STARVATION MODE?

I have been using MFP for a while but this is my first post. I just have a question about "starvation mode". I have been under my calorie count quite often. Sometimes by as much as 300 calories. I get the warning about "starvation mode". I have lost 11lbs in about two months. My last weigh in I gained a pound. It kind of startled me! My question is, What happens when your body goes into "starvation mode"? Could this be why I started gaining? I feel just fine. I have been under my calories because I am satisfied with what I ate, meaning not hungry. I am afraid that if I eat more I will not reach my goal. Any advice?

Are you under 300 calories for what you need to maintain your weight or 300 under a said deficit you were trying to achieve?

If you go well under what you need for a good amount of time you can get into starvation mode, but by losing 11 pounds in 8-9 weeks it doesnt seem as if you are eating at that huge of a deficit.

and gaining 1 pound can be anything

If you are getting that message you are too much under and need to eat more food.

Starvation mode as thought of is a myth.

But if you eat too little for a long period of time your metabolism slows..which makes it harder to lose weight at an appropriate deficet.

1000 calories will not make you gain weight. Starving won't make you gain weight. Sorry.

Starvation mode is largely a myth. While your metabolism will slow from starving, "starving" doesn't mean eating 300 calories less than you were supposed to. It means literally starving for a few days.

Believe in the fasting literature I read it talked about close to 72 hours plus of fasting before the dreaded starvation mode starts to slowly kicks in.

I agree, if your eating 1000 you arent getting near it. Most likely just water, fluctuations, or eating more than what you had been thinking.

1 lb isnt much to worry about.....heck...could be the scale! I know digital scales, if used on a cold floor/room will be off by up to 3 lbs to the bad! (and I have seen thast first hand with mine)

Thank you all for the replies...I guess I'm just paranoid about going backward instead of reaching my goal. So would 300 cal under slow matabolism? Or should I really try to be at my aloted 1360?

You should eat your 1360 because your body needs the nutrients and fuel. Consider your long term health.

I have been eating a lot more fruits and vegitables which tend to fill me up which is why I think I am often under the 1360. I always had a problem with "moderation" in the past. Now, since I started eating differently, I feel very full most of the time after eating.

but your body still needs the calories for fuel.

there are ways to get calories in without treats.

Full fat milk, olive oil, avocadoes, bananas, ice cream, butter, peanut butter....eat a good marbled steak....

If you are getting that message you are too much under and need to eat more food.

Starvation mode as thought of is a myth.

But if you eat too little for a long period of time your metabolism slows..which makes it harder to lose weight at an appropriate deficet.

THIS. If you eat more than 1200 calories I bet you will still lose weight. I don't mean more than your TDEE!

I had been eating 1200 calories with the same work out for over a year only lost 25 pounds the first 4 months, and haven't lost since I first started 2 years ago and have plateaued ever since. I was hungry, tired, had headaches and my hair was falling out. Then I upped my calories as I burned more and start lifting heavier- I've lost 4 pounds in 2 weeks. My body is more defined, I've lost inches and I way upped my protein to hit my macros. This matters. Same thing as gassing up your car, the further you go, the more fuel the body needs. Always changing your routine, the body does get use to it and stops responding, you have to switch it up, now maintaining is a different story. Starvation mode is real. Your metabolism gets all messed up

who said starvation mode made you gain weight? I did not say that. So next time, you should take the time to read before you comment. Thank you. Moving on.

The OP said that. They said they gained a pound and was wondering if it was because of starvation mode. Therefore the OP's definition of starvation mode is eating so little that you gain fat. That was the "starvation mode" I was addressing because it is the OPs thread.

Starvation mode is real, it simply means eating to little netting below 1200 calories after working out or eating below 1200 calories.

You seem to be confusing adaptive thermogenesis, a real thing (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20935667) with "starvation mode", a total myth http://www.nowloss.com/starvation-mode-myth.htm. Adaptive thermogenesis is what you are describing and yes that exists. "Starvation mode" is a commonly propogated myth that if you eat too few calories you will actually put on fat. This is the myth that the OP was wondering if she should believe given her original post. If you read it again you will see she is wondering if "starvation mode" was the reason she gained a pound.

You can lose weight, but eventually you will plateau and eating too little can mess up your metabolism.

Right, but that is adaptive thermogenesis not "starvation mode". I think we might be just talking past eachother but I'm addressing what the OP was talking about and you seem to be talking about something else.

You can YouTube that.
You become lethargic, low energy, headaches , hair falling out, even increased hunger. Because your not eating enough your body begins to pull nutrients from your muscles.

Again, adaptive thermogenesis.

And that's not a good thing, especially when your trying to tone up.
For example: If your exercising and burning 500 calories and only eating 1200 calories your only netting 700 calories: no bueno. You need more fuel. But I don't know what your stats are or what your goal is, to just lose weight or build muscle, but the pound thing can be water weight and it will fluctuate. Not much to worry about. If you are still not sure I would say look for helloitsmedan. He has a great road map that can help you. He's helped thousands of people on here.

OP this here is good info. She is not wrong, eating that low will cause you to lose muscle, become lethargic and slow your metabolism down through adaptive thermogenesis which is not what you want. The idea of "starvation mode" whereby your body actually holds onto and ADDS fat under starvation conditions is a total myth.

Dude!! Where are you getting your information from? My trainer NEVER told me that starvation mode was the body putting on fat. Wtf are you talking about, seriously. ????. And I was answering post above me, once again you should read.

OP: If you really want some good info here's a helpful site:

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/974889-in-place-of-a-road-map-short-n-sweet

Dan is amazing and helped me learn a lot. And thousands of others, he really knows his stuff. I hope this helps. He's helped thousands of people on my fitness pal.

I am talking about the myth of a "starvation mode" whereby you eat so little you put on fat. I know its absolutely ridiculous but this IS a myth that is propogated out there and believe it or not people DO buy into it including people on these forums. This is the exact myth the OP was referring to. Read her first post. again she was asking if she PUT ON ONE POUND because of STARVATION MODE. I'm addressing what the OP said and what the OP is talking about not what you thought starvation mode was which is apparently adaptive thermogenesis in your mind and what your personal trainer told you.

But seriously, google adaptive thermogenesis and find the scientific studies and descriptions of the causes and effects in an intelligent manner then google "starvation mode" and be in awe of the crazy or read the descriptions of the myth. Words have meanings and "starvation mode" refers to something different than adaptive thermogenesis.