Obsession with starvation mode...

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Replies

  • SnowWight
    SnowWight Posts: 7 Member
    I always read these threads with interest. I am a nurse and have run weight management clinics and have all the qualifications to do so. The fact is both camps are right. So long as you are burning more calories than you are eating, whether or not you eat back your exercise calories, you will loose weight. You will not enter 'starvation mode' for some weeks of eating nothing but rice or some other basic food. Please look at the people suffering famine across the world, they are not over weight because they are not eating their BMR. You will burn fat stores before you burn muscle. If you are finding a low cal diet difficult, then exercise so you can eat more and still maintain a deficit. If you exercise and still eat less, so long as you have a healthy diet then go for it.

    Its not astrophysics, less in....more out.

    We are all here to support one another. Stop fighting. Find what works for you. Most of all enjoy getting healthier and lend an encourging word to others. We're all in this together :smile:
  • imtriagain
    imtriagain Posts: 104 Member
    I always read these threads with interest. I am a nurse and have run weight management clinics and have all the qualifications to do so. The fact is both camps are right. So long as you are burning more calories than you are eating, whether or not you eat back your exercise calories, you will loose weight. You will not enter 'starvation mode' for some weeks of eating nothing but rice or some other basic food. Please look at the people suffering famine across the world, they are not over weight because they are not eating their BMR. You will burn fat stores before you burn muscle. If you are finding a low cal diet difficult, then exercise so you can eat more and still maintain a deficit. If you exercise and still eat less, so long as you have a healthy diet then go for it.

    Its not astrophysics, less in....more out.

    We are all here to support one another. Stop fighting. Find what works for you. Most of all enjoy getting healthier and lend an encourging word to others. We're all in this together :smile:

    Well said. Claps hands.
  • mel128
    mel128 Posts: 81 Member
    Bump
  • ladyraven68
    ladyraven68 Posts: 2,003 Member
    I've read that some people eat as few calories as possible because it provides a feeling of control that they don't get elsewhere.

    People like to do what they do and they don't want to change because change is difficult. There is always some sort of psychological "win" that people get from whatever it is they're doing, no matter how bizarre or nonsensical it may seem to others.

    I'm sure you've heard some very popular reasoning for why people stay fat and/or yo-yo diet and/or make excuses for why nothing ever works for them: they WANT to stay fat. They might shout and stomp their feet that they don't want to be fat, but their actions show us that they do, in fact, prefer to be fat, over taking the necessary steps to lose weight. Sometimes psychologists suggest that people stay fat because they are somehow afraid not to be fat; it has become part of their identity.

    Regardless, It is purely conjecture to say why any particular person becomes combative over their desire to eat a certain amount of calories.

    I think we can see this entire thing is going nowhere, so I suggest that those of us who do enjoy the benefits of eating between BMR and TDEE, exercising, and maintaining a healthy weight and body fat% just stop trying to convince those who are uninterested in hearing about how we came to be successful. They don't want to know. They want to do what they're doing.

    It's ok. More for us!

    Come on now, let's go have some pizza and beer. We can have a moment of silence for them before we begin.

    It is impossible to not lose weight eating between TDEE and BMR.
    But depending on the gap between the two figures it can be a slow process.
    I think the people who are adamant that it doesn't work, just want it to work faster, and don't have the patience for the steady journey.

    Each to their own, I'm not in a race.
  • kennie2
    kennie2 Posts: 1,170 Member
    this is the most retarded thing ever
    you need to at least eat some of your exercise calories back
    else you will go into starvation mode
    youre using fuel when you exercise so you need to refuel after!!
    it is vital
  • yarwell
    yarwell Posts: 10,477 Member
    The whole point about eating your BMR is to ensure you have enough energy AND other nutrients to sustain your lean tissue.

    Doesn't do it though, you could eat BMR + 50% and be deficient in many things, or be on a nutritionally complete diet at BMR -50% or vice versa. There's no magic calorie number above or below which stuff happens or doesn't, with the exception of TDEE.

    See what I mean ?
    If you want to roll the dice and chance the health of your organs, the density of your bones and the preservation of your muscles, go ahead. Just don't keep trying to convince everyone else it's healthy, as there's a reason such diets should only be undertaken under the care of a Doctor.

    Save us the scare tactics. I'm just looking for some evidence to justify the "eat your BMR" hypothesis. I can only assume the continued absence of same means there is no specific evidence addressing that question.
  • yarwell
    yarwell Posts: 10,477 Member
    It is impossible to not lose weight eating between TDEE and BMR.

    True, but sedentary folks may have their work cut out trying to find a spot in this 300 calorie wide zone when the accuracy of the estimates is of a similar order.
  • ladyraven68
    ladyraven68 Posts: 2,003 Member

    Doesn't do it though, you could eat BMR + 50% and be deficient in many things, or be on a nutritionally complete diet at BMR -50% or vice versa. There's no magic calorie number above or below which stuff happens or doesn't, with the exception of TDEE.

    See what I mean ?

    I posted something yesterday about the maximum deficit for fat loss, before lean mass gets used.

    I know you like your science and studies - what are your thoughts on this?

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/584439-maximum-deficit-31cal-per-lb-of-fat
  • ironanimal
    ironanimal Posts: 5,922 Member
    Save us the scare tactics. I'm just looking for some evidence to justify the "eat your BMR" hypothesis. I can only assume the continued absence of same means there is no specific evidence addressing that question.

    Metabolic slowdown IS the evidence. As you lose lean mass your BMR drops. But, you're not likely to listen to me or anyone else because in your mind you are right and nobody else possibly can be.
  • huntindawg1962
    huntindawg1962 Posts: 277 Member
    This past week I just up'd my calories from 1200 to 1700 and for last three months I was at the same weight.. Today I'm very proud to say that I have lost 8lbs this past two weeks...

    Your ticker says two lbs? Credibility is suspect when this is the case.

    So witchcraft is in fact in play as you were able to eliminate 28000 additional calories in two weeks? That is a remarkable job of repairing of a damaged metabolism especially since your deficit would have been 500 calories less per day! :)
  • thegoya
    thegoya Posts: 100 Member
    bump
  • HeidiHoMom
    HeidiHoMom Posts: 1,393 Member
    This article sites The American Council on Exercise, The National Federation of Professional Trainers and lists some issues that occur when eating below BMR such as bone and muscle loss, weakened immune system, lower metabolism.

    http://www.livestrong.com/article/383493-1500-calorie-diet-exercise-to-lose-weight/

    Not that it matters, everyone should do what is best for them.

    I prefer to be able to eat more and still lose fat while maintaining muscle. I was surprised to find out that I could eat 1900+ calories a day and lose more weight than when I was netting 1200. If others want to continue on with just 1200, well good for them I guess...I hope it works out for them. It's not for me.

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