"Starvation mode", exercise calories, dillema?
SHBoss1673
Posts: 7,161 Member
This will be long. Fair warning.
And pardon my grammar, I'm notoriously bad at grammar and spelling (I did my best, but I fear it will lack a bit in that regard).
So many people on here fight about exercise calories and the "starvation mode myth". It's infuriating. I've written this in hopes that is answers the quesitons people have about starvation mode (or underfeeding, or the famine response, or a host of other terms).
First lets get this out of the way, through years of research I've come to the conclusion that starvation mode is NOT a myth. If you understand the human body, metabolism, and how we process food and use energy, you would also realize this. These aren't opinions to be formed, these are basic biological facts that have been tested significantly and proven to be true. So please don't say "it doesn't work that way for me." That's a lie and you know it. It's more like "I didn't take the time to recognize what the right amount of calories are for me, so trying to eat less (or more) didn't work."
OK that being said. Lets launch into a quick overview of what your body needs. How adipose fat (body fat) is metabolized, and the timelines involved.
So your body requires a certain amount of calories just to function, this is called your Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) and consists of energy needs for autonomic functions such as respiration, involuntary muscle contraction (like digestion and heart function), Central Nervous System activity...etc. Things you have little or no control over. These activities require about 60 to 75% of most people's calories. No matter what you do, you need this many calories to function, this is not a debate. The rest is all subject to variation, thermogenesis (the conversion of calories to heat), daily activity, and extra activities (exercises not occuring through normal daily activity) all add to the above total giving you your Total Daily Energy Expendature (TDEE).
Luckily for most people, they have a significant amount of calories stored in their body. Not only as fat, but also as protein and glycogen (and cholesterol to a smaller degree). Even fit and healthy folks with low body fat percent have a large amount of stored calories.
So what happens when you eat below what you need? Well, that's a complicated question, please read carefully as it comes in 3 parts. Please note, the amount of the deficit, the amount of available stored energy (see above), and the activity during the period all effect the time table below (which is why I won't specifically date any part, I'll only give estimates)
Part 1 of underfeeding is immediate (the first day or two)
Depending on the amount of deficit, the first day or two of underfeeding or complete abstinance is no "big deal" to the body. It changes a few hormones slightly in order to start pulling more fuel, but the body doesn't do much with this, it puts a little more energy into the blood stream, but in general it does what it always did, it feeds your muscles by releasing glycogen into the blood, which is taken up by muscle cells and either stored there for use (a small amount of glycogen is stored in many muscle sites, providing fast energy) or used immediately. The only difference between underfeeding and normal feeding in this sense is that the liver (which produces glycogen from glucose and mainly carbohydrates) doesn't replenish the waiting supply of glycogen as fast. Because while it CAN make glycogen from FFA's (fat) and Proteins, it's a longer, slower, and less efficient process than converting simple sugars (carbohydrates). So for this first stage, you are depleting the "ready" reserves, if you go back to normal feeding after this, nothing would change. If the deficit is small enough, the body won't change the other hormones that effect fat storage and muscle growth, The body will continue to suppliment energy production by pulling small amounts of fat to be converted. This is an optimal weight loss strategy as you maintain muscle mass in the process. And the reason why we say to stay within the right deficit range for your body fat % (ultimately, this is where the starvation mode argument begins). Regardless, no significant hormonal changes occur in the first stage.
Part 2 hormonal changes occur in underfeeding
This is the part where glycogen stores are reaching dangerously low levels. This affects all aspects of the body, although the change is not immediately noticable, it does happen. Measureable decreases occur in concentration levels and muscular endurance can occur. Hormonally, our body increases leptin levels quicker and reduce ghrelin levels. Leptin is the hormone that makes you "feel full" and ghrelin is the hormone that makes you feel hungry. Thus you don't feel as hungry. This is a survival mechanism for the body, someone focused on hunger isn't as effective at other aspects of life.
At this point, given a large enough deficit to trigger these changes, your body emphasizes 2 things, 1) the citric acid cycle (conversion of proteins and fats to energy) becomes more prevelant. 2) Least used muscles begin canablization.
This means weight loss, but not necessarily good weight loss. Also, hydration becomes more of an issue as ketosis reduces water intracellularly, which means less available water. Which contributes more to weight loss, but not real weight, just water weight.
You've just begun the process of burning protein, no major muscle loss happens yet, and for the next week to three weeks, assuming a large enough deficit, you don't notice it, but it's happening. Given a large enough deficit, you're doing a lot of (reversable) damage to the body now, bones are leeached to provide more calcium to counteract the high acidic byproducts of the citric acid cycle, Free radicals increase in the blood (which can cause an increase in arterial plaque), and the liver and kidneys work harder to remove the acidic nastyness produced from that same citric acid cycle. Also, the less important (by your body's ideas of importance) autonomic functions begin to slow down to reduce the energy pressure present, specifically the immune system becomes less efficient (bad news there).
Lastly, the hormones in your body that govern fat storage change. They tell the body to store more fat. The body considers fat the "last line of defense" against starvation. And it figures it's better to reduce the parts of the body that burn calories, than to deplete the stores of energy. It's simple math really, before you deplete the last of the money in your bank account, first cut out all the unnecessary spending, then what money you do have will last longer and thus give you more time to find an alternate source of income. This is the same principle with the body and fat.
Part 3 long term underfeeding
This can begin anywhere from 10 days to six weeks depending on how large the deficit is. The body is fully in "panic mode" now. Storage of fat is a primary concern to the point where now both protein and carbohydrates coming in are shunted off in large amounts to fat storage. Muscle mass is critically low or starting to become critically low. If the person is keeping track, they will now see that their stamina and power is both significantly lower. And they will have large periods of the day where they are tired and/or lethargic, and could even exhibit "colds" and acheness very easily.
This point is where the brain is criticaly effected and organs can begin slowing down their efficiency. The long term health risks are now an issue. Some organs can shut down in parts, and sometimes these parts never start back up again. Compromised thought processes can dull perception and lead to balance and awareness issues. Sleeping becomes more difficult. It's a cycle that can end in chronic diseases and sometimes even death. I don't say this to scare folks, it's just the logical outcome (although would take quite a while unless in full blown starvation).
The good news is that you can quickly recover from this state (mostly), hormonally. But the physical manifestations of it can linger for months or even years. The most insideous part of this state is that the affected person is generally unaware of their slide down. Since the brain is affected with the body, perception becomes affected and you simply don't "notice" the cause. Accute symptoms are the only way a person in this condition usually realizes the issue. That or a very perceptive spouse or friend.
NOTES from my observations:
Look, I know many of you don't "believe" in starvation mode, but I urge you to stop and think about it. Do you not believe in the well documented, scientifically prove concept? Or do you think that you just received so much conflicting and half-right information that you don't know what to believe?
Now can we please stop saying starvation mode is a myth and change it to. "You don't understand starvation mode correctly" instead? That's all I'm asking.
As to the finer points of recognizing how many calories are "enough" for you. That's easy enough to estimate (with some impressision I admit, but it'll get you in the ballpark). Just find your approximate BMR (there's a ton of sites out there that do this, go to webMD and put metabolism calculator in, you'll find their tool for TDEE) and multiply by 1.25 (in this example) and you'll get close to your TDEE
Quick facts to help you:
-The more body fat you have, the greater your deficit can be.
-The more you work your muscles when in a deficit, the lower the muscle loss will be during that deficit (we all lose muscle in deficit, but the percentage lost can be altered with work).
-Your body does NOT wait until 5% body fat to burn muscle. Not sure where that myth came from, but it's patently false.
-Low/no carb diets don't lose fat any faster than other mainstream diets, but can be effective for people with "carb addictions", metabolic diseases, or certain allergies, and if done correctly are considered safe.
Finally, can we PLEASE stop using anecdotal evidence to prove your point. Just because YOU didn't adhere to the strict set of results state above, doesn't mean they aren't true, more likely is that you had factors you either didn't account for or were in different amounts (or timelines) than you thought, thus changing the results. (For example, you miscalculate your exercise calories, or under count your calorie intake).
For further reading. I can send you links to a dozen or so research studies and/or medical books that focus on human metabolism (I may post some here, but this is already really long so if I do, it'll be in a reply if there's enough response for it). Or you can trust that I have no hidden agenda, have done the research, and am not trying to trick anyone. I have no "skin in the game", I'm just a former fat guy, who now mentors people on here when I can. You can ask thousands of members who've been on here, I've been around a long time, and have done my best to bring well thought out, researched information. Feel free to PM me if you want some links or guided information.
-Banks
And pardon my grammar, I'm notoriously bad at grammar and spelling (I did my best, but I fear it will lack a bit in that regard).
So many people on here fight about exercise calories and the "starvation mode myth". It's infuriating. I've written this in hopes that is answers the quesitons people have about starvation mode (or underfeeding, or the famine response, or a host of other terms).
First lets get this out of the way, through years of research I've come to the conclusion that starvation mode is NOT a myth. If you understand the human body, metabolism, and how we process food and use energy, you would also realize this. These aren't opinions to be formed, these are basic biological facts that have been tested significantly and proven to be true. So please don't say "it doesn't work that way for me." That's a lie and you know it. It's more like "I didn't take the time to recognize what the right amount of calories are for me, so trying to eat less (or more) didn't work."
OK that being said. Lets launch into a quick overview of what your body needs. How adipose fat (body fat) is metabolized, and the timelines involved.
So your body requires a certain amount of calories just to function, this is called your Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) and consists of energy needs for autonomic functions such as respiration, involuntary muscle contraction (like digestion and heart function), Central Nervous System activity...etc. Things you have little or no control over. These activities require about 60 to 75% of most people's calories. No matter what you do, you need this many calories to function, this is not a debate. The rest is all subject to variation, thermogenesis (the conversion of calories to heat), daily activity, and extra activities (exercises not occuring through normal daily activity) all add to the above total giving you your Total Daily Energy Expendature (TDEE).
Luckily for most people, they have a significant amount of calories stored in their body. Not only as fat, but also as protein and glycogen (and cholesterol to a smaller degree). Even fit and healthy folks with low body fat percent have a large amount of stored calories.
So what happens when you eat below what you need? Well, that's a complicated question, please read carefully as it comes in 3 parts. Please note, the amount of the deficit, the amount of available stored energy (see above), and the activity during the period all effect the time table below (which is why I won't specifically date any part, I'll only give estimates)
Part 1 of underfeeding is immediate (the first day or two)
Depending on the amount of deficit, the first day or two of underfeeding or complete abstinance is no "big deal" to the body. It changes a few hormones slightly in order to start pulling more fuel, but the body doesn't do much with this, it puts a little more energy into the blood stream, but in general it does what it always did, it feeds your muscles by releasing glycogen into the blood, which is taken up by muscle cells and either stored there for use (a small amount of glycogen is stored in many muscle sites, providing fast energy) or used immediately. The only difference between underfeeding and normal feeding in this sense is that the liver (which produces glycogen from glucose and mainly carbohydrates) doesn't replenish the waiting supply of glycogen as fast. Because while it CAN make glycogen from FFA's (fat) and Proteins, it's a longer, slower, and less efficient process than converting simple sugars (carbohydrates). So for this first stage, you are depleting the "ready" reserves, if you go back to normal feeding after this, nothing would change. If the deficit is small enough, the body won't change the other hormones that effect fat storage and muscle growth, The body will continue to suppliment energy production by pulling small amounts of fat to be converted. This is an optimal weight loss strategy as you maintain muscle mass in the process. And the reason why we say to stay within the right deficit range for your body fat % (ultimately, this is where the starvation mode argument begins). Regardless, no significant hormonal changes occur in the first stage.
Part 2 hormonal changes occur in underfeeding
This is the part where glycogen stores are reaching dangerously low levels. This affects all aspects of the body, although the change is not immediately noticable, it does happen. Measureable decreases occur in concentration levels and muscular endurance can occur. Hormonally, our body increases leptin levels quicker and reduce ghrelin levels. Leptin is the hormone that makes you "feel full" and ghrelin is the hormone that makes you feel hungry. Thus you don't feel as hungry. This is a survival mechanism for the body, someone focused on hunger isn't as effective at other aspects of life.
At this point, given a large enough deficit to trigger these changes, your body emphasizes 2 things, 1) the citric acid cycle (conversion of proteins and fats to energy) becomes more prevelant. 2) Least used muscles begin canablization.
This means weight loss, but not necessarily good weight loss. Also, hydration becomes more of an issue as ketosis reduces water intracellularly, which means less available water. Which contributes more to weight loss, but not real weight, just water weight.
You've just begun the process of burning protein, no major muscle loss happens yet, and for the next week to three weeks, assuming a large enough deficit, you don't notice it, but it's happening. Given a large enough deficit, you're doing a lot of (reversable) damage to the body now, bones are leeached to provide more calcium to counteract the high acidic byproducts of the citric acid cycle, Free radicals increase in the blood (which can cause an increase in arterial plaque), and the liver and kidneys work harder to remove the acidic nastyness produced from that same citric acid cycle. Also, the less important (by your body's ideas of importance) autonomic functions begin to slow down to reduce the energy pressure present, specifically the immune system becomes less efficient (bad news there).
Lastly, the hormones in your body that govern fat storage change. They tell the body to store more fat. The body considers fat the "last line of defense" against starvation. And it figures it's better to reduce the parts of the body that burn calories, than to deplete the stores of energy. It's simple math really, before you deplete the last of the money in your bank account, first cut out all the unnecessary spending, then what money you do have will last longer and thus give you more time to find an alternate source of income. This is the same principle with the body and fat.
Part 3 long term underfeeding
This can begin anywhere from 10 days to six weeks depending on how large the deficit is. The body is fully in "panic mode" now. Storage of fat is a primary concern to the point where now both protein and carbohydrates coming in are shunted off in large amounts to fat storage. Muscle mass is critically low or starting to become critically low. If the person is keeping track, they will now see that their stamina and power is both significantly lower. And they will have large periods of the day where they are tired and/or lethargic, and could even exhibit "colds" and acheness very easily.
This point is where the brain is criticaly effected and organs can begin slowing down their efficiency. The long term health risks are now an issue. Some organs can shut down in parts, and sometimes these parts never start back up again. Compromised thought processes can dull perception and lead to balance and awareness issues. Sleeping becomes more difficult. It's a cycle that can end in chronic diseases and sometimes even death. I don't say this to scare folks, it's just the logical outcome (although would take quite a while unless in full blown starvation).
The good news is that you can quickly recover from this state (mostly), hormonally. But the physical manifestations of it can linger for months or even years. The most insideous part of this state is that the affected person is generally unaware of their slide down. Since the brain is affected with the body, perception becomes affected and you simply don't "notice" the cause. Accute symptoms are the only way a person in this condition usually realizes the issue. That or a very perceptive spouse or friend.
NOTES from my observations:
Look, I know many of you don't "believe" in starvation mode, but I urge you to stop and think about it. Do you not believe in the well documented, scientifically prove concept? Or do you think that you just received so much conflicting and half-right information that you don't know what to believe?
Now can we please stop saying starvation mode is a myth and change it to. "You don't understand starvation mode correctly" instead? That's all I'm asking.
As to the finer points of recognizing how many calories are "enough" for you. That's easy enough to estimate (with some impressision I admit, but it'll get you in the ballpark). Just find your approximate BMR (there's a ton of sites out there that do this, go to webMD and put metabolism calculator in, you'll find their tool for TDEE) and multiply by 1.25 (in this example) and you'll get close to your TDEE
Quick facts to help you:
-The more body fat you have, the greater your deficit can be.
-The more you work your muscles when in a deficit, the lower the muscle loss will be during that deficit (we all lose muscle in deficit, but the percentage lost can be altered with work).
-Your body does NOT wait until 5% body fat to burn muscle. Not sure where that myth came from, but it's patently false.
-Low/no carb diets don't lose fat any faster than other mainstream diets, but can be effective for people with "carb addictions", metabolic diseases, or certain allergies, and if done correctly are considered safe.
Finally, can we PLEASE stop using anecdotal evidence to prove your point. Just because YOU didn't adhere to the strict set of results state above, doesn't mean they aren't true, more likely is that you had factors you either didn't account for or were in different amounts (or timelines) than you thought, thus changing the results. (For example, you miscalculate your exercise calories, or under count your calorie intake).
For further reading. I can send you links to a dozen or so research studies and/or medical books that focus on human metabolism (I may post some here, but this is already really long so if I do, it'll be in a reply if there's enough response for it). Or you can trust that I have no hidden agenda, have done the research, and am not trying to trick anyone. I have no "skin in the game", I'm just a former fat guy, who now mentors people on here when I can. You can ask thousands of members who've been on here, I've been around a long time, and have done my best to bring well thought out, researched information. Feel free to PM me if you want some links or guided information.
-Banks
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Replies
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This makes sense to me. I suppose that is why calorie cycling works well...a day or two very low calories following by a few days with more calories. Thanks for sharing!0
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Oooh you are brave! As a sports scientist specialising in overweight, exercise and nutrition I have wanted to shout at many people on many forums and in real life.
Misunderstandings and urban myths abound - like the negative calorie foods - all of which occasionally erk me more than they should!
My situation is made worse as it is assumed that as a fatty I cannot possibly kow what I am talking about
So, congratulations on a well informed and quite temporate ranty thread
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Amazing post, lots of information! Bumping to read more closely later. Thanks!0
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Bump0
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Thanks for the post.0
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Thanks so much for this information I am going to read this thoroughly and make some drastic changes in my diet :flowerforyou:0
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This makes sense to me. I suppose that is why calorie cycling works well...a day or two very low calories following by a few days with more calories. Thanks for sharing!
That's correct, calorie cycling works if you adhere correctly to it, but I've done it, and really, it's no more effective than normal "diets", but for some it's easier to adhere to so if that's your reasoning, it's valid.0 -
Would you like to make this a "sticky" so we can all continue to find it? Pretty please? :flowerforyou:
This helps to understand how the Up Day down Day Diet, Intermittent Fasting, Eat Stop Eat, 5:2 Diet, Alternate Day Fasting and the other permutations on fasting work. Now it makes sense! Thank you0 -
Thanks so much for this information I am going to read this thoroughly and make some drastic changes in my diet :flowerforyou:
For the record, this isn't why I posted it. And I don't recommend making "drastic" changes. Make small changes, just make a lot of them. Small changes are easy to adopt, and have a much higher success rate. Granted it takes longer to complete. But you'll have a much higher chance of success if you choose to change slowly and give your body (and mind) a chance to adapt.0 -
Would you like to make this a "sticky" so we can all continue to find it? Pretty please? :flowerforyou:
This helps to understand how the Up Day down Day Diet, Intermittent Fasting, Eat Stop Eat, 5:2 Diet, Alternate Day Fasting and the other permutations on fasting work. Now it makes sense! Thank you
Wish I could, but I'm no longer Moderator (by choice, I just don't have the time to moderate any more with my new job). That said, if enough people ask, it could become a sticky (you'll notice the Banks1850 posts, well that's me as well, under a different and former username from a long time back).0 -
Thanks for the insight, this explains alot for me. Good stuff0
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*Applause* :drinker:
It makes me want to scream when people say, "What about the starving kids in Africa?" The very fact that these poor kids are ALIVE is because of starvation mode. The body slows down to conserve energy and resources in times of famine. The body doesn't know if that famine is voluntary or not.0 -
Fabulous read! Thank you0
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Thanx Boss!
So what you are saying is:
Eat like a person should eat and move like a person should move and we wont have excess fat?
This sounds soooooo familiar!
=D0 -
Thanx Boss!
So what you are saying is:
Eat like a person should eat and move like a person should move and we wont have excess fat?
This sounds soooooo familiar!
=D
heh. Yeah, I guess I am. I'd state it more like "if you're healthy, trust your body to tell you how to eat, if you're unhealthy, trust your mind to tell you how to eat. If it sounds extreme, then it probably is."0 -
No one is saying that starvation doesn't exist. It's the starvation mode as often misunderstood by people here - ie, you can get fat on 1000 cals a day, that is clearly not true.0
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No one is saying that starvation doesn't exist. It's the starvation mode as often misunderstood by people here - ie, you can get fat on 1000 cals a day, that is clearly not true.
that would really depend on semantics (and I noticed that you said starvation, then starvation mode, they are two completely different topics, I.E. starvation is the result of being in the 3rd stage I described for an extended period, starvation mode is simply the state your metabolism is in that would facilitate that condition).
Can you become fat on 1000 calories a day? I.E. can you gain weight and have it be body fat? Doubtful unless there are some extenuating circumstances.
But can you increase your body fat % on 1000 calories a day? Yes, in fact I would all but guarantee it will eventually happen (from muscle wasting and fat storage).0 -
oops, double post0
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This is excellent and really should be required reading for anyone wanting to 'diet'. So many people come into this thinking if they eat as little calories as possible, they're doing it right, when really they're setting themselves up for a fall at best, hurting themselves at worst.0
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Bumping for later - thanks! Looks like a good read.0
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Really well explained. I lost 20 pounds in 20 months. Not impressive but I am in a better shape than ever.0
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Excellent post. Right now I am doing the Game On! diet (my day off, currently enjoying some Oreos!) and I swear, losing 1.2-1.4 pounds per week, with a day off and a meal off, and eating five small meals a day. I remember thinking, there is NO WAY I could lose weight while eating this much, but after ramping up my exercise and avoiding what you posted - it makes complete and total sense!0
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Really well explained. I lost 20 pounds in 20 months. Not impressive but I am in a better shape than ever.
Healthy weight loss is always impressive to me, no matter the amount or time taken. Don't sell yourself short. Slow and stead means victory with weight loss, fast usually means relapse (at a 90% clip actually) in this game.
Kudos to you!0 -
Would you like to make this a "sticky" so we can all continue to find it? Pretty please? :flowerforyou:
This helps to understand how the Up Day down Day Diet, Intermittent Fasting, Eat Stop Eat, 5:2 Diet, Alternate Day Fasting and the other permutations on fasting work. Now it makes sense! Thank you
Wish I could, but I'm no longer Moderator (by choice, I just don't have the time to moderate any more with my new job). That said, if enough people ask, it could become a sticky (you'll notice the Banks1850 posts, well that's me as well, under a different and former username from a long time back).
OK, understood. But I guess you know who to ask....?0 -
No one is saying that starvation doesn't exist. It's the starvation mode as often misunderstood by people here - ie, you can get fat on 1000 cals a day, that is clearly not true.
that would really depend on semantics (and I noticed that you said starvation, then starvation mode, they are two completely different topics, I.E. starvation is the result of being in the 3rd stage I described for an extended period, starvation mode is simply the state your metabolism is in that would facilitate that condition).
Can you become fat on 1000 calories a day? I.E. can you gain weight and have it be body fat? Doubtful unless there are some extenuating circumstances.
But can you increase your body fat % on 1000 calories a day? Yes, in fact I would all but guarantee it will eventually happen (from muscle wasting and fat storage).
The problem here on MFP is that I think the vast majority of people who post here DO assume that starvation and starvation mode are one and the same. It's just a very broadly misunderstood topic. People will post and say "well I eat 1000 calories a day and I'm losing weight, so starvation mode is a lie." To them, starvation mode = the body holds onto all fat stores, resulting in NO weight loss. Yes the body will hold onto some adipose tissue, but weight loss WILL be observed as a result to fat loss and muscle tissue wasting.
I think that's what people are confused about.0 -
New to this site: and so thankful that you posted this. I was slightly irritated by the misinformation to those that are making healthy changes to their life! I look forward to hearing more of your "rants"
kj0 -
Brilliant thanks, very well written!
Follow up question just to be crystal clear: Should I eat at my BMR OR at my BMR plus TDE for weight loss if I have max 14 pounds left to lose? Is the 1200 often mentioned and adhered to by MFP and its members too low for a healthy adult?0 -
eherm!
I have to add that your original points are valid, especially for people who eat the "normal western" overly Carb based, processed food based diets.
Has anyone seen this ? Why you got fat?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNYlIcXynwE
I am dong Paleo and yes before Paleo I could get fat on 1000calories. Simply because I think my body was doing exactly what the above 3min video shows. Using every bit of Carbs I put in to the max...
So there is a starvation mode per sa...but it is more complicated.
If people didnt eat so much processed foods, simple carbs etc....I think it would take something like real starving in the desert before you body really goes purely "starvation mode".0 -
Brilliant thanks, very well written!
Follow up question just to be crystal clear: Should I eat at my BMR OR at my BMR plus TDE for weight loss if I have max 14 pounds left to lose? Is the 1200 often mentioned and adhered to by MFP and its members too low for a healthy adult?
I can't (nor would I) answer this for you without details 1 on 1 consultation, and even then I'd refer the actual diet plan to an RD. In general though, if you correctly calculate your TDEE, by definition you wouldn't lose weight as TDEE is TOTAL daily energy, and thus, if you eat as much as you burn you will maintain.
My rule of thumb is, the closer to optimal body fat you get, the smaller the deficit, and I personally feel that any female with less than 28% body fat should not be attempting more than 1 lb per week or 500 less than TDEE (for men it's 17%). That's my own philosophy though, not any kind of law (there's always tweaks for each person).0 -
Good stuff! I've been doing a lot of research on the topic as well and agree with what you say. The problem is most people want the weight to come off fast. So, they just think the more calories they cut and the more exercise they do the better. What they don't realize is that while they may take some weight off quickly they are not healthier. The weight didn't come on fast and it surely won't come off fast.0
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