silly question, i should know already

Lindzpnc
Lindzpnc Posts: 98 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
is there such a thing as ruining your metabolism??

can you really cause damage to your metabolism and teach your body to run on less calories if you've reduced calories for far too long?

or if you've gone too low on calories, below BMR for a few months?

I feel silly for even asking this sorry!

Replies

  • Branstin
    Branstin Posts: 2,320 Member
    Eating a low amount of calories over a long period of time could slow your metabolism.

    http://www.weightwatchers.com/util/art/index_art.aspx?art_id=35501&tabnum=1&sc=801&subnav=Science+Library:+The+Physics+of+Weight+Loss
  • Lindzpnc
    Lindzpnc Posts: 98 Member
    Thanks....good read :)

    Sort of answered my question!
  • itsbasschick
    itsbasschick Posts: 1,584 Member
    no, there isn't. you can slow your metabolism by eating less and doing less, and you can speed it up by eating differently or doing more, but that's normal, and what your body is designed to do. the body is very adaptive (if that's a word), so by changing your habits, given time your body will adapt.
  • WitchesGuildMaster
    WitchesGuildMaster Posts: 114
    No. Your metabolism slows and speeds up everyday by itself. Like when you sleep it slows down, and when you're awake it's more active, when you exercise it's more active than normal for a period of time. Also your metabolism won't "shut down" if you eat too little as some people claim (eating too little just makes you deficit in vitamins and minerals which cannot be replaced through supplements). When your metabolism shuts down, it means you're going to die in a few minutes.
  • Lindzpnc
    Lindzpnc Posts: 98 Member
    No. Your metabolism slows and speeds up everyday by itself. Like when you sleep it slows down, and when you're awake it's more active, when you exercise it's more active than normal for a period of time. Also your metabolism won't "shut down" if you eat too little as some people claim (eating too little just makes you deficit in vitamins and minerals which cannot be replaced through supplements). When your metabolism shuts down, it means you're going to die in a few minutes.

    I really hope you are right....I keep reading on other forums and topics how bad and unhealthy it is to eat below BMR and blah blah blah... I feel like its what I need to do for now even though I realize its not sustainable long term
  • WitchesGuildMaster
    WitchesGuildMaster Posts: 114
    You shouldn't eat below your bmr. You'll have bigger problems than your metabolism if you do. Remember, your bmr is the amount your body uses to just keep you alive, breathing, heartbeat, kidneys, digestion ect. Just go about it slow and steady. The slower you lose it the longer it stays off, and you will be healthy too.
  • shadow2soul
    shadow2soul Posts: 7,692 Member
    No. Your metabolism slows and speeds up everyday by itself. Like when you sleep it slows down, and when you're awake it's more active, when you exercise it's more active than normal for a period of time. Also your metabolism won't "shut down" if you eat too little as some people claim (eating too little just makes you deficit in vitamins and minerals which cannot be replaced through supplements). When your metabolism shuts down, it means you're going to die in a few minutes.

    I really hope you are right....I keep reading on other forums and topics how bad and unhealthy it is to eat below BMR and blah blah blah... I feel like its what I need to do for now even though I realize its not sustainable long term

    ignoring the bmr part, it really depends on how low your talking. When eating diets where you are consuming less than 1000 calories a day (not saying you are) for long periods of time (months - years) there can be negative impacts on your health. Forget slowing down your metabolism, that is minor compared to the health complications it could possibly cause.
  • WitchesGuildMaster
    WitchesGuildMaster Posts: 114
    Why would you want to do that to yourself? Doing stupid stuff like that causes long term unrepairable damage. Is that you want for your body? Just go about it slow and steady. The slower you lose it the longer it stays off, and you will be healthy too. You should eat ATLEAST 1200 a day and even more than that. Stop acting immature and behave like an adult. You KNOW it's not healthy. We've all lost the weight eating a healthy manner that's sustainable long term, if its not sustainable and you won't be able to do it until you're 80 years old one day, then don't do it. I'm not trying to be rude OP, but honestly.
  • Lindzpnc
    Lindzpnc Posts: 98 Member
    Why would you want to do that to yourself? Doing stupid stuff like that causes long term unrepairable damage. Is that you want for your body? Just go about it slow and steady. The slower you lose it the longer it stays off, and you will be healthy too. You should eat ATLEAST 1200 a day and even more than that. Stop acting immature and behave like an adult. You KNOW it's not healthy. We've all lost the weight eating a healthy manner that's sustainable long term, if its not sustainable and you won't be able to do it until you're 80 years old one day, then don't do it. I'm not trying to be rude OP, but honestly.

    no I hear you.... which is why I even posted the topic..... actually I gained 1.3 pounds and ive had a couple days where I was below my 1200 and didn't even log my exercise so the gain doesn't make sense...

    not that im defending myself but here are my two reasons anyways

    1. If the scale is not continually moving down...I GIVE UP! I will make up my mind that " aghh what the hell im not losing anyway might as well eat whatever I want

    ex: I gained on Tuesday and the scale hasn't moved down. its now Friday and I want to so badly just binge
    2. it took drastic measures to get overweight... eating 3k cals daily over several days to gain enough to put me where I am and that is super irresponsible too and dangerous to my body.

    I honestly don't feel tired or deprived but I also know I cant keep this up.
  • shadow2soul
    shadow2soul Posts: 7,692 Member
    1. If the scale is not continually moving down...I GIVE UP! I will make up my mind that " aghh what the hell im not losing anyway might as well eat whatever I want

    Ditch the scale.
    :heart: Weight – So many things can affect weight, because of this it shouldn’t be the only way you track your progress. Things to keep in mind:
    :drinker: Always use the same scale – Different scales can show different weights. You will get the most accurate number for tracking when using the same scale.
    :drinker: Don’t move the scale – Carpet, uneven flooring, different types of flooring…can all affect the weight on the scale. So when you weigh, you want it to be approximately the same spot for the most accurate number for tracking.
    :drinker: 3500 calories – To gain 1lb of fat you need to be over maintenance by 3500 calories.
    :drinker: Muscle Repair – Muscles will hold onto water to repair, because of this it is not uncommon to see a gain for a little while after a workout. This weight comes right back off when they are done repairing.
    :drinker: Sodium – Can cause you to retain water. This can also be amplified if you don’t drink enough to flush it out of your system. This is also another reason for temporary weight gain.
    :drinker: Water – Not drinking enough water can actually cause you to retain water. Recommended amount is 8 cups or 64oz. I drink 64 oz to 128 oz of water a day. It doesn’t have to be plain water either. I like to flavor mine with crystal light or tea.
    :drinker: Time of day – Your weight can fluctuate throughout the day. So for the most accurate tracking, you want to weigh at around the same time.
    :drinker: Frequency – This is up to you, but if small fluctuations bother you than only weigh once a week or less.
    :drinker: Lightest Weight – Will be naked, first thing in the morning, after using the bathroom
    :drinker: Multiple times a Day – Don’t Do It. As I said before, your weight will fluctuate throughout the day. What you eat, what you’re wearing, ect will all affect weight.
    :drinker: Clothes – If you weigh with clothing on, keep in mind that the scale will show your weight plus the weight of your clothes. (Jeans are heavy)
    :drinker: TOM - A lot of women will retain water around their TOM, but its just temporary and will go away.

    Take measurements. Even if the scale doesn't seem to be going in the right direction, if your measurements are going down than you are losing fat and making progress.
  • aedreana
    aedreana Posts: 979 Member
    I believe that long slow dieting ruins metabolism. I only diet for a few weeks at a time, on fairly drastically reduced calorie intake, and at 61 I still lose weight just as fast as ever. When not dieting, I can get away with eating considerably more calories than most people my size. I attribute my fast metabolism to the fact that I have never slow-dieted.

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