How can you eat net 200-300 calories and still lose without

courtgosvener

I have "liked" many facebook pages of people's journeys for inspiration. One lady was my starting weight and has lost 118 lbs in 1 year, this is what I would like to do and see it as a totally reachable goal. However, as of late, my idea of dieting seems different. She does weight training/cardio and calorie counting. I found that she eats 1300 calories no matter what she burns throughout the day. Typically she burns a low end of 400 calories via exercise. She had about 1100 calories burned the other day (She has a top of the line Polar HRM). While to each his own with losing weight, she has obviously been successful, but why isn't the dreaded "starvation mode" or stall taken in to affect? If she in fact ate 1300 calories and burned 1100 that is a net of 200. She is about 169 lbs now I think. Her RMR is at least 1400 if not 1600. So essentially eating 200 calories that day. I couldn't do it. I am proud of her journey and for sticking with things, but it makes me question my sensible 1000 calorie deficit (I have a Bodybugg).

monicalynne68

Well The whole thing with the "starvation mode" is if you aren't eating enough calories, your metabolism slows down and you don't burn as much fat. She is actually eating enough calories (1300). She is suppling her body with energy. Also her metabolism is not going to drop as they indicate can happen in "starvation mode" because the exercise keeps her metabolism high.

jellybaby84

Because, for the majority of people, starvation mode, if it really happens at all, is a) going to take ages and b) not going to stop you losing weight altogether, just slow it down. Eg if a person ate 1200 cals a day they might lose 2 pounds a week and if they only ate 700 cals might lose 2.5 pounds a week not 4.

I spent 6 months eating 300 cals a day and not exercising at all. I still lost over 2 stone to reach a BMI of 15ish. Horribly unhealthy but it works.

I think you should focus on sticking to the healthy way though.

CallmeSbo

Starvation mode tends to be exaggerated here on MFP. 1300 is enough calories. I do not eat my exercise calories back anymore.2009 i lost 17kg and gained it all back 2011 because i had an injury, i could not work out. I was so used to consuming high calories, so when i had the injury i was always hungry because i was used to eating high calories. Needless to say, i ended up eating the calories i was used to. I am never making that mistake again. Currently, i am eating 1200 to 1400 calories a day. I do not eat my exercise calories back. On high intensity workout days i burn +-900 calories and on low/medium intensity days i burn -+400calories. I eat when im hungry, i dont force food down my throat for the sake of it.

118 lb a year is an achievable goal. It wont be easy, but it definately can be done. All the best.

Anayalata

It's exaggerated if only to move people away from trying to do it.

Your BMR is supposed to be what your body can function on efficiently while doing little to no exercise during the day.

If you eat below that you will lose weight and get results. However, it will most likely NOT be long-term, and your body will eventually rebound and start hoarding calories in order to survive.

This is why people go on "crash" diets and lose weight for whatever reason, but 3 months later they're back to the way they were before.

If you want to lose weight the healthy way and KEEP IT OFF, slow and steady wins.