Could i have accidently put myself in starvation mode, lol

Hey I don't have an ED or anything like that, but I asked in a other blog if 1600 cal was to low for a 19 yr. old girl 5'2 110 lb. and alot of people said yes, So I do remember at the beginning of january 2009 i ate to much chocolate and i did a food journal,  to try and stop the chocolate lol but i think i skipped snacks in the process, although I still eat regullarly every day is there a way i could have accidently not eaten enough and gotten used to 1500-1600 calories? i mean everyone says thats a fine number if i sit around all day but i do workout so i am concerned. I have been eating more kind of an expeirement to see if eating more will make me more hungry, like yesterday i had chocolate cake and today i wasnt to hungry for lunch or dinner but i ate quite a bit anyways. so has anyone accidently gotten into starvation mode? how long did it take to get out of it? ps. I don't even know if I am in starvation mode I am just eating more to see if it signals more hunger and wakes up my metabolism.

ericaaxe:  No, you are not in "starvation" mode, since "starvation" mode would have you in a hospital very quickly. 

You probably have gotten use to 1500-1600 calories a day, though. And in the long run, I suspect that it could be unhealthy for you to maintain on that.  I don't know how physically active you are, but say that you only burned 300-400 calories a day in physical activities.  Then, you would be down to around 1100-1300 calories, and that is not enough.

Although I have read posts from a couple of people in maintenance who argue 1600 calories are enough for someone of your height, age, and weight, most of us would say that unless you are trying to lose weight, 1500-1600 are not enough calories. 

To jump start your metabolism, include some good healthy protein in your first meal of the day.  You might also consider starting the day by drinking a large glass of water.  Try eating 5-6 snacks/meals a day that include your protein, healthy fats, and carbs. Another way to increase appetite is to get in some good exercise workouts.

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I have found I can easily put myself in a mode where I am satisfied taking only 1500-1600 calories a day (I normally take in around 3000 a day); the way I get out of that mode is to eat  healthy things I like such as peanut butter on whole wheat toast, whole wheat bread with dried cranberries, bakes apples with cinnamon and honey, lean grilled meats, homemade turkey vegetable soup, etc.  In other words, find things you like that are healthy and start eating!  And don't be afraid to eat that chocolate once in a while or eat some "unhealthy" snacks.  Just don't overdo it!

i got the workouts, i guess ill try adding some more protein, thankyou for the advice, i just feel like my hunger isnt working to well need my body to communicate better. i also got a multi vitamin and maybe that will also help~erica

'Starvation mode' is not the same thing as 'starvation'.    It describes the phenomena many people experience when on long-term reduced calories.   Which is that their body gets accustomed to eating less and uses less energy as a result.  Also called 'famine response' and 'adaptive thermogenesis'... see the 'Ask Mary' section.   Once in this state bodies find it easier to gain than to lose weight, ironically.

If you're not losing weight on 1600 cals a day (which technically you should be given your age and the fact that you're active) then it could be that your body has got accustomed to maintaining its weight on reduced calories.

A bigger concern than 'starvation mode', however, is 'low level malnutrition'.  This won't make you sick today or tomorrow but eventually can lead to little things becoming a problem...... fatigue, headaches, inability to concentrate, susceptibility to passing viruses, poor hair/nail/skin condition.  Longer-term people who have chronic low-level malnutrition end up with things like osteoporosis (calcium deficiency), anaemia (iron deficiency) and fertility issues.  NB... supplements and vitamin pills are no substitute for real food.

To avoid 'starvation mode' is relatively simple.   You just have to eat more on average.... the 2000 cals everyone keeps telling you about, in fact.

Original Post by shane_paladin:

ericaaxe:  No, you are not in "starvation" mode, since "starvation" mode would have you in a hospital very quickly. 

Not so! Not so at all! Please take another look at what starvation mode is. Personally--although I am no expert-- I think you're fine. If you want to jolt your metabolism vary up your food intake, as you seem to be doing. IE one day take in 1600, then maybe the next day 1800 or 2000 (might want to make that a day you work out ^.^) and then go back to 1600 or 1500, just to try to break your body's routine.

Original Post by gi-jane:

'Starvation mode' is not the same thing as 'starvation'.    It describes the phenomena many people experience when on long-term reduced calories.   Which is that their body gets accustomed to eating less and uses less energy as a result.  Also called 'famine response' and 'adaptive thermogenesis'... see the 'Ask Mary' section.   Once in this state bodies find it easier to gain than to lose weight, ironically.

If you're not losing weight on 1600 cals a day (which technically you should be given your age and the fact that you're active) then it could be that your body has got accustomed to maintaining its weight on reduced calories.

A bigger concern than 'starvation mode', however, is 'low level malnutrition'.  This won't make you sick today or tomorrow but eventually can lead to little things becoming a problem...... fatigue, headaches, inability to concentrate, susceptibility to passing viruses, poor hair/nail/skin condition.  Longer-term people who have chronic low-level malnutrition end up with things like osteoporosis (calcium deficiency), anaemia (iron deficiency) and fertility issues.  NB... supplements and vitamin pills are no substitute for real food.

To avoid 'starvation mode' is relatively simple.   You just have to eat more on average.... the 2000 cals everyone keeps telling you about, in fact.

 

 well I wouldnt say i need 2000 but maybe 1700-1800 , 1800 should be enough considering my basal metabolic rate is like 1300. my main probelm is I hate eating when I am not hungry HATE IT!! and it seems at the moment I am not hungry enough for 1700-1800 calories but i ate alot this weekend maybe even 2000 cal. on sarurday considering i had a peice of yummy chocolate cake!! so maybe my metabolism will regulate? how long do you think it will take for my body to adjust to 1700-1800 calories? will I be hungry for that many calories?

You're not really listening, are you? LOL!  You seem to have this mental block about the number 2000 when it's actually quite a light diet.   1700-1800 for someone who is 19 years old, a healthy weight and fairly active is still undereating..... back to the 'starvation mode' and 'low level malnutrition'. 

BMR means the amount of energy you need to be in a semi-comatose state... totally immobile, just pumping blood round your body and your vital organs functioning.  Totally irrelevant, basically.

Not feeling hungry is a bad sign in a young, active person.   But hunger isn't a good cue for eating anyway.  I could choose you foods for a day that would tot up to about 1000 cals and I can guarantee you'd not feel hungry for one second because they'd be very bulky and filling..... that doesn't make it a healthy diet.  

Your body would take about 1 week to adjust to maintaining on 2000 calories.  Your weight would go up a pound or two the first day, back down by the end of the week or near enough.  Eat regularly, choose a good mix of different foods (chocolate cake included, what's wrong with that?) and you'd probably find your appetite came back into the bargain.

Original Post by gi-jane:

You're not really listening, are you? LOL!  You seem to have this mental block about the number 2000 when it's actually quite a light diet.   1700-1800 for someone who is 19 years old, a healthy weight and fairly active is still undereating..... back to the 'starvation mode' and 'low level malnutrition'. 

BMR means the amount of energy you need to be in a semi-comatose state... totally immobile, just pumping blood round your body and your vital organs functioning.  Totally irrelevant, basically.

Not feeling hungry is a bad sign in a young, active person.   But hunger isn't a good cue for eating anyway.  I could choose you foods for a day that would tot up to about 1000 cals and I can guarantee you'd not feel hungry for one second because they'd be very bulky and filling..... that doesn't make it a healthy diet.  

Your body would take about 1 week to adjust to maintaining on 2000 calories.  Your weight would go up a pound or two the first day, back down by the end of the week or near enough.  Eat regularly, choose a good mix of different foods (chocolate cake included, what's wrong with that?) and you'd probably find your appetite came back into the bargain.

 

 

 damn this sucks i gotta eat that much? i think im going crazy!! i think the calculator said for me to eat 1800, is the calculator wrong? im more confused..do you think if I eat 2000 cal for a week my hunger cues will work properly again?

hey gi-jane on mayo clinic it says i need 1900 calories so i think thats probably right for me~erica ps. thanks for the help, i hope my hunger cues start up and I become ravenous since i absolutly hate eating when i am not hungry!!~erica

What I wrote:

"ericaaxe:  No, you are not in 'starvation' mode, since 'starvation' mode would have you in a hospital very quickly."

from:

http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/health/eat-lik e-me-what-does-it-mean-to-be-in-starvation-mo de-251463/

Technically starvation mode only occurs in the absolute absence of calories or in situations where only minimal carbohydrate is consumed. It was discovered in hospitalized patients and those living in impoverished countries who went without adequate nutrition for long periods of time. We use the term in mainstream discussion because many people are voluntarily eating less calories than their body requires with the desire to lose weight.

The human body can adapt to extreme situations and survive since it has been conditioned to do so throughout time when people experienced periods of feast and famine. As much as we'd like to think we are in "starvation mode" after dieting for a few weeks and hitting a plateau that is likely not the case. If there is still stored macronutrients available (excess fat) then you are not in starvation mode because your body will access these stores and convert them to some form of usable energy. The body prefers glucose as it's primary energy source, but can rely on protein and fat if needed in the absence of carbohydrates.

Original Post by ericaaxe:

hey gi-jane on mayo clinic it says i need 1900 calories so i think thats probably right for me~erica ps. thanks for the help, i hope my hunger cues start up and I become ravenous since i absolutly hate eating when i am not hungry!!~erica

 I'm over twice your age.... exercise about 20 - 30 mins a day (running/cycling) ... somewhat heavier than you.  And I (old lady) need about 2200 cals a day to maintain.  1900 isn't unreasonable but I think that you should push the envelope a little.... see how much you can get away with eating before you start gaining permanent weight rather than always holding back.

The loss of appetite is the clincher for me.  Says your body is sort of 'managing' on the energy it gets... not really invigorated or energised enough to get enthusiastic about food because it knows it's in short supply, if you see what I mean.

Here's a wild idea for you, but I hope you take it seriously...   Have a day this weekend where you get a good 2500 cals.   Really push out the boat, bump up the portions, throw in a few more high-energy foods.... give your energy levels and nutrition levels a massive shot in the arm.   If you don't feel hungry the next day I'd be very surprised.

y is it "damn, that much"? y wouldnt u want to eat? y would u want to deprive urself? 2000 is really nothing actually.

GIJANE-y would suddnely eating more 1 day make u hungrier the next? ive been eating 2500 and lately starving and eating nearly 3000?

thanks

agruskin, i don't like ating when i am not hungry thats why I said damn. like I think I hate eating when I am not hungry with a passion, I feel like if my body does not ask then why should it get anything..like I don't want my body to be so damn stupid!!  I really would like to just forget about it but I care about my health to much, it would be alot easier to just go on eating whenever i get hungry, then worry over how many calories i am getting.

Original Post by gi-jane:

Original Post by ericaaxe:

hey gi-jane on mayo clinic it says i need 1900 calories so i think thats probably right for me~erica ps. thanks for the help, i hope my hunger cues start up and I become ravenous since i absolutly hate eating when i am not hungry!!~erica

 I'm over twice your age.... exercise about 20 - 30 mins a day (running/cycling) ... somewhat heavier than you.  And I (old lady) need about 2200 cals a day to maintain.  1900 isn't unreasonable but I think that you should push the envelope a little.... see how much you can get away with eating before you start gaining permanent weight rather than always holding back.

The loss of appetite is the clincher for me.  Says your body is sort of 'managing' on the energy it gets... not really invigorated or energised enough to get enthusiastic about food because it knows it's in short supply, if you see what I mean.

Here's a wild idea for you, but I hope you take it seriously...   Have a day this weekend where you get a good 2500 cals.   Really push out the boat, bump up the portions, throw in a few more high-energy foods.... give your energy levels and nutrition levels a massive shot in the arm.   If you don't feel hungry the next day I'd be very surprised.

 hey gi-jane how long do you think it will take for my body to realize it is getting enough food and for my hunger cues to act normally? I think I will do 500 cal breakfast 500 cal lunch 500 cal dinner and two 150 cal snacks to equal 1900 cal. also i had chocolate at work and i feel quite quilty at the moment but I ate alot today i wouldnt be suprised if i accidently got 2100 calories, i was trying to only eat 1900 but i had almonds and ranch and there both high in cal. and are not filling. I am kind of scared that i will gain weight at first how long will i gain before my body starts burning more calories?

eat however u want.

im confused tho, ur at a very low weight, y would u feel guilty about eating chocolate or gaining a couple pounds?

good luck

Original Post by agruskin:

eat however u want.

im confused tho, ur at a very low weight, y would u feel guilty about eating chocolate or gaining a couple pounds?

good luck

 I am short and at 110 i look fine, but I don't want to gain weight I have been this weight for like a long time and I used to be 95 pounds(before i got boobs and a butt of course). being 110 is good for me because I tend to over critisize myself about every single ounce of fat. and I do not want more fat on my body to critisize I already critisize myself enough.~erica

Original Post by agruskin:

GIJANE-y would suddnely eating more 1 day make u hungrier the next? ive been eating 2500 and lately starving and eating nearly 3000?

The process of eating food, digesting, coverting to glucose, insulin generation etc., can stimulate the appetite.  People on long-term diets (or chronically undereating like the OP) can find they subdue their appetite.  So a day where you eat more than normal can help get past a 'I'm never hungry' problem.... but then you have to be sensible and go back to your normal amount.   If your body needs 2500-3000 cals a day (and that can easily be true if you're very young, very heavy or very active) then that's fine.  If you don't need that much you have to trim it back a little.

Also, certain types of food can lead to hunger-pangs.  If your 2500 was made up of a lot of sugar/starchy/fatty foods and/or alcohol then that can lead to a bigger appetite than 2500 cals of wholefoods.

Original Post by ericaaxe:

I am kind of scared that i will gain weight at first how long will i gain before my body starts burning more calories?

You have to trust that your body works the same way as everyone else's and stop being so irrationally frightened. 

You need 3600 calories extra to what you use up in order to gain 1lb of actual body fat.  People who are trying to gain weight need to take in on a regular basis 500 cals a day more than they need.  Young, active people can, even then, find it difficult to gain weight because their body simply absorbs the extra energy..... and they use up more energy than they think.

GIJANE-ive been eating 2500ish to gain a bit of weight, im ata bmi of 19 but want to be at 20 i think.  ive been eating that amount a couple of months but the increased hunger is more recent.  im 26 and get 25 mins or so of activity/day, otherwise i have a desk job.  since im gaining i know its "ok" to be eating nearly 3000, it is scarey and am unsure if i need quite that much tbh??  i eat a lot of dried fruits+nuts which once i start, its VERY hard to stop.

Original Post by agruskin:

GIJANE-ive been eating 2500ish to gain a bit of weight, im ata bmi of 19 but want to be at 20 i think.  ive been eating that amount a couple of months but the increased hunger is more recent.  im 26 and get 25 mins or so of activity/day, otherwise i have a desk job.  since im gaining i know its "ok" to be eating nearly 3000, it is scarey and am unsure if i need quite that much tbh??  i eat a lot of dried fruits+nuts which once i start, its VERY hard to stop.

 i know im not the best person to give advice, but if the fire is burning why put it out? my boyfreind can eat 1000 cal. in one sitting and never excersizes and he never gains weight. if your body is asking for the food eat it, i personally hate eating when im not hungry but if your hungry i say go for it.~erica

yea, thanks, yesterday i ate a lot and today im a tad less hungry, altho i am severly constipated so that may be part of it.  i guess yesterday was like 2900 and today could be like 2700, not the biggest diff but ill go w it for now.