Starvation Mode

dex1993

Every time I look on-line at tips when losing weight on any site including mens health they mention the starvation mode

Where if you dont eat enough your body will store the fat and and get rid of your muscle

Now seriously has anyone really experienced this?

Sorry first post I've noticed I've put this in the wrong place.

Di3012

Every time I look on-line at tips when losing weight on any site including mens health they mention the starvation mode

Where if you dont eat enough your body will store the fat and and get rid of your muscle

Now seriously has anyone really experienced this?

Sorry first post I've noticed I've put this in the wrong place.

No, I have to admit, I have never experienced this, at all!

I could never make out what "they" meant when talking about 'not eating enough' either, a calorie deficit is needed to lose weight.

dex1993

Yeah thanks for that it makes no sense to me I think it really just creates confusion and people who want to lose wait fail because rubbish like this puts them off

mcrowe1016

From what I understand, starvation mode is an overused and misunderstood term. The idea behind it is if you start eating 1000 calories a day, after a month or two your body will become more and more used to only getting 1000 calories and will become much more efficient in utilizing those calories – read: your metabolism will adjust to hold on to as much fat as possible to help you survive this prolonged low calorie intake and your weight loss will slow down.

Now this is a slow process and is not as dramatic as many make it seem. My reasoning for having a small deficit (for about half a pound loss a week) is as follows – As you lose weight, you are losing both muscle and fat. Well, I like my muscle. By losing slowly, I am losing a greater percentage of fat to muscle. Though I am losing slower, there is a more visible difference in by body due to the increased space that fat takes up.

Brademert

I have first hand experienced a form of starvation mode. When I decided to start losing weight I put myself on a 1600 calorie a day diet and the weight started coming off. After about 2 months I decided I wanted to speed up the process and changed my calorie intake to 1250 calories. I GAINED 5 lbs and felt absolutley miserable. I was weeker and had a lot less energy. I bumped my calories back up to 1500 and after a few more weeks I started losing again. Your body will fight you back if you piss it off. Lesson learned. Dont STARVE yourself.

LilacDreamer

I'm living proof that starvation mode exists.

The first time i really tried to lose weight in was in 2007. It started out as a result of having swallowing problems, but then I realized that as a result of not eating much I had started to lose weight. Weightloss was always really hard for me because I was born with medical conditions that make it more difficult.

Once I realized I was losing, i thought okay...why not? So I started limiting myself to eating 1 large boston market mashed potatoes a day OR a 1/2 of a 6" Veggie delite subway sandwich. Any other calories came from 100% apple juice. I did this for about 8 or 9 months and I lost 40lbs. I'd imagine I'd have lost more had I been doing it in a healthy way, but I digress.

The more I lost, the more fragile I felt, but nothing could stop me. I was encouraged by those around me. When my cousin (14 years older than me) asked me how I had lost weight, I told him I don't eat and he said "That's great, Keep it up!"

I had very little muscle tone after the 9 months.....I felt weak, but I convinced myself that since I was losing weight I was really getting stronger. I had lost a lot of hair due to being malnourished. My body was eating away at itself. Vanity made me stop doing what I was doing. I would try to put my hair up and it looked patchy and thin....like there were sections missing. It frightened me, so eventually i forced myself to start eating.

belgerian

From what little Ive read your body does not go into acutual starvation mode until you hit about 6 percent body fat. Now your BMR rate will slow down when you cut your calories down but that can be easily offset by burning more calories. Look at a study done by the US Army after WW2 on starvation mode here is a link to a discussion on this site http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/81391-starvation-mode-myths-and-science Now is it healthy to dramatically cut your calories I would say no and is it sustainable probably not also. But do some research and decide what is best for you.

almostatgoalweight

A perfect example of "starvation mode" being a myth is the TV series Survivor. As you probably know, people don't eat much on the programme. So they lose weight. You can see how much they lose by choosing a particular contestant and typing in their name with the word "ponderosa" on youtube, you'll see how much weight they lost. Some of this weight will be related to going low carb and "emptying" of their bodies, but there is fat loss as well. The periods are short too, 39 days or less.

april522

I always give myself a "cheat day" every week, per my personal trainer's instructions, for this very reason. I've noticed that sometimes my weight will come down some after I've had my cheat day. So I do think there's some truth to it. It's understandable too.... your body has ways of trying to preserve what's left, should it think you're "starving." I guess you'll just have to play around with it and see what works best for you.

pichild

absolutely. My system has been in starvation mode for a very long time. I was eating maybe 700 calories a day and while I am not sure how much muscle I lost I know I was not loosing weight. I started eating more and like magic the weight started to come off. Weird how that works.

bellstar98

Yea I am not sure either what that means. 10 months ago I had bariatric surgery. It made me go into starvation mode. I have lost about 90 pounds in that time period. At first I was on 600 to 700 calories a day. I was also exercising each day. I was always walking at least if not free weight lifting. Not sure what "they" mean by starvation but I was never there. I have lost consistantly and feel great... I am up to about 1200 calories a day now because my stomach can handle a little more food. I am on vitamens and exercise so I am not sure what is up with starvation...

ChaoticMiNd

It's a complete fallacy. Ask the people who lose 100 lbs in 3 months after gastric bypass.

ChaoticMiNd

I always give myself a "cheat day" every week, per my personal trainer's instructions, for this very reason. I've noticed that sometimes my weight will come down some after I've had my cheat day. So I do think there's some truth to it. It's understandable too.... your body has ways of trying to preserve what's left, should it think you're "starving." I guess you'll just have to play around with it and see what works best for you.

Yeh during a plateau if you pig out a day or two it will end it lol.

tmauck4472

Starvation Mode ( in this country anyways) is in reality just a plateau where your body for a period of time will not lose fat. You just need to change things up and find the right spot for you. Keep changing it up so your body doesn't get used to what you are doing. They call it starvation mode just to scare the hell out of you so you'll eat more the way they want you too. It is said that if it does exist no one in this country will experiance it. More like 3rd world countries where they don't eat anything for months on end due to famine. Eating something everyday will stop you from experianceing it. If someone thinks that is going on with them, they are just misinformed and are experianceing a plateau and have to make it scary for others...Even doctors have different opinions on this, some believe it some don't. You have to litterly starve yourself for years on end to experiance it, if it even exists at all

tmauck4472

Losing muscle is NOT what starvation mode is about. Starvation mode is where you gain weight while eating little to nothing, hence why 3rd world countries will experiance it, IF IT TRULY EXISTS. If you've stopped losing weight you have hit a plateau and need to change it up, and if you do that then you will start losing again. So maybe I should say I don't believe that it exists here in this country or any other country where food is pleantiful even if it's one meal a day.

Ripcode

I'm living proof that starvation mode exists.

I don't think you're an example of starvation mode.

LilacDreamer

I'm living proof that starvation mode exists.

I don't think you're an example of starvation mode.

I don't think you know what you're talking about. Did you even bother reading what I wrote?

somedaysoon84

I'm living proof that starvation mode exists.

I don't think you're an example of starvation mode.

I don't think you know what you're talking about. Did you even bother reading what I wrote?

you were malnurished because the calories you were eating were crap. you can eat a semi balanced diet at 6-700 cals. is it good for you long term? probably not. but i wouldn't call mashed potatoes or subs "health food". if you had been eating that amount in fruits veggies and lean proteins, it may have been different. i do not think you were in starvation mode.

Bobby_Clerici

High calorie deficits stifle metabolism.
Fact.
This is why so many people fail so miserably at this.
Don't be one of those poor, lost unhappy souls. Do what winners do and just follow the MFP recommendations.
Good luck:flowerforyou:

rodneyderrick

I wouldn't worry about this whole starvation mode thing. It's the man's way of keeping people fat.

HondaGuy30102

I don't think it exsists either because when we got married 13 years ago I lost 110lbs in about 7 months because we had no money and not much to eat. My wife and I both lost a ton back then. Of course about 3 years later after having a job and groceries I gained it all back LOL.....

neverstray

If there was a "starvation mode" then how exactly, does anorexia work?

If you guys want to test it out. Stop eating.

Bobby_Clerici

I don't think it exsists either because when we got married 13 years ago I lost 110lbs in about 7 months because we had no money and not much to eat. My wife and I both lost a ton back then. Of course about 3 years later after having a job and groceries I gained it all back LOL.....

^^^^^^^^^^^^
You just proved my point perfectly.:drinker:
Again, one of the reasons MFP promotes steady, slow and healthy weight loss is that our goals are fitness for life - not yo yo dieting up and down and all around where we end up dying fat.
The science behind successful weight loss is solid, and MFP is based on what works long-term.
If you are on some crash diet or some other system, oh well.
Do whatever.
And good luck...

HondaGuy30102

Been there done that and not by choice.
It works yes, but there is nothing worse than going to bed hungry not knowing when you'll get to eat again.
I'd rather be fat than starving anytime. Besides starving whether voluntary or not doesn't give you the ripped beach body you see on tv, you'll look very thin and unhealthy. I got sick alot and never had any strength either.

ironanimal

If there was a "starvation mode" then how exactly, does anorexia work?

If you guys want to test it out. Stop eating.

You are aware anorexics have no muscle tone as well as low bodyfat, often have issues with organs completely shutting down and hairloss, weak nails etc?

Starvation mode is an unfortunate name for a wide range of metabolic and nutritional issues.

wahmx3

Everyone has a BMR or Basal Metabolic Rate. This is the number of calories your body needs to function and be inactive-think digestion, blood flow and organ functions. Once you add in activity of any kind,you have to consume more to offset that activity. Now, if you eat below your BMR ( which for most women is 1500 cals per day) your body goes into starvation mode. Your body begins to store fat as fuel and burn lean muscle mass, this muscle mass comes from your heart, liver, lungs and brain. When your body exhausts those stores, it will then move onto the fat stores.

HondaGuy30102

Please understand Bobby_Clerici that I didn't do it willingly.
My parents threw me out and we had no money for a year. Ramon noodles once a day were a treat back then.
The only time I ate more than 500 calories a day was when we had work functions where food was provided and then I would get sick if I ate much. It was a horrible time in my life and not something anyone should do willingly.

gaiareeves

If you under eat then a large part of the weight you're going to be losing is muscle mass. That's just how it is.

Then you end up a 'skinny fat person'.

It happens to people caught in the beginning stages of eating disorders a lot, before they hit such frightfully low weights.

There was something about it on TV, recently. A girl purposely under ate, lost a tonne of weight, and ended up with a BMI of 18.3, but her body fat was 28%. Underweight, but carrying a lot of fat, because so much of the weight she lost through not eating properly was muscle.

Bobby_Clerici

Please understand Bobby_Clerici that I didn't do it willingly.
My parents threw me out and we had no money for a year. Ramon noodles once a day were a treat back then.
The only time I ate more than 500 calories a day was when we had work functions where food was provided and then I would get sick if I ate much. It was a horrible time in my life and not something anyone should do willingly.

SOunds like it toughened you up though; a silver lining!
Anyway, good luck to you here - KEEP PUNCHING!

tmauck4472

I don't think it exsists either because when we got married 13 years ago I lost 110lbs in about 7 months because we had no money and not much to eat. My wife and I both lost a ton back then. Of course about 3 years later after having a job and groceries I gained it all back LOL.....

^^^^^^^^^^^^
You just proved my point perfectly.:drinker:
Again, one of the reasons MFP promotes steady, slow and healthy weight loss is that our goals are fitness for life - not yo yo dieting up and down and all around where we end up dying fat.
The science behind successful weight loss is solid, and MFP is based on what works long-term.
If you are on some crash diet or some other system, oh well.
Do whatever.
And good luck...

NO what he explained is he or his wife neither one went into "starvation mode" and they ate very little for 3 years, the only thing he kinda sorta maybe proved is that eating very little over that amount of time will not be productive to "MAINTAIN" your weight once you start picking up calories.

BeckyLH

I'm on a very low calorie intake at the moment as I want very quick results to kick start me, I've done this before and lost 10lbs in 2 weeks, it works for me as a start and right now I need it as I've ballooned to 193lbs.

I am a little worried about starvation mode but I only intend to do this for 2-3 weeks.