Has anyone here ever had their bodies go into starvation mod

bump

My goal is 1200/day as well. But i agree, if I get too close to it I feel so gross and like I have failed! I figure if I'm getting around 1000 on the board, then I'm probably at or over 1200 anyway (I read that people always underestimate their calories). So that's mostly why I aim to go under?

I don't know about starvation either... I see people all the time who eat way less and keep loosing weight! but I don't want to make things harder for myself if I don't eat enough

Your body needs 1200 calories a day to survive a healthy life. Are you working out too? If so you need to eat those calories or at least eat your 1200. Say you workout and burn 500 calories and you eat only 1000 well that leaves your body trying to work off 500 calories because MFP already has a -500 calories set in for you. I know it takes a bit to understand it did for me anyway. I was not eating my exercise calories and set at 1200 but not reaching it everyday. While I was big enough in the being that I lost weight fast I hit a point where I have stopped loosing for the past year. I have now upped my calories and eat my exercise calories and my body is happy again. I am not losing like I was when I was bigger but I don't have that much to lose.

Take care of your self and know that eating 1200 calories does not make you a failure it makes your body a winner lol

I've never let my body go into starvation mode but I do know that it is real and it can happen to the best of us. Our bodies need at least 1200 calories a day and according to your diary, you've not been even close. So, if anyone can go into starvation mode, you will, for sure. You need to try and take in more calories before you really end up hurting yourself.

Good luck & happy eating!

I went through this a couple weeks ago. I'm a firm believer I KILLED my metabolism and I'm working to get it back up. As a formerly obese person I'm terrified of getting fat again. YOU HAVE TO EAT THOUGH, and more if you're exercising. YOU MUST. Trust me, I got pissed when people on these forums were telling me to eat more. I understand! I'd say you're damaging your metabolism for sure though. Visit a nutritionist.

You have 6lbs to lose!!!! I mean seriously. If you have suffered from anorexia, and you have a problem meeting the 1200 calorie goal, then you might not want to use this site.

Now that I have put my personal opinion out there, let me offer you a tip. If you allow yourself to go over your calorie goal at least one day a week, you can avoid a plateau and keep your metabolism moving. If you deprive your metabolism too much, it WILL shut down.

Your body will feed itself on your muscle mass.....it's easier to acces and process then your fat reserves.

You are trying to kill yourself and your body will do it's best not to let you.

The long term results are that you will have to eat like a rabbit for the rest of your life or you will gain weight.

I would go see a psychologist since you do not have a healthy relationship with food. 1200 calories is not alot and you should not feel awfull for eating ''that much''

First, lets examine the concept of starvation mode:
Starvation is when your metabolism changes in order to preserve its resevoirs. This means that if you continually consume less than a certain amount of calories then your metabolism will slow in order to meet your daily demands. This would be like if your car knew you were low on gas, it would concerve energy by not being able to accelerate past 50 kmph.
This makes loosing weight difficult as I'm sure many of you reach that plateau where you feel like you are unable to loose despite doing everything right.

Here are some really crutial tips:
1 EAT OFTEN! I cannot stress this anymore. When you eat large meals, spread way apart in the day, your body slows its metabolism during the hours that you are not feeding it. Small meals (200-300 KCal) spread throughout the day will allow your metabolism to remain constant. This will preven cravings, intense hunger and help you to feel energized in teh working hours.

2. Remember you need calories to burn calories. It's like starting a buisness, you need money to make money. This may not seem logical at first, but on a molecular level you cannot create energy without certain macro and micro molecules. Some key players include CARBOHYDRATES, and vitamins such as niacin and riboflavin.

3. Caloric values are relative. My Fitness pal is a marvelous tool for estimation. However, if you make foods at home you may be adding extra calories that the website does not account for. This includes oils, salad dressings, and sauces.
While I am here, this also applies to the nutritional information found on restautant menus. They quite often do not include the dressing on a salad, sauce, or the measured serving size does not match your actual serving.

Lastly, remember that food and excercise are not exchangeble items. You should not decide to eat less and not exercise, or vise versa. Food fuels more than just your caloric expenditure: it helps you make hormomes, it hydrates your skin, it keeps your nails, and hair strong and healthy. Exercise or just physical activity in general helps improve mood, helps your sex life, and makes you feel energized. They are absolutely realted, but you need both for good balance. But you knew that, didn't you?

Keep at it!
KJ

*KJ is a municipal personal trainer, a clinical rehab trainer, a fitness appraiser, a kinesiologist and an advanced human nutrition student*

Bump