Help!

suech14
suech14 Posts: 2
edited December 2024 in Food and Nutrition
I'm very new to all this and wondered if someone can help me out?

"Based on your total calories consumed for today, you are eating too few calories. Not only is it difficult to receive adequate nutrition at these calorie levels, but you could also be putting your body into starvation mode. Starvation mode lowers your metabolism and makes weight loss more difficult"

I have had this comment at the bottom of my food diary a few times - I understand the part of not having enough calories, but don't fully understand what is meant by "starvation mode" and what is happening? Any advice, information would be great - thanks

Replies

  • Amabuela
    Amabuela Posts: 24
    I can't speak to the actual science, but basically it means that your body, to protect itself from starvation, slows down the metabolism in order to preserve itself. That means you won't lose weight as rapidly, because your body is hanging onto the fat in order to keep you alive.
  • wftiger
    wftiger Posts: 1,283 Member
    http://www.weightwatchers.com/util/art/index_art.aspx?tabnum=1&art_id=35501
    http://fattyfightsback.blogspot.com/2009/03/mtyhbusters-starvation-mode.html
    http://fitnessblackbook.com/main/starvation-mode-why-you-probably-never-need-to-worry-about-it/
    http://caloriecount.about.com/forums/weight-loss/truth-starvation-mode
    http://www.adonisindex.com/how-to-get-into-starvation-mode/

    Check out the links. I don't think my opinion would matter much so go to the facts.
  • darkmouzy
    darkmouzy Posts: 227 Member
    Basically what its saying You are eating too few calories to facilitate the energy you body needs to run. Therefore to protect its self your body will lower its metabolism and this makes it harder for you to lose weight.
  • warmachinejt
    warmachinejt Posts: 2,162 Member
    you need to eat your alotted calories don't be under or you will stall your progress
  • rjo921
    rjo921 Posts: 130
    By ensuring that you eat fewer calories than you burn, any successful diet puts your body into a starvation mode. During starvation the body burns its own stored glucose and fat to stay alive. During extended starvation, the body metabolizes muscles, connective tissue and vital organs. However, you can induce starvation mode without starving or cutting calories significantly. Low-carb diets mimic starvation by inducing a similar kind of metabolism without a significant reduction of calories.
    Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/392811-starvation-mode-dieting/#ixzz1sLSvtpmc


    When you regularly eat too little food to provide your body with the necessary nutrients, it perceives itself to be in danger from starvation. Since your body is wonderfully designed to protect you, it will slow down your metabolism to conserve energy so it can keep vital organs such as the brain and the heart going for as long as possible in the face of the perceived threat. While it will burn fat for fuel, it will also start burning lean muscle mass for fuel, which will slow down your metabolism even further. People on starvation diets invariably find that they regain all the weight they’ve lost (and then some) very quickly as soon as they start eating again.

    Hope this helps out a bit. I get the same posts as well...
  • AZnewme
    AZnewme Posts: 228 Member
    if you do a search for starvation mode on here - you will get a TON of answers. I don't consider myself expert enough to give advice on this subject other than I know you should never eat less than 1200 calories.
  • suech14
    suech14 Posts: 2
    Thank you to everyone who responded - some really good information and also some great links for me to get more information - thanks again, and good luck to all of us while we work through this process.
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