Starvation Mode Rant

I am sorry I have to say this, and after reading a good amount of post, I want everyone to know: starvation mode is not the answer to everything!

I don't know if it's just me, but I have noticed a lot of useless comments about starvation mode and it seems to be a reply to every question. "Why aren't I losing weight----Oh your in starvation mode". "Why do I have irregular bowel movements---it's cause you are in starvation mode". And you know what else, people are always telling other people that they have eating disorders and are eating to little. Being helpful is one thing, but being disrespectful is another.

When I ask a question, I usually want an answer because I don't know the answer. I'm sick of hearing about starvation mode. If everyone was starving we would all be skinny!

My 2 cents:

One thing I find very frustrating is knowing exactly how fast or slow my metabolism is. I lose NO weight on diets with over 1500 cals. In fact, unless I stick to about 1250-1300 and consistently workout I find I ahev zero results.

I think because everyone is very different the numbers for intake and output vary greatly... no one diet or magical number can work for everyone; but we all have similar basic nutritional needs (as far as vitamins, fat, protein, carbs, etc).

This post has me further yearning to have my RMR tested, my Body Fat % tested, and also purchase a HRM to properly calculate calorie expendature... I think then and only then will I know for sure if I am in "starvation mode" or not. Too many websites give conflicting info... I need to run some scientifical tests of my own.

PS - sorry you got bombarded, but in the end I guess you really got everyone talking!!! lol!! :)

hi LM

Those numbers smell really funny. Somebody with your age, size and exercise level ought to be maintaining at well over 2000 calories and losing at 1700-1800.    It sounds like a very very good idea to have your metabolism stats checked out.

Hey Alevin :) I am beginning to think we should be friends as we hang out in all the same blogs!!! LOL! Wanna go get coffee? ;D lol!

Yeah I am told pretty frequently about my low cal intake, and that I may be starving myself.

I have conflicting thoughts:

a) if that many people are saying so it might be true and I should at least awknowledge these advices.

b) I should log my exercise in the beginning of the day so that I am not trying to stuff myself with cals to create a 500 cal deficit by bedtime when I get home to log it all.

c) I get frustrated because I fixate on scale numbers when I look damn good and at a size 4 or size small in everything I really shouldn't be worried about losing any more "weight" or trying so hard to create deficits; really the important thing now is to refine my body into less fat more muscle & shape.

d) In order for me to really know what I need I need to learn it... I think my Xmas gift to myself will be to have my RMR and BF tested. There is a couple of places here in the Bay Area of Cali I can go and I think, I think, I think I can finally get off my bah-tootie and just go do it and end my self-debate ;)

And yeah I am 24, 5ft 4.5in (love the .5), and I don't do anything all day except for the 1-2 hours in the gym each day (except sunday and that day is full of cooking and walking the farmers markets so it's not a slow day).

Hi,

You might be interested in my recent post to a question on this topic titled, “If I eat less food, will I go into starvation mode sooner?"

Mary