The FastDay Forum

I have not had too much success with fasting yet, but am hanging on in there.

One question I had as there is a lot of talk about this over at MFP: if I fast, will my body want to hang on to fat rather than let it go? So called starvation mode.

I reckon if I'm completely honest that my weight stagnation has more to do with eating too much (ie letting go completely!) on non fast days, but would be interested to know what others think about the possibility that the body just will hang on to fat of I don't eat.

Another note about me is I have under active thyroid and take thyroxine every day; might also explain body's reluctance to let go of fat.

Thanks for listening

[Moogie]

Hi Rosieposie
Starvation mode certainly wouldn't kick in after just one day on lower calories - a day is hardly starving now is it?! I'm sure one of the forum Nerds will be able to explain the sciencey stuff

Thyroid issues do indeed seem to have an effect on the weight loss with 5:2, or indeed with weight loss from any method - however there are other users here with Thyroid conditions who are still managing to lose weight, albeit at, IIRC, a bit lower than average rate.

[carorees]

The existence of a starvation mode is pretty much a myth unless your body fat is incredibly low. No scientific evidence for it. However your energy requirements do reduce as you lose weight due to having less weight to carry around. After a few days of continuous compete fasting, thyroid function does reduce to try to save energy, but this does not mean your body doesn't use fat for fuel it just uses a bit less (like driving your car more economically if you're low on fuel!). However you say you have thyroid issues...sadly people with an underactive thyroid burn far fewer calories (may be as little as 1200 per day) compared with those without hypothyroid.

If you are into science, you'll find extensive discussion here of metabolic slow down and of thyroid problems...just use the search box to find the many threads! Most threads have links to the original scientific research to back up the statements which you can pass on to the mfp folk to show them the lack of evidence for starvation mode in anyone with more than 15% fat!

One question I had as there is a lot of talk about this over at MFP: if I fast, will my body want to hang on to fat rather than let it go? So called starvation mode.

Typical MFP nonsense - Overeaters Anonymous seem to hang out there.

It is illogical (Captain) to suggest that in the absence of a calorie intake the body would not use stored fat to fuel the brain, heart and other necessary functions.

Think about it.

Why do we have fat stores in the first place.

Where is this fat that "the body" "wants to store" going to come from if you are fasting.

How long does it take to starve to death, and would you be fat when you died ?

The evidence is ample, but the premise is so silly really that it doesn't merit the effort to provide it. Google Mr A B Scotsman and see how a guy fasted for a year and lost weight at just under a pound a day. No "hanging on to the fat" for him

Thank you for your replies - I hate the thought that I only need 1200 cals a day but perhaps that's the wake up call I need! And PhilT you did make me laugh about MFP and the OA gang. Lots more sensible stuff going on here.
I will check out Mr AB Scotsman..
Thanks again for your replies. I am not going to starve! Just shed some fat (I hope!)

Rosie surely your thyroid medication is making up for your thyroid deficiency therefore should not be affecting your metabolism? I actually have no thyroid at all (removed through cancer) but am on levothyroxine. Have had no issues losing weight. And my TDEE is just over 2000 cals (am 5ft 4 and in my 40s).

Help... I don't know what MFP means, and it's not listed amongst the acronyms listings.

My Fitness Pal-app or website

[carorees]

Um...it is actually...but that's not important right now...it stands for 'my fitness pal' which is a website to help with calorie counting, logging exercise etc. There are other similar ones like 'fat secret' and 'calorie count'.

MFP = My Fitness Pal