What happens if I eat less than my BMR?

shortstack806
shortstack806 Posts: 1 Member
edited February 25 in Fitness and Exercise
I am 5 foot 1 weighing around 85 pounds and I am 18 (I am petite haha). I cut out ALL processed foods back in April (including bread, grains, pasta, wheat/gluten products) for health reasons, so pretty much the Paleo Diet (also I do not consume dairy). I still eat carbs and starches, but they come from meat, fruit, and vegetables ONLY. My BMR is about 1,700 and eating only meat, fruit, and veggies, I know I do not reach 1,500 calories a day...sometimes not even 1,200. Starving myself is not my goal trust me. I eat until I am satisfied every meal. I have not noticed any weight loss, so I am happy about that.
My questions are:
1) What will happen if I eat less than my BMR, but I eat until I am full every meal?
2) Does my body burn what I eat or does it burn what I eat PLUS stored calories from stored fat, muscle? (kind of my worry from question 1...mainly the muscle part)
3) Can I tone/gain muscle in my body if I do not reach my BMR? (mainly toning and getting a bigger butt & gain arm muscle...squats, donkey kicks, and bench pressing are not working apparently)
4) Is my body in starvation body or on the verge of it? How do I know when my body is in starvation mode? (once again this is not my goal. I do not want to lose weight...I am just trying to get educated so I know what I should not do)

Replies

  • navyrigger46
    navyrigger46 Posts: 1,301 Member
    Eventually you die. BMR is the ammount of calories you need to sustain life if you were in a coma. It is the absolute minimum your body needs to maintain basic functions. Your hair will start falling out, organs will begin to shut down, and if it goes on long enough, you die.

    Rigger
  • brianpperkins
    brianpperkins Posts: 6,124 Member
    If your goal is not to lose weight, why are you continuing to eat at a deficit? It's a very simple concept ... if you eat fewer calories than your body burns, you lose weight.

    Answering your questions ...
    1) You continue to lose weight and fail to give your body the nutrition it needs, especially as a teen.
    2) Since you aren't giving your body enough fuel if you eat below your BMR, your body burns what you eat than whatever stored fuel sources it has ... glycogen, fat, muscle, internal organs, etc depending on how long you deprive it of nutrition.
    3) No you can't.
    4) The way the term "starvation mode" is often used around MFP is a misnomer. However, your combination of already underweight coupled with failure to properly fuel your body WILL result in your body doing bad things to itself .... see the answers to 1 and 2.
  • Samstan101
    Samstan101 Posts: 699 Member
    Your BMR isn't 1700 based on your height, age, gender and current weights. Your BMR is approx 1220. Your TDEE maybe 1700 so eating below that will mean you'll slowly lose weight (and you're pretty light for your height now).
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