"Starvation Mode"

AbbieBell10
AbbieBell10 Posts: 5
in Food and Nutrition
Okay so I'm a little bit confused, one thing is telling me to lower my body fat and get my 6 pack abs I should be burning off more calories than I eat, but on here it is telling me I should be eating more since I already have burned at least 500 calories and making it up to the 1700 calories mark so my body doesnt go into "starvation mode"?

Also, the first thing I was told was by a body builder website.

Help would be much appreciated :)

Replies

  • sarahxcx
    sarahxcx Posts: 26 Member
    Hi Abbie, welcome :flowerforyou:

    The amount of information out there and on MFP and be confusing and very conflicting.

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

    It explains it pretty well.

    Feel free to add me as a friend and have a look at my food and exercise diary too.

    I was eating 1200 cals as MFP recommended, after reading lots and lots of different opinions I am now eating roughly my TDEE - 20% only been doing this for a couple of weeks so I will see how I go.
  • AmyRhubarb
    AmyRhubarb Posts: 6,890 Member
    That is an excellent thread linked above, but there's an updated version of it! You can find it here: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/912914-in-place-of-a-road-map-3-2013

    :drinker:
  • jacksonpt
    jacksonpt Posts: 10,413 Member
    Small deficits = healthy weight loss
    Large deficits over long periods of time = bad news.
  • AbbieBell10
    AbbieBell10 Posts: 5
    Oh my goodness! That is so confusing! haha

    I really don't have a clue how much I should be eating, I know my BMR is just under 1500 but I dont get the whole TDEE thing, and I am doing the "Insanity" workout so am burning at least 500 calories a day on top of my BMR.
  • jacksonpt
    jacksonpt Posts: 10,413 Member
    Oh my goodness! That is so confusing! haha

    I really don't have a clue how much I should be eating, I know my BMR is just under 1500 but I dont get the whole TDEE thing, and I am doing the "Insanity" workout so am burning at least 500 calories a day on top of my BMR.

    BMR - cals used to sustain the most basic bodily function... breathing, blood flow, etc. Eating below this for any length of time is not recommended.
    TDEE - cals used to do EVERYTHING... breathing and blood flow to errands and house work to workouts and exercise. Eating above this will cause you to gain weight, eating below will result in weight loss.
  • AbbieBell10
    AbbieBell10 Posts: 5
    okay so that's summed a lot up, one more question..how do you work out your TDEE?
  • jacksonpt
    jacksonpt Posts: 10,413 Member
    okay so that's summed a lot up, one more question..how do you work out your TDEE?

    Google "TDEE calculator"... there are lots of calculators out there.
  • mgilbo1
    mgilbo1 Posts: 2 Member
    Wow 1300 is tough. I've been eating between 1500-1800 the last 5 weeks and I've made some great gains. I've also been working out 5 days a week which normally brings me back 100-200 calories. What I noticed is that if you are going to eat lightly, you need to break up your meals into more snacks. I never believed in the 6+ meal a day thing but I have to tell you its the only way I've been able to keep my cals low without cravings. I have absolutely no cravings when I do this and if I find myself feeling hungry, I eat a healthy snack to satisfy it.

    When I get to my desired weight, I'm gonna slowly bump the calories and put on some bulk. One thing as well, I have upped my protein with this calorie intake. Im eating between 100-150g per day and I haven't lost too much muscle, if any, at all.

    What works for one may not work for another so experiment a little.
  • AbbieBell10
    AbbieBell10 Posts: 5
    Thank you guys so much! I finally get it and realise how much I need to eat now!
  • sarahxcx
    sarahxcx Posts: 26 Member
    That is an excellent thread linked above, but there's an updated version of it! You can find it here: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/912914-in-place-of-a-road-map-3-2013

    Thanks for the updated link, I had trouble finding it to post a link, I found it really helpful ...I have now bookmarked so I can find it again :smile:

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