Ok, so what happens when you eat less than your BMR?

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daisy968
daisy968 Posts: 7
in Health and Weight Loss
I've heard both sides here - that as long as there's a calorie deficit, you WILL lose weight, but others say that if you don't eat enough calories your body won't have energy to burn fat?
I'd like to hear other's info on this!
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Replies

  • MissKris14
    MissKris14 Posts: 65 Member
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    As long as you are still eating enough calories to prevent yourself from going into starvation mode, you should be fine. Either way, you're going to lose weight. A lot of people have to eat below their BMR to lose even half a pound a week. For example, my TDEE is about 1650, and my BMR is around 1400. So even on a 1200 calorie plan, weight loss is still slow for me.
  • nikilis
    nikilis Posts: 2,305 Member
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    As long as you are still eating enough calories to prevent yourself from going into starvation mode, you should be fine. Either way, you're going to lose weight. A lot of people have to eat below their BMR to lose even half a pound a week. For example, my TDEE is about 1650, and my BMR is around 1400. So even on a 1200 calorie plan, weight loss is still slow for me.

    what is starvation mode?
  • LifeWithPie
    LifeWithPie Posts: 552 Member
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    As long as you are still eating enough calories to prevent yourself from going into starvation mode, you should be fine. Either way, you're going to lose weight. A lot of people have to eat below their BMR to lose even half a pound a week. For example, my TDEE is about 1650, and my BMR is around 1400. So even on a 1200 calorie plan, weight loss is still slow for me.

    what is starvation mode?

    I see what you did there. :wink:
  • MissKris14
    MissKris14 Posts: 65 Member
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    what is starvation mode?

    Starvation mode is your body's response to prolonged periods of low calorie intake. Basically, you go from burning fat (which is good), to burning lean muscle tissue for energy (bad). Your metabolism also crashes, and when you start eating again, you pack the weight back on. No fun!
  • CMB1979
    CMB1979 Posts: 588 Member
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    what is starvation mode?

    Starvation mode is your body's response to prolonged periods of low calorie intake. Basically, you go from burning fat (which is good), to burning lean muscle tissue for energy (bad). Your metabolism also crashes, and when you start eating again, you pack the weight back on. No fun!

    At ANY caloric deficit, you'll lose fat AND muscle. You will never store fat (or build muscle) at a deficit. Still, the Starvation Mode myth is just that - a myth.

    http://www.aworkoutroutine.com/starvation-mode/
  • 3dogsrunning
    3dogsrunning Posts: 27,167 Member
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    A good read
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1077746-starvation-mode-adaptive-thermogenesis-and-weight-loss
  • Mr_Knight
    Mr_Knight Posts: 9,532 Member
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    I've heard both sides here - that as long as there's a calorie deficit, you WILL lose weight, but others say that if you don't eat enough calories your body won't have energy to burn fat?

    If you eat below BMR, you will lose weight - guaranteed.

    This is true no matter how heavy or how fit or how thin or how emaciate or how anything you are.

    Eat below BMR -> lose weight.
  • Mr_Knight
    Mr_Knight Posts: 9,532 Member
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    As long as you are still eating enough calories to prevent yourself from going into starvation mode, you should be fine. Either way, you're going to lose weight. A lot of people have to eat below their BMR to lose even half a pound a week. For example, my TDEE is about 1650, and my BMR is around 1400. So even on a 1200 calorie plan, weight loss is still slow for me.

    what is starvation mode?

    The dieting world's equivalent of a unicorn fart.
  • segovm
    segovm Posts: 512 Member
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    Yeah I'm going to go with you lose weight too.

    I use the entire nation of Ethiopia during any given famine as a reference.
  • MissKris14
    MissKris14 Posts: 65 Member
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    To clarify, I didn't mean that you won't lose weight if you go into starvation mode. As others have said, if you eat below your BMR, you're going to lose weight, period. Starvation mode just crashes your metabolism, which is detrimental for when you want to start maintaining.
  • cvcman
    cvcman Posts: 438 Member
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    starvation mode is pure bs,,,,if you eat under your allowed bnr calories,,,you WILL loose weight...period
  • cvcman
    cvcman Posts: 438 Member
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    http://www.aworkoutroutine.com/starvation-mode/
  • likehemingway
    likehemingway Posts: 37 Member
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    starvation mode is pure bs,,,,if you eat under your allowed bnr calories,,,you WILL loose weight...period

    agreed
  • mayfrayy
    mayfrayy Posts: 198 Member
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    on complete rest days i eat well under my bmr. it is fine. starvation mode is bs (for people not living 3rd world)
  • 3dogsrunning
    3dogsrunning Posts: 27,167 Member
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    Just because "starvation mode" or eating too few calories doesn't stop weight loss doesn't mean there isn't a concern with eating too few calories.
  • WalkingAlong
    WalkingAlong Posts: 4,926 Member
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    But concern for "eating too few calories" usually starts at 800 or 1000 or in the case of MFP, 1200. Not BMR.
  • 3dogsrunning
    3dogsrunning Posts: 27,167 Member
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    But concern for "eating too few calories" usually starts at 800 or 1000 or in the case of MFP, 1200. Not BMR.

    I tend to be concerned about how many calories vs how active, not just specific numbers. You can eat above BMR and still be eating too few calories if one is very active.
  • williams969
    williams969 Posts: 2,528 Member
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    But concern for "eating too few calories" usually starts at 800 or 1000 or in the case of MFP, 1200. Not BMR.

    I tend to be concerned about how many calories vs how active, not just specific numbers.

    ^^This. Can we lose weight eating only 1200? Sure. But many of us (um, me, totally) will have zero energy to do what makes us happy: strength training, running, energy to play with the kids, be active with friends, etc. And, unless those calories are "very" carefully chosen, one runs the risk of not meeting certain micronutrient goals. Over the long run, this can lead to sluggishness, fatigue, depression, lightheadedness, and HANGRY B!tch syndrome. I know, I've been all of those things. Two weeks of sub 1200 calorie eating, and my family had had enough of my grouchy, tired attitude.
  • _Terrapin_
    _Terrapin_ Posts: 4,301 Member
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    OP depending on your exerciser routine and frequency of eating below BMR you can develop some interesting issues. You may want to google search metabolic damage, 51 year old trains for tri and gains 15 pounds eating below XXX calories for extended period of time. Metabolic damage can be repaired it just takes time. Good luck.
  • WalkingAlong
    WalkingAlong Posts: 4,926 Member
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    But concern for "eating too few calories" usually starts at 800 or 1000 or in the case of MFP, 1200. Not BMR.

    I tend to be concerned about how many calories vs how active, not just specific numbers. You can eat above BMR and still be eating too few calories if one is very active.
    The authorities recommend not eating at a deficit that causes you to lose more than 2 lbs/week, on average. Your BMR estimate might be above or below that but it's just a number and should have no bearing on one's intake decision, except possibly to help estimate how much you burn in a day.

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