Q & A - More About Starvation Mode

QUESTION:  


I don't know Tony, I think you have one of those bodies that can lose weight easily and swiftly. I mean if my body were to go into starvation mode...and if I were to EAT more...my body wouldn't go right back into burning calories, I'd just gain more weight.


ANSWER: 


In my opinion and by what i have seen, if your body is in starvation mode and you slowly increase your calories over time (or have a cheat day where you eat 1000’s of calories more than your maintenance) your leptin levels will be restored and this will signal your brain that it is acceptable to burn fat for energy.  However you cannot continue to bump up your calories forever. As soon as you have stopped losing weight this means that you are at your maintenance and you should not continue to eat more calories than you are burning because you will gain weight.  

I assure you that i do not have a body type that does not lose weight easily.  I ate many thousands of calories under my maintenance and exercised for hours every day in order to get my results.

scientifically speaking, if you go into starvation mode and you are eating so few calories that your body breaks down muscle tissue instead of fat for energy and you begin to eat more you will lose weight.  once you stop losing weight do not continue to increase calories weekly.  instead maintain your weight for a few weeks then slowly increase calories by around 50 a week and see if you do or do not gain weight.

Tony isn't a licensed nutritionist yet, so he can't give anyone advice on what  to do.  Please consult your doctor for his professional opinion on a diet/nutrition program that will work for you.

Tony's blog is a journal of his experiences and what has worked for him.   He lists general guidelines and suggestions only.  He is NOT a professional.