Why is this happening?

HornsUT32

I am a teacher on summer break, so I have had a lot of free time to spend in the gym. Although I was working out and burning 600-800 calories, about 5 times a week, I hit a major plateau that seemed to last 2 months. I was "netting" around 1200 calories, yet gained and lost the same 2 pounds for weeks on end.

Fast forward to about 2 weeks ago..I had a dental surgery. I couldn't workout and could hardly eat for about 5 days. I was only eating 600-800 calories, and STILL didn't lose a pound.

Now, the past two weeks I have been eating and working out like any other normal day...with the exception of I have had a hard time staying under my calorie goal. To be honest..I have done pretty bad. I have been "netting 1700-1800" calories, and sometimes all the way up to 2,000. (I go back to work next week so I have been a little less strict than I should be, but I will be back on a normal schedule and snacking a lot less again in a few days.) The thing is though, I am losing weight...like 4 pounds in 2 weeks. What is going on with me? I WAS not in starvation mode...ever..so that can't be it. All of my numbers say I should only have lost MAYBE 1/2 pound the past 2 weeks, yet I am losing a lot more.

Help...I am soooo confused!!!

Brent_J

I think you already know the answer. You may not have been in "starvation mode" but your body was clearly feeling like it wasn't getting enough calories so it was slowing down your metabolism to compensate. Now that you've been fed, things are speeding up again and the weight is falling off.

I'm not really sure what else it could be.

Pedal_Pusher

Is starvation mode real?

emtron500

You might want to try increasing calorie intake every so often and seeing if that gets your body burning calories again. I have a "cheat day" every week and have done pretty well at maintaining steady weight loss. Just an idea to experiment with maybe?

Aliciaaah

Bump - Because I'm in a similar situation. I took a bit of a break from logging while I was camping and staying with my parents for a couple weeks. I gained about a pound, nothing tragic but I haven't been able to get it off and now I'm struggling with the same pound or two. I've tried netting higher and lower but nothing is helping. Hopefully my answer is the same as your situation, just eat more - here's for hoping!

Akimajuktuq

Is starvation mode real?

YES, not too long ago humans dealt with food shortage regularly (and some still do). Our bodies are designed to compensate for food shortage by getting more efficient when necessary. That increased efficiency, or slower metabolism, can definitely slow weight loss. It's not a myth, it's a survival strategy that most animals have, including humans.

ToughTulip

Sometimes a full diet break is needed

peachyxoxoxo

I tend to drop unexpected weight during a short period of eating more and exercising less, after a long period of heavy exercise and watching very closely what I eat. I think this happens to a lot of people.

marycmeadows

I think you already know the answer. You may not have been in "starvation mode" but your body was clearly feeling like it wasn't getting enough calories so it was slowing down your metabolism to compensate. Now that you've been fed, things are speeding up again and the weight is falling off.

I'm not really sure what else it could be.

This. what makes you think you weren't in starvation mode?? This is not something you are consciously aware of. Soo. yea. I think it's probably that you weren't eating enough. Not that complicated. You have to fuel your body properly.

mmapags

I'd bet on adaptive thermogenesis. Your weight loss slowed because you weren't eating enough. Plain and simple. Your hormones were out of whack. You ate more, you body no longer percieved a threat. it adaptated, leptin and gherlin normalized and your body let go of the water and fat it was holding.

Yanicka1

You are obviously one of those that do better at a higher calorie level. I do too. I eat 1700 calories, anything below that and I get stuck on a plateau.

Sarauk2sf

Sometimes a full diet break is needed

^^this - it seems as though you had an unintentional one.

CoderGal

I'd bet on adaptive thermogenesis. Your weight loss slowed because you weren't eating enough. Plain and simple. Your hormones were out of whack. You ate more, you body no longer percieved a threat. it adaptated, leptin and gherlin normalized and your body let go of the water and fat it was holding.

this

NZhellkat

It's like putting 1/2 a tank of gas in your car and expecting to get a full tanks worth of travel. It ain't gonna happen. The body NEEDS to be adequately fueled to burn that fat off. Picture building a fire, if you don't give it enough fuel it will burn down to embers o that the next time you put a large log on it will smolder away slowly without burning hot and strong. Now picture a fire that is burning strong and then you add that large log on and what does it do? Yeah it catches fire pretty damn quick and consumes it fast. Our bodies work the same way. Low calorie intake = slow metabolism. Bigger healthier calorie intake = faster metabolism. The choice is yours.

LorinaLynn

Whether you believe in starvation mode our not, our bodies have sweet spots where they're more likely to give up the pounds. Yours seems to be higher than the 1200 net you were eating.

Ride the wave and see where it takes you.