Can you still lose weight in starvation mode?

I want to make it clear that I'm not TRYING to starve myself before we get into this. But yesterday, without trying to diet extra hard or eating any differently than I normally do, I only consumed about 815 calories in total, from 3 meals and 2 snacks. I also have a somewhat physical job - cashiering at a grocery store, packing the bags, and packing each customer's cart - burns a lot of calories, I'm sure!

Now, that would suggest that I'm in starvation mode, but I weigh myself every week and I've lost about 3lbs every time I weigh in. But I have a body fat scale and it tells me that, despite the fact that since 7/5 I've lost 11 pounds and finally gotten to a size 22 jean, I've GAINED .4% body fat. I'm confused and if I'm in starvation mode I don't want to be, but Calorie Count suggests eating 2750 calories... just SEEING that number makes me feel ill!

I didn't.

Do you eat that amount normally? Or was it a one-off? If you're eating like this all the time, my experience is that your losses will soon stop as your body catches up and says 'enough'! That is way too little to stay healthy, whether you're losing or not...

One day of undereating does not put you in starvation mode. Just don't do it again.

You are being shown 2750 calories because of your activity level, most likely. What most people on the site do is set themselves to sedentary and then add on calories burnt during their jobs and exercise. Also, the heavier you are, the more calories you would initially require to maintain and lose with. Is 2750 suggested for you to lose or maintain? Either way, have no more than a 1000 calorie deficit a day and do not go under 1200 if an adult woman, 1500 if an adult man or a female teen, and 1800 if a male teen.

Body fat scales are not accurate. You would be better off with a test done at a gym.

I  don't want to cause a row here, and someone can correct me if I'm wrong. But anorexics are mostly not in 'starvation mode' they are 'starving'- theres a difference.

Original Post by irishmum:

Do you eat that amount normally? Or was it a one-off?

I only really eat that way on days that I'm working at night... When there's only 15 minutes to eat "dinner", a double serving of cereal's the easiest way to go. But I guess I'll find some way to calorie-load in between or after or something. Thanks!

All 'starvation mode' is is a lowering of hormones responsible for metabolic activity.

Anorexics certainly experience that.

I only really eat that way on days that I'm working at night... When there's only 15 minutes to eat "dinner", a double serving of cereal's the easiest way to go. But I guess I'll find some way to calorie-load in between or after or something. Thanks!

 I've been there! It's hard to eat properly when you're on the go like that. Some people here suggested I add nuts or flaxseed to my cereal to up the cals & 'goodness' of it (I love cereal!). Try that maybe?

novileigh could you bring a small baggie of nuts or trail mix? that would help with calories and energy.

Or find a healthy cereal with more calories/vitamins than the one you're eating now.  I agree with adding the flaxseed.  If not, do you have time to also eat a cheese stick or small scoop of cottage cheese?  Those would up your calories/protein and, especially the cheese, could be quickly eaten in your short time frame.

Good luck and kudos to you for recognizing you're potentially unhealthy habits and making efforts to correct them.

When you don't eat enough, your body tends to scavange itself.  You do lose some fat, but you lose muscle and organ tissue in some cases.  The number of pounds on the scale goes down, but your overall percentage of body fat goes up.

You need to eat enough but not too much.  That's where a 500-1000 calorie deficit comes in.  Use the tools (the teenage ones if you're that age) to find out an estimate of how many calories you burn.  Subtract 500 from that.  That's a good starting point.  Make sure you get enough calories 1200F/1500M +300teens + %exercise.  If you don't lose weight eating that amount (it may take a week or more if you've been consistently undereating), then take 100 calories off, still keeping the minimum until you do start losing ~1-2 lbs per week.  You will still lose some muscle mass this way, but not nearly as much.

If you are only eating that way occassionally then you really shouldn't get stressed out about.

And stop worrying about "Starvation Mode" the medical definition of Starvation is;

A condition caused by the lack of food over a long period, resulting in weight loss, changes in metabolism, and extreme hunger.

Original Post by kthompson92:

Or find a healthy cereal with more calories/vitamins than the one you're eating now.  I agree with adding the flaxseed.  If not, do you have time to also eat a cheese stick or small scoop of cottage cheese?  Those would up your calories/protein and, especially the cheese, could be quickly eaten in your short time frame.

Good luck and kudos to you for recognizing you're potentially unhealthy habits and making efforts to correct them.

They don't have a fridge in our breakroom, so no cheese. But I could probably ask for a bathroom break and sneak in a handful of nuts there? Not the best way to do things, but its an option. I'll figure something out. Thanks for the advice!

the tools on the site give you estimates for the amount of calories you burn in a cashier job, so take that activity into account.

it won't cause any major damage to not eat enough every once in a while but if it's a regular occurrence it's not at all healthy as smwhipple says.

Remember that before you decided to lose weight, you most likely were eating close to 4000 calories to maintain that weight. Going from 4000 to 800 is a major shock to the system. Calorie count is correct in telling you to eat 2800 calories. This allows your body to adjust to the new amount of food. As you lose more weight and log that information, then calorie count will adjust the amount of calories you should eat.

As you lose weight, you lose both muscule and fat. The longer you extend your weight loss, the more fat you will lose. To keep from losing too much muscle you should also lift weights. That will boost your metabolism as opposed to "starving" yourself which slows your metabolism.

its possible to continue losing in starvation mode initially, if you lower your calories even more.
been there, done that T_T
but when your starving and still losing weight, chances are you're mostly losing muscle.
and eventually, the weight loss will stop. because your metabolism will lag majorly since your body doesn't want you to die. basically.

Original Post by for_zev:

All 'starvation mode' is is a lowering of hormones responsible for metabolic activity.

 

Anorexics certainly experience that.

 Yes, they do.  But they are also, literally, starving. 

Starvation mode should be called preservation mode, because that's why it happens.  The body prepares for famine reacting to decreased nourishment, and hangs onto every calorie to protect our organs from damage.  It's a temporary situation.

Anorexics are wasting away muscle, after all the fat in their bodies is gone, and their organs and bones are being damaged, just like the awful photos from Darfur.  It's deadly.

Original Post by clairelaine:

Original Post by for_zev:

All 'starvation mode' is is a lowering of hormones responsible for metabolic activity.

 

Anorexics certainly experience that.

 Yes, they do.  But they are also, literally, starving. 

Starvation mode should be called preservation mode, because that's why it happens.  The body prepares for famine reacting to decreased nourishment, and hangs onto every calorie to protect our organs from damage.  It's a temporary situation.

Anorexics are wasting away muscle, after all the fat in their bodies is gone, and their organs and bones are being damaged, just like the awful photos from Darfur.  It's deadly.

No.

Actually what happens is the hormone leptin drops and thyroid hormones drop, while cortisol increases, resulting in a lowered metabolic rate.  You CAN still lose weight, however, with the decreased BMR you would have to go VERY low in calories to see any weight loss.  It isn't a temporary state...it remains that way until you increase calories again, resetting leptin and thyroid output.  HOWEVER, once refeeding does occur, the effect is temporary.  The starvation study done by Keyes in the 40s showed a 30% reduction in metabolic rate, which was completely reversed in the 'reversal' arm of the study....although it did take a few months.

It is true that the body does start breaking down both skeletal and smooth muscle, as muscle is more 'expensive' than fats (more metabolically taxing).  This can cause a state of acidosis in the body and electrolyte imbalances.

Anorexics don't necessarily literally starve.  Many don't go much below 1200 cals/day.  The ED is signified more by the mental processes and food/body obsessions.  As a former AN, I NEVER dropped below 1200 cals, yet I did a lot of damage to my body.  Unfortunately many women assume they are fine because they do technically eat....it just isn't enough for their body.

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 if you're losing muscle, your body fat percentage WILL go up; it just makes sense.