Can you be fat and in starvation mode?

It is actually quite difficult to go into starvation mode, especially if you are eating regularly. It's like the whole "I gained a lb but I have been exercising so it must be muscle" - Maybe but unlikely, it takes longer than a dew days at the gym to build 1lb of pure muscle.

You cannot be an over weight person, eat low calories and not lose weight. Metabolism may well slow but it soon picks up again.

That depends on how long it has been functioning and how screwed up it is. Yes it will repair and pick up, but it takes a while.

I've been trying to be gluten free for a while, mostly successful, save for again - the trip up meals when we're out and about on the weekend and end up eating out for a meal. I wouldn't say that I'm 100% free though - even eliminating those occasional meals out - I'm still getting small amounts of gluten in the soy sauce that I use to cook. I have noticed a link between eating gluten and a spike the next day in joint pain, fatigue, even a possible trigger for migraines. I've also noticed that after being off of it for a few weeks when I did have some - it triggered the gastric spasms and IBS issues big time. So far no weightloss with going gluten free though (perhaps that will come with time though if I"m eating enough)

Sending you a msg as I would def love any gluten free recipes, meals, and tips on finding gluten free food on the go (my biggest trip up at this point).

I have fibromyalgia and had to cut all grains and sugars, not just gluten, and increased my protein and fat until I was above 1400 net. Within a week the weight started falling off and headaches/fatigue/muscle aches/nerve weirdness/pain all went completely away. I've found that a lot of the gluten-free foods substitute other things that stall out my loss just as much, make me crave sugars more and increase my inflammation almost instantly.

A similar case study was published by Jampolis (2004).

A 51 year old patient complained of a 15 lb weight gain over the last year despite beginning a strenuous triathlon and marathon training program (2 hours per day, 5-6 days per week).

A 3 day diet analysis estimated a daily intake of only 1000-1200 Calories.

An indirect calorimetry revealed a resting metabolic rate of 950 Calories (28% below predicted for age, height, weight, and gender).

After medications and medical conditions such as hypothyroidism and diabetes where ruled out, the final diagnosis was over-training and undereating. The following treatment was recommended:

Increase daily dietary intake by approximately 100 Calories per week to a goal of 1500 calories
32% protein; 35% carbohydrates; 33% fat
Consume 5-6 small meals per day
Small amounts of protein with each meal or snack
Choose high fiber starches
Select mono- and poly- unsaturated fats
Restrict consumption of starch with evening meals unless focused around training
Take daily multi-vitamin and mineral supplement

Perform whole body isometric resistance training 2 times per week

After 6 weeks the patient's resting metabolism increased 35% to 1282 Calories per day (only 2% below predicted).

The patient also decreases percent fat from 37% to 34%, a loss of 5 lbs of body fat.

Jampolis MB (2004) Weight Gain - Marathon Runner / Triathlete. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 36(5) S148.

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Now, obviously she didn't gain weight while actually eating at a deficit over that entire time, but suppressed metabolism does mean any vacation days, meals, falling off wagon, ect, all have chance to increase weight.

you have to eat nothing for 72 hours to be in "starvation mode"

How many calories a day do you eat? If it is over zero then you are not in starvation mode...

Oh and in...for the oncoming eat more to lose more, TDEE, MFP eat back your exercise calories, and general storm that this thread will generate...

Bull

you have to eat nothing for 72 hours to be in "starvation mode"

How many calories a day do you eat? If it is over zero then you are not in starvation mode...

Oh and in...for the oncoming eat more to lose more, TDEE, MFP eat back your exercise calories, and general storm that this thread will generate...

right now averaging 800-1000 a day (so obviously more than 0). I've been at this level for about 4 months now. Prior to that it was even less (but with less exercise too). Exercise/activity right now is still pretty lame - just squats and lunges at home, arm lifts with the kiddos on "off days", walking about 2-3 miles at the gym either on the track, or elliptical - that's been about 3 times a week. Gardening now that summer is here. Daily attempts at stretching at home.

If you eat that low and not losing weight, your body has slowed its metabolism enough to somewhat counteract it (the so-called starvation mode). However, your body can't hang on to fat forever. After a while, maybe 6 months, something has got to give. Put simply, you can't eat 1000 calories a day forever and not lose weight, the question is how soon.

The reason people like slow but steady loss through a small deficit (instead of a large one like yours) is because they see some progress week after week, instead of a long plateau followed by a drastic loss.

Pure nonsense, as others are pointing out to you. You can eat low calories for a very long time without losing weight. And extremely rare people with low BMR????? This is rare?

We can call it "starvation mode" or " winnie the pooh " mode. Doesn't matter. Once you start losing weight, the metabolism is going to star slowing down or preparing itself to. Between leptin,glucagon respones and changes in Thyroid output to name a few.

The op... sounds like you have some serious issues to work through. If you are overweight and have insulin sensitivity issues usually people way smart than myself would recommend low carb approaches to help free up stored glycogen in the muscles and liver and thus increasing need/sensitivity to glucose and other receptors. If you're eating carbs, you're secreting more insulin there's no way around that. I'm not a fan of demonizing carbs but if you have a malfunction or disease then it's a different story.

Then of course the problem becomes getting in adequate caloric intake, and proper fiber and fat intake when someone has to undergo such a dietary approach. Proper fat intake and caloric intake is CRUCIAL if you're under nourished or doing lower carb approaches as most of you hormones are made from fat and amino(protein)based cycles and of course lower caloric intake will result in slower metabolic rate. You can eat higher calories with lower carb approaches.

Usually also higher rep, lower weight resistance training also helps deplete muscle glycogen and keep the system from "backing up" as far as glycogen(stored carbs) goes. Insulin sensitivity is basically a precursor to diabetes. The problem is that you have other things going on that is potentially clouding observation of how you react to other approaches. I don't think anyone on this forum can be of MUCH reliable assistance to you.
If you're tearing tendons, I mean noone here offering training protocol advise can help you much, and shouldn't be offering you much. You need to get to the bottom of that.

Wheat nowadays is very potentially crappy for various reasons, I would suggest going gluten free as well. I would also suggest vitamin D and Omega 3 supplementation, chances are you don't need any more omega 6 in your life so no need to buy a complex. Both omega 3 and vitamin d are crucial in proper function of the body and mot of us are lacking good amounts and ratios. I would highly consult with your physician about this but don't bet on them offering much advice on it unless they are interested in such. Just ask them if it would be ok.

I would be less concerned about losing weight and more about stabilization first. Too many people try to do some drastic change because they are fed up. I don't know your weight or stats, but I wouldn't be surprised if you would need to be eating 2000 or so calories on consistent daily basis....consistent. And yes, when in doubt, walking is all you need. Even light weight dumbbell work, high rep, while on the couch. But again, the tendon issue is limiting this. When you're insulin resistant, this also effects protein synthesis(tendons/muscles) as insulin basically tells cells to open the door for groceries, not just sugar. Thus amino acid supplementation could help. If you're not getting LIV (lucein, Isolucein and Valine) your 3 ESSENTIAL aminos into your cells youre going to have more issues. Essential aminos are ones you have to bring in from outside the body, you can produce them. Same with Omega three essential fatty acid. Also I've seen a dab of research suggesting changing protein quality and eating more fish can help with sensitivity. In a nutshell fish kicks *kitten*.. Choose a high omega 3 fish. Salmon of course, sardines(if you like that, ugh) smelt, herring, cod. Tilapia is a waste of time unless you just like the taste, and it's probably better than the average steak if its fresh and not farm raised. Dammit I want some fish tacos now.


I wish you well, I would certainly take most MFP advice with a grain of salt, from what I've seen. That includes mine.

No from what ive read and understand this does not even happen till your BF percentage gets below 12 percent or so. WHat can happen is your Metabolism may slow down a bit but this can easily be offset by excercise. This is how very obese ppl loose it either very quickly under a physicians care either with bypass, lap bands, or in hospital on a very restrictive diet. Emphisise under a physicians care.

And I don't look at it so much as starvation mode, more like a squirrel collecting stores for the winter... It collects and hangs onto everything cause you never know what is coming later.

this is more how I see it also - and I can see now that using the terminology "starvation mode" has some negative connotations associations with it (read flame inducing)

The topic comes up at least twice a day. Short answer: If you're overweight you are in no danger of "starvation mode." It takes weeks or months of eating virtually nothing.

There seem to be many potential reasons for your failure to lose weight. You have illnesses, you are unable to be fully active and you're not following a plan or tracking. I would consult a doctor and a nutrition specialist. This does not sound like a situation that you should plunge into without thought.