Am I "technically" starving myself? Open diary.

Sarahndipity30

I weigh 300 lbs. Im 6'1" and my TDEE is about 2500 cals a day. I average between 1800-2200. you should not be eating 1200 cals a day, or jumping form one extreme to the next. Way to freak your body out... and should probably "ease yourself" into making healthier choices and getting off the couch more.. we all fall off the wagon and eat something that isnt healthy once in awhile or don't make it to the gym once in awhile.. but if you are going to ask the "community" for help/guidance, and they give you blunt, honest answers, i would defin listen to them. A lot of these people have lost significant amounts of weight, so it is a proven fact that what they are suggesting generally works. But it takes time. it isnt "quick and easy"

After many years of battling with my weight, i can tell you that your biggest fault is going to be yourself. If you keep giving yourself "cheat" days and "start over" days you will get nowhere. you have REALLY got to want this and to WANT to make better choices and live a healthier lifestyle. it isn't easy at all. This week has been hell for me personally..but im still here and Ive gotten some positive criticism for my choices and for things that I have said/done. I make note of it.


Suggestions.. focus on making better food choices and logging HONESTLY first and foremost, once you have that down, get moving more, learn to say "No" to things, and drink MORE WATER. :flowerforyou:

Good Luck to you. you CAN accomplish this.

ash8184

Be careful. You might want to get your metabolism tested (medgem) and see what your actual needs are. I have a slow metabolism, so I don't need any more than 1200, but you might. While you're losing weight BE SURE TO STRENGTH TRAIN, or you'll be doing cardio all the time and will get to a point where in order to maintain your weight, you have to be running 6 miles a day or you gain (been there, done that). Medically supervised diets are usually far lower than 1200/day, but you want to be sure it's ok for you. Just like not everyone is ok with 1200 cals/day, not everyone needs 2000+/day, either. Whatever you decide, stick to it. Make it a lifestyle changes and make small changes all the time and it'll become habit.

ETA: your friends are lean proteins and veggies. Eat lots of all of it and you'll find that whatever calorie goal you set accommodates A LOT of this. If you want something sweet, eat fruit. You'll see changes in your body in no time.

auddii

Exercise: For now, i'm probably going to focus more on my eating...rather than exercising. I've been told to take it easy, so i'm going to do what my body tells me. I plan on doing walking and more low-level workouts. To ease myself in.

Some people think you have to do everything all at once, but I think this is a great idea, especially if ups and downs on the scale mess with you. When you first start working out, you tend to retain water due to increased cortisol levels (they increase because of the new stress on the body) and because your muscles repair themselves. When you're first starting, people are often disappointed by a "weight gain", and they give up and just keep their old habits. Focusing on diet first can give you some momentum in weight loss, and then you can add in exercise later.

Also, I know lots of people are giving you advice about how much to eat. Personally, I think 600 is low to eat every day. A lot of people (myself included) when they first start dieting avoid "bad foods" and try and fill up on "healthy foods". It's hard to eat 1800 calories of lettuce! But, we start classifying foods as bad, and no food is inherently bad. Even if you want to "eat healthy", there are more calorie dense foods that you can add into your diet (to give your body the fuel it needs to get through the day). Think healthy fats (avocado, olive oil, nuts, etc.), lean proteins, etc. You can even have some treats in moderation.

Personally, I found that I'd restrict very easily during the week when it was easy to follow a schedule, and I'd eat less than 1000 calories a day. But, then on the weekend, I'd completely binge. I just couldn't find it sustainable. I've found that eating a moderate amount every day allows me to feel full, and I haven't really binged since then (although I've had some days where I just don't care, but it's a conscious decision to eat more). I'm currently losing when I eat 1800 calories everyday (although I workout a few times a week as well).

MissRavenD

Be careful. You might want to get your metabolism tested (medgem) and see what your actual needs are. I have a slow metabolism, so I don't need any more than 1200, but you might. While you're losing weight BE SURE TO STRENGTH TRAIN, or you'll be doing cardio all the time and will get to a point where in order to maintain your weight, you have to be running 6 miles a day or you gain (been there, done that). Medically supervised diets are usually far lower than 1200/day, but you want to be sure it's ok for you. Just like not everyone is ok with 1200 cals/day, not everyone needs 2000+/day, either. Whatever you decide, stick to it. Make it a lifestyle changes and make small changes all the time and it'll become habit.

ETA: your friends are lean proteins and veggies. Eat lots of all of it and you'll find that whatever calorie goal you set accommodates A LOT of this. If you want something sweet, eat fruit. You'll see changes in your body in no time.

Thank you very much. I appreciate your input.

Lean proteins and veggies, lots of em...got it! haha.

Yeah, I've decided to pretty much cut out "sweets" all together...the only sweets i'm getting are fruits... and maybe a bite of 83 percent dark chocolate. >.< BLEGH! haha

MissRavenD

Exercise: For now, i'm probably going to focus more on my eating...rather than exercising. I've been told to take it easy, so i'm going to do what my body tells me. I plan on doing walking and more low-level workouts. To ease myself in.

Some people think you have to do everything all at once, but I think this is a great idea, especially if ups and downs on the scale mess with you. When you first start working out, you tend to retain water due to increased cortisol levels (they increase because of the new stress on the body) and because your muscles repair themselves. When you're first starting, people are often disappointed by a "weight gain", and they give up and just keep their old habits. Focusing on diet first can give you some momentum in weight loss, and then you can add in exercise later.

Also, I know lots of people are giving you advice about how much to eat. Personally, I think 600 is low to eat every day. A lot of people (myself included) when they first start dieting avoid "bad foods" and try and fill up on "healthy foods". It's hard to eat 1800 calories of lettuce! But, we start classifying foods as bad, and no food is inherently bad. Even if you want to "eat healthy", there are more calorie dense foods that you can add into your diet (to give your body the fuel it needs to get through the day). Think healthy fats (avocado, olive oil, nuts, etc.), lean proteins, etc. You can even have some treats in moderation.

Personally, I found that I'd restrict very easily during the week when it was easy to follow a schedule, and I'd eat less than 1000 calories a day. But, then on the weekend, I'd completely binge. I just couldn't find it sustainable. I've found that eating a moderate amount every day allows me to feel full, and I haven't really binged since then (although I've had some days where I just don't care, but it's a conscious decision to eat more). I'm currently losing when I eat 1800 calories everyday (although I workout a few times a week as well).

Thank you VERY much.

I appreciate your help, honest!

septembergrrl

I wouldn't worry too much about one low-calorie day -- as many people have said, you won't go into "starvation mode" after one day.

But I guess my one piece of advice would be to be easy on yourself the first couple weeks. You've been eating 3,600 calories of high-fat, high-sugar meals regularly. Going from that to 1700 calories of proteins and plants is a little like getting off the couch and going to run a marathon; it's setting yourself up for failure. In fact, you might want to not even think about calories for a couple weeks and just get used to not eating the obvious junk.

JMHO.

angel7472

Someone quated having to sustain 6 miles a day for exercise. If you think of it this way we have had 10,000 steps a day drilled into our head as healthy. The average person walking that is between 5-6 miles a day. So honestly just to maintain a healthy weight you are to do close to 6 miles a day. When I first started I couldnt even do the 6 miles now I am up to 10 a day. Maybe I'm just crazy but I find exercise curbs my appetite. It keeps me from obsessing over food. On the weekends I take the weekend off from dieting and exercise and I can tell you I have had weekends that are just bad. Last weekend was one of them. Even my daughter looked at me as I was eating a mini Blue Bunny cone and asked me if I wanted to gain the weight all back. lol
We are human we are going to fall and when we do we need to get ourselves back up and move on.
Will you go into starvation on 600 probably not. BUT (ya its that word) you do need to make more of a conscious effort to track what you eat and try to aim for more protein and less processed restaurant food.
To put it in perspective I eat Chinese with my husband every other weekend on Fridays. I order steamed vegetables with steamed jumbo shrimp and I have sweet chili sauce and sriracha on the side to dip it into for flavor. Portillo's grilled tuna sandwich no tartar and a gourmet garden salad no dressing. We usually get it to go so I add Jimmys lite thousand island dressing but only 2 tablespoons. And instead of the large cheese fry I LOVE I only eat a couple of his that way I get my fry craving without going full out. Because honestly if its there I WILL eat them.
I still eat chocolate and ice cream. I LOVE those not giving them up. But you have to remember if you dont have the calories to spare then dont eat them. Also I learned this...if it dont taste good and not what you want dont waste your calories eating it. Just because its in front of you dont mean it has to go in your mouth.
I wish you the best of luck :flowerforyou:

sandra80

you need to eat consistently to make your metabolism keep working. small snacks/meals through the day help.

ktsimons

My lord, how did the human race survive without calorie counting?? Of course you can only eat when you are hungry, and stop when you are full, what a question! I know there are lots of "rules" out there when it comes to diet, especially in this community, and if you are new here it can seem confusing. But a little common sense goes a long way. Good luck.

if I had the ability to stop eating when I was full, most likely, I would never have weight 220 pounds. What did we do before counting calories?? We ran away from the animals trying to eat us while we got water from the river or chopped down trees for fire wood. Too bad we have electricity and cars and junk.

cadaverousbones

You should make sure you eat at least 1200 calories a day, and more when you exercise. If you consistently eat below that, you will put your body in starvation mode and you will not have successful weight loss.

Confuzzled4ever

..

cwolfman13

Not to mention all the mis information that is out there.. pushed on us.. shoved down our throats. How the heck is anyone supposed to know anything about proper nutrition and weight loss when there is conflicting information everywhere? under 1200 = starvation mode vs starvation mode is a myth vs eat more to weight less vs eat less to lose weight. Huh??

Well...there is this thing called common sense. Really...just look at what is required nutritionally for your body...now...it's pretty hard to actually get all of that proper nutrition in a 1200 calorie diet...pretty much impossible with less than a 1200 calorie diet. No way you can get all of your essential fats and proteins along with all of your vitamins and minerals eating that little. So...yes...you are "starving" the body of nutrients...thus, the OP would essentially be "starving" herself if she at like this daily.

People need to get over the whole "starvation mode" thing...it's not "starvation mode" or whatever that is the issue. It's overall health and proper nutrition that is the issue...when you're not getting your requisite nutrition, you are indeed starving.

Also, eat more to weigh less is also just a common sense approach...it doesn't mean you eat over your maintenance calories...you still eat at a calorie deficit...just a smaller one (everyone picks the most aggressive option available and thus they get the 1200 calorie NET calorie goal)...thus making dietary adherence much easier, thus seeing more consistent results...again...just plain old common sense...which apparently isn't all that common.

Really...common sense and about 5 - 10 minutes of actual research would serve most people well.

Confuzzled4ever

Not to mention all the mis information that is out there.. pushed on us.. shoved down our throats. How the heck is anyone supposed to know anything about proper nutrition and weight loss when there is conflicting information everywhere? under 1200 = starvation mode vs starvation mode is a myth vs eat more to weight less vs eat less to lose weight. Huh??

Well...there is this thing called common sense. Really...just look at what is required nutritionally for your body...now...it's pretty hard to actually get all of that proper nutrition in a 1200 calorie diet...pretty much impossible with less than a 1200 calorie diet. No way you can get all of your essential fats and proteins along with all of your vitamins and minerals eating that little. So...yes...you are "starving" the body of nutrients...thus, the OP would essentially be "starving" herself if she at like this daily.

People need to get over the whole "starvation mode" thing...it's not "starvation mode" or whatever that is the issue. It's overall health and proper nutrition that is the issue...when you're not getting your requisite nutrition, you are indeed starving.

Also, eat more to weigh less is also just a common sense approach...it doesn't mean you eat over your maintenance calories...you still eat at a calorie deficit...just a smaller one (everyone picks the most aggressive option available and thus they get the 1200 calorie NET calorie goal)...thus making dietary adherence much easier, thus seeing more consistent results...again...just plain old common sense...which apparently isn't all that common.

Really...common sense and about 5 - 10 minutes of actual research would serve most people well.

Right except a year ago. I didn't know a thing about micro or macro nutrients.. didn't' know a thing about maintenance calories, eating at defect or where I was or how to find out on that scale. When I joined here.. I asked a similar question as this poster and was given about 5 different answer that were all "right" and was blasted for "allowing" myself to eat under 1,000 calories and then raked over the coals for consuming take out. I would *never* had thought eat more to weigh less. There isn't a diet out there that promotes this. WW, Atkins, Whatever all tells you to eat less. This is what is taught to us. So how do we know? Googling nutrition and weight loss brings up similar diets to sift through. How do you know what is true? You don't. Even nutritions contradict each other. I had went to two consultations with 2 different nutritionists who gave me two entirely different way to reach my goals and then the personal trainer I was talking to gave me a different approach.

This site pretty much puts a woman at 1200 calories not matter what you enter. Then when you exercise it increases, but what we are taught contradicts that. It's really hard to unlearn what we've been taught. My son's gym and health class is much more informative and nutrition focused then mine ever was. So perhaps things are changing, but not when the majority of us went to school. Unless you went to school for nutrition you're just out there floundering around until you stumble on the right answer and see that it works for yourself. When you're taught less is more, it's really hard to eat those extra 200 calories. Common sense or not.

By the way.. what *is* required for my specific body from a nutrition standpoint? Make sure you take into account my allergies, medical issues, activity level and personal likes and dislikes. (since realistically no one is going to eat food they immensely dislike) Bit harder then it sounds to figure out huh.


ETA: Furthermore eating more is what got me fat. So how in the world does one associate that philosophy with weight loss? It's hard to grasp the concept. You have to understand what your body needs first and to do that you have to know what to research. Otherwise it's just a bunch of guesswork. So OP isn't eating properly. I assume you were also not eating properly at some point? Otherwise why the website? She took the first step and is reaching out to learn more so she can do it right. I see nothing wrong with that. But shoving "you need to eat more" down anyones throat is not going to work. Neither is throwing up the road map and saying follow this. It goes against everything we know and once you switch how you eat.. it's really hard to eat enough. Veggies have a ton less calories then the foods I used to eat. I get to eat triple what I used to for less calories. It's hard to get enough in when You're entire plate is overflowing and it's under 400 calories (which I do often) now I still have calories to eat for the day and I'm stuffed. Eating when I wasn't hungry got me fat. It's hard to unlearn that.

MissRavenD

Not to mention all the mis information that is out there.. pushed on us.. shoved down our throats. How the heck is anyone supposed to know anything about proper nutrition and weight loss when there is conflicting information everywhere? under 1200 = starvation mode vs starvation mode is a myth vs eat more to weight less vs eat less to lose weight. Huh??

Well...there is this thing called common sense. Really...just look at what is required nutritionally for your body...now...it's pretty hard to actually get all of that proper nutrition in a 1200 calorie diet...pretty much impossible with less than a 1200 calorie diet. No way you can get all of your essential fats and proteins along with all of your vitamins and minerals eating that little. So...yes...you are "starving" the body of nutrients...thus, the OP would essentially be "starving" herself if she at like this daily.

People need to get over the whole "starvation mode" thing...it's not "starvation mode" or whatever that is the issue. It's overall health and proper nutrition that is the issue...when you're not getting your requisite nutrition, you are indeed starving.

Also, eat more to weigh less is also just a common sense approach...it doesn't mean you eat over your maintenance calories...you still eat at a calorie deficit...just a smaller one (everyone picks the most aggressive option available and thus they get the 1200 calorie NET calorie goal)...thus making dietary adherence much easier, thus seeing more consistent results...again...just plain old common sense...which apparently isn't all that common.

Really...common sense and about 5 - 10 minutes of actual research would serve most people well.

Right except a year ago. I didn't know a thing about micro or macro nutrients.. didn't' know a thing about maintenance calories, eating at defect or where I was or how to find out on that scale. When I joined here.. I asked a similar question as this poster and was given about 5 different answer that were all "right" and was blasted for "allowing" myself to eat under 1,000 calories and then raked over the coals for consuming take out. I would *never* had thought eat more to weigh less. There isn't a diet out there that promotes this. WW, Atkins, Whatever all tells you to eat less. This is what is taught to us. So how do we know? Googling nutrition and weight loss brings up similar diets to sift through. How do you know what is true? You don't. Even nutritions contradict each other. I had went to two consultations with 2 different nutritionists who gave me two entirely different way to reach my goals and then the personal trainer I was talking to gave me a different approach.

This site pretty much puts a woman at 1200 calories not matter what you enter. Then when you exercise it increases, but what we are taught contradicts that. It's really hard to unlearn what we've been taught. My son's gym and health class is much more informative and nutrition focused then mine ever was. So perhaps things are changing, but not when the majority of us went to school. Unless you went to school for nutrition you're just out there floundering around until you stumble on the right answer and see that it works for yourself. When you're taught less is more, it's really hard to eat those extra 200 calories. Common sense or not.

By the way.. what *is* required for my specific body from a nutrition standpoint? Make sure you take into account my allergies, medical issues, activity level and personal likes and dislikes. (since realistically no one is going to eat food they immensely dislike) Bit harder then it sounds to figure out huh.


ETA: Furthermore eating more is what got me fat. So how in the world does one associate that philosophy with weight loss? It's hard to grasp the concept. You have to understand what your body needs first and to do that you have to know what to research. Otherwise it's just a bunch of guesswork. So OP isn't eating properly. I assume you were also not eating properly at some point? Otherwise why the website? She took the first step and is reaching out to learn more so she can do it right. I see nothing wrong with that. But shoving "you need to eat more" down anyones throat is not going to work. Neither is throwing up the road map and saying follow this. It goes against everything we know and once you switch how you eat.. it's really hard to eat enough. Veggies have a ton less calories then the foods I used to eat. I get to eat triple what I used to for less calories. It's hard to get enough in when You're entire plate is overflowing and it's under 400 calories (which I do often) now I still have calories to eat for the day and I'm stuffed. Eating when I wasn't hungry got me fat. It's hard to unlearn that.

Than you very much Confuzzled4ev. You seem to be the only one who actually "gets it".

I did not make this topic to be, well, *****ed at.

I made this topic because I didn't have a clue. Why in the hell would I put my neck on the line...risk the trolls...risk the *kitten*...if I hadn't already done "common sense" or "research."

How about you use a little common sense, hrmm?

And, like you said Confuzzled, I was taught entirely differently than what i'm doing...that includes IN school...

I am teaching myself everything. I am teaching myself an entirely new way of eating, and an entirely new way of living...cold turkey.

And I do have "medical issues"...hence why i'm not working out that much because I've been told not to... (But, i'm going to a Doctor tomorrow to get a second...more informative...opinion)


"It's hard to grasp the concept. You have to understand what your body needs first and to do that you have to know what to research. Otherwise it's just a bunch of guesswork. So OP isn't eating properly. I assume you were also not eating properly at some point? Otherwise why the website? She took the first step and is reaching out to learn more so she can do it right. I see nothing wrong with that. But shoving "you need to eat more" down anyones throat is not going to work. Neither is throwing up the road map and saying follow this. It goes against everything we know and once you switch how you eat.. it's really hard to eat enough. " THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!

This is exactly it. I do not know or understand what my body really needs...
I've never done math to figure out what to eat...
I've never weighed my food... I've never known anyone to ever do that...so why would I?

I say this again, I am truly regretful for reaching out to you people...I have never had my feelings more hurt in my entire life...

I was never made fun of for my weight. Or made to feel like I was some ignorant cow. But boy, I come to a weight loss support community, and there it is...and what a feeling.

Thanks to all of you who are understanding and actually trying to help... Good luck in your journeys. From what I've seen, you all are doing an amazing job and look wonderful. Before, and after! :')