Starvation mode?????
sarahjndg
Posts: 7 Member
So, this is the first time I've tried to diet. I am a waitress at an extremely busy place and I am always moving for up to 9 hours straight. I never cared about what I ate and I maintaimed my weight , now that I'm being careful about what I eat I'm feeling the difference. My only worry is that my calorie counter says I'm way below because of what I burn off at work. Is this ok?????
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Replies
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Assuming that the estimates for your calorie burns are accurate, why would you *want* to eat less?
Starvation mode isn't a thing, but most people feel better when they adequately fuel themselves. It can help prevent cravings, improve energy, and ensure you're meeting your nutritional needs. Also, if you eat less than you need, you run the risk of losing more muscle relative to fat.7 -
Here is an article about starvation mode: http://www.aworkoutroutine.com/starvation-mode/5
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If you read about the concept of calorie restriction or intermittent fasting, you will know that "starvation mode" is BS. No negative effects will be noticed up to almost 36-48 hours of pure fasting. All that matters is calories in vs calories out at the end of the day which is why MFP is an awesome tool! I don't eat for 16 - 18 hours of the day and there are a lot of fitness people who do the same.
What do you use as the calorie counter? I ask this because tools like Fitbit (and a few others) over estimate the calories burned using step counter along with any other activity you add it. You will need to correct that.4 -
How many calories are you eating, and what is your MFP calorie goal before and after your exercise calories?1
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This post is on the weight loss thread, so I am assuming that your "first time to diet" has the goal to lose weight, specifically fat. All you have to do is eat in a caloric deficit. If you have <25 pounds to lose, the generally recommended daily deficit for fat loss is 250 calories. The bigger the deficit, the more you will feel it and the higher the muscle and bone loss.
If you have >25lb to lose, a 500 calorie daily deficit is usually tolerable and healthy. That's roughly 1 pound/week fat loss.2 -
Here is an article about starvation mode: http://www.aworkoutroutine.com/starvation-mode/
My favorite!3 -
"Starvation mode" is kind of a fad term.... there is no chance you can gain weight while calorie deficit that is simply not possible... its like trying to build a bigger house with fewer bricks lol. That being said going too low calorie is not healthy for you, low calorie intake is also often related to lower amounts of the micronutrients that every system of your body relies on to work efficiently. For example anorexics that die from there disease more often than not die of an organ failure, Heart disease is the number one cause (Bradycardia) and that is because the lower amount of nutrition also results in a lower amount of key minerals that are are critical for maintaining the electrical signals to maintain a proper heart rate.
Being too low in calorie for a long period of time is detrimental to several systems in the body including the endocrine system where your cortisol levels can increase, cortisol is a known to also cause a higher level of insulin which can increase your cravings for the sugary junk food and promote storage of fat. Now this will only happen if you intake an excess of calories as stated before, but going too low calorie for long periods of time can increase cortisol and insulin and if you then go back to a more normal calorie intake the higher amount of those hormones can encourage fat (adipose storage). And the increase of insulin will make it very hard not to cave to those sugary treats, which absolutely will cause you to gain fat.
The above is precisely why fad crash diets never work long term, because they are unsustainable for the rest of your life. A typical female should be taking 2000 calories minimum and a male should be no less than 2500. Now when trying to lose weight if you reduce your calorie intake by a reasonable amount like -500 calories per day... I'm all on board. But anyone who supports diets of 800-1200 calories a day is not considering all the effects it has on your body.
Starvation mode as being described is incorrect but to think too low calorie can't have repercussions is not true.
Just remember it took a long time to gain that weight... years even... to try and get it all off in 6 or 8 weeks by plummeting your calories is not the right approach. Maintain a manageable calorie deficit and make sure those calories are from good sources, work on burning more calories not just relying on eating less and you'll get there.
Best of luck5 -
On average I eat about 1100 to 1400 calories a day and my goal is 1880. I am a waitress at an extremely busy restaurant and I am constantly moving around for up to 9 hours a day 5-6 days a week0
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On average I eat about 1100 to 1400 calories a day and my goal is 1880. I am a waitress at an extremely busy restaurant and I am constantly moving around for up to 9 hours a day 5-6 days a week
What do you have your activity level set at? Do you have it properly set to reflect your active job?0 -
I remember my first time on mfp and everyone was all about starvation mode. How things change2
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Ready2Rock206 wrote: »On average I eat about 1100 to 1400 calories a day and my goal is 1880. I am a waitress at an extremely busy restaurant and I am constantly moving around for up to 9 hours a day 5-6 days a week
What do you have your activity level set at? Do you have it properly set to reflect your active job?
Yes, and I don't even enter my full shift on there0 -
candythorns wrote: »I remember my first time on mfp and everyone was all about starvation mode. How things change
I've been here a year. The purge of "starvation mode" was underway when I started. It seems to have diminished in intensity in recent months.0 -
candythorns wrote: »I remember my first time on mfp and everyone was all about starvation mode. How things change
Yeah, I'd never even heard of "starvation mode" until I started frequenting the forums on MFP. I'm always curious how newbies come in worried about it, and where they hear it from.0 -
Ready2Rock206 wrote: »On average I eat about 1100 to 1400 calories a day and my goal is 1880. I am a waitress at an extremely busy restaurant and I am constantly moving around for up to 9 hours a day 5-6 days a week
What do you have your activity level set at? Do you have it properly set to reflect your active job?
Yes, and I don't even enter my full shift on there
If you have your activity level set to "active" (or "very active", I can't remember the wording), which you should because of your job, then you don't enter your work as additional exercise. The calorie count MFP gives you takes account of your normal activity level when working out your daily allowance, so you should only add in any other deliberate exercise that you do over and above your work.
Set up your profile correctly and eat the amount of calories it gives you. If you're on your feet all the time you should be eating more than 1100 calories.2 -
Starvation mode is a myth0
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That seems like a really low calorie intake. I serve part time, maybe 15-20 hrs a week, and even eating 1600 was too little for me at one point.1
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Ready2Rock206 wrote: »On average I eat about 1100 to 1400 calories a day and my goal is 1880. I am a waitress at an extremely busy restaurant and I am constantly moving around for up to 9 hours a day 5-6 days a week
What do you have your activity level set at? Do you have it properly set to reflect your active job?
Yes, and I don't even enter my full shift on there
If you have your activity level set to "active" (or "very active", I can't remember the wording), which you should because of your job, then you don't enter your work as additional exercise. The calorie count MFP gives you takes account of your normal activity level when working out your daily allowance, so you should only add in any other deliberate exercise that you do over and above your work.
Set up your profile correctly and eat the amount of calories it gives you. If you're on your feet all the time you should be eating more than 1100 calories.
Thank you0 -
Here is an article about starvation mode: http://www.aworkoutroutine.com/starvation-mode/
that picture tells a good story , most likely if you dont look like him ,, you have a different reason to not losing weight .
thanks for posting that
good luck0
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