How real is "starvation mode"?

MatthewLewis81

So I know my body will drop my metabolism lower if I eat less than it's used to getting. And I know the usual line about eating too little (e.g., will lose as much muscle as fat, metabolism drops, fat comes on fast once you start eating again). But what I'm wondering if if it's possible to "game the system" a bit.

Say I were to fast every other day, except for water and protein shakes. The alternating days I eat about half to 2/3rds my maintenance level of calories, mainly in protein. While doing this, I take two 45-minute brisk walks/jogs per day and heavy resistance training three times per week, and I try to get up and do a few minutes of cardio (like jumping jacks) every hour during the day.

With that kind of routine -- high protein, reasonably high activity, and strength training -- can I keep my metabolism up, and use the protein to build muscle, while losing a bunch of fat due to the massive calorie deficit?

I'd just give it a try, but I can't be the first person with this idea and am interested in perspectives before I go and run myself into the ground.