Starvation mode! (my opinion)

jlfred

I remember reading about a group of people who followed some extreme diet in which they ate only about 600 cal a day, every day, for life. They were all very thin (and happy about that). And, interestingly, a new study at the time showed that these people actually had longer lives, on average -- up to 20 years longer.

HOWEVER, these people not only had to be completely obsessive about food (rarely eating out, bringing their food scales with them everywhere) and strove to "always be hungry" (that was a sign that they were doing the diet "right" according to them), but they could not exercise or be active. Not only did they not have the energy (literally), but their bones tended to be extremely week, and almost any extrenuous activity could result in broken bones and other problems.

So, great, these people lived longer (allegedly) and were thinner -- but they had NO LIFE. They were *always hungry* (purposefully), couldn't participate in any physical activities, and what kind of social life could they realistically have (other than, perhaps, with other people on the same diet)?

I think sometimes people's perspectives can get a bit scewed. Yes, I want to be thin, and I'd like to live a long life. But I sure as hell would rather be enjoying the time I'm here -- so whatever I can do to combine all those priorities (rather than focusing on one of both of the former alone) I'll do. But I'm not going to sacrifice the latter part just to get to the former part faster.

mstemen

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!

Not necessarily. When I was netting around 1000 per day after workouts ( I was eating 1500 and burning 500) I was stuck at the same weight for 2 weeks. As soon as I upped my calorie intake and was netting 1400 (I was eating a total of 1800-1900 a day) I started losing weight at a steady pace.

PB67

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!

Not necessarily. When I was netting around 1000 per day after workouts ( I was eating 1500 and burning 500) I was stuck at the same weight for 2 weeks. As soon as I upped my calorie intake and was netting 1400 (I was eating a total of 1800-1900 a day) I started losing weight at a steady pace.

I guarantee the cause was a spontaneous increase in NEAT:

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/374740-starvation-mode-neat?hl=NEAT#posts-5106807

CJK1959

My two cents:
Starvation response in animals (which we are) is a set of adaptive biochemical and physiological changes that reduce the metabolic rate in response to a lack of food, whether intentional or not.

Starvation mode is a state in which the body is responding to prolonged periods of low caloric intake levels. During short periods of caloric abstinence, the human body will burn primarily free fatty acids from body fat stores. After prolonged periods of starvation the body has depleted its body fat and begins to burn lean tissue and muscle as a fuel source.[2]

Ordinarily, the body responds to reduced caloric intake by burning fat reserves first, and only consumes muscle and other tissues when those reserves are exhausted. Specifically, the body burns fat after first exhausting the contents of the digestive tract along with glycogen reserves stored in muscle and liver cells.[3] After prolonged periods of starvation, the body will utilize the proteins within muscle tissue as a fuel source. People who practice fasting on a regular basis, such as those adhering to caloric restricted diets, can prime their bodies to abstain from food without burning lean tissue.[4]. Resistance training (such as weight lifting) can also prevent the loss of muscle mass while a person is caloric restricted.

It does exist Virginia, it's just not necessarily evil.

bonkers5975

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.

I did this, y'all. On 1600 cals and 75 g carbs a day. I lost over 100 lbs and then it stopped for months. I tried everything, eating more, eating less, exercising more, exercising less... then I got hurt, couldn't exercise, depressed, didn't care anymore... I gained 40 lbs in 2 months eating alot of healthy food, but more wheat than before. I don't eat out, we don't eat tons of junk.

I don't know what the tech term for it is. But I have NEVER put weight on that quickly before!

Back on track now, but watching the kinds of foods I eat more than calories. Eating primally, intuitively, and I'm already down 7 lbs after 5 days. (Yes, I know it's mostly water. I've been at this game a very long time!)

erickirb

Ordinarily, the body responds to reduced caloric intake by burning fat reserves first, and only consumes muscle and other tissues when those reserves are exhausted. Specifically, the body burns fat after first exhausting the contents of the digestive tract along with glycogen reserves stored in muscle and liver cells.[3] After prolonged periods of starvation, the body will utilize the proteins within muscle tissue as a fuel source. People who practice fasting on a regular basis, such as those adhering to caloric restricted diets, can prime their bodies to abstain from food without burning lean tissue.[4]. Resistance training (such as weight lifting) can also prevent the loss of muscle mass while a person is caloric restricted.

It does exist Virginia, it's just not necessarily evil.

Not 100% correct, the body will break down muscle and fat at the same time but the lower your BF%the more muscle your body will turn to as it is easier for your body to breakdown muscle and the survival response is just that, muscle burns more calories then fat, so the less muscle you have the longer you can live off your fat.

So it is not one then the other, you usually burn both but mostly fat if you deficit is right for you if your deficit is too large you will burn a large % of muscle then you would on a smaller deficit.