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Eating above BMR... Starvation mode?

Asia_321
Asia_321 Posts: 3 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Hey guys :)

This may sound like dumb question, but bear with me... If I'm eating above my BMR but exercising a lot (as in enough to create a huge deficit between my intake and tdee) can my body theoretically go into starvation mode?
*For argument's sake, say my bmr is 1500, I'm eat 1600 but my total daily expenditure is 2500, it creates a really large deficit... is this healthy?
I'm not saying that these are my numbers, I'm just curious... :)

Replies

  • williams969
    williams969 Posts: 2,528 Member
    I don't know anything (nor do I care to, since I'm not going to "try" it) about "starvation mode" reality vs. myth stuff. That said, for ME, if I were to consistently create a 900 to 1000 calorie deficit every single day, I know I would feel very fatigued both mentally and physically right quick.

    I think it's sound advice to (for MOST people) to eat at minimum above their BMR. For both the satiation factor and meeting basic micro nutrient goals for health. That's why, typically, a modest deficit (250-750 cals/day) creates a more sustainable goal that meets nutrition requirements, satiation, and gives modest and lasting weight loss.
  • SLLRunner
    SLLRunner Posts: 12,942 Member
    Hey guys :)

    This may sound like dumb question, but bear with me... If I'm eating above my BMR but exercising a lot (as in enough to create a huge deficit between my intake and tdee) can my body theoretically go into starvation mode?
    *For argument's sake, say my bmr is 1500, I'm eat 1600 but my total daily expenditure is 2500, it creates a really large deficit... is this healthy?
    I'm not saying that these are my numbers, I'm just curious... :)
    No, Starvation mode takes place when you have lost a certain amount of body fat and muscle. Someone started a very informative thread on this a month or so back, but if you use the search function with "starvation mode" you will find many threads on this.

    The common dieter does not generally encounter starvation mode. Here's a link explaining starvation.

    http://www.madsciencemuseum.com/msm/pl/great_starvation_experiment
  • QuietBloom
    QuietBloom Posts: 5,413 Member
    Yes, with those numbers, you would eventually go into starvation mode.

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