How Do I Get Out of Starvation Mode?

Newtonville
Newtonville Posts: 5 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I'm three pounds away from my goal weight, but I've put myself into starvation mode. How do I get out without gaining weight?

Replies

  • tracymayo1
    tracymayo1 Posts: 445 Member
    Starvation Mode does not exist. It is a myth. If you burn up more calories than you take in, you will lose the weight. If you are not losing, then you are not eating at a deficit.
    3lbs is also less than what you can gain a day in water weight. Are you weighing yourself at the same time each day? (preferably first thing in the AM after the bathroom and before you eat breakfast)

    3lbs isn't a lot.. and you may want to set your goal to 0.5lbs a week - it will take longer, but you will have a better time keeping it off.
  • yopeeps025
    yopeeps025 Posts: 8,680 Member
    You were never in starvation mode.
  • Branstin
    Branstin Posts: 2,320 Member
    You are not in starvation mode. Please explain in detail the issue you are having so you could get some appropriate advice.
  • MomTo3Lovez
    MomTo3Lovez Posts: 800 Member
    What do you consider to be starvation mode exactly?
  • MKEgal
    MKEgal Posts: 3,250 Member
    Starvation mode does exist, but it's extremely rare.
    If you're eating food, probably you're not there.

    The body prefers to consume carbs (glucose & glycogen), then fat, then protein.
    Starvation mode = the body consuming its own muscle for fuel in a desperate attempt to find food before dying from not being able to breathe or have a heartbeat.

    Keep eating at a slight calorie deficit (like maybe 12 cal / lb of goal weight) and exercising.
    And realize that you can fluctuate 3 lb in a day just from what you eat, drink, & excrete.
  • MKEgal
    MKEgal Posts: 3,250 Member
    BTW, her ticker says "16 lb lost, 1 lb to go".
  • Newtonville
    Newtonville Posts: 5 Member
    edited October 2014
    Yes, I understand "starvation mode" is a bit of a myth, but I often get that message from MFP when my caloric intake in under my goal. Anyway, it appears that despite being on or slightly under my daily caloric goal, the weight just isn't coming off. I've gotten stuck.
  • dbmata
    dbmata Posts: 12,950 Member
    Newtonville wrote: »
    I'm three pounds away from my goal weight, but I've put myself into starvation mode. How do I get out without gaining weight?

    Left Down Up Right, B A B A Select Start
  • MomTo3Lovez
    MomTo3Lovez Posts: 800 Member
    It's possible you may actually be eating too little as well, try upping your calories a little and see if that helps, weightloss tends to get frustrating as some times it stops coming off and you stall, you just need to play around with your calories and see what works. Good luck
  • jeffpettis
    jeffpettis Posts: 865 Member
    If you have stopped losing weight you are no longer in a deficit. Plain and simple.
  • branflakes1980
    branflakes1980 Posts: 2,516 Member
    Obvious Troll.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    This content has been removed.
  • Need2Exerc1se
    Need2Exerc1se Posts: 13,575 Member
    Newtonville wrote: »
    Yes, I understand "starvation mode" is a bit of a myth, but I often get that message from MFP when my caloric intake in under my goal. Anyway, it appears that despite being on or slightly under my daily caloric goal, the weight just isn't coming off. I've gotten stuck.

    What do you mean you gotten stuck? How long have you been maintaining the same weight?
  • Newtonville
    Newtonville Posts: 5 Member
    OK, thanks. I got it. Feeling the love.
  • TheSheepFollower
    TheSheepFollower Posts: 64 Member
    Starvation mode is BS!!!! If your not losing your not in a deficit! So maybe eat less and move more! And are tracking accurately, cuz you may be eating more than you think!
  • Branstin
    Branstin Posts: 2,320 Member
    You haven't provided enough information in order to receive help.
  • tulips_and_tea
    tulips_and_tea Posts: 5,741 Member
    Need2Exerc1se wrote: »
    Newtonville wrote: »
    Yes, I understand "starvation mode" is a bit of a myth, but I often get that message from MFP when my caloric intake in under my goal. Anyway, it appears that despite being on or slightly under my daily caloric goal, the weight just isn't coming off. I've gotten stuck.

    What do you mean you gotten stuck? How long have you been maintaining the same weight?

    Yes, it would be helpful if you answer the above questions and add as much info as possible. With what little has been given, not many suggestions can be made. Besides, maybe you've reached your comfortable weight and don't need to lose any more?
  • Lasmartchika
    Lasmartchika Posts: 3,440 Member
    You're starving? Eat more. Duh.
  • Liftng4Lis
    Liftng4Lis Posts: 15,151 Member
    Starvation mode doesn't exist, so you have to get in deficit mode.
  • Icandoityayme
    Icandoityayme Posts: 312 Member
    You get out of starvation mode by eating more. Your body is struggling to keep whatever nutrients you are consuming. It sounds crazy but weight loss doesn't mean food loss. It means watching what you eat and staying within your calorie goals and getting at least 30 minutes of cardio in a day or at least 5 days out of the week. You may be scared to add more calories, I know I was, but I am still losing weight by eating more and not getting sick from not eating enough.
  • LaurenAOK
    LaurenAOK Posts: 2,475 Member
    "Starvation mode" as its used as a buzz word around MFP doesn't actually exist. However, it is possible to damage/slow your metabolism by chronically undereating. Since you say you get that message in your diary a lot, it's very possible that you've been eating too little.

    Taking that into account, I would disregard the people telling you to eat less. Like, she's already eating under 1200, guys... we're going to tell her to eat even less than that? That's called an eating disorder. Cool.

    Of course, if you're not logging accurately, that changes. But if you're sure you are 100% accurate and you're still constantly eating too little, you need to slowly increase your intake to an appropriate amount of calories for weight loss. I agree with the person who said set your goal to lose .5 pounds a week, and then make sure you meet your calorie goal every day. You might see a temporary weight gain, but as long as you are logging accurately, you should be back on track soon. Hang in there.
  • oh_tree
    oh_tree Posts: 5 Member
    starvation mode is NOT a myth it's the same as starvation response ... the only way to get out of it is to eat which will result in your metabolism not being dead--- usually I've heard it used to imply that your body is eating it's own muscles to survive though so at that point it's irrational and dangerous to continue weight loss.
  • Newtonville
    Newtonville Posts: 5 Member
    Thanks for the positive feedback and information. I'm going to try upping the caloric intake a bit and see if I can't get my metabolic rate up too.
  • extra_medium
    extra_medium Posts: 1,525 Member
    edited October 2014
    oh_tree wrote: »
    starvation mode is NOT a myth it's the same as starvation response ... the only way to get out of it is to eat which will result in your metabolism not being dead--- usually I've heard it used to imply that your body is eating it's own muscles to survive though so at that point it's irrational and dangerous to continue weight loss.

    The only way your metabolism dies is if you are dead. OP is not in starvation mode, he or she is at maintenance... with only 3 lbs to go that is very understandable. In order to continue losing weight, you have to be in a deficit and that won't happen by increasing caloric intake. But with only 3 lbs to go, I'd not worry about it since your weight can fluctuate 3 lbs between morning and night depending on many things and when you weigh yourself.
  • oh_tree
    oh_tree Posts: 5 Member
    Newtonville wrote: »
    Thanks for the positive feedback and information. I'm going to try upping the caloric intake a bit and see if I can't get my metabolic rate up too.

    :D (*) that should do it! (and if you very very lightly increase exercise like maybe just stretching/yoga type stuff you should lose those 3lbs no prob is my GUESS ) <3
  • Hornsby
    Hornsby Posts: 10,322 Member

    dbmata wrote: »
    Newtonville wrote: »
    I'm three pounds away from my goal weight, but I've put myself into starvation mode. How do I get out without gaining weight?

    Left Down Up Right, B A B A Select Start

    007-373-5963
  • DiabolicalColossus
    DiabolicalColossus Posts: 219 Member
    Try holding in the Power button while simultaneously pressing Reset.

    If that fails, take out the cartridge and blow in it, then put it back in and press Power.

  • kimny72
    kimny72 Posts: 16,011 Member
    Newtonville wrote: »
    I'm three pounds away from my goal weight, but I've put myself into starvation mode. How do I get out without gaining weight?

    Have you been starving yourself for months? If not, then my opinion is that you are not in starvation mode.

    Eating more will not cause you to lose weight. If eating more increased your metabolism, then no one would ever be overweight. Their body would just keep revving up the metabolism to burn all that fuel.

    Your weight can fluctuate as much as 5 lbs per day due to water weight, "regularity", etc.

    If you have been stuck for more than 3-4 weeks you are at maintenance, and need to lower your calories or increase your exercise to lose more weight. Some people do find that if they change things up, like restructuring meal timing or changing workouts, they will start losing again, but I would guess that is only because the changes they made slightly increased their calorie deficit.

    Many people would consider you at goal weight, considering normal daily weight fluctuates. Congrats on your weight loss!
  • rbfdac
    rbfdac Posts: 1,057 Member
    kimny72 wrote: »
    Newtonville wrote: »
    I'm three pounds away from my goal weight, but I've put myself into starvation mode. How do I get out without gaining weight?

    Have you been starving yourself for months? If not, then my opinion is that you are not in starvation mode.

    Eating more will not cause you to lose weight. If eating more increased your metabolism, then no one would ever be overweight. Their body would just keep revving up the metabolism to burn all that fuel.

    Your weight can fluctuate as much as 5 lbs per day due to water weight, "regularity", etc.

    If you have been stuck for more than 3-4 weeks you are at maintenance, and need to lower your calories or increase your exercise to lose more weight. Some people do find that if they change things up, like restructuring meal timing or changing workouts, they will start losing again, but I would guess that is only because the changes they made slightly increased their calorie deficit.

    Many people would consider you at goal weight, considering normal daily weight fluctuates. Congrats on your weight loss![/quote]

    This.

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