starvation mode?

I'm confused by what "starvation mode" means. I understand that my body has been "starving" but how does all this relate to weight gain? thanks!

"Starvation mode" is when your metabolism becomes very, VERY slow. So therefore, when you begin eating normally again, weight is gained very quickly at first; I know, it happened to me. However, I think it's mostly water anyway.

You may become hypermetabolic later, which means that your body suddenly needs a TON of calories to maintain/gain, so if you are hungry, by all means, EAT! :D

Good luck, darlin'!

Starvation mode produces changes in your metabolism, hormonal productions, and psychological systems. Theses changes consist of decreased metabolism, loss of muscle, increasing the fat storing enzymes & hormones and reducing the fat burning enzymes & hormones. Also it will cause your body to decrease the thyroid output, increase your appetite, decreases your energy levels, and affect your mind responses.

Starvation mode is initialized when your total caloric intake is cut to less than 50% of what your body requires each day.

Your body responds by using its own reserves of energy and these reserves are not just your body’s extra fat. First, glycogen (the storage of carbohydrates in the body), stores are broken down for energy. Because there is a small amount of glycogen available, this energy source is depleted during the first hours of starvation. When glycogen is used, water is released which is noticed as a drop in weight on the scale. These glycogen stores are quickly replenished when normal eating is resumed, resulting in the increase of weight.

In order to get out of starvation you must give your body the calories that it needs to function, if not more to replenish!

Thanks for the explanations!

Ditto what Ponee and Linny said. My body came out of starvation mode once I fed it ALOT more tan I was hungry for. I was hospitalized because I collapsed on the floor, and they added about 400 cal/day to my meal plan until I got to 3000 cals. I had previously gained weight on only 1500 or so because of starvation mode, but once my body was supplied with food, my metabolism kicked up and I eventually was losing on 3000. I'm a relatively extreme case, but I needed 4500 at one point to MAYBE gain weight each week.  

Don't add tons right away, as that can lead to refeeding syndrome. I got that because the first hospital I went to was inexperienced in EDs and jumped my cals from 1400 to 3000 overnight. Refeeding syndrome caused me to lose my mental status for 2 weeks and completely wiped out my memory, though ithe effects vary. Some cases are milder and some are fatal. Either way, move your cals up slowly (250 a day should be safe).:]

hia

i have a question too :) if im gaining on 1800 a day and have previously been a very low weight (AN), could i still be in starvation mode?

thanks xxx

I believe that your body is trying to adjust and get out of it. It is still trying to hold on to everything in hopes that you won't starve it again. Keep upping your calories and this shall pass, and then you will maintain at a reasonable weight!

I am definitely in starvation mode right now then. I'm at 104 pounds all of a sudden. WOO!

I know you guys said that starvation mode is when calorie intake is 50% of your BMR, but is it possible to be in starvation mode when you are eating 600 calories under maintenance?? I am supposed to be eating 2600, but have been maintaining on 2000. Even though my deficit is not as extreme as some people, I still feel constantly tired, my muscles ache / feel weak, and I am always hungry. Any thoughts???

???

yea metaylor you need to eat more!!! The symptoms that you listed are not healthy and in fact they really show that your body is in need of more nutrition. Please up your intake!

Thanks linny... im having trouble though... everytime I eat I just feel more hungry, so then i get scared that I am going to go overboard and eat tons of food. I have had a few instances when I ate more than usual and then it lead to eating enormous amounts of food... even after this I would still feel really hungry. Should I up my cals by 600 right away???

Ok... so I tried to just not count and live like a normal person. The same problem happened... once I started eating I just got hungrier. This led to constant eating throughout the day and eventually feeling really uncomfortable and almost sick, but still hungry!!!! I don't know what to do anymore...... I am so confused, and still hungry, yet feel horrible for going overboard :(

Okay so this is completely normal babe!! You are getting hungrier because your body is searching for food due to starvation. You also need to listen to the signs of yor body. This is happening because your metabolism is starting to kick in...which is a great thing babe! Hang in there, and yes, up 600 more!

For all of you out there who are trying to recover from starvation mode and are having trouble with constant hunger no matter how much you eat, I suggest you google the Minnesota Starvation Study. I just read some info about it and realized that eating insane amounts of food and being starving right afterwards is normal. However I am still having some trouble with the 10 pound increase I am experiencing after two days of bingeing. I JUST WANT TO BE NORMAL AGAIN!!!!!! Whenever I eat I just get hungrier, and since I am afraid of slipping into day-long binges, I end up saving almost all my calories for right before I go to bed. I will probably eat about 1000 cals throughout the day, and then have 1000 cals (healthy ones, not junk food) in a 2 hour span right before bed time. Does anyone else do this????

"Starvation mode" really sucks for your muscles because your body is eating your muscles when in starvation mode.

 

> I will probably eat about 1000 cals throughout the day, and then have 1000 cals (healthy ones, not junk food) in a 2 hour span right before bed time.

I recently saw a study about how people who eat a lot in the morning eat less in total, compared to people who eat a lot in the evening.  And there was that other study that said people who eat breakfast weigh less than those who don't.

So since you are eating this big chunk of food in the night right now anyway, maybe you should try a big meal in the morning and see what that does.

Athletes often do something like a 30g protein + 30g oatmeal shake in the morning.  If you didn't want to try a whey+casein bodybuilding-style powder, you could try a vegetarian product like vega whole food powder.

Then if you get hungry outside of meals later, eat with water a healthy but sweet snack based on something filling like oatmeal, like a clif bar for instance.

I figure if you eat right and exercise right, your body will take care of itself... the problem is just figuring out how to eat right and exercise right, and then actually DOING IT :)

Wow, this thread has been interesting to say the least!

I am very heavy, and I'm working on slimming down a LOT!  But before I came to this site, I didn't understand the way to eat.  I decided to go on a 1400 calorie a day 'diet' and I soon was very hungery and for a long while, I was just very tired.  Granted, I likely didn't get as much sleep as I should have been, I couldn't even hardly watch a tv program without falling asleep. 

I have been eating almost 1000 below my burn meter now for almost a month.  I have my cheat days already, likely too many, but I couldn't help if Easter came right soon after I begun!  Some days, I do eat more, hence I don't have the 1000 calorie difference, but I figure anything is better then a 1400 calorie!  (Well completely overeating isn't better, but you get my drift!)