Starvation Mode is Real, and ugly
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Thank you for sharing your journey.0
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Marla I can't thank you enough for talking about this! In February my weight loss really slowed and I thought I should lower my calorie needs to get things going again and work out more. I will put my calories back up and eat my exercise cals too.
Good luck, and I am really glad to see that upping your cals was the way to go!
I will continue to check in.0 -
OK...I have two questions.
#1. Can a person do low calorie but high nutrition and avoid starvation mode? I have seen some peoples food diaries and yes, they might be eating high calories but they are also eating crap. Diet pudding, diet coke, processed flours and grains, high fructose corn syrup laden cereals etc. Maybe not every meal is bad but they have their vices and indulge daily. There HAS to be a difference. It seems to me that the body can go into starvation mode from lack of nutrients as easily as it can from lack of calories.
#2. I have researched it all over the Internet and for a woman of my age, height, weight, etc and INCLUDING exercise, my daily requirement would be about 1600 calories. I probably really do this. My week tends to go like this. Monday-Thursday I probably eat about 1300-1500 calories. Then I try to fast on Fridays for religious reasons (only from Thursday dinner to Friday dinner, so really only skip 2 meals). On the weekends I tend to eat more like 1700 calories and occasionally closer to 2000.
Am I still too low???
Over Christmas I ate a lot more than normal and I did gain back 6 pounds. I don't eat sweets but I did indulge in processed flours and processed foods by eating out and having extra helpings and loving the carbs!! So, I really I think that I would just gain it all back if I increase.
I am still amazed, incredulous, and mesmerized by this idea that you can increase your calories so significantly and after a slight gain, start to actually lose weight again.
Thanks for answering and humoring my paranoia! :laugh:
D0 -
Thanks for sharing0
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You know what, Donna-- I'm not going to even to pretend to be any type of knowledgable person about this, so I'm not going to even entertain your question. People much smarter than me can weigh in, but I'm nutty enough trying to figure out my own calorie crud.
I will agree that 1200 calories of crap may lead to weight loss in the short-term, but not good long-term. My diet wasn't great in large part due to budgetary concerns-- we were unemployed and on a total shoe-string, and I ate a lot of crap-- just 1200 calories of it.
Did that aid the problem? Who the heck knows?
Not the doctor, that's for sure. This yahoo today, after once again proclaiming me free from major health concerns-- no Cushing's, thyroid function in check, no diabetes, blah, blah, blah-- kept referring to my genes, and told me I'm "fuel efficient."
Yeah, okay, that makes sense, Doc, if I suddenly just plateau. Okay, my genes kick in and refuse to let any more weight drop off on 1400 calories plus steady exercise, that makes sense. But, put 30 pounds back on with no change in diet or exercise level?? That does not compute.
So I try to talk to him about the starvation mode thing, something which I asked him to put "in layman's terms" last time, and he acknowledged the term. Today, he seemed surprised by the notion. Talked to him about increasing my calories, and of my research on starvation mode, the metabolism shutting down, blah, blah, blah-- he seems concerned that I'm eating 2200 calories.
"Wow, that's a lot." And then goes on to say for my weight, height, age, my basal metabolic rate is only 1600 and change.
"Yes, Dr., but that's what I'd need if I did nothing but stay in bed all day."
"That's true." :noway: Hellooooooo???????? Which of us is getting paid for this? One of us is definitely not earning their salary there, buddy.
Told him I've done my math, and spent the past freaking year trying to solve this mystery in the absence of any medical explanation. Told him, yes, my BMR is 1600, plus I'm raising a billion kids, vacuuming, cooking, laundry, shopping....hell, my part-time typing job burns 500 calories or so for my 4 hours-- AND I do 4-5 days of hard exercise on top of that.
I don't know-- I was left just flippin' puzzled. How do these aholes graduate medical school? What purpose do they serve beyond trying to squeeze you into their tidy, little boxes? And believe me, I'm not fitting into anything these days, let alone their boxes!!!!!
There is no MEDICAL explanation he can find, so he just keeps regurgitating "genes, fuel efficient, genes-- " you know, save it, buddy. You tell me my thyroid is fine, I'll have to now think outside the box.
According to his scale, I was up almost two pounds today-- different scale, different office, though-- but, my scale at home is what I'm going by. Hubs and I are trying to figure this out, thinking outside the box. It makes sense. It's the only thing that's made sense.
Doing all I was doing, yes, with my genetic makeup, on so few calories, with the full court press towards the end of nothing but rice cakes and plain yogurt to get the last stubborn pounds off-- it makes sense that I scared the hell out of my body. It makes sense that the body freaked out, sensed danger, began to store the fat and burn the muscle.... And my body's current state bears that out.
While my exercise never stopped, my body shape has certainly changed. I can hardly see the definition in my calves, for example, that were so lean and cut due to all my running. Now, they're all plump and squishy. Some definition is beginning to begin again, within the past two weeks, but very, very slowly.
I know-- I'm rambling again-- sorry. But, to close, Donna-- I really can't answer any of your questions. I'm still trying to figure this out.
Where's Banks? And that other way smart dude who gave me all the links earlier? Maybe they can help.
For me-- I got through the first doctor's appointment in over a year without tears. I've sobbed in more offices than I can shake a stick at (what does that expression mean, anyway??) out of frustration, pain, anger-- all my hard work gone with no explanation. Seems I may have one now, and I just have to be patient and hope I'm onto something. Seems I am. We'll see.
I dropped from 2300 calories to 2200 effective today-- every couple weeks, as I see progress I'm going to reduce slowly. Never below 1800, though, and probably not even that low-- I don't want my body fearing starvation again.
Later-- thanks again for all the support.0 -
I'm Here Marla!
Donna you wrote this:#1. Can a person do low calorie but high nutrition and avoid starvation mode? I have seen some peoples food diaries and yes, they might be eating high calories but they are also eating crap. Diet pudding, diet coke, processed flours and grains, high fructose corn syrup laden cereals etc. Maybe not every meal is bad but they have their vices and indulge daily. There HAS to be a difference. It seems to me that the body can go into starvation mode from lack of nutrients as easily as it can from lack of calories.
And my answer to that is, both calorie amount and calorie quality are important. calorie quality won't send you into, or keep you out of starvation mode, but they can trigger all sorts of other things. for instance, highly processed carbs with lots of sugars (think cakes, pastries...etc.) will flood your blood stream, whelming your body's ability to burn the energy and triggering storage of fat, where as that same exact amount of calories, when eaten in the form of high quality complex carbohydrates (think veggies and wild rice for example), would be digested far slower, thus avoiding the sugar spike and giving you a steady stream of energy for hours with virtually no fat storage at all.
So yes, there's a difference, and it's significant, but in the end, it DOES end up being the lesser of two evils when you compare eating "diet foods" to eating straight up crap. I dislike both as regular parts of your meals, but I dislike the crap worse than the "diet foods" (recognizing that sometimes they are one and the same, which makes them even worse, as they are disingenuous).
As to your second question, impossible to know from this. The only way to know for sure is to either have your metabolic rate tested, or use one of the health gadgets that tracks your daily calories (like a body bugg or something). Or you could slowly raise your calories to maintenance and check for a few weeks to see if you maintain, if you do, then there you go, proof in the pudding.0 -
oh and Marla, doctors generally receive very little training in nutrition, and remember, what they receive is as out of date as their training is. Better off not even bothering talking to your GP about nutrition and weight management unless your sure they've certified in some kind of AMA sponsored program. Otherwise you'd be better off finding a good Registered Dietitian.
the problem is doctors sometimes develop a bit of a complex about being able to answer questions. And even though their brain is probably screaming at them to say "I'm not sure what your issue is" or "I'm really not qualified to talk about nutrition with you.", they end up giving you (horrible) advice.
I liken a doctor giving nutrition advice to a dentist doing a pelvic exam. Yes they can both do minor surgery, but I wouldn't want one doing the other kind.0 -
Thanks for sharing.I too have hypothyroidism/Hishmotios.I`ve struggled with loosing wt for 5 years.Up and down.I`ve finally lost 102 lbsI haven`t found the right number calories that works.I am unable to ex due to knee surgery,so I did cut down my calories 1000-1200.When I get back to ex I will up the calories. I work with a dietician who helps monitor my calories vs ex.I agree if your body isn`t getting the fuel it needs to sustain you,you aren`t gonna loose the wt.
I hope you can get it all figured out.It sucks to be overwt and esp.when your body doesn`t cooperate like most people.I have a 1 day at a time approach.It took me 25 years to put this on,I`m not in a race to loose this.I just want to be healthier and someday be at my goal wt.
Good luck to you!
jane0 -
Any of the doctors that my parents visit only seem interested in getting them on yet another drug to combat the pain instead of say, CURING OR EVEN EXPLAINING WHY THE PAIN EXISTS. Good to get that off my chest.
The last time I went to a doctor about a specific issue, he tried to put me on some drug for clogged veins. I was barely 30 and I'd get severe pains in the back of my legs occassionally when I walked. Not all the time, but enough times for a 30 year old to be concerned. My calves would get really hard and would hurt so badly. He was half way out the door while he was writing the prescription without even really listening or asking any questions. When I asked him if twas normal for a 30 year old who wasn't particularly unhealthy to have clogged veins, he kind of hemmed and hawed. When I asked if this couldn't be part of a bigger problem (i.e. my freaking heart!) he said "well this will stop the pain". So I asked how long I needed to take it. "You don't stop talking it," he said. Ok -- now we've got a problem. I'm not on some drug for the rest of my life prescribed by someone who has spent 3 minutes barely listening to me.
I took the prescription but never brought it to the pharmacy. Then I started to log the pain myself. It didn't seem to matter about distances -- some days I could walk miles without any problems and some days I was in tears by the end of my block. So then I paid attention to my shoes. I don't have any high heels (other than one pair that I only wear a few times a year and not to walk anywhere), and realized that certain insoles arches are what caused it. Now I just have to be really careful when buying new shoes and if I'm not, then the backs of my legs hurt. I'm sure I could get some kind of a custom ortho done, but honestly, I'm too freaked out by the sheer ignorance of doctors now to trust them. I could have been on some blood thining drug because of the ineptitude of the doctor (who, by the way, never called about the drug or about any refills or anything).
7 years of school doesn't seem to make them any smarter than the rest of us.0 -
Thanks for sharing.I too have hypothyroidism/Hishmotios.I`ve struggled with loosing wt for 5 years.Up and down.I`ve finally lost 102 lbsI haven`t found the right number calories that works.I am unable to ex due to knee surgery,so I did cut down my calories 1000-1200.When I get back to ex I will up the calories. I work with a dietician who helps monitor my calories vs ex.I agree if your body isn`t getting the fuel it needs to sustain you,you aren`t gonna loose the wt.
I hope you can get it all figured out.It sucks to be overwt and esp.when your body doesn`t cooperate like most people.I have a 1 day at a time approach.It took me 25 years to put this on,I`m not in a race to loose this.I just want to be healthier and someday be at my goal wt.
Good luck to you!
jane
Jane-- thanks for your words. And I'm not in a hurry. I'd first set my goal back in June 2008 for 50 pounds by June '09. Not setting goals anymore. Like you, one day at a time. Trying to find what's going to work.
Banks-- thanks for your suggestion-- not sure my insurance covers dietitians-- but I'll be looking just the same. And I'm still poring over things online-- I think I'm on the right road, no matter how long it takes. Really, really appreciate your help.
Just had a good P90x workout-- shoulders/arms, and ab ripper-- doggonedest thing-- I'd never stopped exercising, but I'm so much stronger these past two weeks with the extra calories. Go figure-- :noway: dope!
Need to go replenish-- later!0 -
Marla and Banks, thanks for the answers!!
Marla, there have been so many times I have thought, "I should go to the doctor for this." only to turn around and never go. Why? Because they just don't always listen.
I really like me doctor but she is too busy.
My brother was diagnosed with MS and for 4 years prior to his diagnosis he went from doctor to doctor and also a couple of chiropractors trying to figure out what was wrong. He even asked them point blank if they thought he might have MS and they all told him he was too young, etc. Well, finally one listened enough to run the test and bingo...it is what he has. What is so sad about it is that for 4 years he so rapidly declined and that could have been prevented with earlier treatment. We live in Western New York and this is a huge area for MS. You would think they would have picked up on it.
I can't believe the doctor treated you like that!
I do understand the financial constraints. Aldi's is my favorite store but so much of their food is processed. It is a chore to find ways of eating pure on a tight budget.
I also want to assure you that in none of my stuff did I ever mean any offense. I am just so confused at times and it seems like I should be able to eat more.
Banks, I would love a bodybugg or mediafit!!! You can rent them...maybe I should try one of their two week deals. At least then I would have an idea. Another member on here had one and she said she can vary in her calorie burn (without exercise) by 200 in any given day. We really do not know what we actually burn. Even HRM are not always accurate.
There was a time in my life when I was younger that I ate really well (primal and raw). I ate as much as I wanted and seemed to eat all day long. I weighed 102#! I really do think nutrition makes a difference.
What about adrenal fatigue? Could that be an issue? Unemployment has a way of sending stress levels through the roof! (I know!!)
Well, Marla, along with many children, homeschooling, enduring the trials of life with a great attitude, you are on my list of heroes!:flowerforyou:0 -
Heck, Donna-- you said nothing remotely offensive. No worries. I just wanted to make it clear that, holy Hannah, I have no idea about any of this.
Aldi's is beginning to carry a bit better stuff in their Fit and Active line, but still very processed. Their produce department is growing, too, which is nice. Between there and Sam's Club, I'm able to stock up on payday with better food.
This doctor wasn't as bad as some I've had during this long year. Some just flat out blew me off. I called one back after getting a satisfactory TSH test back. She sent me a letter saying, "Your test results came back fine. I hope you continue to feel well."
Yo-- dope-- I came to you BECAUSE I'm not feeling well. Don't give me your stupid standard form letters. So I called her and requested a Free t4 test as well, after learning she didn't perform one the first time. TSH tests can be wrong, I'd learned, blah, blah, blah-- she flat out refused. Told me I should have asked for one in the first appointment. I told her I wasn't aware that it was my job to make sure she did her job.
She ended up politely hanging up on me-- if there is such a thing.
Next doctor just gave me the "Well, you're getting older, Mrs. Brown" bullcrap. Smack. Yeah, I know, I'm getting older. And suddenly, with no change in diet or exercise my body is converting everything to fat, and putting on weight? 30 pounds in 9 months? Helloooooooo??????
After 4 doctors, I found one who took me seriously. She really, actually, allowed me to tell her to do her job. Okay, now look for this. Great, now look for that. Super, now look for the other thing.
Long road--
I won't throw the baby out with the bathwater. Doctors don't all suck. Just far too many of them.
need to hit the hay-- wayyy tired--
Banks, thanks again--
Body's feeling and looking tighter tonight-- charting the facial muscles, too-- bloating isn't as bad on my cheekbones, it seems. Slow and steady will win the race, I hope.
Later.0 -
Heck, Donna-- you said nothing remotely offensive. No worries. I just wanted to make it clear that, holy Hannah, I have no idea about any of this.
Aldi's is beginning to carry a bit better stuff in their Fit and Active line, but still very processed. Their produce department is growing, too, which is nice. Between there and Sam's Club, I'm able to stock up on payday with better food.
This doctor wasn't as bad as some I've had during this long year. Some just flat out blew me off. I called one back after getting a satisfactory TSH test back. She sent me a letter saying, "Your test results came back fine. I hope you continue to feel well."
Yo-- dope-- I came to you BECAUSE I'm not feeling well. Don't give me your stupid standard form letters. So I called her and requested a Free t4 test as well, after learning she didn't perform one the first time. TSH tests can be wrong, I'd learned, blah, blah, blah-- she flat out refused. Told me I should have asked for one in the first appointment. I told her I wasn't aware that it was my job to make sure she did her job.
She ended up politely hanging up on me-- if there is such a thing.
Next doctor just gave me the "Well, you're getting older, Mrs. Brown" bullcrap. Smack. Yeah, I know, I'm getting older. And suddenly, with no change in diet or exercise my body is converting everything to fat, and putting on weight? 30 pounds in 9 months? Helloooooooo??????
After 4 doctors, I found one who took me seriously. She really, actually, allowed me to tell her to do her job. Okay, now look for this. Great, now look for that. Super, now look for the other thing.
Long road--
I won't throw the baby out with the bathwater. Doctors don't all suck. Just far too many of them.
need to hit the hay-- wayyy tired--
Banks, thanks again--
Body's feeling and looking tighter tonight-- charting the facial muscles, too-- bloating isn't as bad on my cheekbones, it seems. Slow and steady will win the race, I hope.
Later.
Thanks for the updates, as always, Marla. Cheering you on! :flowerforyou:0 -
BUMP! Thank you and I'm so sorry that you are going through this, it sadens me :frown: I hope everyone reads this!0
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Thanks, everyone-- I've been reading and researching online and am actually very encouraged to see that "metabolic damage" can be reversed.
I'm sure the words "starvation mode" are what get such an emotional response from people.
That's what we use in diet circles. They're bandied about here and there in the threads when folks are in a plateau, and the words receive much contempt from a lot of people.
The bottom line is metabolic damage, I'm reading. And it's not something that occurs quickly. It's over time. Mine took two years of insufficient calories with tons of cardio.
However, while the words may be controversial, the concept is indeed real.
I read last night that weight training is essential in telling your body to keep whatever muscle that hasn't already been erroneously burned, and in beginning to build new muscle tissue-- that lean body mass is the engine that drives the metabolism. Further, that women generally don't want to do that because we don't want to bulk up. And reluctance to do that will make a slow process even slower.
Thankfully, with the P90x, there is weight training. I'm hoping it's enough. I'm working through the lean program.
Banks, if you're familiar with the program, what do you think of the lean routine versus classic in lieu of what I posted above?
In any event-- again, this is real. I saw one idiot post a rather hostile thread yesterday "starvation mode is a myth." I didn't even bother to jump in and share the link to this thread. You know, yeah, okay, whatever-- if one is going into it with such an emotional position, it would be moot to enter into the fray. And again, I'm not interested in being a poster child.
But, if by sharing this, it helps to get the message out to people willing to hear it and learn from it, great-- I won't say it will all have been worth it, but at least not in vain.
Later--0 -
Marla, it is a really emotional issue!! That is what my original post sort of meant. I hate seeing the high emotion with this issue.
In "defense' of those who say it is a myth...there are tons of sites that support that idea. When people are going to their doctors and the first thing the doctor does is put them on a low carb, low fat, really low calorie diet, what are they to think??
I think this is why your story is sooooo important. People need to see a face (sorry for the poster board image
) to go with the information. When they see that one of their own (mfp) has suffered from this, then they will see and believe.
For us 40+ woman it is so very confusing. We have so many factors to deal with that it is hard to find the right key. (hormones, adrenals and stress, age, slower metabolism, a go-go-go- lifestyle...).
For myself, I have raised calories, lowered calories, worked out hard, worked out moderate, zig-zagged, high protein, eating clean...I have done it all. I thought I had done it all before joining MFP because I had done, WW, SlimFast, Cabbage Soup, Atkins, etc, but then you learn even more!!!
The only things I know for sure that work for me, and I mean "me", is eating whole foods, avoiding processed, avoiding refined sugars, and moderate exercise, 5-6 times per week. That I can do. But whether my net calories should be 1100 or 1600 I am still confused!!:laugh: :laugh:
Here is to all of us, who never quit!:drinker:0 -
Here is to all of us, who never quit!:drinker:
Saaaa-lute!0 -
I read last night that weight training is essential in telling your body to keep whatever muscle that hasn't already been erroneously burned, and in beginning to build new muscle tissue-- that lean body mass is the engine that drives the metabolism. Further, that women generally don't want to do that because we don't want to bulk up. And reluctance to do that will make a slow process even slower.
Thankfully, with the P90x, there is weight training. I'm hoping it's enough. I'm working through the lean program.
Banks, if you're familiar with the program, what do you think of the lean routine versus classic in lieu of what I posted above?
I'm sure your friend Banks will be able to assist you in this matter and he seems to know his stuff in this regard.
However, I have an interest in training myself so thought I would share my views. I think a program like P90x will be of assistance as long as it is done properly and you work with the right degree of intensity.
I haven't looked into P90x in great detail but it is suspiciously like any other metabolic conditioning training routines out there. It does seem to be quite well put together and comparable to a leading programme such as Turbulence Training. These are morphed versions of good old fashioned circuit training.
Circuits mix up strength work with cardio work, anaerobic with aerobic. What this means is you will see an improvement in muscle efficiency and growth to some degree if you put enough effort and intensity into it to ensure your muscles are overloaded. If you slack off it will simply become another long low intensity cardio workout and you won't get the benefits you want out of it.
I'm not a huge fan of this type of programme but that's mostly because I find it more efficient to train in the way I do and I am used to it.
I have to ask this though: in the last two years or so of this diet rollercoaster have you ever given yourself a full break from dieting / exercising at ANY point? By this I mean you have eating at maintenance and reduced exercising to a bare minimum (maybe once or twice a week) for 2-4 weeks or so? If not, I think that would be beneficial for you. It will allow your body to "reset" itself, hormone levels to restore to normal etc. Yes, you total weight may spike a bit but in the long term it will be beneficial as it puts you in a stronger position to lose more fat and keep it off.0 -
Hi Marla,
Unfortunately I haven't done the lean version of P90X, but I did do 2 rounds of the classic. It's a decent, moderate exercise program. By that I mean it's probably slightly to advanced for the beginning exerciser, but probably not good enough for someone who's in very good shape. anyway, it does plenty in the way of lean tissue work and anaerobic work, and it's decent at the cardio side (not great, but not bad). As far as workout programs go, it compromises somewhat to hit all the major areas, which is fine with me if you want a canned program. And there's absolutely nothing wrong with that.
What I don't recommend is their nutrition, it's brutally bad IMHO, I won't get any further into that unless you want me to.
Oh and the Plyometrics day, yeah, that's my specialty in Personal Training (I'm something of a plyo guru), it's not REALLY plyometric, or not very much at least. Plyo is designed to overtax muscles quickly and force them to work to 100% of maximum power, the P90X version really doesn't do that very well, although it's not bad as a semi-HIIT routine. I've heard insanity does the plyo thing very well though. I don't really feel like spending the money for another canned program when I can absolutely kill myself without any outside help at all (see Tabata protocol)
Hope this helps Marla0 -
Thank you for sharing your story, I am so sorry you have to go through this. =[0
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I read last night that weight training is essential in telling your body to keep whatever muscle that hasn't already been erroneously burned, and in beginning to build new muscle tissue-- that lean body mass is the engine that drives the metabolism. Further, that women generally don't want to do that because we don't want to bulk up. And reluctance to do that will make a slow process even slower.
Thankfully, with the P90x, there is weight training. I'm hoping it's enough. I'm working through the lean program.
Banks, if you're familiar with the program, what do you think of the lean routine versus classic in lieu of what I posted above?
I'm sure your friend Banks will be able to assist you in this matter and he seems to know his stuff in this regard.
However, I have an interest in training myself so thought I would share my views. I think a program like P90x will be of assistance as long as it is done properly and you work with the right degree of intensity.
I haven't looked into P90x in great detail but it is suspiciously like any other metabolic conditioning training routines out there. It does seem to be quite well put together and comparable to a leading programme such as Turbulence Training. These are morphed versions of good old fashioned circuit training.
Circuits mix up strength work with cardio work, anaerobic with aerobic. What this means is you will see an improvement in muscle efficiency and growth to some degree if you put enough effort and intensity into it to ensure your muscles are overloaded. If you slack off it will simply become another long low intensity cardio workout and you won't get the benefits you want out of it.
I'm not a huge fan of this type of programme but that's mostly because I find it more efficient to train in the way I do and I am used to it.
I have to ask this though: in the last two years or so of this diet rollercoaster have you ever given yourself a full break from dieting / exercising at ANY point? By this I mean you have eating at maintenance and reduced exercising to a bare minimum (maybe once or twice a week) for 2-4 weeks or so? If not, I think that would be beneficial for you. It will allow your body to "reset" itself, hormone levels to restore to normal etc. Yes, you total weight may spike a bit but in the long term it will be beneficial as it puts you in a stronger position to lose more fat and keep it off.
Thank you for replying-- actually you were the "other smart dude that posted the links" that I referred to yesterday-- thanks for your time.
As for a break from all of this-- if there's such a thing as "depression" I would say I hit one beginning of this year battling all this nonsense, and getting no answers from doctors, et cetera. Feeling a bit defeated, my exercise had tapered off to maybe 1-2 days a week as a result. I haven't stopped counting calories since June of '08, so, no, I haven't taken a break from that.
Like Donna mentioned, I'd try zig-zagging daily, lowering it for a couple weeks to 1200, then up to 1600 for a couple of weeks-- hell, I even tried a 4 day veggie juice fast last summer and still didn't drop an ounce. That's when I knew something was really wrong. Who drinks nothing but V8 for a week, doing Insanity, and doesn't lose?
Banks-- I have Insanity, too, and the plyometrics are, well, insane. A bit too insane. Even as fit as I was in the summer, it totally kicked me in the *kitten*. The lean version, though, doesn't bring the plyo into play-- at least not the calendar I've found. I'll have to do more research today as I have time. As a busy mom, and not terribly creative, while I can and do push myself, I enjoy and rather benefit from someone in front of me telling me what to do next. So, the canned programs help me.
I enjoy running, too, because it forces me to push myself and truly see what I'm made of. I'm not just responding to somebody in front of me telling me "Come on, one more!" I'm heeding my inner self saying, "One more," and fighting with her when she says, "I can't." Oh, yes, I can!
Mr. 74, I have learned to push myself and to enjoy pushing myself, and that "I can't or I don't want to" is not an option. So, for me P90x has been good. Horton pushes, too. He gives the caveat of "do your best, forget the rest," which of course lends the freedom to lay back a bit, but I try not to.
I'm going to research a bit later and see the differences between classic and lean, and find out what's better for me. Briefly I came to believe that the lean helps weight loss more so it's what I concentrated on. But, hubs and I have been talking, and that's rather what got me into the mess I'm in-- worrying about weight.
So I'll have to keep thinking on it--
For right now, I'm starving so need to go eat!!!!!!!
thanks again, sooooooo much!!!0 -
Wow......Thank you for sharing!
I am so sorry that you have to go thru this & pray that things will turn around for you soon :flowerforyou:0 -
Okay-- when you tire of this, just drop off-- but, I'm going to keep documenting, for better or worse.
Pictures on the left were my first ones posted here, one week after beginning this new portion of my health journey.
Ones on the right are from this morning.
Bit of change, I think-- a bit tighter. Two plus weeks of good nutrition. Hopeful.0 -
Marla,
Thank you for your very informative post. I spent the entire year of 2010 logging every bit of food and exercising religiously...I gained 5 pounds!!! My BMR measured 1027, but I am not so sure that measurement was accurate for as active as I am. My hubby has been telling me for years that I don't eat enough. And, I (like you) have had the same response from the endocrinologist, dietician, etc. This month, I am investing in a bodybugg mediafit to determine my 24 hour calorie burn on a normal day. Here's hoping
Good luck in your weight loss journey!!0 -
Spaniel -- thanks for the kind words.
Three weeks, and the weight is unchanged. Still not sweating it. I've been bouncing down 2, up two-- which isn't unusual to begin with. After freaking for over a year, afraid to raise out of 1400 calories because I was gaining ON 1400 calories, I am beyond giggly that the weight is unchanged on 2200 calories.
Differences and changes continue, for the better. I got out of my husband's car yesterday at the store with ease. I had gotten so weak, that getting up out of his car was a killer. I assumed that it was just because of the extra weight I was carrying, and totally looked and felt like the helpless fat lady that can't get out of her own way.
Going up the stairs into my home was a chore-- every step was like my legs were in jello. And again, mind you, my exercise hadn't stopped, so there was no reason why I should have been weak-- in my mind. Duhhhhhh--
My body composition right now is much different. The bags and bags of floppy, loose fat that have been accumulating all over are tightening up. Muscles being refed? Sounds reasonable.
I'm still marveling at what I did to my body-- eating 1200-1400 calories, training for a half marathon, weight training-- and never, ever refeeding, refueling. It's just insane. No wonder my body simply went on strike.
Still a long way to go, but way enthused about what's happened so far. Having my strength back is wonderful.
Eat, my friends-- eat!0 -
Updated facial report-- again, drop off when you wish. This is important for me to document this. I've noted that the wrinkles around my mouth are better, too-- better muscle tone, again, I guess? Eyes seem a bit better.
Husband has also commented on my, uh, girlie parts, that they are packing more of a punch these days-- less floppy sackish, if ya know what I'm saying. Not smart enough to describe and define what's going on in my body, except to theorize that muscle is being refed?
again, gentlemen, I welcome any thoughts and insights.
This is at the peak of feeling like crap, as I was still trying to find answers from the doctor--
And these are my lovely body shots at the height of the trouble--
Up from this, at my peak of fitness--
Again-- no change in activity, no change in diet to get me from point A to point Z. No medical issues outside of Hashimoto's, but I'm on synthroid.
Eat, my friends-- eat those freakin' calories.
Until next week!!!!!0 -
I try to keep my net at the very least 1200 calories even if it means I have to eat 1700 calories that day to eat my exercise calories back. I usually aim for a net of 1300-1450 but 1200 is definitely my minimum because it is common sense that you can starve yourself doing something like this long term. Starvation mode only DOESN'T apply to people who eat at maintenance level consistently and then decide to barely eat one day (you won't starve). Everyone on MFP needs to realize that starvation mode IS real for us since we are consistenly eating below maintenance level day after day.0
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I try to keep my net at the very least 1200 calories even if it means I have to eat 1700 calories that day to eat my exercise calories back. I usually aim for a net of 1300-1450 but 1200 is definitely my minimum because it is common sense that you can starve yourself doing something like this long term. Starvation mode only DOESN'T apply to people who eat at maintenance level consistently and then decide to barely eat one day (you won't starve). Everyone on MFP needs to realize that starvation mode IS real for us since we are consistenly eating below maintenance level day after day.
Yes, right-- this happened to me over an 18 month period of time.0 -
Marla! Happy Monday! In the midst of school today we would all love an update!! This is fascinating and I am so very proud of you!!
I have increased my calories (1400 net) now for two weeks with no weight gain that I can really see. I do feel better and what I keep noticing is how loose my skinny clothes are.
D0 -
Thanks Marla for opening up and sharing your life & struggles with us regarding this, so we can learn from it!:flowerforyou: Coming back later to read a few of the other links shared by msf74 & others
Becca
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This discussion has been closed.
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