I don't understand this "starvation mode" stuff..?!


Question: I don't understand this "starvation mode" stuff..?
I've heard that if you don't consume enough calories you will go into "starvation mode" and stop losing weight.
However (this might sound crass, I don't mean it to)..clearly people with anorexia didn't experience that...people in concentration camps didn't either. Clearly, you can starve to death...and for a long time before that you will be quite thin.
I am trying to lose weight (I have lost 30, have another 80 to go) and for the last week I haven't lost anything at all. So now I'm wondering about this whole starvation mode thing and if it's just BS put out there or something. I'm obviously hitting a plateau, but was worried about cutting calories any more than I have (I'm at 1200 now) but it made me wonder about the whole starvation mode thing.
Any input?

Answers:

Starvation mode isn't bs but you're sort of on the right track but barking up the wrong tree, so to speak.

Anyone who starves themselves will die (obviously). You mentioned the concentration camps and what not so yes, anybody will lose weight while not eating. Your body will begin wasting away.

But the term starvation mode doesn't pertain to the above mentioned. Starvation mode means that after you've gone a long period without food, once you being eating again, your body will try and hold onto every calorie possible as a survival mechanism, hence make it harder to lose the weight. Your metabolism slows down when you don't eat and that again is a your body's way of trying to sustain life.

So no doubt, you will lose weight starving yourself (concentration camp example). But the biggest difference between that example and starvation mode is that in starvation mode, you eventually start eating normal again (putting on the weight and then some) whereas starving youself to death (concentration camp example), you're basically dying a slow death. I hope that clarifies some things.



Yeah try not to go under 1200. I do a 1200 calorie diet but its because I don't have time to exercise but with any less you are risking starvation mode it is a very real thing. The body doesn't understand the concept of dieting nor does it really know that we live in a society where food is readily available so when you don't eat the body is like "I gotta hold on to what I got and if anything else does come in I gotta hold on to that too" however the body releases that hold when its getting a steady flow of food.



Ah, you're missing one fact about starvation mode. The body goes into it when calorie consumption dips below a certain point for a prolonged time. BUT you still keep breaking down some stored fat. It just takes longer than it normally would when NOT in starvation mode.

Sooner or later, your body runs out of stored fat, and then starts digesting muscle tissue to get energy, cannibalizing itself to survive. (That's not recommended by the way.)



Check this out!

If you stop eating, or don't eat enough, your body will say, "Oh crap! I better hold onto some of this fat, so I can survive LONGER." Yes, people die from starvation, but it is a slow...LONG...death because that body it trying to survive and stay alive.\
My advice, eat 3, well portioned meals a day and one HEALTHY snack(nuts, fruit, veggies etc.). Oh, and try not to eat at night...and don't drink alcohol(that is PACKED with calories)

Good luck to you and your weight loss journey. :)

http://caloriecount.about.com/truth-starvation-mode-ft28742



Your body needs sugar to function what your body will do is turn carbohydrates and proteins into fats,often times the "plateau" is caused by slow metabolism which is the effect of starving yourself.

Glucose gets turned into fats(which is why you may be loosing weight but your tired).



Sumo wrestlers eat once or twice a day. Fitness fanatics usually eat 5 or 6 times a day. It's all about keeping the fire in your furnace burning. You obviously need to be eating the right kinds of foods. That means plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. Brown carbs. Healthy white meats like chicken or fish (or vegetarian alternatives). A few low-fat dairy products. Snack on nuts and seeds. Drink lots of water. Do some exercise. Be sensible with your weight loss goals - never try to go below the recommended weight for your height. Never go below 1500 calories a day.

Starvation slows everything in your body down - including your weight loss. This is probably why 98% of dieters fail. They find it too difficult to keep up. Those who succeed usually become anorexic and die young. It's an incredibly stupid way to try and stay slim. Your body needs a constant energy supply to stay strong and healthy. Just cut out the junk foods and sugary stuff - except for Saturdays, because everybody needs one day a week to look forward to and enjoy a special treat. Just don't get too crazy. Keeping a food diary will help you to stay in control. :-)



Your brain detects your not getting enough calories, so it starts slowing down your metabolism and storing more. If your anorexic, or in a concentration camp, there aren't any extra calories to store, so no it's not BS. Further your muscle will start being lost, it's expendable if not needed.

Is your whole approach dieting ? Exercise is the key, more specifically ( no matter what the goals) weight training, working the muscle. You'll burn calories while working out, afterwards repairing/building muscle ( don't worry you won't turn manly) and then the muscle will continue to use calories to stay alive 24/7.

Everyone has plateaus, so don't let that throw you. Your diet might also need adjusting, it's not as simple as most people want to make it, but it's also not as complicated as most wind up making it.




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