Do you believe what they say about "starvation mode"?

LorinaLynn

For those who don't know it: "Starvation mode is a state in which the body is responding to prolonged periods of low energy intake levels. During short periods of energy abstinence, the human body will burn primarily free fatty acids from body fat stores. After prolonged periods of starvation the body has depleted its body fat and begins to burn lean tissue and muscle as a fuel source."

If your body goes into starvation mode when your calorie intake is low then... why do anorexic people lose so much weight? Is it really a myth?

Anorexic people lose weight because they don't eat and they are slowly starving themselves. Not sure that's the comparison I would go with.

Yeah... Plus, there's just SOOOOO many healthy and muscular looking anorexia sufferers.

I don't blindly believe... well, pretty much anything about anything. Some of what "They" say about Starvation Mode is bunk, some of it's true.

In my own personal experience, losing weight with prolonged low calorie deficit left me with lower lean body mass and higher body fat than losing weight with a moderate, appropriate calorie deficit. The time it took to lose weight wasn't much different... in fact, I lost faster on a moderate deficit.

So when the options are (1) eat about 1000 calories a day, feel like crap and end up a mushy size 8 at 130 pounds, or (2) eat about 2000 calories a day, feel wonderful and end up a taut and firm size 4 at 130 pounds... I'd be crazy to go the very low cal route.

Crayvn

your topic title is..do you believe what THEY say...

who is they?

there are so many myths..theories.statistics .lies about this topic... each of our bodies are unique and because of that, our bodies will have different reactions, results, looks, etc. some sooner than others...

There is one basic calculation to weight loss.. and deep down everyone knows what that is... and add a dash of patience

if you want to talk about body physique that is a whole other science.

right now my thighs touch and i am over weight .lol... i am ok with becoming skinny fat when i reach my goal weight, as long as my insides are healthy, vitals are stable, and overall feel good mentally and physically ..

i doubt i will ever go into starvation mode tho..i love to eat

Shua89

If your body goes into starvation mode when your calorie intake is low then... why do anorexic people lose so much weight? Is it really a myth?

How many muscular anorexics do you know?

Actually, when I was anorexic many years ago I was very muscular because I worked out constantly. I ended up being in a car accident at one point (when I was a size 2) and my physical therapist and doctor both said I was the most muscular woman they had ever met. It depends completely on how the anorexia exhibits itself. Yes, I was starving myself (one meal per week) but I was also working out 5 hours a day. I would run 6 miles, then go home and ride my exercise bike for another hour and a half, then do step aerobics for an hour, then do calisthenics for another hour. I was probably muscle wise in the best shape of my life.

It's obviously not what I recommend but there are different ways that anorexia shows itself.

ironanimal

If your body goes into starvation mode when your calorie intake is low then... why do anorexic people lose so much weight? Is it really a myth?

How many muscular anorexics do you know?

Actually, when I was anorexic many years ago I was very muscular because I worked out constantly. I ended up being in a car accident at one point (when I was a size 2) and my physical therapist and doctor both said I was the most muscular woman they had ever met. It depends completely on how the anorexia exhibits itself. Yes, I was starving myself (one meal per week) but I was also working out 5 hours a day. I would run 6 miles, then go home and ride my exercise bike for another hour and a half, then do step aerobics for an hour, then do calisthenics for another hour. I was probably muscle wise in the best shape of my life.

It's obviously not what I recommend but there are different ways that anorexia shows itself.

Lean =/= Muscular.

mensasu

Boooooooring............how often this will you guys restart this starvation crap?

:huh:

your comment is so inspiring especially for new members who are still finding their way round this site, very welcoming.

Luckily you are here to provide some inspiration of your own?

VelociMama

I dont know whether I believe in 'starvation mode' as such. What I do know, is that last year, I was working out up to 3 hours a day, and eating a low calorie diet. Did my body change? No, and I was constantly tired and hungry. My body has changed more in the past couple of months through heavy lifting, and eating well , then it did in a whole year of trying to beast it out.

And happyfeetrebel, that woman on your profile pic does not have 'killer legs'. she has like no muscle on her thighs whatsoever.

This.

Same thing for me.

I started out at 1200 calories per day and burning 500-1000 calories 4x per week at my workouts. It didn't take long before I completely stalled out. Eating closer to 1700-1900 calories per day and burning 200-500 calories per workout session (heavy lifting plus light cardio), and I lost 40+ lbs.

The correct term for what is commonly referred to as "starvation mode" is adaptive thermogenesis, and it does happen especially for people who are on a very low calorie diet for an extended period of time.

Some good papers to read about this very thing:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20935667
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18842775
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17260010

geebusuk

So yesterday, MFP said I was 239 calories under, thanks to exercise. I was actually 1 calorie under my true goal. So it kind of comes out in the wash.

So to conclude; you're actually at about the same place you were before, just with more exercise?

For me so far having lost 4 stone this time and 3 stone a few times before, more food=more weight. Less food=less weight.
Different for others, no doubt.

bradphil87

If you live in an area where you have Internet (non third world countries) you will never truly experience "starvation mode." Omg I ate 1300 cals today and worked out so I dropped below 1200 and now I'm in starvation mode....or "I see the problem, I didn't get fat from eating too many calories, I got fat from eating too few." Really?

Cazzy34

Bumping to read later

pullipgirl

"Starvation mode" is your body's way of protecting itself from famine. Your body needs glucose in order to preform cellular metabolism. Also the main reason that people that severely restrict their calories feel mentally sluggish is that about 80% of your energy needs are to your brain. Oh, and you don't burn fat in "starvation mode" your body actually breaks down muscle (you know, like what your organs are made of). That is why anorexia nervosa kills you. Eventually your organs fail.

LOL that's not true at all where do people get this information?

norwichman

My new RMR at this lower weight is 2000 calories, i ate 1750 today (+250 because of exercise) so my deficit is 500 calories/day

This is a weight loss of 1 pound a week (0.5KG). As long as I see that weight come off every week then I'm happy.

JSlattery79

People who believe this REALLY believe it. You're not going to change their minds.

However, your body is designed to lose fat for fuel. To lose weight, you need a deficit. If you have no fat, your body will try to protect itself, but if you've got a lot of extra LBS, then your body will use that.

But, you're just asking for trouble posting it here :P

this is good to know!!!

amydee714

I dont know about "starvation mode" but for me it seems that if you don't eat enough (and enough is individual for your specific self) your metabolism slows doen causing weight loss to slow. I was losing weight pretty steady for a long time then for a reason we still don't know my appettite completely stopped. I was eating only dinner (a healthy dinner, but still just dinner) and drinking only water. I stopped losing weight at the same rate I had been. I had little energy. I was so confused. I started exercising convinced that was why I was not losing at the same rate. Stopped losing all together. Just about that time i joined MFP and started tracking my food. I was shocked to learn I was only eating about 600 calories a day and should have been eating about 1800. I met with the Health Coach at work and she told me the same thing, I needed to eat more. I forced myself to start eating breaskfast and lunch. The first week of that I lost 2 pounds and have lost 1-2 a week since.

I honestly beleive that some people just call a slow down metabolism starvation mode because it is catchier. **shrug**

SashaMegan

Oh, and you don't burn fat in "starvation mode" your body actually breaks down muscle (you know, like what your organs are made of).

Um, no. :huh:
Your muscles, heart and blood vessels are made of muscle. Other organs (although they contain blood vessels) are not technically "made of muscle".
People with anorexia can die because their organs fail to function properly because of extreme denutrition (macro AND micronutrients), which also leads to organ atrophy. Moreover the brain suffers and there is a serious hormonal imbalance.

I don't think that this extreme case should be considered while debating about "starvation mode".

geekyjock76

I dont know about "starvation mode" but for me it seems that if you don't eat enough (and enough is individual for your specific self) your metabolism slows doen causing weight loss to slow. I was losing weight pretty steady for a long time then for a reason we still don't know my appettite completely stopped. I was eating only dinner (a healthy dinner, but still just dinner) and drinking only water. I stopped losing weight at the same rate I had been. I had little energy. I was so confused. I started exercising convinced that was why I was not losing at the same rate. Stopped losing all together. Just about that time i joined MFP and started tracking my food. I was shocked to learn I was only eating about 600 calories a day and should have been eating about 1800. I met with the Health Coach at work and she told me the same thing, I needed to eat more. I forced myself to start eating breaskfast and lunch. The first week of that I lost 2 pounds and have lost 1-2 a week since.

I honestly beleive that some people just call a slow down metabolism starvation mode because it is catchier. **shrug**

Your appetite went down the toilet due to decreased leptin concentration levels.

jilliew

"Starvation mode" is your body's way of protecting itself from famine. Your body needs glucose in order to preform cellular metabolism. Also the main reason that people that severely restrict their calories feel mentally sluggish is that about 80% of your energy needs are to your brain. Oh, and you don't burn fat in "starvation mode" your body actually breaks down muscle (you know, like what your organs are made of). That is why anorexia nervosa kills you. Eventually your organs fail.

Not true. Your body will burn off fat before it burns off muscle. Anorexia nervosa will kill you because there is no more fat to burn, so it has to burn something to stay alive. If people don't eat, their metabolism doesn't "shut down". Their body will burn anything it can to stay alive in hopes that a meal is around the corner. Metabolism might SLOW down, but it never STOPS. If you eat at a caloric deficit (and nothing is a deficit), you WILL lose weight.

amydee714

I dont know about "starvation mode" but for me it seems that if you don't eat enough (and enough is individual for your specific self) your metabolism slows doen causing weight loss to slow. I was losing weight pretty steady for a long time then for a reason we still don't know my appettite completely stopped. I was eating only dinner (a healthy dinner, but still just dinner) and drinking only water. I stopped losing weight at the same rate I had been. I had little energy. I was so confused. I started exercising convinced that was why I was not losing at the same rate. Stopped losing all together. Just about that time i joined MFP and started tracking my food. I was shocked to learn I was only eating about 600 calories a day and should have been eating about 1800. I met with the Health Coach at work and she told me the same thing, I needed to eat more. I forced myself to start eating breaskfast and lunch. The first week of that I lost 2 pounds and have lost 1-2 a week since.

I honestly beleive that some people just call a slow down metabolism starvation mode because it is catchier. **shrug**

Your appetite went down the toilet due to decreased leptin concentration levels.

What's that?

SashaMegan

Metabolism might SLOW down, but it never STOPS.

You mean in alive people right? Metabolism stops when one's dead... which is not what we want :bigsmile:

onyxgirl17

I believe in a slow metabolism due to severe calorie restriction... for sure...

mfpcopine

Boooooooring............how often this will you guys restart this starvation crap?

:huh:

your comment is so inspiring especially for new members who are still finding their way round this site, very welcoming.

It has the beauty of being succinct.

AbsoluteNG

Registered Texas Dietition
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/755899-registered-dietitian-in-tx-here-to-answer-questions?page=16

The idea that your body's metabolism will slow down to such an extend that you will not lose weight on a large caloric deficit is complete myth. Some people can make it seem like a reasonable assumption citing metabolic processes, and hormone functions but the real world result is that eating less makes you lose weight. If you are overweight, you do not need to worry about "starvation mode"

amy1612

I dont know whether I believe in 'starvation mode' as such. What I do know, is that last year, I was working out up to 3 hours a day, and eating a low calorie diet. Did my body change? No, and I was constantly tired and hungry. My body has changed more in the past couple of months through heavy lifting, and eating well , then it did in a whole year of trying to beast it out.

And happyfeetrebel, that woman on your profile pic does not have 'killer legs'. she has like no muscle on her thighs whatsoever.

Yeah but her thighs don't touch.

Which apparently is some kind of holy grail goal around here.

Now theres some thighs!

Bob314159

Boooooooring............how often this will you guys restart this starvation crap?

:huh:

your comment is so inspiring especially for new members who are still finding their way round this site, very welcoming.

... and helps new members avoid the myth
It has the beauty of being succinct.