THE BIG STARVATION MODE MYTH.

I did the whole 1200 calories for a little while. I stopped, not because of the "starvation mode" thing, but because I was always hungry and cranky. I now net generally between 1400-1800 and I'm losing weight and inches, without feeling hungry. I'm also in a way better mood nowadays. I would not call that stuffing my face.

^^^ Ditto

The originally research is highly mid-cited by people. Starvation mode occurs when u drop below 50% of minimum body caloric requirements and means that ur metabolism slows down to try to conserve body mass. Slows down NOT stop and goes in reverse. Ie, u lose weight more slowly. 1200 was a non scientific number that is recommended by some major organization but has no scientific backing. It's intended as a benchmark to help ensure people get adequet nutrients. People are just really bad about doing their research on weight loss *shrug*

The originally research is highly mid-cited by people. Starvation mode occurs when u drop below 50% of minimum body caloric requirements and means that ur metabolism slows down to try to conserve body mass. Slows down NOT stop and goes in reverse. Ie, u lose weight more slowly. 1200 was a non scientific number that is recommended by some major organization but has no scientific backing. It's intended as a benchmark to help ensure people get adequet nutrients. People are just really bad about doing their research on weight loss *shrug*

Mis-cited darn autocorrect!

I don't believe in the STARVATION MODE!

Starvation mode is a term that gets thrown around loosely. Many people believe that too little protein or too few of calories in a day will cause loss of muscle mass. What if I told you that it is extremely difficult to go into starvation mode until you get down to 5% body fat(10% for women)

http://fitnessblackbook.com/main/starvation-mode-why-you-probably-never-need-to-worry-about-it/

^^this is actually a terrible reference and does not accurately represent the studies I think they are talking about (they do not quote them but I believe they reference the Ranger series of studies).

I agree with you... and the only way I have ever been able to lose weight was to severely restrict my calorie intake. If I ate as many calories as some of the diets say, I would weigh 300 pounds. I have always eaten pretty healthy. Granted, I splurge on special occasions, but I am not a junk food, snack food person. I actually saw on Dr. Oz about the fat gene and I totally believe it now. My entire mother's side of her family were big people and my mother and grandmother were not big eaters. Granted, they didn't exercise much, but to weigh as much as they did, didn't make any sense.

Dr. Oz had a DNA laboratory test you could send for to test your DNA and see if your genetic makeup contained one of the "fat genes" so I decided to give it a try. Sure enough... what I thought along came back as true. It broke down my DNA and even gave the gene sequences and, in conclusion, said with my genetic makeup and the "fat gene" that I had, I had to severely restrict my calorie intake while combining it with intense exercising! DUH! While I had been saying this all along, it was a relief to finally have proof. The older I have gotten, the harder and harder it is to lose. Last year, I joined the gym and started working out 6-7 days a week for at least 1 (oftentimes 2 hrs. a day). I ate the same... since I wasn't eating much to begin with... and I did lose about 15 lbs... but after 4+ months, I was so depressed. I felt like my entire life was getting up at 4:00 am, going to work, going to gym right from work, getting home at 6:30 or 7:00, showering, grabbing a bite to eat and going to bed. I was not having any fun, let alone not spending any time with my husband. Granted, I felt really good about myself... but I wanted to come home from work and spend time with my hubby in our yard, watching the animals... I finally burnt out and now have gained what I lost plus another 8 lbs, which is sooo frustrating. I even have seen several health reports on television where the people who severely limit their caloric intake, i.e., mainly eating salads, etc., do much better health wise.

OP and most of thread (and most of world) not actually correct (or at least mostly/partially wrong)


read up on the minnesota starvation experiment to educate yourselves!

tl;dr from reddit.com/r/fitness FAQ:

There is a maximum amount of fat loss your body can endure(http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15615615), before it starts losing muscle. That amount is 31 calories/day/lb of fat (Note that the author revised this number from 31 to 22 cal an email exchange with Redditor, Chr0me). (http://www.reddit.com/r/loseit/comments/fo07j/if_youre_trying_to_lose_weight_keep_in_mind_that/c1hd7q1/)

Be aware, though, that this data comes from the Minnesota Starvation Experiment, and uses subjects under severe dietary restriction that did not strength train. This information should be taken with a grain of salt. See Lyle McDonald's take on this study for more.
(http://forums.lylemcdonald.com//showpost.php?p=139222&postcount=3)

http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=109897051&page=1
another one that he wrote up

I've always been told/instructed to eat at the calorie level for maintenance for the weight you are aiming for.

For example, my goal is 130lbs, but I am 227 right now. Instead of eating what it tells me to for my current weight, I would eat at the allottment that I would at 130. You lose weight, because you are in a deficit, and once you reach your target, you don't have to do anything to change up how you were eating at that point.

I always thought it was rather odd about the starvation mode warnings, because honestly... if you eat for your healthy weight range goal, you will obviously not starve, or it would still be a factor at your goal weight.

That said, MFP has been the ONLY place I've seen such an emphasis on the starvation mode. Yes, there are studies, but everything I've seen, starvation mode really only applies to those only slightly overweight as obese people's bodies really have no fear of losing its stores of fat/energy for later. (Make sense?)

There is a starvaton mode. It is not a myth. Your metabolism slows and you start to use muscle not fat to keep going and hello that means all muscle heart included is susetible to this. When it occurs is at times a mystery but it does occur and your grey matter in your brain shrinks until you have enough nutrients hence brain fog. many with ED can tell you it happens. If you want to play Russian rolette with your life go ahead. This site was started to share and help each other do it in a safe way. And for many it is not to loose but maintain and stay healthy . You will loose at first but at what cost you might need meds for heart or mess your brain or metabolism up to where it wont recover and for what a pretty body? Get over it and enjoy lfe what ever size and be healthy about it.

please don't talk about science until you actually understand it. not trying to be rude, but you don't seem to know much about what you're talking about and shouldn't be giving advice on it

I hear you bro, I'm so sick of people talking about starvation mode. It's all a load of B.S in my opinion, or the whole "Your body will start burning muscle instead of fat" LIESSSSS, your fat is there for when your body needs it, that's the whole point of fat people. Your body will only start breaking down your muscle tissue once it's fat reserves are gone.

Exactly!!!

actually, not exactly. science disagrees - look at my previous post on this page for reference

"Look at people in different countries starving, they are not going into starvation mode."

Umm...huh? :huh:

"Look at people in different countries starving, they are not going into starvation mode."

Umm...huh? :huh:

My reaction to that sentence as well LOL

People say don't eat 1200 or even 1500 calories a day. They say eat more, to weigh less, but people you see on youtube eat 1200 and are losing over 80+ pounds. Can you explain that maybe it is better to eat more in the 1800s, but don't tell people that starvation will come up and get them because it's a flat out lie. Especially if your obese. Some guys did a study and that's the huge thing, that's why people think they're in starvation mode. How can you tell someone to eat more when that's what they have been doing all along, hence why they're overweight to begin with. Look at people in different countries starving, they are not going into starvation mode. No I don't think so. You need to look around you. People want you to fail in weight loss, they will make up anything to make sure you don't succeed. Why IDK. But its true weight loss and takes a long freaking time. You need to think of it in long terms, I mean like 3-5 years, it will need to be a lifestyle change. People think they are going into starvation mode because omg i hit a plateau. It happens with everyone. You're never going to get away from that. Sorry guys. JUST BECAUSE YOU HIT A PLATEAU DOES NOT MEAN YOUR IN STARVATION MODE. 1200 isn't starving yourself. What happens when you don't get enough food your body? It has to go into your fat stores, it's science people. End of story. Comments please thanks:) Oh fyi iv lost 40 pounds.

Preach it!! Amen!! I have been wanting to say this for so long on these blogs!! I recently posted that I lost 23 lbs in about 2 and a half months. I'm 5'4 ....142 lbs starting weight to 119 currently. This is on a 1200 calorie diet sedentary and 1500 calories with exercise. Some people were congratulatory and some people were "worried" that I wasn't eating enough, and that once I start eating more again the weight will come on just as fast....but guess what! This is a lifestyle change. Before weight loss journey I was eating about 2600 calories a day (way too much for my small frame)...... Yes, to get the last 4 lbs off (goal weight 115) I will stick to my 1200-1500 calorie diet. Once I reach my goal I will up my calories to about 1600 -1700 to maintain! Thank you and good night.

If you want to eat 1,200 calories a day...have fun. I'm eating more like 1,800 and still losing weight.

Everyone's body is different. In my case, I wouldn't lose weight eating 1800 cals a day, I'd most likely stay the same weight. Which is great if I am at the weight I want to be, but if I want to get rid of the excess fat I have to eat 1200 cals or less a day.

I hear you bro, I'm so sick of people talking about starvation mode. It's all a load of B.S in my opinion, or the whole "Your body will start burning muscle instead of fat" LIESSSSS, your fat is there for when your body needs it, that's the whole point of fat people. Your body will only start breaking down your muscle tissue once it's fat reserves are gone.

Exactly!!!

If you understood basic physiology, you wouldn't be saying that. Doesn't matter if you are 300 pounds or 130 pounds, if you over restrict, you will lose muscle. It makes sense when you think about it-when you're not eating anything, by breaking down both muscle and fat, your body can supply your needs with fat and protein.

I think there is such a thing as losing weight too quickly; however, I think in order to really go into "starvation mode" you have to actually be starving. I'm only 5'2" and my BMR is just under 1200 calories.

Some people lose weight faster than others & everyone is different.