Bad Calories Vs. Starvation Mode: Which is Better?
frenchy2010
Posts: 70
I had not planned my day today too well and ended up eating about 500 calories total by 9pm. When it gets to that point, you have to go to sleep by 10, and the nearest food joints available are small-portioned happy hour bar menus, it seems that you have limited options:
- Eat nothing at all
- Eat a small portioned salad or another healthy yet limited calorie meal, which would get you 400 calories max, which would come to a total of 900 for my day, i.e. still in starvation mode territory.
- Eat a good portioned burger (white bread buns) with fries, which would definitely get you to your goal of 1200 calories plus.
I chose the latter, but I know I will pay for it internally and externally.
My question is, which is better to do in a dire situation:
a) Go into starvation mode but save your body from harmful calories, or
b) Eat stuff that will prevent you from going into starvation mode but is definitely bad for your well being?
- Eat nothing at all
- Eat a small portioned salad or another healthy yet limited calorie meal, which would get you 400 calories max, which would come to a total of 900 for my day, i.e. still in starvation mode territory.
- Eat a good portioned burger (white bread buns) with fries, which would definitely get you to your goal of 1200 calories plus.
I chose the latter, but I know I will pay for it internally and externally.
My question is, which is better to do in a dire situation:
a) Go into starvation mode but save your body from harmful calories, or
b) Eat stuff that will prevent you from going into starvation mode but is definitely bad for your well being?
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Replies
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starvation mode is an overused idea on this site.
if you are overweight and have large amount of body weight, you will not starve. besides that, one day of low calories is hardly starvation mode.
just to get an idea of what true starvation mode is, some people really need to do read the news or look up places where they are truly starving people.0 -
Wow, one day with not enough calories will have very little overall affect. You might be tired or hungrier the next day, that's about it.
I would have gone with the small portioned healthier option and stayed under target if I had the will power to do so.
One bad meal in that scenario is better than no meal, the small would have been your best solution but try not to put yourself in that position again
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starvation mode is an overused idea on this site.
if you are overweight and have large amount of body weight, you will not starve. besides that, one day of low calories is hardly starvation mode.
just to get an idea of what true starvation mode is, some people really need to do read the news or look up places where they are truly starving people.
:flowerforyou:0 -
My first thought is to just plan better, maybe if you are likely to be on the run all day to pack some healthy snacks or even a protein bar in case its needed.
Don't worry about starvation mode though, if you are eating a reasonable amount of calories for your size, one day below (or even several days below) will not do any long term harm to your metabolism. The problem comes when this type of eating becomes the norm - over time, consistent under-eating will slow your metabolism and have other undesirable effects on your health.
Next time, if you don't want the fast food (not that there is anything toxic about it as you have suggested), then skip it.0 -
I know there are some on this site who are on the heavier side, but I'm quite the opposite. I'm lean and I've found myself to really pay a toll if I don't eat enough calories within the day. At the same time, my health - not necessarily weight - takes a toll if I eat crappy stuff, too! My stomach and liver cannot stand a lot of heavy foods, yet my brain and mental sanity cannot stand not eating! So perhaps it's just a catch-22 on my part.0
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starvation mode is an overused idea on this site.
if you are overweight and have large amount of body weight, you will not starve. besides that, one day of low calories is hardly starvation mode.
just to get an idea of what true starvation mode is, some people really need to do read the news or look up places where they are truly starving people.
True, however I think the idea of "bad Calories" is pretty overused too. There is very little evidence to suggest that the consumption of a single meal of junk food is "bad"... Do which one makes you feel better, neither will do long term harm as an isolated incident.0 -
For the people conflating starvation and "starvation mode," I can only say this: :grumble:
Now, for you, frenchy. Since you want to be getting in more calories, but not eating unhealthy foods, maybe you could do a small portion of something full of calories? For example, you could do the salad, and then use an olive oil-based dressing. Or you could eat a good quality bread dipped in olive oil. Avocados and nuts are also healthy, but full of unsaturated fats, which drive up their calorie counts.0 -
My first thought is to just plan better, maybe if you are likely to be on the run all day to pack some healthy snacks or even a protein bar in case its needed.
Don't worry about starvation mode though, if you are eating a reasonable amount of calories for your size, one day below (or even several days below) will not do any long term harm to your metabolism. The problem comes when this type of eating becomes the norm - over time, consistent under-eating will slow your metabolism and have other undesirable effects on your health.
Next time, if you don't want the fast food (not that there is anything toxic about it as you have suggested), then skip it.
Thank you, Rayman! I had had a bad habit a few months back of not eating enough calories at all, simply due to not having the appetite. It got to the point of feeling like my liver was going to explode every time I did, which, like you said, could be a result from under-eating. I unknowingly had hypotension at the time as well, which could have played a part.
I think that's an excellent idea about healthy snacks. All the French girls I know do that, now that I think of it.0 -
If you have any kind of body fat to lose, then starvation mode does not exist for you. You're body, when in desparate need of calories, does NOT turn it into fat. It uses it and then uses your body reserves. I mean its common sense.0
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I had not planned my day today too well and ended up eating about 500 calories total by 9pm. When it gets to that point, you have to go to sleep by 10, and the nearest food joints available are small-portioned happy hour bar menus, it seems that you have limited options:
- Eat nothing at all
- Eat a small portioned salad or another healthy yet limited calorie meal, which would get you 400 calories max, which would come to a total of 900 for my day, i.e. still in starvation mode territory.
- Eat a good portioned burger (white bread buns) with fries, which would definitely get you to your goal of 1200 calories plus.
I chose the latter, but I know I will pay for it internally and externally.
My question is, which is better to do in a dire situation:
a) Go into starvation mode but save your body from harmful calories, or
b) Eat stuff that will prevent you from going into starvation mode but is definitely bad for your well being?
This again..
Ok. Let me make this simple.
There is no such thing as starvation mode.
There are no foods that will make you starve. That would not be food.
Metabolism doesn't change or have dramatic shifts.
The idea of eating more to lose more is ignorant.
There are foods that make you fat. That is a different discussion about Insulin, several other hormones and more.
My biggest piece of advice is to educate yourself. Stat asking How and Why. Put those questions into Google. Go from there. This forum is full of misinformation and bad advice. Get educated and help yourself.
Good questions to ask.
"What is the biological process for fat storage?"
"What is insulin and what does it do?"
That's a good start.0 -
I'm so grateful that I found MFP and read the debunking the whole starvation mode thing!
I started to get so paranoid about it all!
I ate below yesterday, but i know one day isn't going to be a problem, that said, I'd also have a burger and enjoy it. I'm not super clean eating quite yet, baby steps :happy:0 -
Both "Bad calories" and "starvation mode" are largely based on myths, at least as used by the OP in this post. So in that case, it's like asking "Easter Bunny vs. Tooth Fairy: Which is Better?" Which the answer to is clearly the Easter Bunny.0
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This again..
There is no such thing as starvation mode.
There are no foods that will make you starve. That would not be food.
Metabolism doesn't change or have dramatic shifts.
The idea of eating more to lose more is ignorant.
There are foods that make you fat. That is a different discussion about Insulin, several other hormones and more.
My biggest piece of advice is to educate yourself. Stat asking How and Why. Put those questions into Google. Go from there. This forum is full of misinformation and bad advice. Get educated and help yourself.
Good questions to ask.
"What is the biological process for fat storage?"
"What is insulin and what does it do?"
That's a good start.
Oh wow, please, please excuse me for my ignorance. My gosh, if only I knew everything about everything. I forgot that some people do.
Well, I'd suggest that instead of berating others about their stupidity, why don't you give them the secondary sources to your insights? This is the one thing I find so puzzling about forums, most people rarely have any scientific references for their statements, which, sorry to say, I find to be a tad bit more ignorant than the ignorance of those who post just outright idiotic questions about "starvation mode". Why, you could be quoting from a fad diet book for all I know.0 -
starvation mode is an overused idea on this site.
if you are overweight and have large amount of body weight, you will not starve. besides that, one day of low calories is hardly starvation mode.
just to get an idea of what true starvation mode is, some people really need to do read the news or look up places where they are truly starving people.
claps hands -touché ❤ ???? 0 -
You aren't going to starve after one day of low calories. Nor are you going to get fat after one meal of fast food.0
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I know there are some on this site who are on the heavier side, but I'm quite the opposite. I'm lean and I've found myself to really pay a toll if I don't eat enough calories within the day. At the same time, my health - not necessarily weight - takes a toll if I eat crappy stuff, too! My stomach and liver cannot stand a lot of heavy foods, yet my brain and mental sanity cannot stand not eating! So perhaps it's just a catch-22 on my part.
Why if you are lean are you setting yourself a goal of 1200 cals a day?0 -
Simple answer - FOR ME...... i.e. might not be the right answer for you - if it comes down to it, bad food within my calorie goal is a no brainer over starvation mode. Starvation mode is a sure fire way to send me into a binge, while bad food within my calorie goal raises the chances of a binge, it is not a sure thing like starvation mode is. Since I am a rather large gent, starvation mode kicks in after missing one meal...... DOH!!!!0
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Oh G-d, this is turning into another starvation mode battle. :sad:
People, the question is, on a day when you have trouble reaching your target, if you are better off under-eating or eating junk food. The answer is that one day of under-eating won't do you lasting harm, but that there are, in fact, healthy foods that are high in calories, usually because they are high in unsaturated fats (nuts, avocado, olive oil, etc.).
Please note that OP did *NOT* ask for a commentary on the validity of the assertion that consistent under-eating will result in a slowdown of the body's metabolism, resulting in more difficult weight loss and significantly easier weight gain. :grumble:0 -
Ok, but why couldn't the OP have gone to the burger place and had one of the healthier options? They didn't need to eat the white bread and fries for instance. It just seems like an odd question.0
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Oh G-d, this is turning into another starvation mode battle. :sad:
People, the question is, on a day when you have trouble reaching your target, if you are better off under-eating or eating junk food. The answer is that one day of under-eating won't do you lasting harm, but that there are, in fact, healthy foods that are high in calories, usually because they are high in unsaturated fats (nuts, avocado, olive oil, etc.).
Please note that OP did *NOT* ask for a commentary on the validity of the assertion that consistent under-eating will result in a slowdown of the body's metabolism, resulting in more difficult weight loss and significantly easier weight gain. :grumble:
Thank you, bathsheba!0 -
i found this to hopefully explain how undereating effects the body
I don't get how the whole "starvation mode" thing works. Ya know, how if you eat under so many calories a day, or none at all, your metabolism will go down and you wont lose weight? But if it's true, how are people with liKe anorexia nervosa so skinny?
26 Replies (Because they keep eating less. When they eat more they gain weight because their metabolism is so slow.
If you under eat, your metabolism adapts and is more energy efficient i.e. it shuts down non-essential processes to focus on keeping you alive with what little calories you give it. Because they eat like 300-500 cals a day and your body can only do so much to adapt to a starvation level of cals.
I don't care for the term "starvation mode". Basically it is metabolic adaption and happens to all dieters to some degree. If your body considers itself in a famine, it will decrease the amount of cals you burn to a certain extent and start burning muscle instead of fat as it takes more to support and you can't have that if you are in a famine. There are also a whole lot of hormonal things that happen when you diet and your body tends to "defend" your starting weight. Someone who has "dieted down" to 140 lbs tends to burn less cals to maintain that 140 lbs then another person who is at that weight naturally and never dieted to get there. The whole process is very complex and everyone's body is differentActually not all anorexics actually eat that low. Some eat in the 500-1200 range and still end up very underweight and sick. If someone is tall then they need more calories naturally so if they normally maintain on 2000 or more then eating 1400 can lead to anorexia. Yes it is true that as your body adapts you have to eat less to keep losing because your body will fight to keep you alive. Also many anorexics actually have a hard time gaining. Sometimes the weight initially come on faster and then the metabolism will kick in and/or they become hyper-metabolic (metabolism goes into hyper burn essentially) and they need more to get to a healthy weight. Most end up needing 2000 or more calories to repair damage and restore weight.
Also a person who is overweight who drops weight very quickly in an unhealthy manner can still be in the healthy weight range but suffer all the same effects as a person who is classed as anorexic. You can pack all the nutrients you want into your diet but if you don't eat enough your body doesn't have the fuel to use them efficiently. Basically eating as little as possible and losing as fast as possible puts strain on the body and can do damage. Slow and steady wins the race and keeps off the yo-yo ride.
More important than the metabolism stalling out is the fact that if your body is not getting enough fuel it has to take it from your muscles and bones. You want to eat above your BMR but below your daily burn and exercise to maintain the muscle you have throughout the weight loss journey. Its not just about reaching a number its about attaining/maintaining a strong healthy body that will carry you for a lifetime.
stephvaile
Joined May 2012
Posts: 213
one day won,t hurt you but if it is a common thing then yes you will be harming your body and yes you do need a certain amount of calories to lose you can be not eating enough and not losing choose whichever you want to do but to advise people that not eating enough (LONGTERM) won,t hurt them is wrong and the bigger u are as this aricle states the more u need to be not eating enough0 -
Oh G-d, this is turning into another starvation mode battle. :sad:
People, the question is, on a day when you have trouble reaching your target, if you are better off under-eating or eating junk food. The answer is that one day of under-eating won't do you lasting harm, but that there are, in fact, healthy foods that are high in calories, usually because they are high in unsaturated fats (nuts, avocado, olive oil, etc.).
Please note that OP did *NOT* ask for a commentary on the validity of the assertion that consistent under-eating will result in a slowdown of the body's metabolism, resulting in more difficult weight loss and significantly easier weight gain. :grumble:
Thank you, bathsheba!
And a thank you from me as well. People are SO opinionated and everybody is right! *rolls eyes*0 -
Oh G-d, this is turning into another starvation mode battle. :sad:
People, the question is, on a day when you have trouble reaching your target, if you are better off under-eating or eating junk food. The answer is that one day of under-eating won't do you lasting harm, but that there are, in fact, healthy foods that are high in calories, usually because they are high in unsaturated fats (nuts, avocado, olive oil, etc.).
Please note that OP did *NOT* ask for a commentary on the validity of the assertion that consistent under-eating will result in a slowdown of the body's metabolism, resulting in more difficult weight loss and significantly easier weight gain. :grumble:
Thank you, bathsheba!
yes i agree with this maybe i would,ve gone home and had cereal and toast lol but it does irk me to see people saying that it does no harm to eat under your goals consistantly when thats not what mfp is about were here to lose weight and stay healthy comparing starving people to starvation mode is daft0 -
To the OP...
Yesterday I didn't get anywhere near my calories. I think I ended up at around 800. This is not normal for me, but I wasn't phased. I need to lose weight and I've not been losing much for about 3 weeks now. I stepped on the scales and had dropped 500g. I'm on target today and have eaten healthy, had a good gym session and a walk.
To get my calories even to 800 yesterday, I ended up having some crackers with brie and fresh tomato. Just a few. I'd probably have eaten some nuts or cheese had I thought about it, but I wasn't well, so had an early night.
Tomorrow is another day 0 -
Ok, but why couldn't the OP have gone to the burger place and had one of the healthier options? They didn't need to eat the white bread and fries for instance. It just seems like an odd question.
I'm no fitness guru, which is why I went to myfitnesspal.com not loveshack.org to ask this question. Oh, but I wasn't aware that so many people on this site haven't learned how to have a proper and diplomatic conversation - or debate for that matter. Or they just need to read more Socrates.
Anyway, to answer your question(s), I am not eating a 1200 calorie diet, I simply came from the background that eating less than 1200 could put your body into starvation mode, meaning that, in the context of my original question, I just wanted to make sure that I rose above the 1200 calorie line.
Hence, the answer to your second question. I made the choice to eat above the 1200 calorie line instead of under and healthier, in order to "prevent" any form of this so-called starvation. Afterwards, I realized that my body could possibly be taking a toll either way so I decided to ask what the opinions of others were on this topic in order to better inform myself as I do not have all the time in the world to do research on this one topic.0 -
Just curious about what the OP envisions happens when her 900 calorie day sends her into "Starvation Mode"? She immediately gains 5 pounds? She dies? Really trying to understand the thought process here.
--P0 -
Just curious about what the OP envisions happens when her 900 calorie day sends her into "Starvation Mode"? She immediately gains 5 pounds? She dies? Really trying to understand the thought process here.
--P
Well, from my experience, I had been under-eating for about 3 months and lost a significant amount of weight (I've always been at a healthy weight, more or less), and in which I ended up looking emaciated. Again, I'm not concerned about gaining weight, I am mostly concerned about what could happen internally, such as how under-eating vs. bad eating could affect the liver or other internal functions.
And for fun let's say, hypothetically if long term you had to choose between an 800 healthy calorie day and a 1200+ bad calorie day, which is the lesser of the two evils?0 -
To the OP...
Yesterday I didn't get anywhere near my calories. I think I ended up at around 800. This is not normal for me, but I wasn't phased. I need to lose weight and I've not been losing much for about 3 weeks now. I stepped on the scales and had dropped 500g. I'm on target today and have eaten healthy, had a good gym session and a walk.
To get my calories even to 800 yesterday, I ended up having some crackers with brie and fresh tomato. Just a few. I'd probably have eaten some nuts or cheese had I thought about it, but I wasn't well, so had an early night.
Tomorrow is another day
Thank you, Ayla! I guess the one encouraging thing people are saying on this forum is that it IS a one time thing if you make it, which is OK.0 -
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OP:
Generally speaking, over the course of time you should be doing your best to -
1) Hit your desired calorie and macronutrient totals
2) Eat a varied diet with nutrient dense foods when you can
3) It would probably be in your best interest to not eat a ton of heavily refined foods but at the same time there's no need to become orthorexic about any particular macronutrient or food item
Now having said all of that and as it pertains to your questions, you're not going to be perfect.
Stuff like what you wrote, that happens. The decision you make isn't going to matter much at all provided we are talking about "once in a while" and not "every other night".
Lastly, starvation mode is, for the most part, a bunch of nonsense as it gets used on this site.
"Bad Calories" is a term thrown around by Gary Taubes and I'd suggest staying away from anything with his name on it unless you want your head to get filled full of nonsense.
In the context of a nutrient dense diet, cheeseburgers, pizza, chips, and even *gasp* cake is FINE. Just don't make it the majority of your intake and if those "treats" are preventing you from hitting your nutrient goals then you've got a problem. Until then, if you can eat some of that stuff once in a while then you probably should.0
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