[negrita75]

Good Evening out there to everyone I have a quick question about starvation mode. This past weekend I went hiking for about 5 hours. I did eat a bowl of cereal and a yogurt before I went hiking but when I exercise it curbs my appetite and I'm not hungry at all. I added up the calories that I burned against what I ate and I probably ate around only 800 calories but burned around 3000 calories or a little more. Mind you this wasn't intentional neither is it something I do all the time. I just can't force myself to eat when I'm not hungry or don't want to eat. My co-worker really gave me lashing and said that I was putting my body into starvation mode and that it was very unhealthy for me to do and that it would stall my weight loss. Eventhough I told her it's not something I do all the time just when I go hiking I just don't feel like eating all I want to do is drink water.. but she got me thinking when does your body hit starvation mode I thought that it takes months for it to happen.. I definitely don't want to stall my weight loss

[FB]

I wouldn't sweat it, your body is not going to go into starvation mode from a single day, that's ridiculous - it's much more efficient than that!
Why is it any of your co-worker's business? Do you guys share diet plans?

[PhotoChick]

More and more I am shying away from the term "starvation mode" because it's used in a way that is inconsistent and it's becoming really misunderstood. I think your co-worker's use is a perfect example of that.

When your body goes into "starvation mode" (or what I prefer to call panic mode), it's a result of a consistent and repeated deprivation of calories and nutrients. One day of exercising that puts you into an extreme calorie deficit is NOT going to cause your body to panic and quit losing weight.

What causes your body is panic is when you regularly eat too little food. Your body then fights to retain what little nutrition you're giving it by stopping any weight loss and holding on for dear life. But the body doesn't do that after one day. It's a part of a process.

Now, on the other extreme, even if you don't feel hungry, it's a good idea to put SOME food into your body after an extreme workout or hike. I'm not saying you have to eat a full meal, but some protein and a little bit of carbs is healthy. You don't want your body to start using what lean muscle you have to replenish itself.

.

[negrita75]

I thought that starvation modes takes weeks or even months but oh no she was so sure that it can happen..

We do share diet plans together because we both are trying to lose 30 pounds. I thought having a diet buddy at work would be a positive thing but it's turning into a pain and making me second guess everything I do and eat. I mean she is always monitoring what I'm eating and how much water I'm drinking and etc.. I mean I like have motivation but she is getting on my nerves and I'm thinking that I just may stop the diet buddy thing with her it's starting to become annoying even if she is offended..

[JayEll]

I agree that you don't have to worry about one day of 800 calories. I'd like to suggest that when you go hiking, you do take some protein bars or other healthy snacks with you--maybe some trail mix if you can find some that is not too sugary--and try to get into the habit of having small snacks as you hike. Of course, you also carry water with you!

The reason is that without some additional food energy while making so much effort, you could be losing protein (muscle), and you don't want that to happen. Think of the Tour de France riders--they keep eating while racing or else they burn out and that's that!

Jay

[Schumeany]

Your co-worker is silly...you are right. Falling into true "starvation mode" or "panic mode" is a long term thing, but the protein zealots -- a group in which I am a proud card-carrying member -- are giving you good advice. One big day of exercise is not going to derail your weight loss program -- although you might see a little water weight gain in those sore/well worked muscles for a few days -- however, if you don't feed it while you do that much exercise, your body will eat its lean muscle mass...ick.

Anyway, sorry your "buddy" isn't working out so well. My husband and I have been doing the weight loss thing together. He is a big guy, so he carries weight very well, but he has also taken off 40-some pounds. We are always very careful, though, to be supportive of each other and not NAG or act like the food equivalent of hall monitors. Each person's weight loss journey is their own...

[kelly315]

I agree with the answers here, you don't need to panic immediately. However, next time this happens, I would recommend making the effort to ensure you get more than 1200 calories for the day. Even if your body doesn't go immediately into starvation mode, you will likely throw your body off stride and end up hurting your weight loss for the week. An extra 400 calories isn't that hard to come by, and a lot of us have experienced the point where you have to force yourself to eat every once in a while.

[eilla05]

Agree with everything else said..

IF you cant eat why dont you drink some type of smoothie when you get home. That way you can take in calories without really feeling like your eating anything.

[negrita75]

Thanks for all the advice it has been very helpful.. I'm now eating 1500 calories a day and I burn around 2400-2500 per day. My goal is lose 2 pounds a week nice and slow.

When we go hiking again on Dec 12th I'll make sure to bring some trail mix( we hike for at least 4 hours or more) and also when I've finished hiking for the day I think the smoothie would work better for me since like I said hiking really curbs my appetite but I don't want to have my lean muscles eaten up or suffering because of the fact that I need to replenish my body so I'll force myself to drink it all up.. hiking is about 300 cal per hr so if we hike lets say 4 hours which is 4 hours there and 3 1/2 hours back coming back is always quicker how many calories should I be eating... all these cal burned va. cal eaten is new to me.. Hiking for 8 hours( 4 there and 4 back and going uphill is always more diffcult) is around 2400-3000 calories alone.

no for me the diet buddy hasn't worked at all ( well at least this diet buddy, I've stopped the diet buddy with this co-worker too stressful).. maybe I'll try and find one on this site.. she hasn't made me turn away from having one she was just a bit over obessed with it all and made me feel as if I didn't know anything about nutrition and always was monitoring me.. It's kindof funny when you think about it

[bargoo]

Your co worker has stopped being a diet buddy and has become the diet police.