starvation mode!

HOTSTUFFyes

Is it truly real, its worrying me i wanna eat 3000 calories because im afraid i workout to much and i might get into starvation mode!

Trilby16

Is it truly real, its worrying me i wanna eat 3000 calories because im afraid i workout to much and i might get into starvation mode!

Me too! I'm scared!

Beautiful_Disaster108

Lol metabolism slowing down : yes
Actual starvation mode : no
It's like a plateau, a myth

beccalyse

Plateaus aren't myths. If you eat the same amount of calories each day, coupled with the same workout routine, your body will get used to what you're doing and maintain. Plateaus are real things.

Starvation mode based on MFP's recommended nutritional levels are a myth, depending on what you're eating. I eat WELL below my recommended caloric intake each day... I think today I may have eaten around 700 calories. I consistently lose weight and gain muscle mass, but I'm eating nutrient-dense calories. Organic meats, fruits, veggies, good oils.

If you're eating processed foods, "low fat" or "fat free" foods, etc., then you're probably nutrient-starved anyway. But actual starvation mode only happens to people with no body fat. If you've no fat stores, and you stop eating, you're going to have a problem.

Just educate yourself about your food and you'll do fine.

Timshel_

*grabs cheese burger and watches low cal folks banter*

beccalyse

Totally had a cheeseburger for lunch.

RainHoward

Sure. In Africa. Ethiopia had a starvation mode issue for a couple decades.

BarackMeLikeAHurricane

Starvation mode only occurs at an extremely low body fat percentage (<10% for women, <5% for men). If you're heavy, your body has more than enough fat to live off of for a while. Sure, you could have a decrease in BMR, but not enough to halt weight loss. The Minnesota Starvation Experiment is one of the most well known studies regarding starvation mode and they found that the participants eating 50% of their maintenance calories saw about a 10% reduction in BMR. This still leaves a 40% deficit.

It's not healthy to eat that little because it's hard to get adequate nutrition, but it wouldn't stop weight loss. At least half of the weight loss will be from fat, but VLCD can cause loss of lean body mass.

mmapags

. I eat WELL below my recommended caloric intake each day... I think today I may have eaten around 700 calories. I consistently lose weight and gain muscle mass,

hahahaha! You are funny!!! Very funny!!! Eating 700 calories and gaining muscle mass!!!
hahahahha, omg, your killing me!!!!

Docmahi

. I eat WELL below my recommended caloric intake each day... I think today I may have eaten around 700 calories. I consistently lose weight and gain muscle mass,

hahahaha! You are funny!!! Very funny!!! Eating 700 calories and gaining muscle mass!!!
hahahahha, omg, your killing me!!!!

It's possible under the circumstance that they are a very novice lifter - but I wouldn't expect much

SRH7

. I eat WELL below my recommended caloric intake each day... I think today I may have eaten around 700 calories. I consistently lose weight and gain muscle mass,

hahahaha! You are funny!!! Very funny!!! Eating 700 calories and gaining muscle mass!!!
hahahahha, omg, your killing me!!!!

QFT

psuLemon

Plateaus aren't myths. If you eat the same amount of calories each day, coupled with the same workout routine, your body will get used to what you're doing and maintain. Plateaus are real things.

Starvation mode based on MFP's recommended nutritional levels are a myth, depending on what you're eating. I eat WELL below my recommended caloric intake each day... I think today I may have eaten around 700 calories. I consistently lose weight and gain muscle mass, but I'm eating nutrient-dense calories. Organic meats, fruits, veggies, good oils.

If you're eating processed foods, "low fat" or "fat free" foods, etc., then you're probably nutrient-starved anyway. But actual starvation mode only happens to people with no body fat. If you've no fat stores, and you stop eating, you're going to have a problem.

Just educate yourself about your food and you'll do fine.

Considering fat loss and muscle gaining are two different metabolic processes, this would be impossible. The only people that can actually do this are morbidly obese and newbies to weight trainng (maybe 1-2 lbs max). Also, with only 700 calories - even with the best macro nutrient monitoring - will only lead to muscle loss. If you monitor your body composition you will see this.

MichaelBrewer2634

Eat a lot of food, and burn it off. That's the way to go.

SatchGallamax

If you're really worried, just read this: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/654536-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12