Starvation Mode....a myth?

shadow3829
shadow3829 Posts: 103 Member
edited September 26 in Health and Weight Loss
This will not be popular here, but.....

I have always had a hard time buying into the starvation mode. Does it exist? I believe it does, but I tend to think it is probably after the body has ran out of large amounts of stored fat, and a prolonged calorie restrictions. I have been trying to find some hard fact, but as with everything, have found information backing both sides. Here is one article I found that makes several good points, the writers reference links back up her points very well. Take a few minutes to read the articles before giving me to much grief. :)

http://fattyfightsback.blogspot.com/2009/03/mtyhbusters-starvation-mode.html

Has anyone here actually proven the starvation mode? Have you every only lost weight after upping your calories? Who has experienced starvation mode and recovered and lost weight after increasing your calories? Restricted for how long? How much of a deficit? How much of an increase to lose again?

Replies

  • BrendaBlis
    BrendaBlis Posts: 165 Member
    Bump
  • godroxmysox
    godroxmysox Posts: 1,491 Member
    bump
  • BflSaberfan
    BflSaberfan Posts: 1,272
    <<raises hand

    I was eating 1200 calories a day for 8 months. Then my weight loss just stopped, this went on for weeks.

    Last week I upped my calories to 1700 and lost 4lbs.
  • chrisyoung0422
    chrisyoung0422 Posts: 426 Member
    www.leangains.com

    has a number of really good and factual articles in relation to this and other topics.

    Personally I have never tried this or been in what I would call starvation mode.
  • mcboyd1983
    mcboyd1983 Posts: 56
    Thanks for posting! That was an interesting read for sure (kinda made me giggle at parts too haha).
  • FairyMiss
    FairyMiss Posts: 1,812 Member
    This will not be popular here, but.....

    I have always had a hard time buying into the starvation mode. Does it exist? I believe it does, but I tend to think it is probably after the body has ran out of large amounts of stored fat, and a prolonged calorie restrictions. I have been trying to find some hard fact, but as with everything, have found information backing both sides. Here is one article I found that makes several good points, the writers reference links back up her points very well. Take a few minutes to read the articles before giving me to much grief. :)

    http://fattyfightsback.blogspot.com/2009/03/mtyhbusters-starvation-mode.html

    Has anyone here actually proven the starvation mode? Have you every only lost weight after upping your calories? Who has experienced starvation mode and recovered and lost weight after increasing your calories? Restricted for how long? How much of a deficit? How much of an increase to lose again?
  • SHBoss1673
    SHBoss1673 Posts: 7,161 Member
    you can search these forums, the short answer is yes, there are hundreds of topics on MFP about it, many with links to studies, or if you'd like to find your own, just do a search on www.ajcn.org. Starvation mode is real, proven, and been verified time and time again. The only myth is people's perception of it, which is often wrong.
  • chantel14
    chantel14 Posts: 128
    nice to see the other side!
  • FairyMiss
    FairyMiss Posts: 1,812 Member
    okay now for the real reply. not only did i not lose weight by upping calories when i first started here like people said i should over the first month i gained 8 pounds. since then i went back to the way i was eating before when i lost 45 pounds, and have already dropped 5.5 pounds.
  • Brady_
    Brady_ Posts: 108 Member
    Bumpp :ohwell:
  • BroDave
    BroDave Posts: 241 Member
    I am going to try to find out more about this and get back with what I find.
  • becca0211
    becca0211 Posts: 250 Member
    Bump
  • Spayrroe
    Spayrroe Posts: 210 Member
    Starvation mode is a scientific fact. The body is semi intelligent geared towards self preseravtion. That's one of the reasons underweight women have problems concieving a baby, because the body feels it can't sustain itself, let alone another organism. Your body requires a certain amount of fuel to keep its basic life sustaining processes running (cardiovascular, cerebral-vascular, etc). Now, I do not think it's that basic 1200 cals for each person. Obviously, if you have a bigger/smaller (and by that I mean taller/shorter, lanky/condensed) body, that number would flux. It takes less energy to circulate blood in a 5' tall person than a 6' tall person. I also don't think being below your required base calorie amount based on your BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate) for one or two days a week (as long as the two days in question are not consecutive) will put you in starvation mode. I think it needs to be a longer period of deprivation for your body to think that the resources it needs are not available. Now, this is all based on different things I've read/heard. I am not even close to being a medical professional (I barely passed biology and anatomy in highschool which was a decade ago for me), so this is all just my two cents on it. I think the most accurate way to get a good read on what you should/need to be consuming would be to talk to your doctor. Even on this site, where you give it your basic demographics, it's only a ballpark.

    Another point on this, the farther away you are from a 'healthy' weight, the less you'll probably notice the effects of starvation mode because your body has a lot more stored fuel to burn. I've noticed that most of the time people who post the 'omg, i'm keeping calories cut out and exercising, but I'm not losing any weight at all' threads on here are people who are pretty close to their goal weight, when the body has less stored resources to burn and will start hording them faster.

    Once again, only my opinion, for whatever that is worth.
  • juliapurpletoes
    juliapurpletoes Posts: 951 Member
    I'm not sure whether or not you would like to hear a personal story or discuss the theory of stavation mode. But, I'll toss in my thoughts/experience anyway:

    I lived on 500 calories a day for about a year and a half......(not medically supervised, it was a 'vanity diet').......I don't know whether or not you could call it starvation mode but this is just some of what happened to me.


    I created a ring of scar tissue in the bottom of my esophagus from the stomach acid that churned up.....( I have to take medicine everyday now - expensive - I have to eat alot of softer foods so I can get them down)



    I killed my metabolism........(it took YEARS to not only understand why it happened and to be able to turn it around)

    I looked like death warmed over........(very skinny fat about 12% - bones with a layer of fat because I had NO muscles to support me)

    My hair fell out more than a healthy persons would

    I couldn't think a clear thought.........(brain cells need nutrition)

    gained all the weight back that I had lost in the blink of an eye and then some..................

    I did recover, but it was such a useless experience.


    really STUPID!
  • BflSaberfan
    BflSaberfan Posts: 1,272
    Starvation mode is a scientific fact. The body is semi intelligent geared towards self preseravtion. That's one of the reasons underweight women have problems concieving a baby, because the body feels it can't sustain itself, let alone another organism. Your body requires a certain amount of fuel to keep its basic life sustaining processes running (cardiovascular, cerebral-vascular, etc). Now, I do not think it's that basic 1200 cals for each person. Obviously, if you have a bigger/smaller (and by that I mean taller/shorter, lanky/condensed) body, that number would flux. It takes less energy to circulate blood in a 5' tall person than a 6' tall person. I also don't think being below your required base calorie amount based on your BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate) for one or two days a week (as long as the two days in question are not consecutive) will put you in starvation mode. I think it needs to be a longer period of deprivation for your body to think that the resources it needs are not available. Now, this is all based on different things I've read/heard. I am not even close to being a medical professional (I barely passed biology and anatomy in highschool which was a decade ago for me), so this is all just my two cents on it. I think the most accurate way to get a good read on what you should/need to be consuming would be to talk to your doctor. Even on this site, where you give it your basic demographics, it's only a ballpark.

    Another point on this, the farther away you are from a 'healthy' weight, the less you'll probably notice the effects of starvation mode because your body has a lot more stored fuel to burn. I've noticed that most of the time people who post the 'omg, i'm keeping calories cut out and exercising, but I'm not losing any weight at all' threads on here are people who are pretty close to their goal weight, when the body has less stored resources to burn and will start hording them faster.

    Once again, only my opinion, for whatever that is worth.

    This is exactly right, 50lbs overweight my body easily burned through the extra fat...once I got within 15lbs of my goal weight that stopped.
  • BflSaberfan
    BflSaberfan Posts: 1,272
    Starvation mode is a scientific fact. The body is semi intelligent geared towards self preseravtion. That's one of the reasons underweight women have problems concieving a baby, because the body feels it can't sustain itself, let alone another organism. Your body requires a certain amount of fuel to keep its basic life sustaining processes running (cardiovascular, cerebral-vascular, etc). Now, I do not think it's that basic 1200 cals for each person. Obviously, if you have a bigger/smaller (and by that I mean taller/shorter, lanky/condensed) body, that number would flux. It takes less energy to circulate blood in a 5' tall person than a 6' tall person. I also don't think being below your required base calorie amount based on your BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate) for one or two days a week (as long as the two days in question are not consecutive) will put you in starvation mode. I think it needs to be a longer period of deprivation for your body to think that the resources it needs are not available. Now, this is all based on different things I've read/heard. I am not even close to being a medical professional (I barely passed biology and anatomy in highschool which was a decade ago for me), so this is all just my two cents on it. I think the most accurate way to get a good read on what you should/need to be consuming would be to talk to your doctor. Even on this site, where you give it your basic demographics, it's only a ballpark.

    Another point on this, the farther away you are from a 'healthy' weight, the less you'll probably notice the effects of starvation mode because your body has a lot more stored fuel to burn. I've noticed that most of the time people who post the 'omg, i'm keeping calories cut out and exercising, but I'm not losing any weight at all' threads on here are people who are pretty close to their goal weight, when the body has less stored resources to burn and will start hording them faster.

    Once again, only my opinion, for whatever that is worth.

    This is exactly right, 50lbs overweight my body easily burned through the extra fat...once I got within 15lbs of my goal weight that stopped.
  • concordancia
    concordancia Posts: 5,320 Member
    Actually, we can draw several logical conclusions from the study she cites most:

    Starvation mode exists - it is extreme calorie deprivation which, if maintained, will lead to severe health issues and possibly death. It can also result in, as this article cites 40% decrease in metabolism.

    There are less extreme calorie intakes which can result in decreased metabolism, without being truly starvation - you may not be healthy, but neither will you wither and die if you maintain a, 800-1100 calorie diet for an extended period of time. Instead, your body will adjust to maintain what it has for as long as it can.

    The author of this article does not cite studies - she uses studies of extreme circumstances to set up a straw man argument.
  • terri0702
    terri0702 Posts: 17 Member
    Bump
  • KateCon912
    KateCon912 Posts: 200 Member
    It may exist, but only after your body has burn up all of the fat and muscle from your body first that it can use. And you would have to eat absolutely nothing for weeks.

    I however have been eating 800-900 calories since the beginning of the year and have only lost weight. I have lost over 20 lbs gradually and steadily.

    A lot of people on these forums believe in starvation mode, but have not experienced it themselves or are too scared to try.

    1200 is not a magic number. If you eat 1199 you will not die. If you eat 900 calories for an extended period of time, you will not die. In fact, you will reach your goal. It just takes self control and discipline.
  • lloydrt
    lloydrt Posts: 1,121 Member
    I was advised by my medical doctor, 30 years practice, that a quick unhealthy weight loss could injure the gall bladder, esp if you may have some stones/calcium deposits located in the gall bladder

    I have read in the last 6 months or so, on this board, numerous posts about people getting their gall bladder out, or having severe pain that was caused by the gall bladder

    also, your gall bladder needs certain amounts of fat to halp it perform its normal activities. Im not a medical professional, but I was advised to follow a good healthy diet, that consisited of good fats, and avoid trans fats.

    Im now on occassion eating nuts and avacados, something I didnt do before I lost all the weight. Just be careful of not getting enough fats, you can do serious damage to your internal organs................Lloyd
  • BroDave
    BroDave Posts: 241 Member
    Here are a few articles that give evidence on both sides of the issue. I am convinces there is a "Starvation Mode" that will slow down your metabolism but I am a long ways from it. I plan to eat healthy and the fewest calories as possible, so I can lose as much as I can in the shortest time. I will continue to read all I can find on both sides of the issue.


    http://www.runnersworld.com/community/forums/nutrition-weight-loss/weight-loss/starvation-mode-100-myth-just-another-excuse

    http://www.weightwatchers.com/util/art/index_art.aspx?tabnum=1&art_id=35501

    http://caloriecount.about.com/starvation-mode-myth-thread-see-evidence-ft46163

    http://www.burnthefatblog.com/archives/2007/11/is-starvation-mode-a-myth-no-its-very-real-and-here-is-the-proof.php
  • tonedover
    tonedover Posts: 30 Member
    It may exist, but only after your body has burn up all of the fat and muscle from your body first that it can use. And you would have to eat absolutely nothing for weeks.

    Completely incorrect.
    Not trying to be rude, but your statement is completely, utterly, wrong.
    Your body can go into starvation mode in just a couple days.
  • baisleac
    baisleac Posts: 2,019 Member
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/3047-700-calories-a-day-and-not-losing
  • Kjarlune
    Kjarlune Posts: 178
    This will not be popular here, but.....

    I have always had a hard time buying into the starvation mode. Does it exist? I believe it does, but I tend to think it is probably after the body has ran out of large amounts of stored fat, and a prolonged calorie restrictions. I have been trying to find some hard fact, but as with everything, have found information backing both sides. Here is one article I found that makes several good points, the writers reference links back up her points very well. Take a few minutes to read the articles before giving me to much grief. :)

    http://fattyfightsback.blogspot.com/2009/03/mtyhbusters-starvation-mode.html

    Has anyone here actually proven the starvation mode? Have you every only lost weight after upping your calories? Who has experienced starvation mode and recovered and lost weight after increasing your calories? Restricted for how long? How much of a deficit? How much of an increase to lose again?

    I have done a lot of different things in the last 5 months of my weight loss journey. Articles like this were like candy to me...I hoped for great weight loss very fast...Every time my calories came back up I gained within 24 hours. When I would restrict my calories to 1200 and under as much as I had "Energy" I felt wrong..As soon as I got back on track and with my working out I have found 1500-2000 is my mark for calories.. The weight drops steady.....

    There is no proof here, just fancy debate...as for those who have been loosing weight in low calorie.. This is not judgement you can loose weight on low calories but that does not mean your body is getting what it needs....I screwed myself up so bad....good luck all..
  • natskedat
    natskedat Posts: 570 Member
    Hi All! Personal trainer and endurance athlete here. Starvation mode is not a myth. "Starvation" conjures up images of extreme emaciation, and it creates a confusing situation for overweight folks who hear that their body is in "starvation" mode. Clearly, it's not!

    However, straight from my text book under the "Calorie Restricted Diets" heading:

    "The body's number-one priority is to obtain sufficient energy to carry on vital functions such as circulation, respiration, and digestion. Therefore, in the absence of adequate dietary carbohydrates, protein, and fat calories, the body will break down not only dietary protein but protein in the blood, liver, pancreas, muscles, and other tissues inorder to maintain vital organs and functions.

    Without sufficient energy, the human body has the innate ability to break down muscle tissue for use as an energy source during heavy exercise. This process is known as gluconeogenesis, which is the production of glucose from non-carbohydrate sources."

    The text goes on (dryly) to explain the (boring) chemical reaction that occurs, whereby the muscle tissue is stripped of amino acids and converted into energy.

    Furthermore, the text does "not condone any plans that contain fewer than 1200 calories", as the medical consequences of such a diet are more severe than a ketogenic (Atkins-type) diet.

    So, to sum up, if MFP allows you 1328 calories, and you burn 652 on the elliptical, but you only eat 865 calories that day, your calorie deficit is 1,115 calories. Your body's going to get the energy somehow to keep you alive, and your muscle is where it starts. These are the consequences of your hard work. Your muscle mass will decrease, your metabolism will continue to get slower, and you'll stay the same weight.

    Starvation mode happens in a day. It doesn't mean you look like you're starving, but it does mean that your body is starved for the proper balance of carbohydrates, fat, and protein, and so it steals that energy from it's own sources.

    If anybody has any questions about the science, please friend me or message me!

    Natalie
  • mommy2josh
    mommy2josh Posts: 21
    I never did believe in Starvation Mode... until 2 weeks ago :) I started my weightloss journey in Jan. of this year. I have lost 19 lbs so far. I have been getting weighed and measured, body fat %, hydration, etc etc. I had stopped losing for a few weeks, I was eating about 1200 cals a day, plus exercising anywhere between 500-1000 cals a day, and not eating them back. From my March to April weigh in, i lost 4 lbs. but i felt fatter, not bloated, i thought my back and my sides looked fatter. I went in and got weighed & measured, and my lady got very upset with me, she knew exactly what was going on with my body after looking at the numbers. She told me my body LOST muscle, turned it into fat, for survival, even though i was working out everyday, and not just doing cardio, i was doing free weights, JM 30DS, and going to a bootcamp. I was not feeding my body enough. She asked me right out if i knew about 'starvation mode' i told her, i did, but didn't believe it.
    Well, i started right away, upped my cals to eat what i was working out, plus my 1420/day and lost 3lbs the first week afterwards. I'm not saying this would happen to everyone, but it did for me. I expect not to lose lbs necessarily for the next week or two, cause i'm really hoping my body is starting to build back some muscle first... another reason i love getting measured :)
  • DebbieMc3
    DebbieMc3 Posts: 289 Member
    I was on about 1400 calories per day and burning about 800 per day. My weight loss was averaging .6 lbs per week.
    I started eating the extra 800 and voila, my average is now 1.6 per week.
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