Starvation mode?

kaloui1981 · September 2020

Hi,
I'm new here, I started to keep track of my eating and weight on this app after losing my appetite. I watched the weight drop off whilst having to force myself to eat at least something every day. My appetite has still not returned and I have stopped losing weight. Some days I can reach around 500 calories but many I don't. The only benefit to losing my appetite was losing some weight but now I'm worried my metabolism has stopped along with the appetite (and my bowels).
How do I get out of this or at least make the most of my lack of appetite and lose some more weight?

kimondo666 · September 2020

Go to doctor. Loss of appetite is serious matter. Could be health related issue

harper16 · September 2020

Starvation mode is a myth.
You need to call your doctor.

sal10851 · September 2020

You need to eat to lose weight.

zebasschick · September 2020

you DO need to eat to stay alive. kaloui1981, you should go to a doctor immediately.

springlering62 · September 2020

Oh, Sweetie. MFP won’t even let you create a goal of less than 1200 calories, and that’s for a very good reason.

1200 is low for a normal person (unless you’re extremely short, Asian, or under a doctor’s care) but below that is extremely dangerous.

With an extremely low calorie diet, you risk hair loss, gallbladder issues, and more, particularly damage to your heart.

Please don’t do this to yourself.

And chances are really good that you will regain all plus more when you finally can’t take it any more.

It’s so much more achievable, healthy and just plain sensible to set a goal of a half pound, or pound a week, depending on your starting weight. You didn’t put it on overnight. Why be cruel and harsh on yourself and try to drop it overnight?

This is the time you most need to be taking care of yourself.

I’ve lost 90+ pounds in two years, with 75 of that within the first year. I never had to starve myself one iota. I currently eat 2300 calories a day and am still losing, even though I’m no longer trying,if only in fractions of an ounce.

This should be a sustainable change of habits, not a browbeating to get somewhere fast.

Love your body. It’s the only one you’ll get. Think of it as a precious jewelry box for your heart and soul, and treat it that way.

springlering62 · September 2020

@AnnPT77 @KrissDotCom

SOS

AnnPT77 · September 2020

Please, please see your doctor. Something is wrong. Your appetite should not disappear, your bowels should not stop. You need to be consuming a sensible minimum of calories, 1200+ daily. At 500 or less, your health and well-being is at severe and acute risk. Call your doctor: It's urgent. Please.

kaloui1981 · September 2020

Hi,
Thank you for the replies.
I spoke to my GP last week about my loss of appetite, I thought it was due to a new medication I started about 6-7 weeks ago but apparently it probably isn't! Although the drug initially made me very nauseous and my appetite disappeared at this time. He asked me to contact him in 2 weeks to let him know if I've lost any more weight (which is looking unlikely as that has stopped). He didnt seem overly concerned. (Had bloods done as routine the week before and they were normal apart from my normally high cholesterol).
The new drug had a big impact on my mental health too which is slowly returning to my normal but that is with an increase of a different medication!
I had a heart scare Monday which landed me in hospital overnight and I'm awaiting further tests but now on asprin which I'm worried is going to upset my stomach because I'm not eating much but been told it's a must and I had a UTI confirmed yesterday that I think I've had for the last 7 weeks (from surgery and catheter I believe) so now on antibiotics...4 times a day with food...Nightmare!!
So maybe the lack of appetite is a combination of surgery, new drug, uti, mental health.....
I am not starving myself intentionally and I am trying to eat it is that I just don't feel hungry, my tummy doesn't even rumble! Sometimes the thought of food makes me feel sick and sometimes eating makes me feel sick. I am normally a binge eater so it's all a bit weird for me. I quite liked the fact I was losing weight without even trying but that novelty has now passed since I'm no longer losing any!
I know some people dont believe in starvation mode but from what I have read my body is doing just that...metabolic rate is 0 as not losing any weight, my bowels are slow (last time I went was Saturday and that was with 3 days of lactulose), my heart rate is a bit bradycardic...
I'm just not sure where to go from here, I'm not sure if I can realistically increase my appetite at the moment but also a bit worried that it will come back and I will put on shed loads of weight. I am also a little bit worried about what it is doing to my body obviously. Not sure what I'm looking for on here but its nice not to feel totally on my own (my family think it's great and they would love to lose their appetite and lose weight, it's not like I'm skinny to start with!)

springlering62 · September 2020

I’m so happy you saw your doctor. I’m sorry you’re not feeling well and hope it settles straight for you soon. Relieved it wasn’t the earmarks of an eating disorder. So many people who come here seem to be exhibiting signs.

You’ve joined a very caring community here at MFP. I hope you’ll continue sharing your status. Hugs!!!

nanastaci2020 · September 2020

I was in the hospital for 3 weeks after a car accident in 2003. I don't know the exact cause, but some combination of stress/environment/medication resulted in me having a problem with food. Anything dry was unappealing and brought on a gag reflex by the 2nd or 3rd bite. But I could handle liquids and moist foods. So they brought me whole milk, shakes, soup, yogurt and such. My mother in law even tried bringing in a bag of snacks (cookies, chips, etc.) and that did not help.

I had broken my legs, and the docs were after me to consume more protein. Within a couple weeks of being home I was back to normal. I was seriously overweight when I was admitted and lost 30 pounds despite limited movement. (I did daily physical therapy during the 2nd & 3rd week but mostly was in a hospital bed or wheel chair.)

Moral of the story: If you can figure out foods or food types that are easier to eat: eat more of them. Your body needs nutrition.

AnnPT77 · September 2020

kaloui1981 wrote: »

Hi,
Thank you for the replies.
I spoke to my GP last week about my loss of appetite, I thought it was due to a new medication I started about 6-7 weeks ago but apparently it probably isn't! Although the drug initially made me very nauseous and my appetite disappeared at this time. He asked me to contact him in 2 weeks to let him know if I've lost any more weight (which is looking unlikely as that has stopped). He didnt seem overly concerned. (Had bloods done as routine the week before and they were normal apart from my normally high cholesterol).
The new drug had a big impact on my mental health too which is slowly returning to my normal but that is with an increase of a different medication!
I had a heart scare Monday which landed me in hospital overnight and I'm awaiting further tests but now on asprin which I'm worried is going to upset my stomach because I'm not eating much but been told it's a must and I had a UTI confirmed yesterday that I think I've had for the last 7 weeks (from surgery and catheter I believe) so now on antibiotics...4 times a day with food...Nightmare!!
So maybe the lack of appetite is a combination of surgery, new drug, uti, mental health.....
I am not starving myself intentionally and I am trying to eat it is that I just don't feel hungry, my tummy doesn't even rumble! Sometimes the thought of food makes me feel sick and sometimes eating makes me feel sick. I am normally a binge eater so it's all a bit weird for me. I quite liked the fact I was losing weight without even trying but that novelty has now passed since I'm no longer losing any!
I know some people dont believe in starvation mode but from what I have read my body is doing just that...metabolic rate is 0 as not losing any weight, my bowels are slow (last time I went was Saturday and that was with 3 days of lactulose), my heart rate is a bit bradycardic...
I'm just not sure where to go from here, I'm not sure if I can realistically increase my appetite at the moment but also a bit worried that it will come back and I will put on shed loads of weight. I am also a little bit worried about what it is doing to my body obviously. Not sure what I'm looking for on here but its nice not to feel totally on my own (my family think it's great and they would love to lose their appetite and lose weight, it's not like I'm skinny to start with!)

When people use the term "starvation mode", it's often used in a way that implies your body will store intake as fat, when you eat too little, resulting in a lack of weight loss. That does not happen. If it did, no one would ever starve to death, but sadly very many people do so daily worldwide, and they're not overweight when death comes.

What *can* happen is that when you severely undereat, your body slows down as many processes as it can, trying to keep you alive as long as possible, just in case some food might be around the next bend to restore you to health. Under those circumstances, you will lose weight more slowly than you might expect, because your body is slowing down, usually in ways both obvious (fatigue for example) and inobvious (slowed/stopped hair growth, for example).

The things you report, the things I bolded in your post, are SERIOUS DANGER SIGNS that your body is doing that "slowing down" thing. Not minor signs, but BIG ones. It's not some little "failing to lose weight so OK" thing. Those are actual warning signs that you're starting on the on-ramp to ACTUAL STARVATION.

Your medical team has told you that you must eat. YOU MUST EAT. It doesn't matter what you eat, eat anything you can tolerate. If you can tolerate one of the supplemental nutrition drinks (not a diet shake, but something like Boost that's made to add calories and nutrition), then drink those. Ideally, get good nutrition, but at minimum get adequate calories, 1200+ daily, from any tolerable source. Eat even if you don't have an appetite - force yourself - to get at least 1200 calories, and probably more like 1800 would be better for a while if you can manage it.

Please stop thinking about this appetite loss as weight loss convenience or no big deal, and recognize that you're creating a SERIOUS health risk for yourself, potentially one with severe long term consequences. Really, truly. Eat, and recover your health. *Then* worry about your weight. Right now, weight isn't your essential priority, even if you're "not skinny". Adequate nutrition so you can repair and heal is your #1 priority.

I know I'm yelling. Think of me as your anxious internet granny who actually cares about what happens to you, because I do, even as a total stranger. Please attend to your health. *Please.*

Beautyofdreams · September 2020

I have been in the hospital so many times they should offer me stay rewards. Usually I am on the no food plan when I stay. Seriously, I do not lose weight and usually gain from the lack of activity and fluid that has been pumped into me. Once I gained 23 pounds from the stay and couldn't wear my shoes out the door when they released me.
You are not having bowel movements because you are not eating enough to generate much waste. Your bowels have slowed to keep food in your system long enough to extract the maximum amount of nutrients. When you recover from your health issues your appetite will return.

kshama2001 · September 2020

kaloui1981 wrote: »

Hi,
Thank you for the replies.
I spoke to my GP last week about my loss of appetite, I thought it was due to a new medication I started about 6-7 weeks ago but apparently it probably isn't! Although the drug initially made me very nauseous and my appetite disappeared at this time. He asked me to contact him in 2 weeks to let him know if I've lost any more weight (which is looking unlikely as that has stopped). He didnt seem overly concerned. (Had bloods done as routine the week before and they were normal apart from my normally high cholesterol).
The new drug had a big impact on my mental health too which is slowly returning to my normal but that is with an increase of a different medication!
I had a heart scare Monday which landed me in hospital overnight and I'm awaiting further tests but now on asprin which I'm worried is going to upset my stomach because I'm not eating much but been told it's a must and I had a UTI confirmed yesterday that I think I've had for the last 7 weeks (from surgery and catheter I believe) so now on antibiotics...4 times a day with food...Nightmare!!
So maybe the lack of appetite is a combination of surgery, new drug, uti, mental health.....
I am not starving myself intentionally and I am trying to eat it is that I just don't feel hungry, my tummy doesn't even rumble! Sometimes the thought of food makes me feel sick and sometimes eating makes me feel sick. I am normally a binge eater so it's all a bit weird for me. I quite liked the fact I was losing weight without even trying but that novelty has now passed since I'm no longer losing any!
I know some people dont believe in starvation mode but from what I have read my body is doing just that...metabolic rate is 0 as not losing any weight, my bowels are slow (last time I went was Saturday and that was with 3 days of lactulose), my heart rate is a bit bradycardic...
I'm just not sure where to go from here, I'm not sure if I can realistically increase my appetite at the moment but also a bit worried that it will come back and I will put on shed loads of weight. I am also a little bit worried about what it is doing to my body obviously. Not sure what I'm looking for on here but its nice not to feel totally on my own (my family think it's great and they would love to lose their appetite and lose weight, it's not like I'm skinny to start with!)

I think the reason you're not losing on the scale is that you are extremely stressed, which is raising your cortisol, causing you to retain water. So, you're losing fat but it is not showing up on the scale because you are simultaneously retaining water.

It is very important that you eat. I wonder if you have adequately explained to your GP just how little you are eating. For example if I tell my GYN I have "heavy bleeding" that's one thing, but she takes me more seriously when I quantify it (which I can, because I use a menstrual cup.) Similarly, "I think my iron is low because of all this heavy bleeding and the fatigue I'm experience is very different from "my ferritin is 1.7."

Calorie dense foods, especially in liquid form, might be easier for you to eat. For example, a smoothie that includes peanut butter and banana can rack up calories very quickly. And with chocolate protein powder, I find this quite yummy in addition to a balanced mix of carbs, fat, and protein.

kaloui1981 · September 2020

Thanks for the replies. I have done better with my food intake yesterday and the day b4 that, reaching 888 and 1036 calories. Today I managed half my dinner before I felt really sick and couldn't eat another mouthful (was gutted as was something I really like). I think maybe it will improve again when I've been to the loo. 🙈 Having to take antibiotics with food 4 times a day is pushing me, very uncomfortably at times but pushing me to eat more.
I weighed myself yesterday and have put weight back on! So no upside to lack of appetite now at all.
Will see how things go, am due to contact my GP on Tuesday around it, will c what he says.

ZoneFive · September 2020

I recently spent 10 days in the hospital with a whacking great case of cellulitis in my right leg. I have been on close personal terms with five or six intravenous antibiotics plus two more orals; prednisone to handle the ugly red rash that two of the antibiotics gave me; plus a couple of painkillers. They had me on an ADA 1800 diet while I was in (3 meals, no snacks), quite a change from my quarantine-based snacky bad habits. My appetite and food capacity has now changed radically. There are a lot of foods I love but can't even think about because they just make me nauseated, and I can't imagine eating even half the volume of what I used to at any meal. I've had to plan very carefully how to get more protein (for healing) into a lot less volume & calories (for my stomach's sake). I'm sure this will change over time, but I'm trying to practice better habits while it's easier.

All of this is to say that your body *is* very stressed right now. Extreme lack of appetite is a danger signal; it's letting you know that you need a more carefully-thought-out way of eating. This is not a time to be thinking about losing weight. You need to be thinking about how you can best support a body that's trying to heal itself.

AnnPT77 · September 2020

kaloui1981 wrote: »

Thanks for the replies. I have done better with my food intake yesterday and the day b4 that, reaching 888 and 1036 calories. Today I managed half my dinner before I felt really sick and couldn't eat another mouthful (was gutted as was something I really like). I think maybe it will improve again when I've been to the loo. 🙈 Having to take antibiotics with food 4 times a day is pushing me, very uncomfortably at times but pushing me to eat more.
I weighed myself yesterday and have put weight back on! So no upside to lack of appetite now at all.
Will see how things go, am due to contact my GP on Tuesday around it, will c what he says.

Changes on the scale are weight changes, sure . . . but not necessarily a sign of adequate intake. You're in a situation (illness/injury/prescription drugs/healing/recovery) where scale-weight changes are mostly about water weight and digestive contents, which don't necessarily confirm adequate intake. You would be better off believing the calories logged in these circumstances, IMO, not the scale weight. The scale weight is misleading.

For pretty much EVERYONE (even 100% healthy), quick scale changes (over a day or few) are mostly water weight/digestive contents. Actual important weight changes (body tissues like fat, muscle, bone, blood) are something that sorts itself out over multiple weeks, at minimum. In a state of illness, the body-tissue loss can be faster than normal, but body-tissue gain is more likely to be at least as slow as usual, and quite possibly much slower.

Do your very best to eat the right number of calories. Do not let random scale-weight changes lull you into being OK with undernutrition. You need calories and nutrition in order to heal. Do your best to eat them. Please.

kaloui1981 · September 2020

Thank you again for the replies.
I spoke to my GP today and he isn't concerned about my lack of appetite, he has prescribed something for constipation as I havent been in 10 days, he said that that alone wont help. I'm going to stop worrying that I'm not eating enough and just do what my body tells me to do.
Had bloods done again yesterday after collapsing and they are all normal so my body must be coping somehow, just need to wait for the tests on my heart.

Dogmom1978 · September 2020

kaloui1981 wrote: »

Thank you again for the replies.
I spoke to my GP today and he isn't concerned about my lack of appetite, he has prescribed something for constipation as I havent been in 10 days, he said that that alone wont help. I'm going to stop worrying that I'm not eating enough and just do what my body tells me to do.
Had bloods done again yesterday after collapsing and they are all normal so my body must be coping somehow, just need to wait for the tests on my heart.

Stop worrying about not eating enough when you only eat 500 calories a day??? That sounds like you have an eating disorder and need a psychiatrist/psychologist. Not eating enough IS a problem. If you don’t see it that way, you need more help than anyone here can provide...

kaloui1981 · September 2020

It's not like I'm doing it on purpose I just dont have an appetite, my stomach doesnt even rumble! I am doing what my body is telling me to do from now on, I'm sure if it wants food it will send me a message. I will try and eat something at normal meal times every day even if it's just a nectarine like today but I don't feel the need to push myself ot stress about it any more, my GP has said today it's fine not to each much in the short term.

Dogmom1978 · September 2020

kaloui1981 wrote: »

It's not like I'm doing it on purpose I just dont have an appetite, my stomach doesnt even rumble! I am doing what my body is telling me to do from now on, I'm sure if it wants food it will send me a message. I will try and eat something at normal meal times every day even if it's just a nectarine like today but I don't feel the need to push myself ot stress about it any more, my GP has said today it's fine not to each much in the short term.

Your body HASNT been telling you it wants to eat. If your GP thinks that it’s ok that you eat 500 calories a day, you need to find a new GP before you do serious damage to your body.

Starvation mode?

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