Starvation Mode is a Myth.

Wow people give her a break.. like she has stated before. She copied and pasted this.. It is just a convertation starter.. There is no need to bash her. This should be a place of friendship and motivation.. not hate.

You can absolutely lose weight by not eating 1200 calories, and going into "starvation mode". BUT, you will NEVER maintain it, if you change your diet in the slightest. So basically you'd end up eating next to nothing for the rest of your life.

not true for everyone

I agree, it's not true for everyone. In fact, for anorexia patients, when they start eating more, their metabolism kicks right back in and starts burning away those calories, because their body needs them. Often, they can go back to a normal diet, and maintain a normal, healthy weight. One reason for massive weight gain after a very low calorie diet is the desire to binge eat and acting on that desire. That's one reason why it's dangerous to go on a very low calorie diet for an extended period of time, let alone the risk of nutrient deficiencies and improper organ functions. Also, typically you cannot stay on a very low calorie diet healthily, because you're weight will eventually go below the normal, healthy range, causing the need for you to up your calories anyway and gain back some weight. But, even then, you can still to a relatively decent amount of food and maintain a healthy weight. Your metabolism typically returns close to it's normal range, unless you've been depriving yourself for a very long time (a few years, let's say). It's gets tougher then. All things aside, though, if you can stay healthy, maintain good nutrition, and feel satisfied on less than 1200 calories a day, and your doctor says that you need to be below that...then I guess I don't see anything wrong about it...seems weird for me to say that, but there are stranger things in the world

I totally disagree that you will automatically gain all the weight you lose as soon as you start eating normally. I am living proof. No studies or stats. After I had my 2nd son, I weighed about 175 pounds. (I'm 5'2"). I went on a low calorie diet (probably 700-800 calories a day.) I weighed about 125 pounds by the time I went back to work. That was almost 22 years ago. While I dieted, I also did cardio. No weight training - I was too broke to afford a gym membership.

I'm now 44 years old. There are a few reasons I'm battling with my weight at this point - perimenopause, I travel for a living, so I sit much of the day, and depression. The first problem is out of my control. The second problem is offset by alittle more cardio and weights per week. The last problem, depression, surfaced after my youngest went into the Navy. I did three things...sleep, eat, and cry. I was able to get it under control and lost the weight I had gained for 2 years. Gained it all back when he deployed. I'm now dieting (not as low calorie wise as before), working out, AND getting counseling for my depression. Hopefully the three pronged approach will work for me. Long story short, I think a low calorie diet can work IF you can control your eating once you have lost the weight. If you binge eat, you WILL gain it back. I don't care HOW you lose it. AND you HAVE to do some strength training to maintain muscle mass. But mostly, people who lose weight on a low calorie diet have to understand that this is only a temporary fix if you don't modify your eating habits. Anyhow, just my two cents worth.

You can absolutely lose weight by not eating 1200 calories, and going into "starvation mode". BUT, you will NEVER maintain it, if you change your diet in the slightest. So basically you'd end up eating next to nothing for the rest of your life.

not true for everyone

I agree, it's not true for everyone. In fact, for anorexia patients, when they start eating more, their metabolism kicks right back in and starts burning away those calories, because their body needs them. Often, they can go back to a normal diet, and maintain a normal, healthy weight. One reason for massive weight gain after a very low calorie diet is the desire to binge eat and acting on that desire. That's one reason why it's dangerous to go on a very low calorie diet for an extended period of time, let alone the risk of nutrient deficiencies and improper organ functions. Also, typically you cannot stay on a very low calorie diet healthily, because you're weight will eventually go below the normal, healthy range, causing the need for you to up your calories anyway and gain back some weight. But, even then, you can still to a relatively decent amount of food and maintain a healthy weight. Your metabolism typically returns close to it's normal range, unless you've been depriving yourself for a very long time (a few years, let's say). It's gets tougher then. All things aside, though, if you can stay healthy, maintain good nutrition, and feel satisfied on less than 1200 calories a day, and your doctor says that you need to be below that...then I guess I don't see anything wrong about it...seems weird for me to say that, but there are stranger things in the world

I totally disagree that you will automatically gain all the weight you lose as soon as you start eating normally. I am living proof. No studies or stats. After I had my 2nd son, I weighed about 175 pounds. (I'm 5'2"). I went on a low calorie diet (probably 700-800 calories a day.) I weighed about 125 pounds by the time I went back to work. That was almost 22 years ago. While I dieted, I also did cardio. No weight training - I was too broke to afford a gym membership.

I'm now 44 years old. There are a few reasons I'm battling with my weight at this point - perimenopause, I travel for a living, so I sit much of the day, and depression. The first problem is out of my control. The second problem is offset by alittle more cardio and weights per week. The last problem, depression, surfaced after my youngest went into the Navy. I did three things...sleep, eat, and cry. I was able to get it under control and lost the weight I had gained for 2 years. Gained it all back when he deployed. I'm now dieting (not as low calorie wise as before), working out, AND getting counseling for my depression. Hopefully the three pronged approach will work for me. Long story short, I think a low calorie diet can work IF you can control your eating once you have lost the weight. If you binge eat, you WILL gain it back. I don't care HOW you lose it. AND you HAVE to do some strength training to maintain muscle mass. But mostly, people who lose weight on a low calorie diet have to understand that this is only a temporary fix if you don't modify your eating habits. Anyhow, just my two cents worth.

So many quotes! Anyway, yeah, when I gained weight it was because of depression and binge eating...so I'm taking the three-pronged approach too. Good luck with your weight loss!

I've heard people say someone may or had starved to death, I'm trying to remember someone who starved to health and fitness

I've heard people say someone may or had starved to death, I'm trying to remember someone who starved to health and fitness

I DO know a guy who was a long distance runner. Died because of a heart issue having to do with excessive running. He didn't have an eating disorder. We was a high school track coach. (I know this is the exception - I'm just messin' with ya!!)

Thanks for that! And if you dip below 1000 calories to drop your weight, make sure that you reintroduce calories slowly back into your diet. Example - add 100 calories a day for 10 days. Than add back another 100 calories for 10 more days, and so on. Your metobolism will speed up quickly, but you have to bring it up slowly. Once you get to your maintenance calorie level, you will be good to go!