Do you eat the calories you burn?

[Jenn1214 120]

Since I only eat about 1000 calories a day to begin with, I try to eat back the calories I burn when I exercise as much as possible. Otherwise, I feel like I'd be in starvation mode. It only amount to an extra 150 calories a day (I usually burn at least 200 but it's hard to eat all those extra calories!), but will this sabotage my weight loss? Thanks!

[Corrigan 75]

I spoke to a registered dietitian yesterday and she said the starvation mode is exaggerated.

It does happen, but only briefly, think of the WWII prisoners. If you eat fewer calories than you

burn, you'll begin to burn fat, and if you eat more calories than you burn you'll add fat. There's

a lot more to it than that, but that's it simplified. Normally the fewer calories you eat, the more

weight you lose. We want that weight to be fat, not muscle, so try not to lose more than 2 to3

pounds a week. That will go up and down with glycogen supplies, but that's another story.

Probably the most important thing is to make sure what you do eat makes up a balanced

diet. You could probably eat an extra piece of wheat bread a day, without hurting your weight

loss, but it sounds like you're doing great.

[SageTracey 608]

Our bodies burn fuel just keeping us alive. Your BMI is a measure of how many calories you burn each day if you were just lying in bed doing absolutely nothing. If you then add your normal daily activities plus exercise, you have a total of the calories you burn in a day. You need to put less fuel than that in your body to lose weight. (As Corrigan said, this is very simplified explanation!) I think at the numbers you quote, you are definitely putting in less fuel than you burn.

Good luck.

[xavier 153]

I think Tracy means BMR rather than BMI but I agree with both above. Starvation is an overrated concept and I am always surprised how many people on here (presumably they are obese, right?) think they are starving! If someone had shown me what I am eating now when I started all this I would have thought I would have died from starvation but no, I feel great! If you are female 1000 calories is plenty and puts you no where near stravation-mode! If you want to go to the gym for your health and to lose weight faster great but you certainly dont have to eat more to make up for it.

For those who are shaky, headachey, and dizzy when they are on the preop diet or whatever (I was!) you are not having these symptoms due to starvation (an excuse to cheat) you are detoxing from a massively overfed state. Been there done that.I am lazy in terms of exercise and I normally (with band of course) live at around 700-800 calories a day and I feel like I could climb Everest!

Good luck to all: Be nice to yourself but be honest also!

[Jenn1214 120]

Thanks for the info everyone! I never thought I'd be able to survive on 1000 calories a day before I was banded...the amount I used to eat in a day is staggering to me now! I guess the term "starvation mode" is thrown around too easily these days. I definitely don't feel like I'm starving!

[highland 168]

Please check out the link below for more info on "starvation mode" and the band.

http://drsimpson.net...estriction.html

[Jachut 487]

Thats quite possibly the most sensible advice ive read - and great advice for a bandster if six years thinking she doesnt have the restriction she used to have!

[B-52 7,113]

I don't take much stock in this "Starvation" mode either.

I have enough fat stored away to take care of such things as being stranded on a deserted island, etc.

As long as I get my Protein and essential Vitamins, etc, I know my BMR is fine. I have plenty of energy to work out everyday and go to work 8-10 hrs.

I read on another website about "Starvation" and someone said fat people, like alcoholics, will find any excuse to eat more.

[B-52 7,113]

Please check out the link below for more info on "starvation mode" and the band.

http://drsimpson.net...estriction.html

I've seen that website before and I do not agree with it.

From my own personal experience, not what others tell me how I feel, it is ALL ABOUT RESTRICTION. From the smaller portion sizes I am forced to eat due to the pouch size, to the feeling of being full 24/7.

[xavier 153]

Agree 100% with B-52 as I am also a 'restrictionist"...I just HAVE TO eat less and I need it to be that way!

[Jachut 487]

Lol, I love "restrictionist", very funny! I think we all need that to a degree, that's very true. Whether or not the band was designed to provide it, I dont know a bandster that hasnt wanted it at one time or another.

[steelerfan 5]

i also think "starvation mode" is overused. I happen to be a 'Survivor' fan and the first few seasons when the cast wasnt given alot of food, those ppl LOST a lot of weight. As far as I'm concerned its about the calories going in vs the calories being burned.

[cheryl2586 3,053]

I dont go over 1000 calories a day sometimes only 800 and I am not starving. I dont believe you body goes in to starvation mode because you limit your calories. I think your weight gets stuck for a while because your body is adjusting but I dont think it has anything to do with starvation after all if we were all starving we would be dead eventually wouldnt we? This whole got to exercise to burn what you eat is over rated. If you give your body less food it has no choice but to lose weight because it will burn your fat for energy provided your eating a healthy meal.

[Jess55 97]

For the first 8 months I did not eat them. Then my weight loss plateaued. After talking with people I started upping my calories until I was eating mostly all of them. I gained like a lb at first then stayed plateaued for 6 weeks then it started coming off again. I workout 6 days a week and burn 500-800 calories or more (per my bmf) per session and per my bmf burn over 3000 calories per day 1200 calories was just not sustaining me anymore.

[Humming Bird 275]

I'm also a member of the "it's all about restriction" club. I had this device wrapped around my stomach for a reason and It has been adjusted properly for results with little effort on my part. For me there is a fine line between the green zone and being too tight. I would never say being too tight is the right way. I don't count calories. It's a waste of time in my book. If I gain a pound I evaluate what I've been eating ....... ate some junk food, that explains it. If I want to drop a few more pounds I stick to healthier foods and increase activity. Simple calories in vs. calories used. I don't measure or weigh anything either (except myself).