Cutting calories causes no weight loss?

Okay, I've got a question for all you folks out there that say not to cut your calories too much.  If cutting your calories too much causes you not to lose any weight because your body goes into starvation mode, then how come anorexics are so thin?

if you eat nothing (or close to nothing), you will lose weight.  no one is denying that.  starvation mode refers to a profound metabolic slow-down, which makes it harder to lose weight as your body attempts to conserve resources.  but if you continue to restrict in starvation mode, you will metabolize your fat and muscle tissue before you die.

I don't think anyone says that you won't lose ANY weight because your body goes into starvation mode.  It's just that starving yourself causes your metabolism to slow WAY down.  Of course, if you are anorexic and only eating 300 calories, there is NO WAY your metabolism could slow down that much.   Anorexia is an eating disorder, and thus very different from your average calorie-counter cutting calories down to 1200 calories. 

I have to ask, why do you ask?  What is your daily caloric intake?  What do you think it should be?  And are you exercising?

Because most people here who are cutting too many calories and going into starvation conservation mode, are at least still eating something.  They have usually cut too many calories, but they are still getting a semi-decent amount...at least enough to survive, but not enough to promote decent fat loss.  Their body slows down the metabolism which causes a temporary plateau.  This can be fixed fairly easily by raising the calories up a bit.  The body will bounce back fairly quickly.

However, anorexics just don't eat.  If you don't eat, then yeah, you will lose weight, but most of it will be muscle.  losing muscle is bad.  Anorexics are a whole different ballgame.  Their bodies are going through alot more things than just the mild under-eater.

I try to keep my calorie intake between 1200 and 1400.  I also lift four times a week.  I keep myself busy on the days I'm not at the gym.  I had to ask because everyone seems to say to the person who complains about not getting the results they want, they always ask if the person is eating enough. I find for myself that my metabolism is not the best so I keep my calories low to lose  the weight, if I eat more then I gain.

Living with obesity at 700 calories a day - good article

By definition, to have anorexia nervosa one must be thin:

To be diagnosed as having anorexia nervosa, according to the DSM-IV-TR, a person must display:

1. Refusal to maintain body weight at or above a minimally normal weight for age and height (e.g., weight loss leading to maintenance of body weight less than 85% of that expected; or failure to make expected weight gain during period of growth, leading to body weight less than 85% of that expected).

Thanks for that article.

But you also have to look at the composition of an anorexic's body. There is NO muscle mass, it's all skin and bone...hair is brittle, nails are brittle....the body is literally eating itself to stay alive.  Generally w low cal starvation mode, the body tends to reserve anything that is put in the body to use later, so things typically get stored as fat right away.

You say you lift 4 times a week...I hope those are the days you get as many cals as possible...the muscle needs the nutrients to grow and sustain. Even though I am trying to lose I tend to eat around maintenance at least on lifting days.

barring hormonal issues, metabolism is a function of nourishment and activity.  you want a faster metabolism, feed it better and move more.  my metabolism slowed down when i was 28; of course it did.  i wasn't getting any exercise.  now i'm 40, and my metabolism is better than it's been since i was 22.  i lose weight on 1600 - 1800 calories a day.

that age-related metabolic slow down that everyone talks about is not inevitable; it's a function of lifestyle.

The way you worded your question sounds funny. Do you want  to lose weight the healthy way or become anorexic for a year or two to get to your weight?  It sounds like your looking to go the fast route.  

Hi bre137,  I want to lose the healthy way,  I was just curious on what people would say about the whole starving yourself thing.  I love food so there is no way I could starve myself. : )

It is a myth that anorectics don't eat at all. Most do eat at least some food. As far as diagnosis goes, there is no set amount of food that is "required" for a person to become anorexic. I know an anorexic girl who never cut her calories lower than 1200. Still, she got to an extremely unhealthy weight. Others will cut their calories lower of course, but it's not correct to say "all anorectics dont eat." Each case is individual.

As for why they lose weight, obviously if you are starving yourself day in and out you will lose weight.  Notice though that it's rare to see an anorexic person with muscle tone, bc their bodies cannibalize the muscle when they don't get enough nutrients from food.

edited to add - I really don't think your metabolism is so slow that you have to eat 1200-1400 cals to lose. Especially if you are lifting that often, you really need to eat more than that. You may see a gain at first, but if you persist I bet you will see a loss.

Hi allnaturalgirl02,  Do you really think that would work?  I am so confused at what I should be eating, calorie wise.  I know all the good foods, I do eat them everyday. But seriously how does one figure it out. I am terrified to eat more because of the weight gain.  How long should I give it chance? It really does freak me out when the scale says I am gaining.

Well it is based on your weight of course, and your activity level. But 1200-1400 seems very low for an active female (as I assume you are if you are lifting 4 times a week). What is your weight/age?

I am 39, and I currantly weigh 154pds.  Which I hate.  I want to lose the weight more important the inches the healthy way this time.  In the past I have starved myself and took diet pills to lose the weight and it always worked but I felt terrible and the weight always comes back.  I would like to lose about twenty pounds, I am 5'6" tall, and I feel that is a reasonable weight to be.  But I would also be happy to be 140pds if my body was fit and tight.  I do lift four times a week. And I work hard at it and challenge myself.  I really love it.  I am having the worst time trying to figure out how much I should be eating.  If you could give me some advice I would really appreciate it.

w those stats it seems like your bmr is right around 1400-1450. So you want to eat AT LEAST that to avoid starvation.....I'd shoot for about 1500-1600 cals and then maybe around 1600-1800 on days you workout. Granted, if you really have been eating 1200-1400 a day it is possible you will see a slight increase in weight, but that's only temporary, so don't freakout! LOL Just keep at it, and the scale will start going back down. Just need to give your body time to stop trying to store things as fat (from the starvation mode), and level out a bit.

I've found that even though my bmr is about 1600, I really do need to eat at least 1800-2000 a day to not stall out and stop losing. ON days I workout, I tend to shoot for 2200-2500 calories! Especially a lifting day, cuz the muscles really do need the extra nutrients !

Don't freak out because you're gaining weight. I fell into that pit once. Every day revolved around what the scale said. Initially, I would feel horrible because I'd gained a pound. It quickly escalated into feeling horrible if I'd maintained my weight. Then, if I wasn't losing 2 to 3 lbs. a day, my life was a mess.

Weight naturally fluctuates over time due to changes in our body's hormonal cycles, sleep cycles, and activity levels. As long as the overall trend doesn't say that you're gaining weight, don't worry about it.

I think your question was valid. To someone who is new to the body's weight loss functions, conservation mode might seem like an anomaly, particularly when there is an entire subculture of people with anorexia nervosa who maintain a BMI below 17.1.

Anorexia literally means "loss of appetite."

Eating disorders generally begin when one is afraid of gaining weight. The person does whatever it takes to prevent themselves from gaining weight. While there are eating disordered men and women who do it for the body image, especially at first, it consumes them and it quickly becomes about goals and control rather than the desire to be thin and attractive. Your fear of gaining weight indicates that your desires for weight loss may be consuming too much of your mind and emotions. Don't be too hard on yourself, and make sure you maintain a healthy body image.

How much will I gain? LOL and should I stay away from the scale for a bit?  I think it would probably be best if I put it away. : )  I have been known to freak out a little. : D  I am going to give this a go, because it really makes sense to me now.  I certainly will have some fun eating all that food.  I know all the right choices of food because I have been watching what I eat forever, so I'll just stick to A and B foods maybe even allow myself to have a treat once in a while.  And I will try not to freak out. : )  Once again, thanks so much!!!

What are you eating and what is your workout like?

Lotsafoodgirl. I was eating 1500-1600 calories a day and was losing of 1-2 a week. Mind you im 36 5'7" and now 203 it seemed to be working for me till 2 weeks ago I lost nothing not even a half pound I panicked. SO I got on the wonderful web and found this site and beganreading and was just as confused as you. I was so afraid to eat 1950 calories that my bmr said I needed to eat. Well I bit the bullet and went for it cuz I didnt wanna be at a stall for to long cuz like you I freak..lol well I ate the calories and guess what I lost 4 lbs!!!  I do cardio 3 times a week and weight lift 3 times a week. And I must say that all my night hunger pains are gone! It does work..