Question:
Starvation mode
Hi Everyone: I know I have asked this question before, but I still don't understand this. From what I have read, if you don't eat enough calories your body goes into starvation mode. Furthermore, if you had a low BMI to start with, you will lose slower. If that is true, how do people on Survivor and those in impoverished countries and anorexics ever lose any weight? The correlation does not seem to make sense. I am trying to understand this because my weight loss has been slow regardless of how many calories I am eating. Can anyone help? — Grace H. (posted on December 9, 2002)
December 8, 2002
Hi Grace. Your weight loss is slow primarily because you're a lightweight.
People on survivor are generally burning far more calories than we are and
even then, they experience a period where they don't lose weight. People
in impoverished countries and anorexics lose weight because
"starvation mode" doesn't last forever. It's not an eternal
plateau even though for WLs patients it may seem like it is. For people
who have nutrionally sound eating habits, starvation mode is their body's
temporary solution for preventing actual starvation. Ultimately weight
loss will occur. Merry Christmas to you!
— ronascott
December 8, 2002
"Starvation mode" only lasts so long. For a while, your body
holds onto every ounce of fat, but if you eat too little for too long,
after a while it starts consuming not only fat but muscles and internal
organs. THAT'S why truly starving people look like skin and bones, because
that's what they are.
— Roxanne M.
December 9, 2002
It really takes several weeks for your body to go to starvation mode. That
is why almost everyone hits a terrible platue at a few weeks out. I wish
surgeons would warn people that at three or four weeks out they will platue
and also may have a loss of energy. While your body is holding on to every
bit of energy, you won't lose weight or have any energy. That is why when
the platue breaks you have a burst of energy to go with it. I know it
scares the heck out of early post ops, it did me. I thought great I lost 30
pounds in three weeks and now nothing for almost another 3 weeks, I already
screwed it up. How may times do you see people get on here and say,
"help, I am only three or four weeks out and I have already stopped
losing weight!"?
— cindy Q.
December 9, 2002
Surivor participants all get physicals befor hand, the length of the game
prevents them from wasting away. Besides the minimal food calories they all
drink a vitamin supplement every day. Their activity level and calories are
similiar t a new WLS post op. It would be interestng to see what a true MO
would look like if they won.
— bob-haller
December 9, 2002
I am what people call a "lightweight" My BMI was 41. I had
surgery on 11/6. I lost 16 in the first 10 days then an additional 4. I
stopped for a week then another 5 stopped for a week and another 5. As of
this morning I have lost 30. 30lbs in 33days I am very happy with.
— Sharon F.
December 9, 2002
Starvation mode is caused from more than just lack of calories, it is
caused by lack of protein. What actually happens is if your body is not
getting in enough protein it tries to protect itself from starvation by
lowering your metabolic basil rate. Which means that it slows down burning
fat. If you increase your protein it increases your metabolic basil rate
which makes you lose faster. You also maintain and or increase your lean
muscle which also causes you to burn faster. I was also a lightweight with
a BMI of 40 when I started. I did my research on this in the beginning and
made sure that I took a supplement that gave me 60 grams per day. I take
Real Meals because it has the 60 gr of protein, all of the other major
vitamins and nutrients that we need, and it is one of the few products out
there that is absorbed 100% by post ops. You see if you eat 60 grams of
protein per day from regular food it does not mean that you are absorbing
60 grams. It depends on how much small intestine that you had bypassed. I
had 150cm so I only absorb about 60% and malabsorb the other 40%. The Real
Meals has the 100% whey protein and the whey peptides which causes it to be
absorbed immeditaely. I will be seven months post op tomorrow. I am down
109 pounds. I hit 100 pounds before six months. I went from a size 24 to
a 6 in the first six months. So it works. Go to www.protein-solution.com
— Linda A.
December 9, 2002
— John Rushton
December 9, 2002
John, kudos to you for providing a sound response and some research to back
it up. Linda, I am sorry to sound like I am bashing a fellow AMOS
member....However, do any of your responses to questions ever NOT include a
sales pitch for Real Meals (where you appear as a
"testimonial")???
— Anna L.
December 9, 2002
Hi Grace,
You've lost 45 pounds in 3 months. You are probably about half way to
goal-- in three months. (You have to look at the percentages!!!) Can you
imagine at any other time of your life how you'd feel to lose that much,
that fast? I am so envious!<br>
I am 5'4" and about 223 pounds, so my stats are like yours. I would
love to get half way to goal in my first three months (after January 15).
Soon I'll be writing you for advice!<br>
Good luck, and keep up the good work! It will pay off!
— Beth S.
December 9, 2002
Hi Everyone:
I am the original poster of this question. Thanks so much for your
responses. By the way, I have been getting the protein required by my
doctor into my body since day seven. Although it was hard at day seven, I
actually made sure I got 55 grams of protein and 64 ozs of water. I forced
myself to do this, even though it was difficult in the beginning. As far
as REAL MEALS, I could not stand them. I paid a fortune, and gave them to
my daughter's fiancee after one package. I use Designer Whey Protein with
Whey protein and peptides. Real Meals only work if you can drink them
without heaving. Otherwise, what is the point?
— Grace H.
December 9, 2002
I know that this has been mentioned before, but, I find myself needing
reminding quite often. The goal of the surgery is to be healthy-HEALTHY!
Our bodies need the complex carbs found in foods like fruits, veggies,
& grains. Obviously, most of us were not in good balance with our
eating habits since we are on this site, however, as a post op, we now have
an amazing opportunity to re- train our mind and bodies to a moderate,
balanced eating style/pattern.For myself, I am tired of obessing about food
and find freedom in eating a wide variety of "good for me" foods.
— Heather N.
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