Starvation mode?

TigerSmoke · 08-08-2004, 12:02 PM

I've heard a lot about starvation mode, and tend to think it is a bunch of bull. Will your metabolism actually screach to a halt if you don't consume enough calories? If so how can people that water fast lose so much so quickly?

Would I lose more eating 400 calories than nothing? 800 than nothing? 1500 than nothing?

I'm really not into fasting often, but it does produce a fast loss. How long would that work or would starvation mode kick in?

Thanks for answering all of these questions, you are a great asset to this online community!

TRACY2 · 08-09-2004, 09:47 AM

I totally agree with you.

Waiting for answer

Atkins_Nutritionist · 08-09-2004, 10:15 AM

I am so glad you find Atkins Health and Medical Information Services an asset, we are committed to educating the community so that confusions are addressed and misconceptions are avoided.

I am truly concerned with your question. The Starvation mode that you described fits the criteria of yo-yo dieting and has no place in developing a controlled carbohydrate lifestyle as you do while following the Atkins Nutritional Approach. Starvation mode is ‘a bunch of bull’, but not for the reasons you have described. Your metabolism does slow when you are not consuming enough calories because your body is trying to conserve what it has stored. It uses what it has stored as fuel in order to keep all the processes in your body functioning in the absence of fuel coming in from the diet, but this is at the expense of your health. Your muscles will begin to break down in order to provide fuel, but since your body knows this is not a good thing, your processes slow down so that not as much fuel is needed so that not as much muscle needs to be broken down. It slows down to protect itself by slowing the rate that muscles breaking down. Your body will be feeding off of itself in order to continue running.

They way you mentioned 400 calories vs. 800 calories is a dangerous way to look at eating. Your main focus should be on your health, and consuming less calories than your body needs to function properly is not something that you should ever purposely try to achieve. You should find an individualized daily meal plan that allows you to lose and maintain your weight loss. When you do this, there will be no place and no need for yo-yo dieting. Fasting may produce a ‘fast loss’, but it is not safe and it will not last if you are not learning how to eat in order to maintain the loss. The Atkins Nutritional Approach teaches you how to plan your meals so that you lose weight and learn how to eat to maintain the loss. The weight and inches you lose will also be coupled with you feeling better, having more energy, and being healthier.

I hope that you have considered what I have to say and recognize that although you may experience weight loss, starvation is dangerous, and has no place in a carbohydrate controlled lifestyle. Please let me know if you have any further questions.

cheri · 08-09-2004, 10:34 AM

WOW! What a fantastic answer!! You hit the nail on the head here... I saw someone in the chatroom this morning saying they are eating like 10 carbs or under and this is exactly what is going to happen to her if she keeps it low... (in my opinion) I can't imagine her getting in enough calories because even if she is eating a lot of meat instead of a BALANCED way of eating, she is probably having such a dimished appetite that she is not eating enough to make up for the calories to be at the right levels... I am going to bookmark this question because it comes up in the chatroom more times then I can count.

Thank you for being here to help people understand this way of eating a whole lot better.... you are truely an asset here.

Edited to say in response to YAYlocarber... I mean that the calories are going to be too low if she isn't eating enough.. and I worry about the natural appetite suppressant from keeping their carbs lower, being so strong with some people that they skip meals and in turn are keeping their calories low... I didn't mean it was too low in carbs that would do this.. but not eating enough... maybe I worded it a little off... but you get my meaning I hope.

cheri

TigerSmoke · 08-09-2004, 05:10 PM

I never get my calories that low. They were just hypothetical. I follow Atkins almost to a T, no cheats for over 8 months now, I was just curious if you would really stop losing weight if you didn't eat.

Yaylocarber · 08-10-2004, 07:50 AM

Whoa, Cheri, she didn't say keeping carbs below 10 was too few. In fact, Atkins himself said some people who are more metabolically resistant will have to keep their carbs that low or even lower. I agree that too few calories can be a problem, but I wouldn't interpret that to mean carbs as well.

08-08-2004, 12:02 PM	#1
TigerSmoke MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: NC Posts: 1,603 Gallery: TigerSmoke Stats: 295/243.5/215 - 6'1" Male WOE: Atkins Re-Inducting Start Date: 11/29/2003	Starvation mode? I've heard a lot about starvation mode, and tend to think it is a bunch of bull. Will your metabolism actually screach to a halt if you don't consume enough calories? If so how can people that water fast lose so much so quickly? Would I lose more eating 400 calories than nothing? 800 than nothing? 1500 than nothing? I'm really not into fasting often, but it does produce a fast loss. How long would that work or would starvation mode kick in? Thanks for answering all of these questions, you are a great asset to this online community!

08-09-2004, 10:34 AM	#4
cheri Administrator Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Illinois Posts: 15,299 Gallery: cheri Stats: Over 130 pounds lost!	WOW! What a fantastic answer!! You hit the nail on the head here... I saw someone in the chatroom this morning saying they are eating like 10 carbs or under and this is exactly what is going to happen to her if she keeps it low... (in my opinion) I can't imagine her getting in enough calories because even if she is eating a lot of meat instead of a BALANCED way of eating, she is probably having such a dimished appetite that she is not eating enough to make up for the calories to be at the right levels... I am going to bookmark this question because it comes up in the chatroom more times then I can count. Thank you for being here to help people understand this way of eating a whole lot better.... you are truely an asset here. Edited to say in response to YAYlocarber... I mean that the calories are going to be too low if she isn't eating enough.. and I worry about the natural appetite suppressant from keeping their carbs lower, being so strong with some people that they skip meals and in turn are keeping their calories low... I didn't mean it was too low in carbs that would do this.. but not eating enough... maybe I worded it a little off... but you get my meaning I hope. cheri __________________ My Low Carb Story Check out the Newbiesite The Newbiesite has a LOT of information... the rules for induction... acceptable food list...a carb/nutritional counter.. Menu samples.. FAQ... Fitday to track your progress, several tools no matter what phase of lowcarbing you are in and a whole lot more. It is a great site for newbies as well as the seasoned lowcarber. I would gladly weigh 300 pounds if I could be a size 6 (don't forget to measure... its the inches that show!) . Don't be a victim of Dieters remorse.. Don't cheat.. stay on plan!

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08-09-2004, 09:47 AM	#2
TRACY2 Blabbermouth!!! Join Date: May 2003 Location: Florida panhandle/ hurricane magnet Posts: 6,478 Gallery: TRACY2 Stats: 200/155/145 WOE: Low Cal/ Reduced portions/ Curves	I totally agree with you. Waiting for answer

08-09-2004, 10:15 AM	#3
Atkins_Nutritionist Nutritionist Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Atkins Health and Medical Information Services Posts: 684 Gallery: Atkins_Nutritionist	I am so glad you find Atkins Health and Medical Information Services an asset, we are committed to educating the community so that confusions are addressed and misconceptions are avoided. I am truly concerned with your question. The Starvation mode that you described fits the criteria of yo-yo dieting and has no place in developing a controlled carbohydrate lifestyle as you do while following the Atkins Nutritional Approach. Starvation mode is ‘a bunch of bull’, but not for the reasons you have described. Your metabolism does slow when you are not consuming enough calories because your body is trying to conserve what it has stored. It uses what it has stored as fuel in order to keep all the processes in your body functioning in the absence of fuel coming in from the diet, but this is at the expense of your health. Your muscles will begin to break down in order to provide fuel, but since your body knows this is not a good thing, your processes slow down so that not as much fuel is needed so that not as much muscle needs to be broken down. It slows down to protect itself by slowing the rate that muscles breaking down. Your body will be feeding off of itself in order to continue running. They way you mentioned 400 calories vs. 800 calories is a dangerous way to look at eating. Your main focus should be on your health, and consuming less calories than your body needs to function properly is not something that you should ever purposely try to achieve. You should find an individualized daily meal plan that allows you to lose and maintain your weight loss. When you do this, there will be no place and no need for yo-yo dieting. Fasting may produce a ‘fast loss’, but it is not safe and it will not last if you are not learning how to eat in order to maintain the loss. The Atkins Nutritional Approach teaches you how to plan your meals so that you lose weight and learn how to eat to maintain the loss. The weight and inches you lose will also be coupled with you feeling better, having more energy, and being healthier. I hope that you have considered what I have to say and recognize that although you may experience weight loss, starvation is dangerous, and has no place in a carbohydrate controlled lifestyle. Please let me know if you have any further questions.

08-09-2004, 05:10 PM	#5
TigerSmoke MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: NC Posts: 1,603 Gallery: TigerSmoke Stats: 295/243.5/215 - 6'1" Male WOE: Atkins Re-Inducting Start Date: 11/29/2003	I never get my calories that low. They were just hypothetical. I follow Atkins almost to a T, no cheats for over 8 months now, I was just curious if you would really stop losing weight if you didn't eat.

08-10-2004, 07:50 AM	#6
Yaylocarber MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Texas Posts: 2,752 Gallery: Yaylocarber	Whoa, Cheri, she didn't say keeping carbs below 10 was too few. In fact, Atkins himself said some people who are more metabolically resistant will have to keep their carbs that low or even lower. I agree that too few calories can be a problem, but I wouldn't interpret that to mean carbs as well.