Starvation Mode..... I don't get it....??
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so many people are sure it is a myth and the same are sure it is true, what I was more concerned with is what level it kicks in at if it kicks in at all. Like I think would I lose more if I ate a bit more as my net total is normally below 1000 after all my exercise for the day. Would eating that extra 200cal a day make me lose more? I don't want to risk it if it will make me gain!
I honestly think it really does depend on your body. 1200 is a general number that works for MOST people. I am not saying EVERYONE. You would need to find out your exact metabolic rate and go from there.0 -
If you are on a VLCD and you are losing about 3 lbs a week, your metabolism WILL slow down, but it will only slow your weight loss by 1/4-1/2 of a pound a week. As long as you are still alive and kickin' it, your metabolism is never going to just stop. Now, if you're a tiny little creature and you're trying to lose that much weight to begin with, not you are not going to see the same results, especially since your BMR is going to be significantly lower than that of someone who is larger in size. Maybe if I they burn a lot of extra calories...0
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Wow. Lot's of good info!!! Like someone else said, I'm almost "afraid" to consume 1200
calories when I know I'm below. I get extra calories from exercising, so if you didn't count
in the exercising, I'd always be on target. BUT..... I can't NOT exercise..... Just confused!!
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@hsinster: Actually, your body burns fat before muscle. Why do you think we store fat? It's used as an extra source of energy when enough is not provided in food. Now, I'm not saying you won't lose ANY muscle.There is a limit to the rate at which the body can get energy from fat, if the calorie deficit is too large the body will take energy from other tissues. According to a paper in the Journal of Theoretical Biology, it is estimated the average, moderately active person’s body can get approximately 31 calories of energy per day per pound of fat. This means the maximum one can reduce their calorie intake below maintenance levels without losing muscle is approximately 31 for every pound of fat on their body.* For example, a 180 pound man with 15% body fat would have 27 pounds of fat, so he could reduce his daily calorie intake to 837 below maintenance without losing lean tissue (27 pounds of fat multiplied by 31 = 837). Assuming a maintenance intake of approximately 2700 this would mean a daily caloric intake around 1863 calories.
http://baye.com/basic-guidelines-for-fat-loss/
And please read Lyle McDonald's article on this (author and fitness expert): http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/fat-loss/why-big-caloric-deficits-and-lots-of-activity-can-hurt-fat-loss.html0 -
@SpaceCoconaut, from my understanding of metabolism and research articles, i agree with stormieweather. generally, fat will be burned first, but at an extremely large deficit, the body will hold onto fat stores and burn fuel from other sources incl. muscles. i also speak from personal experience, as there was one month when 100% of my weight loss was from muscle -- and later my dietician and personal trainer both told me it was because i didn't eat enough calories and i wasn't strength training enough.
you can always find research articles to support the other side. just now i did a quick search and found today's blog entry by tom venuto about starvation mode: http://www.burnthefat.com/starvation_mode.html
he cites plenty of studies that describe that starvation mode is not a myth.
however, in the grand scheme of things, it does not matter whether starvation mode is a myth, nor does it really matter if you and i have differing opinions about how the body's metabolism/physiology work. what's most important is eating enough calories so that our body can function properly and get enough nutrients, so that we can lose weight in a healthy way. for some people, eating 1500 calories might be needed, for others maybe 1200 is fine. but i don't see how a body can function and thrive from just 500+ calories every day. and is this really sustainable? in my opinion, habits that we develop in regards to nutrition and fitness should be for life, not used as a temporary fix.0 -
@kcantrell
I doubt that many people are saving up calories and saying I've earned myself free ice cream and cake slathered in oreos and deep fried with a dash syrup. Your comment was mean toward those trying to lose weight and do the best they can by trying to stay within their calorie range. Since I've been on the site, the majority of people have said that it is important to give your body nutrition, that you can't work out and be dizzy/faint/nauseous because you're trying not to eat calories back, that if you don't feel hungry you shouldn't force yourself too eat, etc. I have yet to meet this mysterious poster who says "eat or die" according to you. People have been very helpful and they speak from experience and have always reminded me that I should do what feels best for my body to achieve and maintain a healthy lifestyle. OP has gotten varying responses that can help her decide... and I guess most importantly, now she'll never grab that piece of cake as many of us do around here to fill up her calories.0 -
so many people are sure it is a myth and the same are sure it is true, what I was more concerned with is what level it kicks in at if it kicks in at all. Like I think would I lose more if I ate a bit more as my net total is normally below 1000 after all my exercise for the day. Would eating that extra 200cal a day make me lose more? I don't want to risk it if it will make me gain!
We're in exactly the same boat. I am so so hesitant to add the 100-200 calories-I have stayed the same weight for a long time-But I also don't have much to lose nor want to lose much-but I don't want to gain-and I also don't want to train my body to store fat and mess myself up later in life.
I am so confused.0 -
starvation mode doesn't mean that you feel hungry, it is a state that your body 'hunger for' food.
I don't know whether it applies to all people, but in my own case, it is real.
I used to eat less than 1200 cals. I never eat back my exercise calories. Whenever I stuck, I do more exercises. I didn't realise that it is gonna to break the balance of my metabolism. I thought that not eating my exercise cals really works for me bcos I lose my weight very fast .
When I achieved my goal, I started to eat like 1300 to 1500 calories. However, I gained the weight back because my metabolism was slow. It is so hard to maintain unless I can eat 800-1000 cals for the rest of my life. But obviously it is impossible, so that's why I'm on my weiht loss journey again.
ps: sorry for my poor English^^0 -
starvation mode doesn't mean that you feel hungry, it is a state that your body 'hungers for' food.
That's a very good way of putting it. A VLCD can achieve weight loss, but there are a few dangers and possible medical problems. Your gastrointestinal system needs to process food. No food, nothing to process, may lead to GI problems. Nutrition may not be adequate i.e. vitamins and minerals the body needs to survive. While you may try taking multivitamins, nutrients may still be deficient. Remember, some of the problems nutrient deficiency cause may not be visible for months or years, such as bone density. Your energy levels may also appear to decrease. You may not have the stamina to do the things you want. Your sleep pattern may change, feeling sleepy earlier or sleeping longer (low metabolic use.) Your body is an amazing machine that will tolerate alot of abuse. It can function for an adult at 500+ lbs, and even under 80lbs. But like any other machine, it has its limits, and one person's limits may not be equal to another's.
The fear most people have about 'starvation mode' in mfp seems to be weight loss, or the lack there of. If you take in less calories than you are putting out, you will loose weight. Even if your metabolism slows down, the basic formula works: put out more calories than you take in, and you will loose weight.
You didn't put on the pounds overnight, don't expect them to come off that fast either.
For those of you doing the VLCDs, if it works for you, then it works. Make sure you take some supplements (vitamins/minerals) and take care of yourselfs in any other way that will benefit your long term health. Don't pay for weight loss today with health problems tomorrow.0 -
One of the indicators that you may be in "starvation mode" is you stop feeling hungry - evolutionarily speaking because hunger makes you restless and agitated, and causes you to search for food - all of which is wasted energy when you're in a scarcity situation, you're desperately trying to conserve energy.starvation mode doesn't mean that you feel hungry0 -
Here's an excellent explanation of starvation mode: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/ladyhawk00/view/starvation-mode-how-it-works-988020
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When I achieved my goal, I started to eat like 1300 to 1500 calories. However, I gained the weight back because my metabolism was slow. It is so hard to maintain unless I can eat 800-1000 cals for the rest of my life. But obviously it is impossible, so that's why I'm on my weiht loss journey again.
That's why I am very hesitant to go on a VLC. Do I want to be starving myself for the rest of my life? Hells no.0 -
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@kcantrell
I doubt that many people are saving up calories and saying I've earned myself free ice cream and cake slathered in oreos and deep fried with a dash syrup. Your comment was mean toward those trying to lose weight and do the best they can by trying to stay within their calorie range. Since I've been on the site, the majority of people have said that it is important to give your body nutrition, that you can't work out and be dizzy/faint/nauseous because you're trying not to eat calories back, that if you don't feel hungry you shouldn't force yourself too eat, etc. I have yet to meet this mysterious poster who says "eat or die" according to you. People have been very helpful and they speak from experience and have always reminded me that I should do what feels best for my body to achieve and maintain a healthy lifestyle. OP has gotten varying responses that can help her decide... and I guess most importantly, now she'll never grab that piece of cake as many of us do around here to fill up her calories.
Since you responded to what I said I'm assuming you can read, and therefore I expect you would have read the comment where I said I didn't literally mean dessert.
I've had people tell me I was killing myself and I needed to eat AT ALL before I could even think about eating back my exercise calories. I have never had anyone tell me to do what is right for my body. Which is why I am of the opinion that a lot of people here are stuck in their own ways and try to push them onto everyone else.
You have obviously had a different experience from me and that's great for you!
If anyone else has issues with what I've said, please message me about it. Let's not steal this thread from the OP to argue in circles.0 -
Starvation mode.. Sorry but I just don't buy it, it's pretty clear to me, if you take in less calories than your body needs to function, you'll lose weight. Hardly rocket science is it?0
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Starvation mode is not just Less in than out in calories. Starvation mode is NOT meeting the nutritional needs of your body so that your body starts robbing itself to keep you alive. It will use fat. It will use muscle. It will eat whatever it can use in your body so that you survive. The reason we say a certain number of calories is because most of the people need to hit that to meet your daily requirements. The DV requirements on vitamins are not there to sell the vitamins that tells you the % you must get to be healthy and how much that vitamin goes over.
Food is not fat. Food is fuel for the body. IF you put too much fuel in you get fat because your body stores the fuel. If you put too little which does not meet your nutritional requirements then you turn into a lovely creature with dry brittle hair, flab on the arms as the muscle vanishes, teeth and breath that could knock over a horse and other goodies of malnutrition as well as some major heart problems down the line among all the other goodies not getting what your body needs. Either one will kill you one way or another. If you are fat and you decide to lose it fast by cutting calories way back for a short time. Expect loose skin. It's the price. Why is simple, you lose fat but you also eat muscle.
There is a level where your body will get what it needs at a healthy body weight. That is what the BMI/BMR/RMR is for. If you doubt it then go to a nutritionist or a sports specialist who can tell you what you need personally for you.
So yes you eat less than you burn and you lose weight. It's what you do with that equation that might cause problems. I mean who wants to look skinny with brittle hair, balding patches, teeth decaying, bad breath and skin that flaps like a flag... That's real pretty.0 -
FORGET EVERYTHING YOU HAVE EVERY HEARD ABOUT STARVATION MODE & READ THIS THREAD
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/230930-starvation-mode-how-it-works0 -
The best advice anyone should be giving is check with your DOCTOR!!!! Unless you have M.D. at the end of your name everyone should be a little more careful about giving out personal advice. Your DOCTOR will know how much you should eat or not eat. He/she also knows your body, your health problems, etc. and takes all that into consideration.
Any Trainer worth their salt will advise you to get a complete check up before starting any kind of weight loss program. Even on the show; "The Biggest Loser", the first thing they do after getting selected is see the DOCTOR!!!
Seek out what he thinks is best for you according to your own personal fitness/health. He will ask you many questions, etc. That is the time to ask about eating back the cals, etc. and if he/she thinks that is good or not. You can also discuss with him/her how much to burn, etc.
That is the best advice anyone can give someone is: FIRST CHECK WITH YOUR DOCTOR!!!
I did this with three of mine. An Intenal Med. Dr., my Cardo Dr., and my Endo Dr. plus I went to a REGISTERED DIETIAN. All four gave me the same advice according to my own health needs which is very different from the advice given on a lot of forums. So do yourself a favor talk to your Dr. first.0 -
Well said. Each person's body is different and will have different factors that affect their weight loss / gain as well as their lifestyle influences. Living a "healthy" lifestyle means a combination of good healthy food (less of the processed stuff), vitamins, and an exercise program consisting of cardio and weight training. Putting your body into what some may classify as starvation mode basically means not providing your bodily organs with enough fuel to sustain a "healthy" lifestyle. Society has created the image that "skinny" is how you should be, but they don't ask "how do you feel?". Do some research and focus on being healthy and feeling great, then the healthy skinny will follow.0
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While I believe in starvation mode and feel that this can sometimes happen to me.. I also don't need 1200 calories a day. As every other poster said.. Everyone is different. Go by what your body is telling you.. if its telling you that it's hungry then feed it something healthy, if it's telling you stop then stop.
My diary is not public but my calorie counts are all over the place. Sometimes they are close to goal, other days they are low, others in between.. have I stopped losing weight or dropped dead? No. I'm still here and feeling better then ever.0 -
Starvation mode.. Sorry but I just don't buy it, it's pretty clear to me, if you take in less calories than your body needs to function, you'll lose weight. Hardly rocket science is it?
Depends how you define "function" in "needs to function"0 -
BUMP FOR LATER0
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I've said it before, please go see a person your area who specializes in this type of subject matter. I've been to a few and it's a common theme, yes starvation mode exists, no you won't hit it in 2 weeks a low cal eating. Starvation mode is a long term built in protection that you body has to try and preserve the correct functioning of your vital organs.
You need to fuel you body with good food and enough calories to (a) sustain all your body's vital functions, commonly referred to as your Basal Metabolism Rate and (b) to sustain the extra exertion you are going to add by working out.
I hope you look up a registered dietitian, or if you are going to go into more working out find a certified sports nutritionist who is more tailored towards your needs. It's your body and your health, don't leave it chance with random people on a website, invest in yourself, your worth it.0 -
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Very true, your metabolism will adapt but only for so long.0 -
One of the things I've been working on since getting active here at MFP is repairing a metabolism damaged by years of chronic under-eating. If I ate a single day over my VLC limit, I'd gain weight that would take days to come off if it came off at all. Yup, I starved myself to 237#.
I can't tell you how wonderful it is to be a 54yo, post-menopausal woman, in the time of my life when people say weight gain is practically inevitable, to be losing weight eating about 500-700 calories a day more than I used to gain on. And I can eat big splurge meals, even enjoy entire splurge weekends, and not gain any weight at all. Or, if I do, it's like 1-2# which are gone in just a few days as it's just really water weight and bloat (all the extra food processing through my system).
I plan to keep slowly upping my calories as I continue to lose so I maintain my precious muscle which has helped me become a calorie-burning machine. Yes, I'm losing weight more slowly than someone on a VLC diet but I'm not deprived. Heck, I don't even feel like I'm on a diet. And I know that I won't have to starve myself to maintain my goal weight. Yes, that is a terrific feeling.
I don't want to be skinny-fat without good muscle tone. I want to be slender-fit. So I'll lose slowly, safely and retain my muscles as it is far easier to retain them than it is to build new muscle.
I hate the term starvation mode. I think metabolic slowdown is a far more accurate term and, yes, it does exist.0
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