    If I'm doing the math correctly, you are under 5', yes? When you are that short, you just don't have as many calories to work with. You might actually want to settle on a goal of 1 kg a week for now just to make it a little easier.

    Please take a deep breath. You will not lose weight every week, even if you are perfect. You do not have to follow a bunch of "food rules" unless they make it easier for you to eat the correct amount of calories. Take care of yourself, and good luck :drinker:

    1 lb = 0.45 kg. Still a good suggestion for weight loss/week. This post has good advice.
  • kimny72
    kimny72 Posts: 16,013 Member
    VeryKatie wrote: »
    kimny72 wrote: »
    • Enter your stats into MFP and choose a goal of one lb per week (that's 2 kgs)
    • If you don't have one, get a food scale.
    • Use the food scale for everything you eat except for liquids - this includes pre-packaged items, nut butters, yogurt, everything.
    • Log everything accurately and consistently. Eat to your calorie goal.
    • Log your exercise and eat back some of those calories

    Meal timing, types of foods, number of meals... these are all personal preference. All that matters for weight loss is eating less calories than you burn.

    If I'm doing the math correctly, you are under 5', yes? When you are that short, you just don't have as many calories to work with. You might actually want to settle on a goal of 1 kg a week for now just to make it a little easier.

    Please take a deep breath. You will not lose weight every week, even if you are perfect. You do not have to follow a bunch of "food rules" unless they make it easier for you to eat the correct amount of calories. Take care of yourself, and good luck :drinker:

    1 lb = 0.45 kg. Still a good suggestion for weight loss/week. This post has good advice.

    Darn it, I converted backwards :angry:
  • amanymorad
    amanymorad Posts: 11 Member
    kimny72 wrote: »
    amanymorad wrote: »
    kimny72 wrote: »
    • Enter your stats into MFP and choose a goal of one lb per week (that's 2 kgs)
    • If you don't have one, get a food scale.
    • Use the food scale for everything you eat except for liquids - this includes pre-packaged items, nut butters, yogurt, everything.
    • Log everything accurately and consistently. Eat to your calorie goal.
    • Log your exercise and eat back some of those calories

    Meal timing, types of foods, number of meals... these are all personal preference. All that matters for weight loss is eating less calories than you burn.

    If I'm doing the math correctly, you are under 5', yes? When you are that short, you just don't have as many calories to work with. You might actually want to settle on a goal of 1 kg a week for now just to make it a little easier.

    Please take a deep breath. You will not lose weight every week, even if you are perfect. You do not have to follow a bunch of "food rules" unless they make it easier for you to eat the correct amount of calories. Take care of yourself, and good luck :drinker:

    MFP won't allow me to go on less than 0.6 kgs a week, with a 1,200 calorie goal (which didn't get me anywhere when I did follow, accurately and consistently.....plateau then weight gain...even when I went as low as 800 cal)

    Yup, I'm 4.9 ft

    Thank you so much for your advice :smile:

    I don't think you've answered this - are you using a food scale? How often? Or are you using measuring cups and spoons?

    scale...always (recently)

    I didn't use to count calories before....only did it for a short while in 2015 (like a month)
  • Nikion901
    Nikion901 Posts: 2,467 Member
    edited August 2016
    Don't know about the credentials of your nutritionist, it that person is certified or not ... and a lot of advice you have been given scoffs at the advice you got from yours.

    However ... not calling it 'starvation mode' ... when I was in my early 30's I had a very low metabolism that came about from improper eating during my do's. My medical doctor advised me to stop dieting and to slowly increase my daily caloric intake even though that would cause me to gain weight. He wanted me to keep it up until I stopped gaining weight ... and that took many months, not a few weeks.

    edited to correct ... during my twenties, not during my do's ... stupid spell check/word finisher!
    get's me every time!
  • amanymorad
    amanymorad Posts: 11 Member
    Nikion901 wrote: »
    Don't know about the credentials of your nutritionist, it that person is certified or not ... and a lot of advice you have been given scoffs at the advice you got from yours.

    However ... not calling it 'starvation mode' ... when I was in my early 30's I had a very low metabolism that came about from improper eating during my do's. My medical doctor advised me to stop dieting and to slowly increase my daily caloric intake even though that would cause me to gain weight. He wanted me to keep it up until I stopped gaining weight ... and that took many months, not a few weeks.

    edited to correct ... during my twenties, not during my do's ... stupid spell check/word finisher!
    get's me every time!

    how many "months"? and then what did you do?
  • Bob314159
    Bob314159 Posts: 1,178 Member
    xsix wrote: »
    He is telling you the truth, but its not as bad as it sounds. Start eating again and keep working out .people that fast go into starvation mode all the time, and seem to be ok.

    There is no such thing as "starvation mode." An old myth (i.e. excuse) that won't go away.

    Starvation Mode: Is It A Myth? Is It Real? Is Your Body In It Right Now?

    For sure it's magic weird science