is starvation mode a myth?

[fuzzybunny]

hi everyone! i am new to this group, i have been reading posts for a while and decided to join because it seems like a very supportive and educational message board...
so here is my question...does starvation mode really exist? does anyone have an opinion about this topic? the reason i ask is that for the last 6 weeks i have been on a strict low cal vegan diet and doing mad cardio and i have lost over 35 lbs...please keep in mind that i was 60 lbs overweight on a small frame.. i have 15 more to go...
i know that is a lot of weight to lose so quickly but i needed to do it fast to get my blood sugar within normal range to avoid having to take something for it...
i just fear waking up one morning and not being able to lose anymore weight or maybe even gain weight..
sorry this is such a long thread...i just have been thinking so much about it...other sites say that if you take your calories below 1200 you will go into starvation mode and you won't lose..
well i have to tell you honestly..please don't yell at me...but i only eat around 800 calories per day and i have a moderately active job (dental nurse) and i burn on average 600 calories a day (sometimes more) at the gym at least 6 days a week...and its working...
it just doesn't make sense to me that your body would store fat for an emergency and then choose not to use it when it needs fuel..and why would your body choose to burn precious muscle instead of fat? it needs muscle to go forage for food! i dunno...it just doesn't make sense in my head...
i am not a biologist or anything but i don't get it..
maybe everyone is different? my 800 calories are split up into 6-8 feedings all day and as soon as i feel hunger i eat some raw fruit or veggies all day long...maybe that is the key? the fact that i don't get hungry so my body does'nt panic? my husband is an omni body builder, personal trainer, and dr. of chiropractic..although he does'nt agree with my calories being so low he realizes that it is infact working and i am problably keeping my metabolism high by exercise and eating all day long...
what do you guys think?
i'm rambling!:wall:

[Astarte]

It is probably true that eating all day long (even if it's only low calorie food) and exercising a lot is keeping your metabolism high. From what I've gathered--and I could be mistaken--the physical act of having food in your system is what keeps your metabolism high, even if this food isn't high calorie. The important part is eating and staying full. If you can do that on a low calorie diet, then that's great.

[SeaSiren]

I agree with your hubby. I would raise your calories, to what depends on your height, frame and goal. Eating throughout the day and exercising is awesome! Good for you!

And yes, your current method will work for a time, but you will lose muscle. How much fat you will be burning off would depend on how much you have to lose.

You can easily raise your calories with a protein shake directly after lifting weights (these can be anywhere from 200-300 calories). This would help you immensly. You can also add some fruit in the morning or pre-workout to get you to around 1200 calories. Again....I'm not sure how many calories you should have without knowing the height, frame, and goals.

FYI - I am 5'5", small frame and I currently have 1400-1600 calories daily.

It's great to hear you are working toward a healthier you!

[just_a_grrrl]

Yes, your body does go into starvation mode and you will stop losing, but you will start to lose again eventually. I would still reccommend eatting more calories because the more you are eatting while losing weight the better chance of the weight staying off. It is also hard to get all of your vitamins and minerals when you aren't eatting very much, and you will have a lot more energy if you eat more, giving you more energy to exercise.

I also wanted to add that you are burning more than you think. You said that you burn around 600cals a day, which I assume you mean you burnt through exercise, but you also burn calories through your basal and lifestyle, which would be at least 2000cals. Search for a basal calculator through google and see what kind of results you get.

I hope I helped in some way!

[Romac]

starvation mode is not 100% myth but there's alot of confusion surrounding it

fact: your daily activities require X calories
fact: your daily consumption should equal X minus a few hundred (i normally start with about 400 below my requirements)

fact: if your daily consumption is less than your daily requirements you will lose weight 100% guaranteed

fact: metabolism will slow down to compensate for having less readily available energy in your digestive system
fact: no matter how much your metabolism slows down it does not change your the requirements of the activities you perform assuming you're not slacking off (example: running x miles in X time takes the exact same amount of calories regardless of changes in your metabolism)
fact: if you are not losing weight you are eating more than you need to perform your daily activities
fact: only 2 resolutions exist to start losing weight: 1. increase your daily activities 2. eat less
fact: dramatic changes in water consumption or sodium consumption can give people the illusion they are not losing or gaining weight
fact: constipation can affect your weight, and normal daily weigh ins should always take place after teh #2 (or for vegans and vegetarians that go 3 or 4 times per day "teh #2's) ;)

that is all.

[bethanie]

what just_a_girl said...I know people above are trying to be supportive of your weightloss....me to, I lost about 75lbs switching to a vegetarian diet and NOT counting calories. Also I exercised, but not insanely....about four times a week. It did take about six or seven months, but I've managed to keep it off.

What happens generally with low calorie diets (particularly radically low cal diets)...is that while you loose a LOT of weight fast, what also happens is that your body becomes accustomed to living on very little....then most people can't possibly continue to live on 800 calories, and when you crank up your calorie intake at the end of the diet, you just tend to gain back weight...and then some.

I suggest really looking into nutritional information. Either by seeing a nutritionist, or doing real research (not just research to support your point of view)...find out what your body needs to survive, eat healthy, moderate meals up to five times a day (meaning meals and snacks) and exercise to be healthy, not skinny.

This is a real problem I think....both with obesity and people who are overly anxious about food or eating. We really should be eating for good health...ours and the planets, and exercising with the same goals in mind (I bike ride instead of car drive whenever possible because it's better for the planet and myself). Not so that we can fit some imagined goal of beauty.

Somethings to keep in mind.

B

[Romac]

oh yeah here's another recent thread with a whole lotta words on the subject...kinda: http://www.veggieboards.com/boards/showthread.php?p=1202518#post1202518

[purrpelle]

what just_a_girl said...I know people above are trying to be supportive of your weightloss....me to, I lost about 75lbs switching to a vegetarian diet and NOT counting calories. Also I exercised, but not insanely....about four times a week. It did take about six or seven months, but I've managed to keep it off.

What happens generally with low calorie diets (particularly radically low cal diets)...is that while you loose a LOT of weight fast, what also happens is that your body becomes accustomed to living on very little....then most people can't possibly continue to live on 800 calories, and when you crank up your calorie intake at the end of the diet, you just tend to gain back weight...and then some.

I suggest really looking into nutritional information. Either by seeing a nutritionist, or doing real research (not just research to support your point of view)...find out what your body needs to survive, eat healthy, moderate meals up to five times a day (meaning meals and snacks) and exercise to be healthy, not skinny.

This is a real problem I think....both with obesity and people who are overly anxious about food or eating. We really should be eating for good health...ours and the planets, and exercising with the same goals in mind (I bike ride instead of car drive whenever possible because it's better for the planet and myself). Not so that we can fit some imagined goal of beauty.

Somethings to keep in mind.

B

^^^^:wayne:

Usually, a 800 calorie a day diet is dr. supervised only, and once the pateint gets close to the goal wieght more calories are added in slowly to PREVENT the "bounce back" weight gain once you start eating normally again. these diets are usually reseved for people who need to lose 100 lbs or more.

eventually, you will stop losing weight on 800 cals... what can you do eat less? that is the "starvation mode"

I agree with Beth, please find a dietitian to help you adjust your diet so you can begin to eat normally again. you simply cannot be getting in all your nutrients on 800 a day.

[fuzzybunny]

thanks for getting back to me so quickly! i appreciate the input...i have been slowly increasing my calories since i am pretty close to my goal weight of 120lbs i olny have 15 more to go...do you think it would be wise to start adding 100 calories extra per day each week untill i get to where i would like to maintain? that was my plan anyway...kinda like 900 this week...1000 next week and so on till i get to a maintainance amount...i dont want to bounce back either! my husband will set me up with a weight training program and train with me too soon so i think that will help with keeping the weight off..right now i only do mad cardio and some light resistance training because i heard somewhere that if you weight train while on a very low cal diet that you infact destroy more muscle...is that true does anyone know?
also, i am very bottom heavy and it seem like the top half of me is real thin with color bones and ribs and shoulder blades i have never seen on me before, and my bottom half is still huge! does anyone know how long it takes for my body to use that fat storage up? i dont want to be a rail on top and a chunky monkey on the bottom! oh genetics!:think:

[purrpelle]

thanks for getting back to me so quickly! i appreciate the input...i have been slowly increasing my calories since i am pretty close to my goal weight of 120lbs i olny have 15 more to go...do you think it would be wise to start adding 100 calories extra per day each week untill i get to where i would like to maintain? that was my plan anyway...kinda like 900 this week...1000 next week and so on till i get to a maintainance amount...i dont want to bounce back either! my husband will set me up with a weight training program and train with me too soon so i think that will help with keeping the weight off..right now i only do mad cardio and some light resistance training because i heard somewhere that if you weight train while on a very low cal diet that you infact destroy more muscle...is that true does anyone know?
also, i am very bottom heavy and it seem like the top half of me is real thin with color bones and ribs and shoulder blades i have never seen on me before, and my bottom half is still huge! does anyone know how long it takes for my body to use that fat storage up? i dont want to be a rail on top and a chunky monkey on the bottom! oh genetics!:think:

I am not a nutrition expert, but i guess that seems okay. just make sure that your maintenence amount is enough so that when you subtract the calories you burn from exercise you are still at 1500-1800.

it may take a long time to even out... you have to be patient on that. you have done really well, and I am glad that you are so close to your goal.

Just remember to treat yourself well!

and one word about having your husband train you: as a trainer, I see this in the gym, and men tend to train their wives the way they themselves train, and it's not always the best. maybe invest in a few sessions with a female trainer...

[SeaSiren]

My body responded well to training the same way as Men. IMHO, Having a partner who can help you will keep you motivated. Whether or not to hire a trainer.....you may want to see where you are in 6mo to a year before deciding.

[purrpelle]

My body responded well to training the same way as Men. IMHO, Having a partner who can help you will keep you motivated. Whether or not to hire a trainer.....you may want to see where you are in 6mo to a year before deciding.

Oh, I train with a guy. and I agree, training with someone(male or female) is a great way to train harder and stay motivated.

Just IMO, husbands who train their wives is usually not a great combo. either they push too hard, or it gets emotionally messy.

[anthony11]

It is probably true that eating all day long (even if it's only low calorie food) and exercising a lot is keeping your metabolism high. From what I've gathered--and I could be mistaken--the physical act of having food in your system is what keeps your metabolism high, even if this food isn't high calorie. The important part is eating and staying full. If you can do that on a low calorie diet, then that's great.

That's been pretty much my experience too. On a slight tangent, I've definitely found that eating large meals can get one into a vicious circle -- ramping down to smaller portions lets one's stomach contract and still feel full.

[fuzzybunny]

yeah...he tried training me on a regular basis in the past and it was not fun...i kinda felt like barfing after! he is just going to run through the routine a couple of times till i get familiar and leave me at that...he trains way to hard for my taste! :nana:

[CountessKerouac]

Fuzzy, I am afraid that when you begin to eat normally again, your metabolism will have slowed down so much from the 800 calorlie per day diet that you will gain weight more easily/faster for a while. This happened to my boyfriend and also to me.