HCG and starvation mode

RedsSkinnyJeans · 06-04-2012, 02:53 AM

I'm confused about something.

Isn't it true that HCG circumvents starvation mode? Makes it so that even if you have very very few calories, it STILL takes the energy it needs to live from stored fat?

If that is so, why is it that sometimes, if we eat too few calories, we go into a stall?

I know it's true, but I can't explain why.

Thanks for any help. :-)

Red -
Rockin' the skinny jeans :-)

RedsSkinnyJeans · 06-04-2012, 08:33 AM

Bump - Help me out please!

Crazy PreK Teacher · 06-04-2012, 08:54 AM

I honestly don't know the scientific answer. But...I believe through Dr. S's research...he found that 500 cal. is the magic number that helps us lose and not throw us into starvation mode. As far as starvation mode in general...it dates back to cave-man days when food could be scarce and man could easily starve to death...hence the body adapted by preserving every little calorie it had. You would think that by now we would have adapted to be able to go on lower calories...lol. Of course, society has not helped by LOVING food.

Hopefully someone will know the answer for you.

Angela in TX

cocoapeanut · 06-04-2012, 09:46 AM

I can't say I'm entirely sure of the answer, but my guess is that the precise amounts of hCG and calorie intake have something to do with hormones. The entire process stimulates hormone levels in a way that allows you to stay full and burn fat, so maybe if you eat too little, the balance is thrown off a bit and rendered less effective. Just my 2 cents

RedsSkinnyJeans · 06-04-2012, 09:48 AM

Thank you for replying. I know about the magic number, and why we have starvation mode. I especially know how BAD it is for me to do to my body, (protein shake diet anyone?). What I would like to know is WHY we stall when we eat too few calories if HCG sets aside starvation mode.

Or do we even know? Perhaps we just know from lots of people sharing their experiences, and not scientifically?

C'Marie · 06-04-2012, 10:54 AM

I think we have "anecdotal evidence" from people saying that when they eat too little while on P2 they stall. In Pounds and Inches it says you may leave anything out you like, so I don't know what he found, long term, 40 years in the clinic setting. Seems like if it was crucial to eat everything on the list he would've said that. I always at least like to eat my protein. This round I'm not having any trouble getting up to my 500. But each round is different! After 7 rounds I can attest to that!

RedsSkinnyJeans · 06-04-2012, 12:10 PM

Yeah. Scientifically though, my brain is just bothered by that. Even though I accept the anecdotal evidence, and I will go by it.

Logically, if HCG nullifies the body's ability to starve itself, and switches over to remove stored fat for energy, (assuming you still have junk in the trunk)... it doesn't make sense that we would stall when we have to little calories.

Just sayin'
I can't reconcile that.

Desma · 06-04-2012, 01:04 PM

I'd also like to know why. We should be releasing everyday with no problems right? I don't get it either.

minimonkey · 06-04-2012, 01:21 PM

Well -- Simeons says that it does prevent starvation mode (and so, apparently, does the author of the Weight Loss Apocalypse book, though I've only read excerpts and summaries from that). It has to do with hormone levels, yes -- the hcg causes the body to go to stored fat for energy as a protective measure during pregnancy.

Simeons explains stalls by saying that we are still losing fat, but that the cells are temporarily filling up with fluid that will be lost at a later date.

I don't know how much of that I completely believe, but I do know that I can lose much better with the hcg than without it, and that I don't get nearly as hungry on low calories while on hcg than I would without taking it. I also know that I tend to lose inches while in a scale stall, so there must be some truth to that portion of things.

I have no idea if that answer is helpful or not -- but that is supposedly the science behind it.

RedsSkinnyJeans · 06-04-2012, 02:04 PM

Thank you :-) You are so sweet. :-)

Through the last year and a half, I have gone very carefully by listening to my appetite. If I'm less hungry, I eat less. My body has been an excellent and reliable guide. And when the time came that I hit the bottom of my weight, it sure did let me know - loud and clear.

So, on some days, especially the first few of P2, I just wasn't so hungry. So I didn't force it at all.

That said, it is DISASTROUS for me, when not on HCG to go more than 2 or 3 low calorie days. From long experience, my body, every single time, will stubbornly take aggressive steps to protect itself from my idiocy and immediately pack on the weight I lost and at least 5 or 10 more.

So - I was just mulling all that over.

Perhaps there are levels at which the starvation mode kicks in? 200 calories too less. 400 calories too less. 600 and so on. And perhaps Dr. Semeon noticed that there is a window of tolerance there, and if we push it too much - the body says, "enough, go back to eating". Just postulating :-)

06-04-2012, 02:53 AM	#1
RedsSkinnyJeans Major LCF Poster! Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 1,001 Gallery: RedsSkinnyJeans Stats: 170/144/140 Start Date: 4/1/11	HCG and starvation mode I'm confused about something. Isn't it true that HCG circumvents starvation mode? Makes it so that even if you have very very few calories, it STILL takes the energy it needs to live from stored fat? If that is so, why is it that sometimes, if we eat too few calories, we go into a stall? I know it's true, but I can't explain why. Thanks for any help. :-) Red - Rockin' the skinny jeans :-)

06-04-2012, 10:54 AM	#6
C'Marie Very Gabby LCF Member!!! Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 4,047 Gallery: C'Marie Stats: 270/down 110-ish/ goal 147 WOE: hCG Rx shots/JUDDD maintain Start Date: 1/4/2010 Now R9 P2	I think we have "anecdotal evidence" from people saying that when they eat too little while on P2 they stall. In Pounds and Inches it says you may leave anything out you like, so I don't know what he found, long term, 40 years in the clinic setting. Seems like if it was crucial to eat everything on the list he would've said that. I always at least like to eat my protein. This round I'm not having any trouble getting up to my 500. But each round is different! After 7 rounds I can attest to that! __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~* HCG Rx to lose - JUDDD to maintain

06-04-2012, 01:21 PM	#9
minimonkey Big Yapper!!!! Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 8,029 Gallery: minimonkey Stats: 5'0" -- very small frame WOE: Clean eating, whole foods	Well -- Simeons says that it does prevent starvation mode (and so, apparently, does the author of the Weight Loss Apocalypse book, though I've only read excerpts and summaries from that). It has to do with hormone levels, yes -- the hcg causes the body to go to stored fat for energy as a protective measure during pregnancy. Simeons explains stalls by saying that we are still losing fat, but that the cells are temporarily filling up with fluid that will be lost at a later date. I don't know how much of that I completely believe, but I do know that I can lose much better with the hcg than without it, and that I don't get nearly as hungry on low calories while on hcg than I would without taking it. I also know that I tend to lose inches while in a scale stall, so there must be some truth to that portion of things. I have no idea if that answer is helpful or not -- but that is supposedly the science behind it. __________________ Rogue p2 cycling: 8/28:128.6 .... 10/7 118.4 ....10/20: 115.8

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06-04-2012, 08:33 AM	#2
RedsSkinnyJeans Major LCF Poster! Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 1,001 Gallery: RedsSkinnyJeans Stats: 170/144/140 Start Date: 4/1/11	Bump - Help me out please!

06-04-2012, 08:54 AM	#3
Crazy PreK Teacher Senior LCF Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 787 Gallery: Crazy PreK Teacher Stats: (Pre-HCG 291)275.2/179.6/175 AT GOAL WOE: 411(2005)/291(Jan. '12)/170(NOW) HCG/now JUDDD/LC Start Date: LC~Jan. 20, 2012 hHCG~March 20, 2012	I honestly don't know the scientific answer. But...I believe through Dr. S's research...he found that 500 cal. is the magic number that helps us lose and not throw us into starvation mode. As far as starvation mode in general...it dates back to cave-man days when food could be scarce and man could easily starve to death...hence the body adapted by preserving every little calorie it had. You would think that by now we would have adapted to be able to go on lower calories...lol. Of course, society has not helped by LOVING food. Hopefully someone will know the answer for you. Angela in TX

06-04-2012, 09:46 AM	#4
cocoapeanut Senior LCF Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 441 Gallery: cocoapeanut Stats: 5'10" 220/170/150 (pudgy/decent/toned) WOE: RX hCG R3P3 Start Date: 4/21/12	I can't say I'm entirely sure of the answer, but my guess is that the precise amounts of hCG and calorie intake have something to do with hormones. The entire process stimulates hormone levels in a way that allows you to stay full and burn fat, so maybe if you eat too little, the balance is thrown off a bit and rendered less effective. Just my 2 cents

06-04-2012, 09:48 AM	#5
RedsSkinnyJeans Major LCF Poster! Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 1,001 Gallery: RedsSkinnyJeans Stats: 170/144/140 Start Date: 4/1/11	Thank you for replying. I know about the magic number, and why we have starvation mode. I especially know how BAD it is for me to do to my body, (protein shake diet anyone?). What I would like to know is WHY we stall when we eat too few calories if HCG sets aside starvation mode. Or do we even know? Perhaps we just know from lots of people sharing their experiences, and not scientifically?

06-04-2012, 12:10 PM	#7
RedsSkinnyJeans Major LCF Poster! Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 1,001 Gallery: RedsSkinnyJeans Stats: 170/144/140 Start Date: 4/1/11	Yeah. Scientifically though, my brain is just bothered by that. Even though I accept the anecdotal evidence, and I will go by it. Logically, if HCG nullifies the body's ability to starve itself, and switches over to remove stored fat for energy, (assuming you still have junk in the trunk)... it doesn't make sense that we would stall when we have to little calories. Just sayin' I can't reconcile that.

06-04-2012, 01:04 PM	#8
Desma Senior LCF Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Fort Hood, Texas Posts: 353 Gallery: Desma	I'd also like to know why. We should be releasing everyday with no problems right? I don't get it either.

06-04-2012, 02:04 PM	#10
RedsSkinnyJeans Major LCF Poster! Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 1,001 Gallery: RedsSkinnyJeans Stats: 170/144/140 Start Date: 4/1/11	Thank you :-) You are so sweet. :-) Through the last year and a half, I have gone very carefully by listening to my appetite. If I'm less hungry, I eat less. My body has been an excellent and reliable guide. And when the time came that I hit the bottom of my weight, it sure did let me know - loud and clear. So, on some days, especially the first few of P2, I just wasn't so hungry. So I didn't force it at all. That said, it is DISASTROUS for me, when not on HCG to go more than 2 or 3 low calorie days. From long experience, my body, every single time, will stubbornly take aggressive steps to protect itself from my idiocy and immediately pack on the weight I lost and at least 5 or 10 more. So - I was just mulling all that over. Perhaps there are levels at which the starvation mode kicks in? 200 calories too less. 400 calories too less. 600 and so on. And perhaps Dr. Semeon noticed that there is a window of tolerance there, and if we push it too much - the body says, "enough, go back to eating". Just postulating :-)