Eating too little?

phasesme
phasesme Posts: 31 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I never really paid much attention to the little message mfp gives you when you complete your diary for the day. It told me I am at risk of going into starvation mode. Should I be eating back my exercise calories? Does anyone go by those suggestions. I don't want to do more harm than good.

Replies

  • AmyRhubarb
    AmyRhubarb Posts: 6,890 Member
    Your daily goal that MFP gives you already has you at a deficit - meaning you could eat TO GOAL every single day, do zero exercise, and you'll lose weight. When you burn more cals off through exercise, you're increasing that deficit, which can do you more harm than good over time. You are supposed to eat them back - this is why they are added back into your daily goal. Eat at least a good portion of them - you will still be a calorie deficit, and your body will be well-fueled, better energy for workouts and daily life, etc.
  • bajoyba
    bajoyba Posts: 1,153 Member
    Your daily goal that MFP gives you already has you at a deficit - meaning you could eat TO GOAL every single day, do zero exercise, and you'll lose weight. When you burn more cals off through exercise, you're increasing that deficit, which can do you more harm than good over time. You are supposed to eat them back - this is why they are added back into your daily goal. Eat at least a good portion of them - you will still be a calorie deficit, and your body will be well-fueled, better energy for workouts and daily life, etc.

    +1
  • Ortax
    Ortax Posts: 98
    Starvation mode is grossly over-exaggerated. Your body can't outrun a calorie deficit
  • megsmom2
    megsmom2 Posts: 2,362 Member
    Your daily goal that MFP gives you already has you at a deficit - meaning you could eat TO GOAL every single day, do zero exercise, and you'll lose weight. When you burn more cals off through exercise, you're increasing that deficit, which can do you more harm than good over time. You are supposed to eat them back - this is why they are added back into your daily goal. Eat at least a good portion of them - you will still be a calorie deficit, and your body will be well-fueled, better energy for workouts and daily life, etc.

    +1

    Yup.
  • xCarpeDiemx24
    xCarpeDiemx24 Posts: 39
    Starvation mode is grossly over-exaggerated. Your body can't outrun a calorie deficit

    I keep thinking this too. I don't understand people's thinking when they say you will gain weight/stop losing weight if you eat less than 1,200 a day?
  • beachlover317
    beachlover317 Posts: 2,848 Member
    Ditch even thinking about starvation mode and stay in a healthy calorie deficit. It is not about "starving", it is about fueling your body to stay healthy.

    Eating less than 1200 calories a day makes it hard to get the required nutrients that your body needs. That's all. You'll lose weight for sure - but what will you be losing? I prefer to keep as much LBM as possible.

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