"Starvation mode", exercise calories, dillema?

SHBoss1673, thank you for such a comprehensive post at the beginning of this thread. I began weight loss about 4 weeks ago and have since began trying to separate fact from myth in the world of diet and exercise, and as I'm sure you know there certainly is a lot of myth out there. I feel the best source of fact, or at least the best we can hope for, is from research journals. Can you please point to me the research article/journal which shows the body entering an absorptive mode following fasted state. Meaning that your body holds onto food while eating in a starved state and prefers storage to feeding the body. I've heard this many times, but just as you, I'm trying to separate fact from myth. I am a 5'10 male weighing 350 and have been on an 800 calorie low carb high protein diet consisting of lean protein and vegetables for 4 weeks. This resulted in 20lbs of weight loss. During this time, I've poured over research papers and studies that have to do with BMR decrease and metabolic changes associated with starvation (less that 50% bmr intake of food). What I've arrived at is that "starvation mode" and the resultant decrease in BMR are largely controlled by decreasing thermogenesis. This will decrease your BMR by a small degree and make you feel cold all the time. But the more obese the person, the lesser suppression in thermogenesis for the same degree of fat depletion in a normal weighted person. ("Adaptive reduction in basal metabolic rate in response to food depreivation in humans: a role for feedback signals from fat stores" Abdul G Dulloo and Jean Jacquet, American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 1998). So in obese people the effects of this "starvation mode" are largely decreased. I've read the book Eat Stop Eat, and then read all of the sources sited in the back as well. Many of these claims for the use of a 24 hour fast or 1 meal a day to increase fat loss do hold up. What I can't find however is studies that specifically demonstrate the greater loss of lean tissue over fat during starvation or semi-starvation. Also, I'd like to find whether nutrition influences the bodies tendency to oxidize fat over lean tissue during a semi-starved state. Meaning, can eating high protein and low carb influence what my body decides to cannibalize. I respect your opinion and admire your passion, but if you would, help me along the path to separate all these myths by stating some sources for your claims.

So, in review. If you know of any of the following, please let me know. They'd allow me to accept the information in your post a lot easier and put to rest some questions I've had for a long time now. My personal research does conflict with yours a bit, and love to read more if you have on hand the below information.

- Source for body favoring an absorptive state after fasting

- Source for body favoring lipogenesis when eating during a fasted state

- Source for body favoring lean tissue catabolism over lipolysis in the obese during starvation.

- And if you have ran across any study that talks about how nutrition effects the balance of lean tissue catabolism and liplysis.

Thanks for writing this. I have a MFP friend that I hope reads this. I don't want to be too pushy, but I know she's not giving her body enough fuel. Luckily, I know she will be seeing an MD soon and is looking for answers. I'm a nobody, but hopefully a professional's opinion will make it click.