what is up with starvation mode...

ndj1979
ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I swear if I see one more person say that "because you are only eating 1200 calories a day you are in starvation mode"...

no no no no no and no ..you can't eat 1200 calories a day and be in starvation mode. You have to eat nothing for 72 hours and even then the effects are minimal...

sighs, I swear my mission on MFP is to correct this BS ...oh and I used to believe in this crap myself too ....

whats the lamest starvation mode claim you have seen?
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Replies

  • 3dogsrunning
    3dogsrunning Posts: 27,167 Member
    Meh, forgetting about the term "starvation mode" which is over used and misunderstood here, eating too few calories over a long period of time has a negative effect whether it is truly starvation mode or not.

    Just because someone is not in starvation mode doesn't mean there is no concern.

    But yea, lets just forget that phrase.
  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    Meh, forgetting about the term "starvation mode" which is over used and misunderstood here, eating too few calories over a long period of time has a negative effect whether it is truly starvation mode or not.

    Just because someone is not in starvation mode doesn't mean there is no concern.

    But yea, lets just forget that phrase.

    how about we throw it in the dumpster?
  • melb_alex
    melb_alex Posts: 1,154 Member
    It's not starvation mode I agree !!! Even though MFP has tailored the amount of calories you should have doesn't mean you can't alter it to suit YOU.

    It's trial and error.

    I eat about half as what I used to because I enjoy being fit but half of that was ****e so it is actually advantageous!
  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    i love it when someone is like ' oh no I missed snack 10 of 11 I am in starvation mode.." F'ing please...
  • BeachIron
    BeachIron Posts: 6,490 Member
    oh, that reminds me, I need to eat some ice cream so I don't go into starvation mode . . .
  • neanderthin
    neanderthin Posts: 10,261 Member
    The biggest problem and confusion I see is, people seem to interpret the meaning with multiple definitions.
  • Mainebikerchick
    Mainebikerchick Posts: 1,573 Member
    oh, that reminds me, I need to eat some ice cream so I don't go into starvation mode . . .

    I'll share mine!
  • 3dogsrunning
    3dogsrunning Posts: 27,167 Member
    The biggest problem and confusion I see is, people seem to interpret the meaning with multiple definitions.

    Like so many other things on this site.
  • violettatx
    violettatx Posts: 230 Member
    Oh yeah. And like if you skip breakfast you'll be in starvation mode and your metabolism goes haywire or whatever.
  • neanderthin
    neanderthin Posts: 10,261 Member
    The biggest problem and confusion I see is, people seem to interpret the meaning with multiple definitions.

    Like so many other things on this site.
    No kidding.
  • Capt_Inzane
    Capt_Inzane Posts: 733 Member
    So like I listened to this tape once and well...
    How-to-Get-Into-Starvation-Mode1.jpg
  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    oh, that reminds me, I need to eat some ice cream so I don't go into starvation mode . . .

    its been three hours since I last ate ...*kitten* starvation mode....F me!
  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    The biggest problem and confusion I see is, people seem to interpret the meaning with multiple definitions.

    Like so many other things on this site.
    No kidding.

    LOL like cleanses clean out toxins???
  • BeachIron
    BeachIron Posts: 6,490 Member
    oh, that reminds me, I need to eat some ice cream so I don't go into starvation mode . . .

    its been three hours since I last ate ...*kitten* starvation mode....F me!

    oh noz!!!!!
  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    oh, that reminds me, I need to eat some ice cream so I don't go into starvation mode . . .

    its been three hours since I last ate ...*kitten* starvation mode....F me!

    oh noz!!!!!

    im going to gain ten pounds....*kitten*
  • 3dogsrunning
    3dogsrunning Posts: 27,167 Member
    The biggest problem and confusion I see is, people seem to interpret the meaning with multiple definitions.

    Like so many other things on this site.
    No kidding.

    LOL like cleanses clean out toxins???

    I was thinking more legit terms that are misunderstood.
  • 3dogsrunning
    3dogsrunning Posts: 27,167 Member
    oh, that reminds me, I need to eat some ice cream so I don't go into starvation mode . . .

    its been three hours since I last ate ...*kitten* starvation mode....F me!

    oh noz!!!!!

    im going to gain ten pounds....*kitten*

    ENlpYUS.gif
  • Mock_Turtle
    Mock_Turtle Posts: 354 Member
    YOU MUST STOKE THE METABOLIC FIRE EAT EVERY 2 HOURS
  • Mock_Turtle
    Mock_Turtle Posts: 354 Member
    the other thing that gets on my tits is people losing their minds if someone eats slightly under their BMR
  • jzammetti
    jzammetti Posts: 1,956 Member
    Oh yeah. And like if you skip breakfast you'll be in starvation mode and your metabolism goes haywire or whatever.

    Yup - and if you eat breakfast you will "jump start" your metabolism... total BS
  • neanderthin
    neanderthin Posts: 10,261 Member
    The biggest problem and confusion I see is, people seem to interpret the meaning with multiple definitions.

    Like so many other things on this site.
    No kidding.

    LOL like cleanses clean out toxins???

    I was thinking more legit terms that are misunderstood.
    Like, consuming cholesterol cause heart disease, that's a popular one.
  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    YOU MUST STOKE THE METABOLIC FIRE EAT EVERY 2 HOURS

    i'd like to meet the genius who came up with that one...he has probably made millions on books...
  • jofjltncb6
    jofjltncb6 Posts: 34,415 Member
    Meh, forgetting about the term "starvation mode" which is over used and misunderstood here, eating too few calories over a long period of time has a negative effect whether it is truly starvation mode or not.

    Just because someone is not in starvation mode doesn't mean there is no concern.

    But yea, lets just forget that phrase.

    ^this...

    ...although I was under my goal today by about 200 calories, so I'm definitely in starvation mode right now...(at least until midnight when my body resets).
  • jofjltncb6
    jofjltncb6 Posts: 34,415 Member
    the other thing that gets on my tits is people losing their minds if someone eats slightly under their BMR

    I won't lose my mind, but I'll advise that it's most likely not a good idea for most people to do that.
  • cmcollins001
    cmcollins001 Posts: 3,472 Member
    Meh, forgetting about the term "starvation mode" which is over used and misunderstood here, eating too few calories over a long period of time has a negative effect whether it is truly starvation mode or not.

    Just because someone is not in starvation mode doesn't mean there is no concern.

    But yea, lets just forget that phrase.

    ^this...

    ...although I was under my goal today by about 200 calories, so I'm definitely in starvation mode right now...(at least until midnight when my body resets).

    Wha??? The body resets at midnight?? I thought it was 7!!
  • 3dogsrunning
    3dogsrunning Posts: 27,167 Member
    Meh, forgetting about the term "starvation mode" which is over used and misunderstood here, eating too few calories over a long period of time has a negative effect whether it is truly starvation mode or not.

    Just because someone is not in starvation mode doesn't mean there is no concern.

    But yea, lets just forget that phrase.

    ^this...

    ...although I was under my goal today by about 200 calories, so I'm definitely in starvation mode right now...(at least until midnight when my body resets).

    I love the idea of the body resetting at midnight. I work a lot of back shifts. That would be super handy. Especially since the local pizza shop likes to send over their left over slices when they close (after midnight).
  • melb_alex
    melb_alex Posts: 1,154 Member
    oh, that reminds me, I need to eat some ice cream so I don't go into starvation mode . . .

    its been three hours since I last ate ...*kitten* starvation mode....F me!

    oh noz!!!!!

    im going to gain ten pounds....*kitten*

    ENlpYUS.gif

    HAHAHHAHAH AWESOME HOW DID YOU DO THAT!!!!
  • Alicia_P_28
    Alicia_P_28 Posts: 76 Member
    Yes!! This DRIVES me crazy!!! omg. You'll go into 'starvation mode' when you are STARVING yourself...1200 calories (and probably even less) is NOT starving.
    And going below BMR will not kill you, I mean if you are at 1/2 of it consistently you might have a problem, but your brain, digestive system, heart, etc WILL NOT suffer..it will just EAT YOU for energy...and that's kinda the whole point...now when you run out of things for your body to eat for energy (fat, then eventually muscle..which noone wants to happen) THEN you've got real problems. I'll probably get a good bashing from the starvation mode police for this, but I'm a big girl, I can take it :P
  • 3dogsrunning
    3dogsrunning Posts: 27,167 Member
    Yes!! This DRIVES me crazy!!! omg. You'll go into 'starvation mode' when you are STARVING yourself...1200 calories (and probably even less) is NOT starving.
    And going below BMR will not kill you, I mean if you are at 1/2 of it consistently you might have a problem, but your brain, digestive system, heart, etc WILL NOT suffer..it will just EAT YOU for energy...and that's kinda the whole point...now when you run out of things for your body to eat for energy (fat, then eventually muscle..which noone wants to happen) THEN you've got real problems. I'll probably get a good bashing from the starvation mode police for this, but I'm a big girl, I can take it :P

    It won't kill you, no. You'll still lose weight. The issue comes AFTER i.e. maintaining. Or even during.
    Its not fat then muscle, its both at the same time, even with the ideal diet. The larger the deficit the more likely you are to lose muscle. The whole idea is to lose as much fat and maintain as much muscle as possible.

    I've been there and done that.
  • jofjltncb6
    jofjltncb6 Posts: 34,415 Member
    Yes!! This DRIVES me crazy!!! omg. You'll go into 'starvation mode' when you are STARVING yourself...1200 calories (and probably even less) is NOT starving.
    And going below BMR will not kill you, I mean if you are at 1/2 of it consistently you might have a problem, but your brain, digestive system, heart, etc WILL NOT suffer..it will just EAT YOU for energy...and that's kinda the whole point...now when you run out of things for your body to eat for energy (fat, then eventually muscle..which noone wants to happen) THEN you've got real problems. I'll probably get a good bashing from the starvation mode police for this, but I'm a big girl, I can take it :P

    Unfortunately, too large of a deficit results in the latter more than the former...and IMHO, eating below BMR is almost always "too large of a deficit". I'm a big proponent of eating as much as possible while making progress towards the goal instead of as little as possible...because I believe the metabolism adjusts to the calorie intake (and activity)...or at least it appears this way based on my two years of daily data on myself where I can see the gradual shift in NEAT dependent on whether I'm in a surplus or deficit over a period of time.

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