Putting your body into starvation mode by burning calories?

onniesays
onniesays Posts: 3
edited September 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
Alright, so when I enter my exercises, of course I get extra calories because I burned calories, but I still already have meals planned out to stay within my original calorie limit. So by the end of the day, after I've entered everything. The website is telling me that I'm eating too few calories and it could send my body into starvation mode... But I'm eating the original amount of calories the website suggested I eat.. So my question is, should I eat more because I work out? Or, is that only a warning for people who are trying to stay significantly below their calories, and it doesn't realize that the system added calories because I worked out? Thanks =]. Oh, and I searched the site, and I couldn't find this question, so I hope it's not a repeat.

Replies

  • MissingMinnesota
    MissingMinnesota Posts: 7,486 Member
    It shows up when you eat below 1200 calories.
  • Nikki_Marz
    Nikki_Marz Posts: 35
    The system realizes that you entered in your exercise calories.
    I think ideally, most people agree that it is best to eat your exercise calories in order to keep your calorie deficit the same every day (ie, if you burn 400 calories extra in a day, you eat 400 extra calories in a day). This way you arent significantly below what your body needs to function (you must remember that your body burns a lot of extra energy while working out, so not feeding it after what it needs is essentially putting it into starvation mode)...tho I know many people out there including myself have decided to eat 1/2 my exercise calories instead of all of them. That way you provide it with some extra fuel even if not all of them. So essentially yes, eat more when exercising :)
  • sunshine79
    sunshine79 Posts: 758 Member
    I've been here so I speak only from experience. You MUST MUST MST eat at least half of your exercise calories otherwise you will not lose weight, in fact you'll proabably gain because your body WILL go into starvation mode. Please read the thread below that explains it all. I found it very useful.

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/10589-for-those-confused-or-questioning-eating-your-exercise-calo

    Hope this helps :smile:
  • onniesays
    onniesays Posts: 3
    I had over 1200 calories, hmm. Maybe it showed up before I finished entering stuff.. Thanks though.
  • onniesays
    onniesays Posts: 3
    Ah okay I see, sorry I just go the rest of the replies. Alright thank you and I will click the link provided =]
  • wendytobin
    wendytobin Posts: 208
    if you have already set yourself your 1200 cal food for the day but then do exercise and burn say 400 cals, this means your body is only going to have 800 cals, that is why its saying you will go into starvation, like previous you must eat your exercise cals or at least 50% of them
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