How to "Get out of" starvation mode?

sk4399
sk4399 Posts: 96
edited September 22 in Health and Weight Loss
Hello,
I am currently 155 pounds and MFP has me eating 1,200 calories a day for a weekly weight loss of 1.1 pounds. I usually end up eating about 1,000 - 1,100 calories a day and I don't exercise. I have been eating this way for about 7 weeks and I don't want to go into "Starvation Mode", so how do I get myself out of it?

Replies

  • chocolatnoir
    chocolatnoir Posts: 182 Member
    Why don't you.....eat more?
  • FrenchMob
    FrenchMob Posts: 1,167 Member
    One day each week, eat at least your BMR x 1.2 calories.
  • EmyleeNoel
    EmyleeNoel Posts: 18 Member
    you really should eat your minimum calories 1200 or as close to it as you can. Do you do any housework? It can count as exercise too. Try eating foods that are higher in protein when you do eat, that will help you feel full longer and give your body the fuel that it needs.
  • mmaaddyy
    mmaaddyy Posts: 3
    you know what, just be quiet and keep dieting.
  • madijo41
    madijo41 Posts: 367 Member
    :grumble:
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,420 Member
    My mom is a part of weight watchers, and she told me that they told her that there is no such thing as "starvation mode". It makes total sense, too, at least it did for me because I always thought about this: you can't tell me that if i ate 500 calories every single day, that eventually, I would stop losing weight. That's not even rational! You're going to tell me that a 250 pound person who all of a sudden only eats like 1,000 calories MAX per day will absolutely stop losing weight once they hit like 180? Even though they're eating so little calories? NO! So the answer is, there is no such thing as starvation mode. It's true! I hope this helps you. I'm 17 and I'm doing this too. It's really useful, and it makes so much sense. Just think about it.
    =]

    Please don't come on here and make this your first post.

    A 250 lb person would lose weight at 1000 calories a day. Do some research on any medical site.
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,420 Member
    Lose the weight and be healthy. That is the goal of this site. Not starving to lose weight.
  • madijo41
    madijo41 Posts: 367 Member
    My mom is a part of weight watchers, and she told me that they told her that there is no such thing as "starvation mode". It makes total sense, too, at least it did for me because I always thought about this: you can't tell me that if i ate 500 calories every single day, that eventually, I would stop losing weight. That's not even rational! You're going to tell me that a 250 pound person who all of a sudden only eats like 1,000 calories MAX per day will absolutely stop losing weight once they hit like 180? Even though they're eating so little calories? NO! So the answer is, there is no such thing as starvation mode. It's true! I hope this helps you. I'm 17 and I'm doing this too. It's really useful, and it makes so much sense. Just think about it.
    =]

    Please don't come on here and make this your first post.

    A 250 lb person would lose weight at 1000 calories a day. Do some research on any medical site.

    Rock on cmriverside!
  • Mindful_Trent
    Mindful_Trent Posts: 3,954 Member
    Read this post:
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/3047-700-calories-a-day-and-not-losing

    There's a section a little ways down (not quite half way) that's titled "So What's the Solution" - this would be the answer to your question, specifically (though I recommend reading the whole thing!). Basically - you need to eat more, but don't be discouraged if the scale goes up a little - this is just your body adjusting to the changes. It will take time, but you will see progress eventually.
  • mirahonthawall
    mirahonthawall Posts: 236 Member
    My mom is a part of weight watchers, and she told me that they told her that there is no such thing as "starvation mode". It makes total sense, too, at least it did for me because I always thought about this: you can't tell me that if i ate 500 calories every single day, that eventually, I would stop losing weight. That's not even rational! You're going to tell me that a 250 pound person who all of a sudden only eats like 1,000 calories MAX per day will absolutely stop losing weight once they hit like 180? Even though they're eating so little calories? NO! So the answer is, there is no such thing as starvation mode. It's true! I hope this helps you. I'm 17 and I'm doing this too. It's really useful, and it makes so much sense. Just think about it.
    =]

    this is so ridiculous. i'm thinking about it, and i'm thinking WW just told your mom that so she can keep giving them her money.

    believe it or not, even if you sit around and do nothing all day your body is burning calories. if your body doesn't have enough energy (calories eaten) each day, your body will start storing fat, which is what we are all trying to lose.

    get real
  • mmaaddyy
    mmaaddyy Posts: 3
    .
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,420 Member
    My mom is a part of weight watchers, and she told me that they told her that there is no such thing as "starvation mode". It makes total sense, too, at least it did for me because I always thought about this: you can't tell me that if i ate 500 calories every single day, that eventually, I would stop losing weight. That's not even rational! You're going to tell me that a 250 pound person who all of a sudden only eats like 1,000 calories MAX per day will absolutely stop losing weight once they hit like 180? Even though they're eating so little calories? NO! So the answer is, there is no such thing as starvation mode. It's true! I hope this helps you. I'm 17 and I'm doing this too. It's really useful, and it makes so much sense. Just think about it.
    =]

    Please don't come on here and make this your first post.

    A 250 lb person would lose weight at 1000 calories a day. Do some research on any medical site.

    Rock on cmriverside!

    I don't know why this person is giving advice that is so obviously not true. Oh....they're 17. :noway:
  • Mindful_Trent
    Mindful_Trent Posts: 3,954 Member
    you know what, just be quiet and keep dieting.

    It's unfortuante you got upset - this is an opportunity for you to learn what people mean by starvation mode. Most of us do not claim that it will cause people to suddently stop losing weight - but that doesn't mean it's not real and isn't not bad.

    What's referred to as starvation mode on here really means that you've entered a state where your body is so used to getting so few calories that it decreases your metabolism (forces your body to run on fewer calories). This is bad, because it can slow weight loss but it also makes it easier to gain weight once you start eating normally. For example - if my body ran on 2200 calories now, but I went into starvation mode and now it only runs on 1600 calories/day, then eating 1800 calories per day will cause me to gain weight after starvation mode when it would help me lose weight before.

    Here's a great post that explains the whole starvation mode thing: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/69708-calorie-deficit-for-dummies-a-little-long
  • runningneo122
    runningneo122 Posts: 6,962 Member
    Any bodybuilder authored book will tell you that starvation mode is very real. Bing search: Burn The Fat, Feed The Muscle by Tom Venuto. This book is by far the best healthy weightloss book I've read.
  • sk4399
    sk4399 Posts: 96
    Thanks all : ) I will be more careful in the future.
  • mmaaddyy
    mmaaddyy Posts: 3
    .
  • FrenchMob
    FrenchMob Posts: 1,167 Member
    Any bodybuilder authored book will tell you that starvation mode is very real. Bing search: Burn The Fat, Feed The Muscle by Tom Venuto. This book is by far the best healthy weightloss book I've read.

    Good reference. I wouldn't be where I am today without this book.
  • MassiveDelta
    MassiveDelta Posts: 3,271 Member
    Any bodybuilder authored book will tell you that starvation mode is very real. Bing search: Burn The Fat, Feed The Muscle by Tom Venuto. This book is by far the best healthy weightloss book I've read.

    Get it, Read it, Live it!!
  • aaddaammggoolleeaaffss
    aaddaammggoolleeaaffss Posts: 230
    My mom is a part of weight watchers, and she told me that they told her that there is no such thing as "starvation mode". It makes total sense, too, at least it did for me because I always thought about this: you can't tell me that if i ate 500 calories every single day, that eventually, I would stop losing weight. That's not even rational! You're going to tell me that a 250 pound person who all of a sudden only eats like 1,000 calories MAX per day will absolutely stop losing weight once they hit like 180? Even though they're eating so little calories? NO! So the answer is, there is no such thing as starvation mode. It's true! I hope this helps you. I'm 17 and I'm doing this too. It's really useful, and it makes so much sense. Just think about it.
    =]
    ]

    Whoever that leader is at WW should be reported. My sister has been a WW leader for 5 years now and I was talking to her a few weeks back about how I wanted to eat around 1,000 calories a day. She told me not to do it, it will only slow my weightloss eventually and that I need to eat more calories.

    Whoever the WW Leader is that told your mom that shouldn't be a leader.
  • MassiveDelta
    MassiveDelta Posts: 3,271 Member
    Additionally I might add. I was actually in starvation mode for a while and have since managed to slowly work out of it. It took about a month. Increased my Eating by about 500 calories. Increased my water intake and tried very hard to leave my exercise the same.

    Eat all your calories. Eating less worked for a while but I never lost extra weight because of it. but I did lose a month trying to fix what I broke.
  • runningneo122
    runningneo122 Posts: 6,962 Member
    Additionally I might add. I was actually in starvation mode for a while and have since managed to slowly work out of it. It took about a month. Increased my Eating by about 500 calories. Increased my water intake and tried very hard to leave my exercise the same.

    Eat all your calories. Eating less worked for a while but I never lost extra weight because of it. but I did lose a month trying to fix what I broke.

    Well said and I love the verse from Isaiah. Apropo for an aspiring marathoner such as myself. You might have gotten out of S/M quicker if you cut down or stopped exercise for a week. One bodybuilding book I read said that it's good to cycle your workout program as such: 6 weeks on 4 to 7 days off and switch to a different routine. They equate it to zigzag carb intake....keep the body guessing.
  • amycal
    amycal Posts: 646 Member
    You have had incredible success so far. I started in 11/1 at 184 lbs and I exercise all the time, go under my calories, but get at least a net of 1200 MOST days and I have only lost 10 - 12 pounds. You probably have an efficient metabolism but yes you don't want to mess it up. Exercise will help and eating the right kind of foods will too. If you eat junk (processed foods, trans fats, HFCS etc) you will eventually mess up your metabolism.

    I was recently at a seminar on weight loss and toxicity and the doctor talked about fasting and detox and said basically if you eat too little or detox without guidance (and yes he is trying to get patients and sell them supplements!) it's like using a blower in your garage without opening the doors. You're just blowing crap around without clearing it out. Exercise and eating well helps "open the doors" (as do his supplements!)
  • runningneo122
    runningneo122 Posts: 6,962 Member
    Amycal... check out: Burn The Fat, Feed The Muscle by Tom Venuto. Best book I've read on healthy weightloss and exercise.
This discussion has been closed.

Categories