STARVATION MODE

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You do seem very confused! So many issues with your post.

-You can`t target your gut for weight loss, you body will chose whatever fat it wants.
-4 days isn`t a significant amount of time to worry about not seeing results.
-o.5lbs incease is normal daily fluctuation
-1200 to 1500 calories is not enough for a big guy, eat more and eat healthy
-re-read the article, it actually tells you to eat more.

The problem with this debate is a probelm called stasis, where either side of the argument are not arguing about the same thing. It is important to define the parameters of what starvation mode is before we can debate it. 1stly nobody claims starvation mode will make you stop losing weight .Often you see a STARVATION MODE MYTH article say, its not true that starvation makes you stop losign weight, we know that, lets not debate it.

As stated in the article starvation mode reduces your metabolism, and we don`t want that, think hungry african children = not healthy. Our goal is to be fit, healthy and live long, you have to eat enough to operate your body properly to acheive those goals.

Another probelm with starvation mode is that you will lose muscle mass along with fat. we want to loose weight in the form of fat, not muscle. You need muscle to stay lean once you reach you target weight.

KKellam1: I don`t know your specifics, but I have a feeling you should target to eat 2200 to 2500 calories (if you exercise 4-5 times a week)
Edited by kevanos on Thu 03/10/11 09:16 AM
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I appreciate your response. My comment about belly fat wasn't so much that I was targeting that, just more that I felt like that was one of the reserves that my body might burn before muscles, etc. In fact, it has to a degree (I have lost 2 inches around the waist). To losing muscle mass, I walk a LOT (3-5 miles a day at work and another 5 or so per day for exercise), so at least the bottom half of my torso gets a workout. I have begin light weights and other movement to try to build some tone in the upper half. Nothing too taxing so far, sonce I began this journey as a pretty overweight, out of shape guy.

To the calories...MFP recommends 2,000 a day for me (before exercise). Siince I made a change in my habits a month ago, 2,000 just seems really high. And not so much just as a number. I eat consistently through the day and make pretty healthy choices (salads, fruit, chicken, turkey, pretzels for snacks). Nothing fried, nothing with sauces, no ice cream or sweets. I am always full, never craving and have more energy now than when I started this quest. So I can't get my head wrapped around raising the calories because it appears that I would either have to eat more - past when I am full - or either eat less healthy foods to get the calorie count up.

That's where my confusion comes from. Logically, I follow the arguement. I just can't see how to implement it without going contrary to what my body seems to be telling me. And without undoing some of the changes that I've made to my eating choices.

Thank you.

for reference colombiana, I've written a blog, one of my posts covers calorie deficits (and another is on the short and long term fasting phenomena), feel free to browse it.

http://banks1850-machinations.blogspot.com/2011/02/calorie-deficits.html


Just so you know, I almost never write stuff without first researching it. I don't always cite the research, but you can always ask me how or what info I have on something. I usually have it squirreled away somewhere or know where to find it.

I don't know that this really captures what "starvation mode" paranoia is all about. When people are told to eat more it isn't usually because they won't lose weight eating less, it's because if they do not eat enough kcal/day their body will begin to consume muscle, store it as fat, and use it as energy. So yes, if you fail to eat enough you may indeed get "fatter" though you will probably lose weight (as muscle does indeed weigh more than fat).

So:

Eating less, feeling a bit hungry, allowing your stomach to shrink so you don't need to eat as much to "feel full," and maintaining a healthy balanced diet = good

Eating so little that your body starts to break down muscle into fat = bad

Just remember: starvation mode isn't really about feeling "starved" it is about your body lacking the energy and nutrients to continue to function at a normal level. Brain activity will decline, you will feel physically exhausted almost constantly, and chances are you won't be all that "hungry"... just sluggish and under-nourished.

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Just hang in there buddy,
you are doing the right thing for your well being which is all that matters.
Don't assume that you are in starvation mode because it can be a bit scary to think that.
Here are actually a few possibilities i have come accross.
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Thanks! Great response. I know deep inside that it's just a matter of continuing the course (it's a long race) but I had been riding high on that euphoria of losing fast that it felt like a brick wall when I saw the scale stop dropping. Logically, I know that if I just continue, so will the results. The really great thing is that I still have such a strong motivation that seeing the scale stop hasn't detered me a bit.

The thing that I am most proud of is that, for the first time ever, it's been a month and I haven't yet made a "deal" with myself. Haven't cheated with food, haven't missed an excercise, etc. In fact, I haven't even been tempted.

Thanks for this post. I had been ignoring the starvation mode posts on here, but its nice to see it stated like this.

kkellam1: the answer is healthy fats like avocados, nuts etc. not KFC :P

Re the workouts and maintaining muscle mass. IMO, walking is not going to do anything. Some basic resistance training using full body compound exercises is the go. (I lost 60lbs with a lot of muscle loss because of not doing any and have spent probably the last 2 years trying to gain back the strength I lost) And the best thing about knowing this now and still being a big boy is that you will be able to lift really heavy stuff (in relative terms) easy!

Keep it up mate.