kencc wrote: What I find disappointing about this type of article is that it appears to perpetuate the "famine reaction" or "starvation mode" myth that there's some sort of automatic "reduction in metabolism" perhaps similar to a dormouse's body functions slowing right down when it hibernates i.e. we lose weight; our body substantially reduces temperature, substantially slows down brain functioning, heart rate, other essential body organs, etc, etc to such an extent that we inevitably remain on a weight plateau.
But it doesn't happen that way ..... in some cases there may be a relatively small slowing down of metabolism but the two major effects are .....
Firstly, the body manipulates the hunger hormones which makes us hungrier than before so we're more likely to increase portion sizes etc. For example, in 5:2 we're more likely to eat more than our "normal" eating on a non-fasting day.
Secondly, the body tries to lower energy expenditure by making us feel tired and lethargic so we sit more etc and even, perhaps, reducing NEAT by reducing the number of times we turn over in bed, reducing fidgeting, etc.
Plateaus are not inevitable; however it may be extremely difficult to withstand the hunger pangs and it may be difficult to sustain energy expenditure at previous levels.
I always find your comments good @Kencc. Could you elaborate on your statements here with implications for strategies to lose weight over a period of time and nearing a target weight loss. Maybe with emphasis on people like me who had say 6kg to lose and have just one or two kilos to go to get to a correct weight or BMI. What should or shoudnt we do? Indeed do you have any good advice in establishing just when we should stop trying to lose more weight. I read BMI may not be the best measure anyway.
You may have already explained in other threads, but many newcomers on the forum who I am sure would be very interested in your advice.