Starvation mode or not?

Jishmeister
Jishmeister Posts: 108
edited December 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
Some people do not eat their exercise calories because they believe it will get them to their goal faster. Wouldn't that just put you in starvation mode? Or will you be fine as long as you net 1200 calories regardless what your calories are set at? (I have mine set at 1450 and plan to decrease it to 1400 next week.)

I'm just confused if eating my exercise calories will slow me down or not.

Replies

  • Reignofmongo
    Reignofmongo Posts: 137
    Quite simply, starvation mode is a myth. Your metabolism won't slow by any more than 5% or so even at an extreme deficit. This is coming from someone that ate between 500 and 1000 for a few months and lost 100 pounds.
  • Mrsbrandnewmeslimandtrim
    Mrsbrandnewmeslimandtrim Posts: 267 Member
    Bump
  • shaynak112
    shaynak112 Posts: 751 Member
    I don't understand starvation mode at all. I eat under 1,200 calories most days. I don't really get it :s
  • half_moon
    half_moon Posts: 807 Member
    Wheeeee, starvation mode!!!


    When you find the answer, please enlighten all of us-- because none of us know anything!

    But, personally, this is what I believe. http://www.weightwatchers.com/util/art/index_art.aspx?tabnum=1&art_id=35501

    and this. http://fitnessblackandwhite.com/starvation-mode-myth-or-fact/
  • Pebble321
    Pebble321 Posts: 6,423 Member
    I don't see the point in the endless "is starvation mode real or not?" arguments, but I do think that eating too few calories over a longer period of time puts you at risk of not getting enough energy and nutrition to stay healthy and to enjoy your life.
    Why do that to yourself?

    I also think that low calorie diets are hard to stick to for many people, which can lead to giving up and failing - yet again!
    I don't see the point in that either.

    The other point that I post about once a day is:
    Every calorie calculator that I've seen suggests that you eat more if you exercise more. MFP is no different.
    Why is that so hard for people to understand?
  • DesignGuy
    DesignGuy Posts: 457 Member
    Not a doctor or scientist, so . . .

    From what my feeble mind can put together, when I eat more, my metabolism speeds up and when I eat less, it slows down (because why would it need to run fast when there isn't much to metabolize?).

    And when I eat under my BMR for an extended period of time my body runs less optimally than when I eat at or above it.

    Your body is a machine, feed it properly for optimal results.
  • Jishmeister
    Jishmeister Posts: 108
    ok- basically it's not a big deal and I need not concern myself with it. Whether I eat my exercise calories or not shouldn't matter to my weight loss goals.

    Thanks =]
  • Pebble321
    Pebble321 Posts: 6,423 Member
    ok- basically it's not a big deal and I need not concern myself with it. Whether I eat my exercise calories or not shouldn't matter to my weight loss goals.

    Thanks =]

    It will make a difference - by not eating your exercise cals you are creating a larger calorie deficit every day.

    If you have a lot of weight to lose that might work really well for you.
    If you don't have so much to lose then you might find that you don't have enough energy to stay healthy and feeling good - as you will read time and time again on posts on these boards.

    There is no cut and dried answer -you just have to pick one system and see how it works out for you. My personal opinion is that you may as well eat what MFP recommends (which means eating exercise cals) and see how you go after a month. Why deprive yourself if you don't have to?

    But, it's your body and your choice!
  • michellekicks
    michellekicks Posts: 3,624 Member
    Some people do not eat their exercise calories because they believe it will get them to their goal faster. Wouldn't that just put you in starvation mode? Or will you be fine as long as you net 1200 calories regardless what your calories are set at? (I have mine set at 1450 and plan to decrease it to 1400 next week.)

    I'm just confused if eating my exercise calories will slow me down or not.

    I think since there are already a bunch of multi-page threads on this topic from today alone, people are all tired out from answering with their take on it. No offense intended...
This discussion has been closed.

Categories