Starvation Mode

raeesa07

Will eating constantly throughout the day(until you are satisfied) but still considerably below 1200 put your body in starvation mode?

What effects does "starvation mode" actually have on your body anyway? Just curious

beachlover317

please read this.

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1077746-starvation-mode-adaptive-thermogenesis-and-weight-loss


ETA: at 18 years old with only a few pounds to lose - you really should be eating more. Figure out your TDEE eat at a small deficit to that number.

kk_140

I will probably get lots of hate for this, but this myth drives me crazy!

Starvation mode has been so morphed by masses that are ignorant of it that it is essentially a myth now. Starvation mode occurs after your body has not received proper nutrients for a very extended period of time and generally does not take place at all until a person is less than 5% body fat.

As a general idea, eat enough to get your body the nutrients that it needs to function properly. Your body will not suddenly slow your metabolism or start burning muscle until there is practically nothing else left. Your body won't count a 24 hour period, see that you ate less than the magic number of 1200 calories and suddenly shut down.

Good luck to you on your weight loss journey. Make sure you get all your nutrients, and do some of your own research on the topic because god knows real information on it is hard to come by with all the hype.

rejectuf

I really hate the term starvation mode. Mainly because eating consistently high quality meals that satisfy you should never be equated to something as horrific as starvation.

That being said, if you eat at an extreme enough calorie deficit your body will move the goal posts so to speak. Your body's natural rate of burning calories will drop. This happens with sustained eating habits, not short term. In fact short term fasts have shown to slightly increase weight loss.

Look at your calories eaten versus your calories burned. If your calories eaten are less than half calories burned I would be concerned.

njitaliana

My diet doctor says that eating below 1200 calories lowers your metabolism, so weight loss will eventually stop because of it.

Will eating constantly throughout the day(until you are satisfied) but still considerably below 1200 put your body in starvation mode?

What effects does "starvation mode" actually have on your body anyway? Just curious

DawnieB1977

I used to eat below 1200 calories for years, and I certainly didn't starve! It did slow down my metabolism though.

Now I'm older (and wiser lol) I upped to 1500 calories and lost more effectively, and improved my metabolism. I'm pregnant now and eating 1900.

If you're young and only have a few lbs to lose, I wouldn't eat too few calories.

kk_140

My diet doctor says that eating below 1200 calories lowers your metabolism, so weight loss will eventually stop because of it.

Will eating constantly throughout the day(until you are satisfied) but still considerably below 1200 put your body in starvation mode?

What effects does "starvation mode" actually have on your body anyway? Just curious

Weight loss won't stop.

Eating at a fdeficit=weight loss. If this were true no one would ever die of starvation lol. Explain any Victoria's secret model if this were true! You won't stop losing weight eating low calories.

I'm not saying eat like a Victoria's secret model, that's not healthy. But saying you suddenly stop losing weight is incredibly ignorant.

raeesa07

Also ive read somewhere that you can actually trick your metabolism by ranging your calorie intake. Is this true?

beachlover317

Also ive read somewhere that you can actually trick your metabolism by ranging your calorie intake. Is this true?

Trick it to do what?

raeesa07

Also ive read somewhere that you can actually trick your metabolism by ranging your calorie intake. Is this true?

Trick it to do what?

From slowing down too much

beachlover317

Your body will not suddenly slow your metabolism or start burning muscle until there is practically nothing else left.

I agree that the meaning of starvation mode is grossly distorted. However, your body is very efficient in burning what is requiring the most energy. Do you think that your fat is requiring more energy than your muscles?

kk_140

There are studies that show that eating at or around maintenance calories once every week or two will raise the hormone levels, leptin, in your brain. This shows your brain to think, " hey were not in a famine, food still exists" and gets your body to store less fat because of it. It is the mentality behind a cheat day. ( though this is meant in moderation not full out binge)

bluetuesday5

My diet doctor says that eating below 1200 calories lowers your metabolism, so weight loss will eventually stop because of it.

Will eating constantly throughout the day(until you are satisfied) but still considerably below 1200 put your body in starvation mode?

What effects does "starvation mode" actually have on your body anyway? Just curious

Weight loss won't stop.

Eating at a fdeficit=weight loss. If this were true no one would ever die of starvation lol. Explain any Victoria's secret model if this were true! You won't stop losing weight eating low calories.

I'm not saying eat like a Victoria's secret model, that's not healthy. But saying you suddenly stop losing weight is incredibly ignorant.

Correct, eating at a deficit = weight loss, but if your metabolism slows down then you can eat the same amount of calories and no longer be in a deficit. From what I've read, 2 weeks at maintenance will reset it so long as you keep carbs relatively high as thyroid output is carb sensitive.

Edit: Some studies have shown a reduction in metabolic rate of 30% due to undereating although this is the extreme and it seems to be dependant on genetics.

kcasey155

Interesting!

raeesa07

Interesting!

it is!

charleigh78

From what I understand, you need to fast or eat very, very low calories for 72 hours+ for your metabolism to be compromised. I think the ideal would be a fluctuating calorie In take. I now set my intake at maintenance and vary how I eat from day to day. I throw in a purposefully super low day (500 cals or less) two or three times a week but never consecutive. If I eat 500 cals today but 1800 tomorrow then my body will not think there is a famine.