Do you believe you can damage your metabolism by eating too

todayiwillfly
todayiwillfly Posts: 9
in Food and Nutrition
Do you believe you can damage your metabolism by eating too little.

I don't. I don't believe there is anything such thing as 'starvation mode' either.

What thinks all of you?
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Replies

  • Improvised
    Improvised Posts: 925 Member
    I do. I don't think it'll happen from a couple of days of light eating, though. It takes awhile of consistently too little. I know of people who lost lots of weight that way, but they have to continue eating too little in order to maintain.
  • PrincessLou71186
    PrincessLou71186 Posts: 741 Member
    You may find this interesting.

    http://caloriecount.about.com/forums/weight-loss/truth-starvation-mode
  • HannahMarieMcDougald
    HannahMarieMcDougald Posts: 544
    umm then why are there eating disorders? Do you know your brain itself needs a certain amount of calories to even function?

    'edited by moderator Arewethereyet"
  • Baurus
    Baurus Posts: 27
    Your metabolism slow off and i just tried it out. I'm currently eating 1300 kcal and i don't look more able to eat 2500 kcal without increase my weight. Also we have to say that you can restore your metabolism ( i did it in the past) easily and get it back to 2500 kcal so relax and get to the deficit you want (not less then 1200 or you won't be able to fulfill your macros).
    I've to say i'm 18 so it's more easy for me, i can understand a 30-40 years old may have problems to restore own metabolism.
  • love4fitnesslove4food_wechange
    love4fitnesslove4food_wechange Posts: 6,897 Member
    yes, yes i do. just started a thread about it.
  • love4fitnesslove4food_wechange
    love4fitnesslove4food_wechange Posts: 6,897 Member
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/553082-call-it-what-you-want-starvation-mode-is-real?page=3#posts-7799473
  • BrianSharpe
    BrianSharpe Posts: 9,248 Member
    Do you believe you can damage your metabolism by eating too little.

    I don't. I don't believe there is anything such thing as 'starvation mode' either.

    What thinks all of you?

    I don't believe in Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny either but people on VLCDs can experience a significant loss of lean muscle mass which in turn lowers their BMR. It's not a matter of faith, it's a fact. It doesn't happen overnight but it does happen.
  • squishycow7
    squishycow7 Posts: 820 Member
    I do... I believe that eating too little won't get me the results I want/need. so why starve yourself, RISK damaging your metabolism (just in case it's true, right?) if it doesn't even work.

    starvation diets didn't work for me. I'm eating more now than I have since trying to lose weight, and I'm having my best success yet!
    I do. I don't think it'll happen from a couple of days of light eating, though. It takes awhile of consistently too little. I know of people who lost lots of weight that way, but they have to continue eating too little in order to maintain.

    ^agreed with that as well
  • love4fitnesslove4food_wechange
    love4fitnesslove4food_wechange Posts: 6,897 Member
    Do you believe you can damage your metabolism by eating too little.

    I don't. I don't believe there is anything such thing as 'starvation mode' either.

    What thinks all of you?

    I don't believe in Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny either but people on VLCDs can experience a significant loss of lean muscle mass which in turn lowers their BMR. It's not a matter of faith, it's a fact. It doesn't happen overnight but it does happen.

    ^^what he said. it's a FACT! :)
  • LorinaLynn
    LorinaLynn Posts: 13,247 Member
    Of course I believe it, because I did it, and I see people on here doing it all the time.

    Thankfully, it was repairable. Life is much more fun with a good metabolism. It means I don't have to micromanage my eating habits, especially now that I'm maintaining. I know I won't be derailed by enjoying a delicious Easter dinner at my brother's tomorrow, including lots of candy. I was even able to take a month off from logging my food and exercising when I had an injury at the start of the year, without gaining weight. It's allows me a buffer zone.
  • jenna_scott
    jenna_scott Posts: 56 Member
    Oh I am popping the popcorn and getting my seat in the front cause this is going to be good.
  • almc170
    almc170 Posts: 1,093 Member
    It's not a matter of belief, it's a matter of reality. Unfortunately, I've experienced it first hand, and so have a lot of others. Trust me, you really don't want to go there.
  • MisterTEZ
    MisterTEZ Posts: 272 Member
    there is far too much evidence to suggest otherwise
  • LizKurz
    LizKurz Posts: 340 Member
    Do you believe you can damage your metabolism by eating too little.

    I don't. I don't believe there is anything such thing as 'starvation mode' either.

    What thinks all of you?

    I don't believe in Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny either but people on VLCDs can experience a significant loss of lean muscle mass which in turn lowers their BMR. It's not a matter of faith, it's a fact. It doesn't happen overnight but it does happen.

    Christ on a cracker, THIS. Exactly this.

    It's like how people "don't believe" in global warming, or other scientifically based facts.

    Math and science are not something you can "choose" to believe in. Really.
  • transfixedtoast
    transfixedtoast Posts: 89 Member
    I believe that it does happen. It's happened to me but it doesn't happen after a few days of light eating.
    I became very sick, my worst was 3 weeks when I went on holiday and I was to anxious to eat. I ate an accumulative amount of 500 calories over those 3 weeks and I can definatley tell you that my body believed it would never get food again and every single thing started to slow down because it eeded to preserve every single calorie that I got to keep my heart beating.
    Starvation mode is a thing. It is definatley true but I think it's just overused on this site.
  • ericgAU
    ericgAU Posts: 271
    My wife is living proof that not eating properly has led to being overweight. While this was not intentional (we have 4 kids), it will take some time to retrain the metabolism to fire up again by eating regular meals. This is what we are doing now. Dont kid yourself that `starvation mode' is something that doesnt happen. Its does and its the human bodies very clever response to famine.
  • kskroch
    kskroch Posts: 288 Member
    I was on a medically supervised VLCD I was between 600 and 800 calories for 15 weeks. After that, the last 6 months I've been trying slowly to increase my calories and I'm in the 1400-1800 range now. Technically I should still be loosing weight, but I've gained back about 10 pounds from my low. My memory, energy level and endurance is still not what it should be. I can feel my metabolism is still not right. I hope it is not permanently damaged, but it is still certainly suppressed.
  • katemme
    katemme Posts: 191
    Uhh, yes you can. I am dealing with an eating disorder, I exercising and eating only about 800 calories a day, sometimes less, then my net would be around 300-400 calories a day. I am getting better, I eat around 1200 now, but with net calories its still 500-800 calories. I lost 7 pounds (from 112 to 105) and when I increased, within a week I gained 5. I am still in a deficit and should be loosing almost a pound a week but I'm not.
  • Improvised
    Improvised Posts: 925 Member
    Do you believe you can damage your metabolism by eating too little.

    I don't. I don't believe there is anything such thing as 'starvation mode' either.

    What thinks all of you?

    I don't believe in Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny either but people on VLCDs can experience a significant loss of lean muscle mass which in turn lowers their BMR. It's not a matter of faith, it's a fact. It doesn't happen overnight but it does happen.

    Christ on a cracker, THIS. Exactly this.

    It's like how people "don't believe" in global warming, or other scientifically based facts.

    Math and science are not something you can "choose" to believe in. Really.

    Lol, don't get me started on Global Warmig. That's a buttload of political fake.
  • ebaymommy
    ebaymommy Posts: 1,067 Member
    Of course I believe it, because I did it, and I see people on here doing it all the time.

    Thankfully, it was repairable. Life is much more fun with a good metabolism. It means I don't have to micromanage my eating habits, especially now that I'm maintaining. I know I won't be derailed by enjoying a delicious Easter dinner at my brother's tomorrow, including lots of candy. I was even able to take a month off from logging my food and exercising when I had an injury at the start of the year, without gaining weight. It's allows me a buffer zone.

    Love this, love, love, love! :heart:
  • love4fitnesslove4food_wechange
    love4fitnesslove4food_wechange Posts: 6,897 Member
    I was on a medically supervised VLCD I was between 600 and 800 calories for 15 weeks. After that, the last 6 months I've been trying slowly to increase my calories and I'm in the 1400-1800 range now. Technically I should still be loosing weight, but I've gained back about 10 pounds from my low. My memory, energy level and endurance is still not what it should be. I can feel my metabolism is still not right. I hope it is not permanently damaged, but it is still certainly suppressed.

    thank you very much for sharing this. It can be restored...it will be restored BUT you have to be willing to increase your calories to true maintenance and gain some weight back, otherwise you'll always be living on 1400-1800 (a weight loss amount for MOST men).
  • LizKurz
    LizKurz Posts: 340 Member
    Do you believe you can damage your metabolism by eating too little.

    I don't. I don't believe there is anything such thing as 'starvation mode' either.

    What thinks all of you?

    I don't believe in Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny either but people on VLCDs can experience a significant loss of lean muscle mass which in turn lowers their BMR. It's not a matter of faith, it's a fact. It doesn't happen overnight but it does happen.

    Christ on a cracker, THIS. Exactly this.

    It's like how people "don't believe" in global warming, or other scientifically based facts.

    Math and science are not something you can "choose" to believe in. Really.

    Lol, don't get me started on Global Warmig. That's a buttload of political fake.


    I do hope that statement is facetious......:noway:
  • darrensurrey
    darrensurrey Posts: 3,942 Member
    After a bowel operation, I ate liquids for two months. I kept losing weight. And my stomach shrank so even small meals filled me up when I was able to eat solids again. Cheaper than a gastric band, eh?

    So, your metabolic rate will slow down but if you remain focused, you will waste away. It's not healthy, of course, but we're talking about starvation mode/metabolism, not a healthy diet or healthy weight loss.

    Also consider that anorexics and bulimics are pretty successful at reducing their weight despite starvation mode/metabolic rate drops. Again, not at all healthy but that's not the subject of this thread.

    If you want healthy then: eat enough to keep your metabolic rate up, do cardio to increase the metabolic rate and burn calories, lift heavy weights to increase lean muscle mass to further increase the metabolic rate and burn calories.

    And no, just being in the same room as a 10kg dumbbell will not turn you into Mr Universe.
  • Improvised
    Improvised Posts: 925 Member
    I was on a medically supervised VLCD I was between 600 and 800 calories for 15 weeks. After that, the last 6 months I've been trying slowly to increase my calories and I'm in the 1400-1800 range now. Technically I should still be loosing weight, but I've gained back about 10 pounds from my low. My memory, energy level and endurance is still not what it should be. I can feel my metabolism is still not right. I hope it is not permanently damaged, but it is still certainly suppressed.

    thank you very much for sharing this. It can be restored...it will be restored BUT you have to be willing to increase your calories to true maintenance and gain some weight back, otherwise you'll always be living on 1400-1800 (a weight loss amount for MOST men).

    Wow, that really puts it in perspective. Honestly, while I DO believe in starvation mode, I've been tempted to scale back on my calories anyway. Maybe I won't.
  • Improvised
    Improvised Posts: 925 Member
    Do you believe you can damage your metabolism by eating too little.

    I don't. I don't believe there is anything such thing as 'starvation mode' either.

    What thinks all of you?

    I don't believe in Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny either but people on VLCDs can experience a significant loss of lean muscle mass which in turn lowers their BMR. It's not a matter of faith, it's a fact. It doesn't happen overnight but it does happen.

    Christ on a cracker, THIS. Exactly this.

    It's like how people "don't believe" in global warming, or other scientifically based facts.

    Math and science are not something you can "choose" to believe in. Really.

    Lol, don't get me started on Global Warmig. That's a buttload of political fake.


    I do hope that statement is facetious......:noway:
    Nope, but I've read enough on it that I'm fairly confident that it's made up. The "Man Made" warming, that it.
  • cherryolac
    cherryolac Posts: 34
    The body is a bit like a car in that if you don't feed it you will run out of gas. ie if you don't feed your body you will not have energy, your body will keep everything in order to survive. And if you don't believe about starvation look at pictures of people who are literally starving and see how unattractive they get...skinny arms and legs and big ole bellies.
  • o_delaisse
    o_delaisse Posts: 193 Member
    Do you believe you can damage your metabolism by eating too little.

    I don't. I don't believe there is anything such thing as 'starvation mode' either.

    What thinks all of you?

    Given that I have damaged my metabolism and came very close to starving myself, why yes, I DO believe in it. Kind of frustrates me when other people don't because I, like a load of other people on here, are living proof of it.

    That said, "starvation mode" as a term to refer to a damaged metabolism really annoys me because, like I said, I was close to starving. Trust me, the scales not moving were the least of my concerns at the time.
  • beautifulbeast11
    beautifulbeast11 Posts: 202 Member
    I want to throw my rooster into this **** fight, but man... everyone is doing such a good job already.

    So I'll just stick with personal story fact:

    Starvation mode (800 net cal plus heavy workouts) killed my muscle, took weeks to recover (still recovering), and good god I was grumpy, irritable, mean.
    Now at 1300 (I'm slowly pushing it up as my body adjusts to intensity of workouts), I'm filled without being full, happy, and alert. I can tell my body is in repair mode.
  • hpsnickers1
    hpsnickers1 Posts: 2,783 Member
    Yes, you can. It's a biochemical response. When you aren't getting enough fuel/nutrients your body will start to down-regulate specific functions to conserve energy.

    You can continue to lose weight but your body will be eating into lean muscle mass and holding onto adipose tissue because the adipose tissue is there in case of famine. It will conserve that too. Your fat is very, very important to your body.

    I use a Body Media Fit. This happened to me last year. I wasn't eating enough because I was trying to battle sugar issues. (IF'ing is the WRONG way to do it). Almost overnight my daily calorie burn dropped. And it wasn't from losing weight. I was maintaining it.

    BUT N=1.
  • beautifulbeast11
    beautifulbeast11 Posts: 202 Member
    Wow, the site really starred * out the word c - o - c - k?

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