Starvation Mode

lyssajp

I am new to mfp and have lost 5lbs since starting and 5 before joining. I have have been logging all of my food and exercise and each time it warns me about "starvation mode" I am very confused by this because I am consuming around 1200 calories a day, usually ends up less and thats after my workouts so my net cal intake will get to 500-600 calories, I have a feeling im doing this all wrong because I have been working harder than ever and my weight isnt budging.. If anyone could explain to me how all of this is working it would be appreciated I am getting frustrated!

Kirstie_C26

are u eating back any of ur exercise cal allowance?? bcos if not u r putting ur body into further 'unhealthy' deficit as MFP has aklready given u a deficit b4 exerciseing.

this is just from what ive understood by reading posts etc on here so im no expert but i think its the general concensus that exercise cals need to be half - 2/3 eaten back

best wishes
Kirstie xx

spackham

Consume your BMR cals plus 100 or a bit more for just walking around and let your exercise be your weight loss. You don't look very big either so it would not be a problem if your net was below 1200 as long as you are eating enough for your body to survive.

kao708

You will get many different opinions but I think the general consensus is that you shouldn't have intake calories under 1200 a day. If your intake is only 500-600 a day after exercise is added in you need to eat more or exercise less to get back closer to 1200. Eating too little can be almost as bad as eating too much (in some respects). :bigsmile:

Try adding some nutritious snacks to your daily log, maybe after working, out to increase your daily calorie intake.

htrl877

I mean if you have an extra calorie allowance you don't have to eat those calories if you are not hungry. Are you keeping track of all of your water intake? What kinds of foods are you eating?? If you are eating hearty, low calorie meals then you should be fine. However, if you are only eating a protein bar and crystal light the entire day then you are starving yourself. You being in starvation mode is all contingent on the types and variety of foods you are eating. Let me know and I'll respond.

ladyhawk00

If you are netting 500-600, yes, you are eating too little. MFP creates a built in deficit in your daily goal - so when your intake is far below goal, you are making that deficit bigger.

Here are some great threads that help explain how to determine healthy, realistic goals/deficits, metabolism, and why it's important to fuel the body properly. MUST READS! Good luck to you!

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/61706-guide-to-calorie-deficits

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/3047-700-calories-a-day-and-not-losing

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/10589-for-those-confused-or-questioning-eating-your-exercise-calo

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/173853-an-objective-look-at-eating-exercise-calories

WonderNoodle

kirstie is correct. mfp has already reduced your calories enough to fuel your day and still lose weight. adding exercise reduces it beyond that obviously so you don't have enough fuel for "living" and exercise. you need to eat more...keep your net at 1,200 as best you can.

if you were driving your car and put just enough gas in to get to the destination you wanted, but THEN decided to drive on to another store (assuming you're shopping ), you will run out of gas before you get there.

make sense?

another key is to make sure the food choices are nutritious ones as often as possible. :drinker:

Dawntodusk

I'm new to this forum, but from what I understand, starvation mode might mean that your body's metabolism slows down thus making it difficult for your to shed pounds. This is a physiological reaction to low intake of calories. Your body thinks that you are living under conditions that don't allow you to take in food. From an evolutionary perspective, this allowed our species to survive famines and food shortages. If you starve yourself (i.e. not enough calories), you will not be helping in your weight loss program. It become counter productive. The same idea goes for not eating for long periods of time. Your body will react in the same way. Hence, the advice of eating frequent meals throughout the day.

arewethereyet

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experienced it. Eat or your system will slow down. Food is good!!!

Kirstie_C26

kirstie is correct. mfp has already reduced your calories enough to fuel your day and still lose weight. adding exercise reduces it beyond that obviously so you don't have enough fuel for "living" and exercise. you need to eat more...keep your net at 1,200 as best you can.

if you were driving your car and put just enough gas in to get to the destination you wanted, but THEN decided to drive on to another store (assuming you're shopping ), you will run out of gas before you get there.

make sense?

another key is to make sure the food choices are nutritious ones as often as possible. :drinker:

thanx for confirming what i thought i was right for once YAY!!! xx

lyssajp

I have been eating, believe me I have never been one to go hungry! I mostly eat lean cuisines or chicken and veggies. I am a full time student with a very busy schedule so its hard making meals for myself and in a hurry! I just feel if I have to keep my net cal at 1200 I will be constantly eating!

SiltyPigeon

Something just occurred to me as being kind of funny.
Not saying anyone's advice is wrong, it just struck me as odd....

How often in "the real world" (by that I mean not on the internet) do you hear someone telling another person who is trying to lose weight:
"If you want to lose weight you should eat more and exercise less."

I don't really have an opinion on the matter, I just thought it was funny.

ladyhawk00

I have been eating, believe me I have never been one to go hungry! I mostly eat lean cuisines or chicken and veggies. I am a full time student with a very busy schedule so its hard making meals for myself and in a hurry! I just feel if I have to keep my net cal at 1200 I will be constantly eating!

You don't have to eat a lot more food to increase your intake, just choose more nutrient dense foods. Include good fats (natural oils like olive and canola, fish, nuts, avocado) and good proteins and good carbs. "Low cal" is not always the best option, if it's not also nutrient dense. I know it's hard with a busy schedule, but planning makes all the difference.

ladyhawk00

Something just occurred to me as being kind of funny.
Not saying anyone's advice is wrong, it just struck me as odd....

How often in "the real world" (by that I mean not on the internet) do you hear someone telling another person who is trying to lose weight:
"If you want to lose weight you should eat more and exercise less."

I don't really have an opinion on the matter, I just thought it was funny.

Thus, why the "diet" industry is a 40 BILLION dollar enterprise. The media/advertising has skewed our perceptions and convinced people that you either have to a) starve yourself or b) get a quick fix. And...we've spent all this money. And where has it gotten us? More obese and unhealthy. If more people were given (and accepted) realistic, healthy advice, we wouldn't be in the position we're in, as a society.

SiltyPigeon

The best part about the diet industry is that they are invested in keeping us fat. If we were all to REALLY get healthy using their products and advice there would be no more diet industry. In a sense, they would cure us to their own death.