Starvation Mode

BrandieBenoit · January 2013

I am new to all of this! I am on a 1000 calorie a day diet. I never reach my daily calories. I dont want to put my body in starvation mode, but I also dont want to eat fatty foods. What should I do? Please help!!

CoachReddy · January 2013

1000 calories is too low. you need to eat more. fat isn't all bad either. you need at least 20% of your diet to be from fats.

good luck

KelliW_runner · January 2013

1000 calories per day will not produce sustainable weight loss. Calculate your TDEE (google or look up in the forums) and try to eat within 500 calories of that. I eat 1600-2400 calories per day depending upon my activity level and I don't eat overly "fatty" foods. Remember that your body needs some fat and choosing healthy sources of fat is important. Feel free to send a friend request and look at my diary if you need ideas. There are a lot of people on here that open their diaries.

12skipafew99100 · January 2013

Stay your course. I don't believe in starvation mode. You eat less, you lose weight. Eating way less will help you live longer. Just make your calories nutritious ones.
Best wishes.

kimmysueneal · January 2013

Oh honey, that's not enough. You really do need to EAT to lose weight. Eat raw almonds as a snack. Those are healthy fats and will boost your calorie intake up a bit. Lean proteins, avocados are also great. Just be smart. Eat clean. But you gotta eat!!!!

CoachReddy · January 2013

this is incredibly dangerous and misguided in every possible way.

i hope i didn't overstate that.

lesita75 · January 2013

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/654536-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12

lizzie093 · January 2013

you need to at AT LEAST 1200 calories a day, thats why my fitness pal puts it as the minimum

what do you usually eat in a day?
there might be some ways to up your calories in healthy ways

if your worried about upping your calories and then dont loose weight, thats not true!
i eat about 1400-1600 calories a day and still loose weight

Starfish1125 · January 2013

Whoa. 1,000 calories? Definitely not enough. AT ALL. Your body will not lose weight and that is not a sustainable daily caloric goal.

grassette · January 2013

Eat more. 1200 cals minimum. You need fat in your diet, so don't cut it out entirely.

You are setting yourself up for yo-yo dieting. You will lose, and then feel so starved that you will pack everything back on again and more.

Plan on losing sensibly, at the rate of 1 lb per week. More and you might be setting yourself up for serious health problems as severe weight loss changes the chemistry in your blood.

See a dietician for good, solid advice on eating well.

12skipafew99100 · January 2013

No, its not. My husband had gastric bypass and has been eating very low calories for 7 years now. He lost all his extra weigh (150 pounds) and has kept it off. He has fabulous blood work and is very healthy.
The truth is people can do with a lot less food. Just make them good calories.

kristaleighwhite · January 2013

Not overstated at all. I've been in and out of hospitals all my life for various eating disorders - trust me, starvation mode exists. Your body needs at least 800 calories/day just to rest, and another 400 for any other sedentary tasks, such as sitting up. If you burn additional energy in starvation mode, your body starts feeding off of its muscles, and eventually, even your heart - your heart is a muscle.

Trust me, if all you eat is 1200 calories/day, even with minimal exercise, you will lose weight and keep it off; less than that, you will lose, and maybe lose faster, but you will screw with your metabolism.

P.S. This is scientifically proven - there is no argument here.

BrandieBenoit · January 2013

It says I should be eating 2311 daily. That sounds high to me!

kristaleighwhite · January 2013

That's normal for someone with a high level of activity.

lizzie093 · January 2013

what do you usually eat in a day? and how often do you exercise?
if you open up your diary (if you dont mind) we could look and give you tips and ideas to boost your calories?

RhonndaJ · January 2013

I have to ask if you're on a doctor supervised diet, but 1,000 is quite a low calorie goal and, unless you're particularly petite, is not a healthy choice for a long term loss.

Wanting to cut out all food with fat, if that's what you're saying, isn't a wise move. Our bodies need a certain amount of fat, do some research and learn about good fats and bad fats. Of course, you don't want to eat a lot of deep fried foods.

Ask friends or on here about higher calorie but good for you foods. You'll get great suggestions.

I believe starvation mode exists, but that it's not quite as easy to kick in to as people like to think. You can, however, damage your metabolism by eating too little or poorly.

RikkiDominey · January 2013

PLEASE watch this video and learn from it. I used to be the same way and I am currently upping my cals weekly. I used to be on a 800 goal and never lost anything (for months), I currently am at 1300 plus eating exercise cals and I have finally started losing weight (10lbs!!) my goal it is to eventually be eating at 1750cals per day until I reach my goal weight.

http://youtu.be/QHHzie6XRGk

yeah_im_that_girl_ · January 2013

Okay, take this from one who was there at one point, I would eat 100-500 calories a day and lost NOTHING. It is not good to eat that low, you need at least 1200 to sustain your body, while starvation mode doesn't occur until I think 2-4 % body fat 1000 calories a day is not good, try calculating your bmr. that is what you should eat close to, not 1000 calories, I eat about 1350-1500 (I aLso have some sort of hypometabolic syndrome) and I lost 24 pounds already! Healthy eating and proper exercising is the way to go.

KelliW_runner · January 2013

It says your TDEE is 2311? If that's the case then that is what you would eat to maintain. If you subtract 500 per day that sets you up to lose 1 pound per week and still eating 1800 calories which is plenty to get you a balanced diet and the nutrition you need.

KelliW_runner · January 2013

I'm happy your husband had good results. However it is a very broad generalization to suggest that people with significant calorie restriction are healthier and will live longer than those who eat more (of a well-balanced diet and are at healthy weight).

yeah_im_that_girl_ · January 2013

Starvation mode is real. It occurs at 2-4% body fat for women and 3-5 for men, I do not recommend that because it will make your metabolism slow down and getting back to regular eating will make gaining occur.

CoachReddy · January 2013

and this is evidence that all people will live longer by massively restricting their calories? ridiculous.

arenadiva21 · January 2013

Mine is about the same, if you don't want to eat that many calories that's fine just don't eat less than 1200. This is in response to your 2311 calorie post

yeah_im_that_girl_ · January 2013

you're exactly right. Eating less than 1200 calories a day and encouraging this behavior is bad. there are many teen girls that are easily impressed on here.

BrandieBenoit · January 2013

I am 32. I work out at least 5 days a week. I have cut out cokes and am eating healthier. I guess I just need to eat more little meals a day and up my calorie intake. I am a picky eater which also makes it hard.

12skipafew99100 · January 2013

I have a right to my own opinion. She asked a question on a general public forum and I am answering.
I do not think it is ridiculous, as you put it, to think someone who is over weight and decided to restrict calories until they got down to a healthy weight would not indeed live longer because of it. It is well documented that people who maintain a healthy weight do live longer. I'm sure the original poster would not want to restrict calories this low for the rest of her life.

CoachReddy · January 2013

however, your opinion is dangerous to young impressionable men and women who are willing to starve themselves for the sake of "beauty"

also, if you restrict calories for a long time, then stop, won't the weight all come back without understanding how to eat a healthy full calorie diet?

lee91356 · January 2013

I don't know much about starvation mode or whether or not you can loose weight on a low calorie diet but what I do know for sure is that a very low calorie diet, under 1,200 a day, it should be done with a doctor supervision. For example, although people with gastric surgery's loose weight by eating very little calories, they are under doctor supervision and for good reason. With low calories and too drastic of weight loss comes several health problems such as heart problems, gallblader, and kidney stones. Those with gastric surgery have to undergo blood tests often and get regular ekgs to make sure that their hearts and bodys are not in too much distress from the lack of nutrients and calories. Moreover, gastric patients and other on low calorie diets, who do it properly, have a nutritionist/ dietitian to make sure that they are eating the correct types of food and that they take the proper vitamins.

So although in theory it sounds easy to just eat a a few calories, the reality of doing it and being healthy is that it requires more work then just eating less. I would recommend just eating more calories than 1,000 and doing it smartly - salads, fruit, lean meat, whole grains and the like and feel free to add healthy fats such as nuts and avocado, and nutrient rich foods not empty calories.

Good luck

evdenapoli · January 2013

1000 calories is not enough for a woman. You need at least 1200 cals/day and thats if you have a desk job. Also, you will end up being squishy and flabby. If you want to have a sustainable loss, you need to eat healthy and exersize. Feel free to add me if you want support. Good luck!

CoachReddy · January 2013

i think what it comes down to is people need to understand that calories are not bad. they're not the enemy. your body NEEDS calories and without them you'll die.

it's not about eating fewer calories. it's about eating an OPTIMUM amount of calories for your body size/type/weight/age. Do that, and you'll lose weight and get healthy at the same time.

CyberEd312 · January 2013

No disrespect but your husband is an exception to the rule, he had a life altering surgery that forced him to intake a very low caloric intake and in most cases for the rest of his life, granted you can stretch your stomach back out. Not everyone on this site has had Bypass surgery and should not be eating according to those individuals eating plans. I (as an example) never wanted Bypass because in my mind if I could not fix what was broken that led me to 560 lbs. then any surgery would not work long term. So I seek out therapy for my addictions to food and have worked my butt of the last 42 months but the one standard was never (even at 560 lbs.) making to large of a caloric deficit. We set it at a 1-2 lb. a week weight loss goal and that is what I have adhered too. I eat 3000-3400 calories a day and take in upward of 300 grams of carbs and am also a type 2 diabetic. Restricting calories severely can cause metabolism issue over time which in my opinion is the way starvation mode is used loosely around these forums... OP 1000 calories is way to low, 1200 is to low in my opinion.. I would suggest eating more, set a reasonable calorie deficit, this is not a race, it is a lifestyle change.... Best of Luck

Starvation Mode

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