Do you feel like you overeat to stay out of starvation mode?
Stephendw9
Posts: 88 Member
Just a quick question for everyone.
Does anyone else have the problem of feeling like they over eat just so that they stay out of starvation mode?
I actual calories for my weight and height should be around 2200, but I feel that's way too many, so I knocked it down to around 1400. But I feel that I have to over eat basically everyday so that after exercising, my body doesn't shut down into starvation mode. If I don't eat around 1800-1900 calories, my body shuts down and I end up gaining weight, but I always feel horrible (physically not mentally) because my body feels it's too much food.
Anyone else have this problem??
Does anyone else have the problem of feeling like they over eat just so that they stay out of starvation mode?
I actual calories for my weight and height should be around 2200, but I feel that's way too many, so I knocked it down to around 1400. But I feel that I have to over eat basically everyday so that after exercising, my body doesn't shut down into starvation mode. If I don't eat around 1800-1900 calories, my body shuts down and I end up gaining weight, but I always feel horrible (physically not mentally) because my body feels it's too much food.
Anyone else have this problem??
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Replies
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your body "shuts down"? what do you mean?0
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Your body will never shut down from lack of calories, especially if you still have energy and stay over 1000 a day. Humans are built for periods of gorging/grazing and periods of fasting. What exactly do you feel when you say your body shuts down?0
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Everyone is different, do you eat big meals or snack much? Do you eat calorie dense food?
I feel really full but don't get enough calories that I need for the exercise I do when I eat lower calorie dense food, i.e. veggies don't have many cal's for their volume compared to cheese...0 -
your body "shuts down"? what do you mean?
meaning it shuts down burning calories and stores them rather than burning them off when I workout0 -
no disrespect meant, but if that's you, now, in your profile photo, that won't happen.0
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Everyone is different, do you eat big meals or snack much? Do you eat calorie dense food?
I feel really full but don't get enough calories that I need for the exercise I do when I eat lower calorie dense food, i.e. veggies don't have many cal's for their volume compared to cheese...
I don't really eat big meals or snack, but i created meals that have a lot of nutrition and protein for a decent amount of food, but it is low on calories, so I can eat very little and it seem like I ate nothing, or eat a ton and still seem like I ate a very small meal0 -
I've had a similar problem. When I was eating around my goal, I wasn't losing. It was happening for several weeks. I was also feeling really hungry. For some reason, this week, I have not been hungry at all. I've tried to eat, but it's been difficult to reach my goal, and I've been losing weight. I think it may be a reaction to a medication I've started taking a few months ago, or maybe hormone levels, but I'm not sure.0
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Everyone is different, do you eat big meals or snack much? Do you eat calorie dense food?
I feel really full but don't get enough calories that I need for the exercise I do when I eat lower calorie dense food, i.e. veggies don't have many cal's for their volume compared to cheese...
I don't really eat big meals or snack, but i created meals that have a lot of nutrition and protein for a decent amount of food, but it is low on calories, so I can eat very little and it seem like I ate nothing, or eat a ton and still seem like I ate a very small meal
Are you measuring accurately, with a food scale?
Why not create meals higher in calories but similarly filling? A little olive oil or peanut butter here and there add up fast.0 -
If you do some research, you will find that "starvation mode" is a myth.
Not to make light of a serious subject, but anorexics are a perfect example of someone who is in "starvation mode", yet they lose weight.
While it is true that eating significantly less while under a calorie deficit can slow down your metabolism, it doesn't slow it down enough to create an effect on your fat loss.0 -
I have this problem to. I think partially because I have a small appetite, and partially because I eat alot of healthy low cal foods so I would have to eat heaps to reach my goal without reaching for something less healthy.
I should add that I feel fine, apart from the straight after i've ate a little to large meal lol, and i'm not sure if it is stalling my weight loss as I don't have much to lose anyway.0 -
your body "shuts down"? what do you mean?
meaning it shuts down burning calories and stores them rather than burning them off when I workout
I am pretty sure that is impossible if you are still breathing. You may be in conservation mode if you are eating to few calories or you have reached a plateau. Try maintenance level calories for three days to a week and see if you bust it.
If you havnt had a complete physical lately, you might want to have thyroid and such checked.0 -
What you will find is you run out of energy to work out if you're way below your recommended energy intake, so in that respect your body "shuts down".
Why did you decide to knock your calories back so drastically? Just go with the calories MFP gives you to lose 1lb a week (or up to 2lb if you've got a lot to lose), eat some or a proportion of your exercise calories and you'll lose steadily and consistently without getting hungry or weak.
Lets face it, none of us got overweight eating our recommended calorie intake, so it doesn't take a huge deficit to keep losing fat.0 -
there are lots of people on here who have found that if they eat too little, they stop losing weight
I think the starvation mode phrase is a bit misleading, but there is a clear effect on metabolism for some people, presumably depending on weight remaining to be lost and many other factors
If you do find this is the case for you, have you tried googling calorie dense foods? There are lots of foods you can introduce that have "good fats" etc in them, that will increase your intake, without you trying to eat 2000 calories of lettuce in a day (pretty much impossible!) - things like avocado, pine nuts etc0 -
Just a quick question for everyone.
Does anyone else have the problem of feeling like they over eat just so that they stay out of starvation mode?
I actual calories for my weight and height should be around 2200, but I feel that's way too many, so I knocked it down to around 1400. But I feel that I have to over eat basically everyday so that after exercising, my body doesn't shut down into starvation mode. If I don't eat around 1800-1900 calories, my body shuts down and I end up gaining weight, but I always feel horrible (physically not mentally) because my body feels it's too much food.
Anyone else have this problem??
i think that the issue that you have is thinking that eating 2200 calories is 'over eating'.
i am a 5ft5 124lb woman and i eat around 2100 calories per day (to maintain), so as a guy, unless you are only about my height, 2200 cals isnt over eating and you should be able to lose weight with that many calories.0 -
If you are not hungry do not eat. It's just that simple. I never bought into the starvation mode bull and managed to lose 47 pounds. I eat between 1200 - 1400 calories on average per day. Less if I have the willpower. It takes a long time to lose weight. Just have patience and it will come off. Drink lost of water. I never understood people who eat more food to lose weight. All my life I have been taught to lose weight you eat less and exercise more. Plain and simple. I wish you the best of luck on your journey. :flowerforyou:0
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So the WHO recommends 1600 as a baseline for average hieght adult males. 1400 is really low for a guy. That being said, it really depends on what your body fat percentage is, if it's over 25% (for a male) then 1400 shouldn't be to bad, but you MUST make sure you get your micro-nutrients taken care of if you're eating so little. Calorie quality is just as important as calorie quantity.0
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When I first started dieting, I used another site to monitor my calories and was trying to loose 2 lbs. per week. I would lose a little weight but I wasn't feeling great a lot of the time and had frequent headaches and was almost always hungry. Once I started using MFP I set my diet to loose 1 lb. per week (recommended) and have seen faster weight loss, I'm feeling better, and my workouts seem to be better as well.0
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Yes. I find it hard half the time to get over 1200calories where mfp tells me I'm in starvation mode, but I have had all my meals and feel full.
My body says to have around 1400-1600 a day.0 -
Just a quick question for everyone.
Does anyone else have the problem of feeling like they over eat just so that they stay out of starvation mode?
I actual calories for my weight and height should be around 2200, but I feel that's way too many, so I knocked it down to around 1400. But I feel that I have to over eat basically everyday so that after exercising, my body doesn't shut down into starvation mode. If I don't eat around 1800-1900 calories, my body shuts down and I end up gaining weight, but I always feel horrible (physically not mentally) because my body feels it's too much food.
Anyone else have this problem??
1400 is less than the miniumum requirements for a man.
the 1200 miniumum is for females, I think the male is 1500.
if it feels like too much food and you are struggling with volume add more calorie dense food, like nuts, butter, oil cheese etc.0 -
You look way too big to be eating 1400 calories. I'm 6'1 180, and my BMR is about 1800 calories. I actually eat about 2700 calories a day and I am maintaining but not losing.0
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Just a quick question for everyone.
Does anyone else have the problem of feeling like they over eat just so that they stay out of starvation mode?
I actual calories for my weight and height should be around 2200, but I feel that's way too many, so I knocked it down to around 1400. But I feel that I have to over eat basically everyday so that after exercising, my body doesn't shut down into starvation mode. If I don't eat around 1800-1900 calories, my body shuts down and I end up gaining weight, but I always feel horrible (physically not mentally) because my body feels it's too much food.
Anyone else have this problem??
1400 is less than the miniumum requirements for a man.
the 1200 miniumum is for females, I think the male is 1500.
if it feels like too much food and you are struggling with volume add more calorie dense food, like nuts, butter, oil cheese etc.
it's actually 1600.0 -
Just a quick question for everyone.
Does anyone else have the problem of feeling like they over eat just so that they stay out of starvation mode?
I actual calories for my weight and height should be around 2200, but I feel that's way too many, so I knocked it down to around 1400. But I feel that I have to over eat basically everyday so that after exercising, my body doesn't shut down into starvation mode. If I don't eat around 1800-1900 calories, my body shuts down and I end up gaining weight, but I always feel horrible (physically not mentally) because my body feels it's too much food.
Anyone else have this problem??
1400 is less than the miniumum requirements for a man.
the 1200 miniumum is for females, I think the male is 1500.
if it feels like too much food and you are struggling with volume add more calorie dense food, like nuts, butter, oil cheese etc.
What she said.
Only some studies say it's a myth. Other studies say that celery causes cancer...there's a study to back up everything to the contrary..:grumble:
.So yes, 1400 is minimum for men. What she said or try breaking your meals down to four or five small meals with equal amounts of calories. That might speed up things for you too.
You've done great! Best of wishes!
:flowerforyou:0 -
Starvation mode does not exist. You're body initially slows down calories being burned by lowering the release of leptin which on turn slows the metabolism by slowing the release of triiodothyronine which is in control of your metabolism. However, you're body cannot prevent its needs for calories and will start burning fat and muscle to power itself.0
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I spent two months at basically 1200 calories and burning a bunch every day. I hit a hard plateau and then upped my calories to a more sustainable level, the pounds peeled off again. Stuck in a bit of a rut again but warm weather is a coming. It is uncomfortable to loose weight and you will feel bad at times. But being able to do the things I am doing now is well worth it.0
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If you are not hungry do not eat. It's just that simple. I never bought into the starvation mode bull and managed to lose 47 pounds. I eat between 1200 - 1400 calories on average per day. Less if I have the willpower. It takes a long time to lose weight. Just have patience and it will come off. Drink lost of water. I never understood people who eat more food to lose weight. All my life I have been taught to lose weight you eat less and exercise more. Plain and simple. I wish you the best of luck on your journey. :flowerforyou:0
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I don't believe in the starvation mode either, but this thread is going to explode so I'm outa here.0
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YES!!!!! Grrrrr, so frustrating!0
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When I try to eat cleaner, I eat less calorie dense foods (with a few exceptions). On top of that it is really sugar that triggers a lot of cravings for me. Once I get that down, I find myself not naturally craving a lot of food so my appetite slows down. It isn't a bad thing. It actually brings my portions down to reasonable size and keeps me from eating for the same of eating. Yet I do find myself struggling to meet those calories without going below the minimum. Once my addiction is broken, food is good but it is not nearly the gorging beast it is when I have those sugar addictions. I have noticed the same with high fats (the junky kind). When I add exercise, it can be even harder on some days. I find myself adding nuts at the end of the day and still sometimes not having enough. Now if I go out to eat, I go over very easily.0
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You aren't over eating.0
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In my case , the hardest part of following MFP guidelines is eating all my calories.
I have eaten 1 meal a day, whatever I wanted, and maybe a bowl of cereal or eng muffin around 7pm for the past 10-15 years, its a habit that started long ago and I am comfortable with it. My father eats the same way, just never wanted 3 meals a day. But I have gained weight eating that way as I have gotten older. So eating too FEW calories , or the WRONG calories can backfire, at least for me anyway.
But I also find it difficult to get in my 1200 calories using healthy food choices. I really beleive that is why I had such a tough time last year when I tried this. Averaged only 800-1000 cals a day and found myself eating at 9:00 at night just to get close to the 1200 mark.
I am trying again, just came back here yesterday, and am determined to find healthy calorie dense foods to use in those cases.
I do think that 1400 is too low for an adult male, but I am not an expert, there are a few people (SHBoss) here that really do know the science behind loosing weight. I would listen to them and the rest of us......? what do we know.
I do know what you mean, sometimes I'm just not hungry , but yet feel that I MUST eat if I want to loose. Brain confusion.0
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