Starvation mode! (my opinion)

Uerzer

This is my opinion, I just hope it helps some of you!

I really think this site made up the "starvation mode <1200kcal" idea just for a greater purpose:

IT IS REALLY HARD TO EAT UNDER 1200KCAL AND STILL GET YOUR MACRO-MICRONUTRIENTS RIGHT!

So it is a must for your health to do so.

some facts:
- at hospitals, before bariatric surgery the patients spend a few days with full monitoring and starving with around 600 kcal. you can only do that with full time medical supervision.
- 1200 is starvation mode limit for everyone in this site... i have a daily requisite of 2500kcal, another dude (same age, same activity, same height) can have a daily requiste of 3000kcal just because he weights more (im 75 kg and he is 95kg!). I'm not buying starvation mode starts for him when he's on a 1.800kcal deficit while i'm only at 1.300kcal deficit!!... seems too random for me!

Any ideas? XD

NA_Willie

If you aren't hungry, don't eat.

I don't really buy the whole "starvation mode" bull****.

I used to eat half a Subway sandwich a day and I didn't die.

erickirb

This may be true, but you can even be in "starvation mode" with less than a 500 cal deficit. It is more based on the amount of fat you have and not your weight. If a guy is 7% BF, most likely he could not sustain more than a 250 cal deficit as there is no fat to take so the body would use muscle instead. The less you have to lose, the smaller your deficit needs to be in order for you body not to burn muscle as fuel (which lowers metabolism).


Here is a good reference,
if you have over 100 lbs to lose you can lose more than 2 lbs/week safely, that being said it is best to set a realistic safe weekly loss goal,
If you have 75+ lbs to lose 2 lbs/week is ideal,
If you have 40-75 lbs to lose 1.5 lbs/week is ideal,
If you have 25-40 lbs to lose 1 lbs/week is ideal,
If you have 15 -25 lbs to lose 0.5 to 1.0 lbs/week is ideal, and
If you have less than 15 lbs to lose 0.5 lbs/week is ideal.

The reasons: the less you have to lose the less fat stores you have to pull from. The less fat you have to pull from the less your body wants to take any. So if your deficit is too large given your stats you will burn a large % of lean muscle. Doing the above also helps set you up for maintenance without a large increase in caloric intake all at once.

erickirb

If you aren't hungry, don't eat.

I don't really buy the whole "starvation mode" bull****.

I used to eat half a Subway sandwich a day and I didn't die.

No, but you probably lost a lot of muscle eating only that a day. You have to ask yourself, do you want to just lose weight, or would you rather lose fat and be healthy?

FYI: Hunger is not the best indication of nutritional requirements. I would be hungry eating a liquid diet of 4000 cals, but would be full eating 1200 cals of veggies only. So in the case where I would be full I would not be getting all my requirements, whereas with the liquid diet I would be hungry but have exceeded my nutritional requirements.

pizzygirltx

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starvation_response

Avalonis

Starvation mode is very, very real. However, not in the way people keep posting on these forums.

Starvation mode happens when your body gets ~50% of the caloric intake it needs for an extended period of time. So if you need 3000 calories a day to maintain, eating less than 1500 calories for a couple days will begin to slow your metabolism. Its not a switch that flips on and off.

You WILL still lose weight, but your metabolism will slow. This means that if and when you begin eating again, you can quickly add weight back on. In addition, when you are losing weight in starvation mode, it will be a MUCH higher percentage of muscle mass you are losing, due to the fact that the body naturally breaks down unused muscle first and foremost, as it takes more energy to maintain muscle than fat.


Check out the Wiki page on it, there is some good research linked. (The medical term is adaptive thermogenesis)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starvation_response

newdaynewme

I just took a wellness course and we studied this subject. although it's not called starvation mode clinically (in the texts we used and research that was provided) it has been recommended that women eat 1200 cals and men eat 1500 cals BUT starvation mode itself (which was the pre-stage of actually starving in text terms) did not occur at that amount that was just the daily recommended amount that should be eaten. with tests we studied it was interesting to see "starvation mode" occur for different individuals at different calorie levels. some could eat 800-900 cals per day eating all of the right nutrients & balancing their diet and they never entered "starvation mode". although it does exist it exists at different calorie levels for each person depending on body fat, how much is needed to survive, etc.. this was just what I learned in that course

asyouseefit

I just found back my weight chart from when I was starving myself (anorexia/bulimia). Turns out I was losing at the same rate as now, only being hungry all the time and feeling miserable. I think most days I was eating 500-600 cals. So I don't know about starvation mode but heavy restriction diets DO slow down your metabolism.

ElizabethRoad

I really think this site made up the "starvation mode <1200kcal"

No matter what you believe about "starvation mode <1200kcal", this site did not make it up. So you're wrong right out of the gate.

Avalonis

If you aren't hungry, don't eat.

I don't really buy the whole "starvation mode" bull****.

I used to eat half a Subway sandwich a day and I didn't die.

You also have very little muscle.

Personally, I think I'll listen to the people that know what they are talking about, like Doctors, nutritionists, and people who look like Greek gods.

nacs246

I AGREE with erickirb entirely. Maybe not everyone likes Jillain Michaels but please read this article. She certainly know what she talks about as well.

http://www.jillianmichaels.com/fitness-and-diet-tips/best-way-to-burn fat?xid=nl_LosingItWithJillianMichaels_20111027

NA_Willie

If you aren't hungry, don't eat.

I don't really buy the whole "starvation mode" bull****.

I used to eat half a Subway sandwich a day and I didn't die.

You also have very little muscle.

Personally, I think I'll listen to the people that know what they are talking about, like Doctors, nutritionists, and people who look like Greek gods.

This is all true.

Angel87a

Those pancakes in your picture look very tasty!

Angel87a

Those pancakes in your picture look very tasty!

rosalee87

I think this starvation mode deal is crap - when I started my weight loss journey I started at staying at 600-650cal per day and I was just fine, I wasn't starving nor did I ever feel deprived. I stuck to that for a month then increased to about 700 cals then 800 cals and I exercise - I went to my doctors just for a check up and he told me I was very healthy and I told him about the low calories I was eating and he said it was just fine but he PREFERRED my lowest cal intake to be 750-800. But, for several months I've been eating below 1200cals and I'm not starving and I've also toned up.


but I respect everyones opinions

fbmandy55

Starvation mode is real. As for the 1200 calorie limit many people use, it is not true for everyone. Some are a little less and some are a little more. I see a decent amount of women on here that do net aroudn 500 calories or so and that is NOT healthy. It's common sense!

fbmandy55

I think this starvation mode deal is crap - when I started my weight loss journey I started at staying at 600-650cal per day and I was just fine, I wasn't starving nor did I ever feel deprived. I stuck to that for a month then increased to about 700 cals then 800 cals and I exercise - I went to my doctors just for a check up and he told me I was very healthy and I told him about the low calories I was eating and he said it was just fine but he PREFERRED my lowest cal intake to be 750-800. But, for several months I've been eating below 1200cals and I'm not starving and I've also toned up.


but I respect everyones opinions

:huh:

I think your doctor needs his head examined. I cannot fathom a doctor telling someone that 750-800 calories a day is healthy..

wriglucy

I think it's basic common sense. If you don't eat enough to fuel your body, it will start to work less and focus on maintaining the essential bodily functions. Eventually, even those functions will not get enough fuel, and that's how people die of anorexia.

wriglucy

I think this starvation mode deal is crap - when I started my weight loss journey I started at staying at 600-650cal per day and I was just fine, I wasn't starving nor did I ever feel deprived. I stuck to that for a month then increased to about 700 cals then 800 cals and I exercise - I went to my doctors just for a check up and he told me I was very healthy and I told him about the low calories I was eating and he said it was just fine but he PREFERRED my lowest cal intake to be 750-800. But, for several months I've been eating below 1200cals and I'm not starving and I've also toned up.


but I respect everyones opinions

:huh:

I think your doctor needs his head examined. I cannot fathom a doctor telling someone that 750-800 calories a day is healthy..

I agree...I know not all doctors have much nutrition knowledge. Usually, they have a broad spectrum. If you want someone that specializes, and knows nutrition, you'd need to talk to a registered dietitian.

Uerzer

Starvation mode is very, very real. However, not in the way people keep posting on these forums.

That's what i wanted to hear XD
also, i read that wiki article before posting :P

No matter what you believe about "starvation mode <1200kcal", this site did not make it up. So you're wrong right out of the gate.

Please tell me how.

Uerzer

I think it's basic common sense. If you don't eat enough to fuel your body, it will start to work less and focus on maintaining the essential bodily functions. Eventually, even those functions will not get enough fuel, and that's how people die of anorexia.

Mainly heart and immune system getting pwnt, being suicide the second cause for death on those patients

mleoni092708

This is one of those debates that could go on forever. You really don't have to starve yourself to lose weight. I've found I lose more weight if I listen to my body and eat more when it's telling me to. Otherwise I feel sick and weak. I just don't see why anyone would want to put themselves through the stress of eating, say 500 calories per day. The mental and physical stress would be awful and I don't see how that's healthy or could be maintained long term.

rosalee87

When I was eating below 1200 cals I would make healthy food choices, I was never hungry, I'd eat several times a day with snacks but I would watch my portions and everything I would eat was low in calories or 0 cals and I had to read nutrition on every single thing I would eat. I would drink water all day quit sodas, diet sodas, fruity drinks, etc several months before that so I basically stuck to water. Now I don't bother reading them - I just enter them on MFP and whatever it is is and I just watch for calories.

Avalonis

If you aren't hungry, don't eat.

I don't really buy the whole "starvation mode" bull****.

I used to eat half a Subway sandwich a day and I didn't die.

You also have very little muscle.

Personally, I think I'll listen to the people that know what they are talking about, like Doctors, nutritionists, and people who look like Greek gods.

This is all true.

I apologize, I didn't intend that as rude as it probably came across. I just meant you have limited experience. No offense intended. You took it well though

puggleperson

You are right! You won't go into starvation mode.... I think the point, really is that if you are eating under 1200 calories then what happens when you start eating above that?? You start to gain weight.. Or lets say you are eating only 800 calories everyday..what happens when you plateau?? You can't possibly go down to 500 calories a day... That's just not what your body wants. Your body needs fule to make atp and your body runs offf of atp.... Atp = look it up!

_Peacebone_

You are right! You won't go into starvation mode.... I think the point, really is that if you are eating under 1200 calories then what happens when you start eating above that?? You start to gain weight.. Or lets say you are eating only 800 calories everyday..what happens when you plateau?? You can't possibly go down to 500 calories a day... That's just not what your body wants. Your body needs fule to make atp and your body runs offf of atp.... Atp = look it up!

This is how I think of "starvation mode." Eventually your metabolism will slow, and when you start eating normally again, you WILL gain weight back.

lizziebeth1028

Although I do believe that your body can go into starvation mode, I think the 'starvation mode' term is tossed about to freely on these threads. If you fall under 1200 every once in awhile and don't make a habit of this you're not going to 'starve'. But if you do this too frequently your body will not be getting the right amount of nutrients and as a result you will see a loss of muscle. Which is obviously not healthy or a sustainable way to loose weight.

lizziebeth1028

This is one of those debates that could go on forever. You really don't have to starve yourself to lose weight. I've found I lose more weight if I listen to my body and eat more when it's telling me to. Otherwise I feel sick and weak. I just don't see why anyone would want to put themselves through the stress of eating, say 500 calories per day. The mental and physical stress would be awful and I don't see how that's healthy or could be maintained long term.

^Well said! And a good point. Why starve yourself?!??! Food is not the enemy, it's fuel and energy for your body.....and it tastes good!!! I love food. Learn to eat healthy, watch your portions, exercise and you will loose weight and keep it off!

ATT949

Wow, I've been on this site for almost a year and that's the first time i've seen anyone post that link (maybe I have).

Yes, the Wiki is crowdsourced so we know that some of the stuff there is flaky but I take that page as gospel. The conclusion that I've drawn, based heavily on that page as well as on other things about the human body that I've learned since high school (Class of 1973) is that starvation mode is possible but you've got to work really, really hard to almost eliminate food, pay no attention to all of the problems that you face, be oblivious to huge weight loss, and, finally, you croak.

I have no doubt that some people here on MFP have hit starvation mode. I also have no doubt that many folks firmly believe that they will burst into flames and die if they only eat 1199 calories (even though it's almost impossible to track calories to more than a few percentage points).

ATT949

some could eat 800-900 cals per day eating all of the right nutrients & balancing their diet and they never entered "starvation mode". although it does exist it exists at different calorie levels for each person depending on body fat, how much is needed to survive, etc.. this was just what I learned in that course

Your textbooks are wrong!

If you eat less than 1200 calories a day, you will go into starvation mode. I know 'cause I've read it here on the Internet!

<sarc>

Thank you for posting this.

I've been on MFP for almost a year and have seen a huge change in discussion about starvation mode. Just a few months ago is discussed the approach that I took to dieting and was castigated for it. A few posters labeled my diet "dangerous" and one poster wanted to have me banned from the site.

I did "everything wrong" when I was losing weight — I ate 800-1k net cals/day and drank very little water but somehow, I managed to lose 95 pounds in 7 months.

What you're bringing to light is that people react differently to a change in diet. And a low calorie diet is safer than you think.

When I was losing weight, I ate a low calorie diet which was based on the calorie level used by Lindora weight loss clinics. Lindora is a 40 year old company that's located in Southern California that runs a medically supervised weight loss program where patients consume 800 to 1000 calories per day. They have had hundreds of thousands of people lose weight. A typical program is 10 weeks long and, if you follow their guidelines, you should lose 10% of your body mass. I'm not advertising for them but my GF runs one of their clinics so I have some insight into what a proven diet plan looks like.

This is what blows me away about the "1200 calories" hysteria. Debbie works with people every day who consume well under 1200 calories and these people are healthy, active, happy, and losing tons of weight. In contrast, when I log into MFP I read dire warnings about eating so little food. Who should I believe — the hundreds of thousands of people who have lost weight or "medical experts"?

Hmmm…let me think about that!

puggleperson

some could eat 800-900 cals per day eating all of the right nutrients & balancing their diet and they never entered "starvation mode". although it does exist it exists at different calorie levels for each person depending on body fat, how much is needed to survive, etc.. this was just what I learned in that course

Your textbooks are wrong!

If you eat less than 1200 calories a day, you will go into starvation mode. I know 'cause I've read it here on the Internet!

<sarc>

Thank you for posting this.

I've been on MFP for almost a year and have seen a huge change in discussion about starvation mode. Just a few months ago is discussed the approach that I took to dieting and was castigated for it. A few posters labeled my diet "dangerous" and one poster wanted to have me banned from the site.

I did "everything wrong" when I was losing weight — I ate 800-1k net cals/day and drank very little water but somehow, I managed to lose 95 pounds in 7 months.

What you're bringing to light is that people react differently to a change in diet. And a low calorie diet is safer than you think.

When I was losing weight, I ate a low calorie diet which was based on the calorie level used by Lindora weight loss clinics. Lindora is a 40 year old company that's located in Southern California that runs a medically supervised weight loss program where patients consume 800 to 1000 calories per day. They have had hundreds of thousands of people lose weight. A typical program is 10 weeks long and, if you follow their guidelines, you should lose 10% of your body mass. I'm not advertising for them but my GF runs one of their clinics so I have some insight into what a proven diet plan looks like.

This is what blows me away about the "1200 calories" hysteria. Debbie works with people every day who consume well under 1200 calories and these people are healthy, active, happy, and losing tons of weight. In contrast, when I log into MFP I read dire warnings about eating so little food. Who should I believe — the hundreds of thousands of people who have lost weight or "medical experts"?

Hmmm…let me think about that!

Lindora is crap... I spent over 4 grand at that place and gained all my weight back.. WHY? Because without drugs and supplements it's impossible to eat only 800 calories a day for teh rest of your life... I regret the money I spent there and I will never go back. The only thing I liked about that program is the daily injections... If I could I would inject myself every day with the vitamin B complex !!