Is there such a thing as starvation mode?

sherisse5

Hello! I just switched from weight watchers to this. Hoping this helps a little more than WW did. In WW we were told that you HAD to eat the minimum in your healthy eating points range or you wouldn't lose weight. They said your body would go into "starvation mode". Is there any truth to this? My calorie count for the day on MFP is 1200. What if I only eat 1000? Will I still lose weight? Or should I be trying to get as close to 1200 every day?

L1zardQueen

Nope. Starvation mode is a myth.

Why 1000 calories?

kimny72

sherisse5 wrote: »

Hello! I just switched from weight watchers to this. Hoping this helps a little more than WW did. In WW we were told that you HAD to eat the minimum in your healthy eating points range or you wouldn't lose weight. They said your body would go into "starvation mode". Is there any truth to this? My calorie count for the day on MFP is 1200. What if I only eat 1000? Will I still lose weight? Or should I be trying to get as close to 1200 every day?

Starvation mode is a myth, but you still shouldn't be eating only 1000 calories, your body needs fuel.
There is such a thing as metabolic adaptation but this happens when you consistently undereat for an extended period of time and your body eventually adjusts to the lower calorie level. It happens over time, not all of a sudden.

A goal is something to reach, and it's not difficult to eat 1200 calories, it's the lowest goal MFP will give.

Set a reasonable weekly goal. Log your food accurately and consistently - use a food scale as often as possible and double check that the entries you are using are accurate. Log your exercise and eat back at least some of those calories too. Read the stickied posts at the top of the boards. And be patient. Good luck!

rileysowner

Starvation mode is a myth, but malnutrition, excessive loss of lean mass, and other things are not. 1000 calories is below the MINIMUM calories that a considered necessary to get the nutrients you need as a woman. It is setting yourself up for failure. Is 1200 calories the goal Myfitnesspal gave you?

sherisse5

It is the goal they gave me. That's with losing 2 lbs a week. I switched it to 1.5 lbs a week and it upped me to 1500 calories a day. I'm going to aim for between 1200 and 1500 every day.

L1zardQueen

What is your starting weight and your height? Yep, 1000 calories is not a good idea.

AnvilHead

http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10643389/is-there-such-a-thing-as-starvation-mode