We are pleased to announce that as of March 4, 2025, an updated Rich Text Editor has been introduced in the MyFitnessPal Community. To learn more about the changes, please click here. We look forward to sharing this new feature with you!

Starvation mode starts at under 5% body fat

grandpoobah12
grandpoobah12 Posts: 138
edited February 13 in Health and Weight Loss
I read in an old forum post on MFP that starvation mode only kicks in at 5 % body fat for men, and 10% for women.

This has confused me for years. I thought I can`t go under my BMR and shouldn`t. In three years doing body building and such on MFP I never lost. I am over weight. I would be healthier at a lower weight so I kept trying.

Recently after some tough love advice from my husband, (just don`t eat) and encorporating some IF strategies into my diet I am doing just that. and losing. Of course I eat some, just not at my BMR every day.

What is up with this starvation mode thing? I hope your not as gullible as I was. How can I be in starvation mode at 35% body fat???

This 5% 10% thing sounds so reasonable. Am I being conned again??

Replies

  • _EndGame_
    _EndGame_ Posts: 770 Member
    I used to follow the blog of a nutritionist/doctor, that worked in developing African countries, and they said that "starvation mode" is something that happens when body fat reaches 5% or less, which is where the body will hold onto whatever it can, limit blood flow, slow down the heart rate and release certain hormones.

    This is why I dismiss the whole "starvation mode" theory. True, it may not be a myth, but missing a couple of meals or missing breakfast isn't the same as having less than 5% body fat. Lol.
  • joan23_us
    joan23_us Posts: 263 Member
    totally bogus.... starvation mode starts when your body senses YOU ARE IN A CALORIE DEFICIT... hunger is your body's defense mechanism that 'homoestatis' = the tendency towards a relatively stable equilibrium between interdependent elements, especially as maintained by physiological processes is not correct.
  • grandpoobah12
    grandpoobah12 Posts: 138
    I also want to include other things I`ve fallen for. like, my body doesn`t know when it`s thirsty or hungry and that eating 6 small meals a day revs my metabolism.

    do you know how hard it is to just eat 5 almonds for a meal/snack. sigh...
  • grandpoobah12
    grandpoobah12 Posts: 138
    totally bogus.... starvation mode starts when your body senses YOU ARE IN A CALORIE DEFICIT... hunger is your body's defense mechanism that 'homoestatis' = the tendency towards a relatively stable equilibrium between interdependent elements, especially as maintained by physiological processes is not correct.

    so like, the second I try to limit calories at all. dang no wonder it is so hard for me to lose. My hunger cues must be all messed up for me to be so overweight. And yes, they definitly are. I guess the ol body wants to stay fat.
  • joan23_us
    joan23_us Posts: 263 Member
    for a lack of a better term 'starving' perse or hunger is the time when your body starts to utilise other sources for enerygy to sustain life or activity hence the burning of fat in your fat stores.... So essentially a little hunger here and there is a good sign that your body is starting to utilise fat as your energy source, but that being said you dont starve yourself for days and expect to wake up skinny.... all in moderation... slow dieting is the best approach as you are building A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE and with it the body you desire... ;P
  • chani8
    chani8 Posts: 946 Member
    How about that whole intuitive eating thing? Doesn't work for me. Intuitively, I know that I want to eat, and eat, and eat some more. Only if I puke do I intuitively know that I've overeaten. ;)

    I also fell for the 'if you undereat, your body will go into starvation mode' until I read enough on MFP to question it, and then watched someone close to me (who had that 'problem') "undereat" during mealtime, and overeat plenty by tasting everything and not counting it.

    If you want a healthy eating plan to go with MFP, check out the No S Diet at nosdiet.com. It really really helped me.
  • beertrollruss
    beertrollruss Posts: 276 Member
    I pretty much agree with joan23's answer. Unfortunately human bodies are resistant to change and remarkably efficient at storing fat. Humans also lack instincts that animals have. We often mistake thirst for hunger and reach for food when we really just need a glass of water. Protein will increase your metabolism and spreading your meals out will help to keep from getting hungry. However, if you're used to eating at certain times of day, you can probably stay with that and just focus on eating better foods and staying below your daily calorie count.
  • joan23_us
    joan23_us Posts: 263 Member
    totally bogus.... starvation mode starts when your body senses YOU ARE IN A CALORIE DEFICIT... hunger is your body's defense mechanism that 'homoestatis' = the tendency towards a relatively stable equilibrium between interdependent elements, especially as maintained by physiological processes is not correct.

    so like, the second I try to limit calories at all. dang no wonder it is so hard for me to lose. My hunger cues must be all messed up for me to be so overweight. And yes, they definitly are. I guess the ol body wants to stay fat.

    IF YOU HAVE TIME PLEASE watch this video, it is actually a six part series start with these one first and so on, my personal favorite is part 6...

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAvW6xBZjSk&feature=c4-overview-vl&list=PLYdkxp9hJ4i58l583rJV7r2LMAiYFJ9gm
  • grandpoobah12
    grandpoobah12 Posts: 138
    How about that whole intuitive eating thing? Doesn't work for me. Intuitively, I know that I want to eat, and eat, and eat some more. Only if I puke do I intuitively know that I've overeaten. ;)

    I also fell for the 'if you undereat, your body will go into starvation mode' until I read enough on MFP to question it, and then watched someone close to me (who had that 'problem') "undereat" during mealtime, and overeat plenty by tasting everything and not counting it.

    If you want a healthy eating plan to go with MFP, check out the No S Diet at nosdiet.com. It really really helped me.

    Thanks this girl is always hungry! IF helps me keep me from tasting.
This discussion has been closed.

Categories