Is this healthy? (starvation mode)

Hi,

I'm 24/M, 6'4". I have a fairly sedentary job.

On 9/8 I weighed 314lbs, ate 4000 kcal/day, and didn't exercise. The
breakdown was around 18% protein, 30% fat, 52% carbohydrates. I
didn't take vitamins.

On 9/19 I weigh 308lbs, eat 2150 kcal/day, and swim laps 45
minutes/day. The breakdown is usually 18% protein, 18% fat, 65%
carbohydrates. I'm taking vitamins. I'm drinking more water.

My ideal weight is 200-205lbs (not 185-195lbs as some tables suggest).

Is this a healthy weight-loss plan? Two things concern me:
= On a Tanita BIA scale, my body fat% went UP from 27% to 29%!!
= My appetite dropped. I'm forcing down 200-300 kcal (4 meals) to
eat 2150 kcal.

My exercise is intensifying and my spine feels better. My pants feel
looser. But I'm worried about entering "starvation mode" and/or
gaining body fat. Any ideas?

Cheers,
HavingFun

"HavingFun" wrote in message
om...
Hi,

I'm 24/M, 6'4". I have a fairly sedentary job.

On 9/8 I weighed 314lbs, ate 4000 kcal/day, and didn't exercise. The
breakdown was around 18% protein, 30% fat, 52% carbohydrates. I
didn't take vitamins.

On 9/19 I weigh 308lbs, eat 2150 kcal/day, and swim laps 45
minutes/day. The breakdown is usually 18% protein, 18% fat, 65%
carbohydrates. I'm taking vitamins. I'm drinking more water.

My ideal weight is 200-205lbs (not 185-195lbs as some tables suggest).

Is this a healthy weight-loss plan? Two things concern me:
= On a Tanita BIA scale, my body fat% went UP from 27% to 29%!!
= My appetite dropped. I'm forcing down 200-300 kcal (4 meals) to
eat 2150 kcal.

My exercise is intensifying and my spine feels better. My pants feel
looser. But I'm worried about entering "starvation mode" and/or
gaining body fat. Any ideas?

Tanita scales are not all that accurate. Get yourself a soft tape measure
and track various body measurements over time. And eat MORE protein.

det

Hi,

this sounds good to me, I was 400Lb and just began eating sensibly, reducing the fat and
aiming for a lower total daily calorie intake. You have lost about 6Lb in 11 days which is
great for the start of a diet. Keep the same calories and weigh yourself weekly in the
same clothes. A weight loss of 2 to 3 Lb per week is an ideal rate. The fact you are
exercising is good. You don't have to force food down to reach a calorie intake, if you
are not hungry then that's great you will lose even more weight each week. Here in the UK
for the average Male government figures say 2500Kcal per day for a man and 2000Kcal for a
woman should maintain weight. So you are below this which should mean weight loss.

Your scales aren't accurate for body fat% don't rely on that! Your weight is the only
important thing.

Your appetite has dropped, great! it will be easier for you to stick to the diet.

Why should your body fat increase when you have reduced your calories and fat intake, you
will be burning up fat.

I think you are doing well!

Regards,

CJ

Trying to follow a low fat diet, reduced calories as advised by a clinical dietician,
56Lbs lost in a year, could do better!


"HavingFun" wrote in message
om...
Hi,

I'm 24/M, 6'4". I have a fairly sedentary job.

On 9/8 I weighed 314lbs, ate 4000 kcal/day, and didn't exercise. The
breakdown was around 18% protein, 30% fat, 52% carbohydrates. I
didn't take vitamins.

On 9/19 I weigh 308lbs, eat 2150 kcal/day, and swim laps 45
minutes/day. The breakdown is usually 18% protein, 18% fat, 65%
carbohydrates. I'm taking vitamins. I'm drinking more water.

My ideal weight is 200-205lbs (not 185-195lbs as some tables suggest).

Is this a healthy weight-loss plan? Two things concern me:
= On a Tanita BIA scale, my body fat% went UP from 27% to 29%!!
= My appetite dropped. I'm forcing down 200-300 kcal (4 meals) to
eat 2150 kcal.

My exercise is intensifying and my spine feels better. My pants feel
looser. But I'm worried about entering "starvation mode" and/or
gaining body fat. Any ideas?

Cheers,
HavingFun

On 19 Sep 2003 08:49:24 -0700, (HavingFun)
wrote:

Hi,

I'm 24/M, 6'4". I have a fairly sedentary job.

On 9/8 I weighed 314lbs, ate 4000 kcal/day, and didn't exercise. The
breakdown was around 18% protein, 30% fat, 52% carbohydrates. I
didn't take vitamins.

On 9/19 I weigh 308lbs, eat 2150 kcal/day, and swim laps 45
minutes/day. The breakdown is usually 18% protein, 18% fat, 65%
carbohydrates. I'm taking vitamins. I'm drinking more water.

All good stuff. Except I'd recommend a higher percentage of protein,
maybe a little more fat, and less carbs.


My ideal weight is 200-205lbs (not 185-195lbs as some tables suggest).

This sounds plenty low enough for someone who's 6'4".


Is this a healthy weight-loss plan? Two things concern me:
= On a Tanita BIA scale, my body fat% went UP from 27% to 29%!!

I wouldn't worry about that. They aren't all that accurate. You'll
be able to tell soon enough that you're losing fat. If you do want a
body fat measurement, is there someone who can do a caliper
measurement for you? If you belong to a gym, someone on staff there
should be trained to do it.

= My appetite dropped. I'm forcing down 200-300 kcal (4 meals) to
eat 2150 kcal.

My exercise is intensifying and my spine feels better. My pants feel
looser. But I'm worried about entering "starvation mode" and/or
gaining body fat. Any ideas?


You probably aren't likely to enter starvation mode at that calorie
level. If you find yourself really hungry and obsessing about food,
then you might want to start eating a bit more. It's good that you're
taking vitamins; that will help ensure your nutrition is adequate.
(But do increase the protein.)

And I'm sure you're not gaining body fat. Give it a few more weeks
and you'll start seeing a difference, and I think you'll feel more
confident that you're doing it right.

Chris
262/180/???

On 19 Sep 2003 08:49:24 -0700, (HavingFun)
wrote:
I'm 24/M, 6'4". I have a fairly sedentary job.
On 9/8 I weighed 314lbs, ate 4000 kcal/day, and didn't exercise. The
breakdown was around 18% protein, 30% fat, 52% carbohydrates. I
didn't take vitamins.
On 9/19 I weigh 308lbs, eat 2150 kcal/day, and swim laps 45
minutes/day. The breakdown is usually 18% protein, 18% fat, 65%
carbohydrates.

Hmmm... Why boost your percentage-carbohydrate consumption? The
biggest problem I've experienced in dieting is restricting protein
consumption too much. So as you decrease calories, even though your
percentage-protein consumption is staying steady, your gross
consumption is going down. I'd recommend keeping your gross protein
consumption at the same level it was before you started losing weight,
and cut carbohydrate consumption to achieve your calorie deficit.

My ideal weight is 200-205lbs (not 185-195lbs as some tables suggest).

Well, that's another story. Some of the research indicates that the
tables show weights that are in EXCESS of what's best for long-term
longevity. However, that's not your biggest concern right now. You
can revisit the issue when you get in-range of that 200 pound mark.

Is this a healthy weight-loss plan? Two things concern me:
= On a Tanita BIA scale, my body fat% went UP from 27% to 29%!!

Are you measuring yourself, in the afternoon, before dinner, with
basically the same level of hydration, from
measurement-to-measurement? Body fat percentage is very sensitive to
things like time-of-day/hydration level.

But I'm worried about entering "starvation mode" and/or
gaining body fat. Any ideas?

The "magic bullet" you're looking for is resistance training. Lift
weights, do yoga -- Do whatever exercise you can that involves
weight-bearing. But also make sure you're getting enough protein to
feed the muscles you're working to develop. Increased muscle-mass
means increased metabolism -- and therefore no "starvation mode."


--
¤bicker¤
"It is far better to grasp the Universe as it really is than
to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring."
- Carl Sagan

People are, of course, welcome to place whatever irrelevant
limitations on their ability to enjoy something that they wish.

You have made a good start, but I would increase the protein and reduce the
carbs you are eating. It takes time to get a real handle on what is right
for you. Don't give up and change what doesn't work.
Roxan
"HavingFun" wrote in message
om...
Hi,

I'm 24/M, 6'4". I have a fairly sedentary job.

On 9/8 I weighed 314lbs, ate 4000 kcal/day, and didn't exercise. The
breakdown was around 18% protein, 30% fat, 52% carbohydrates. I
didn't take vitamins.

On 9/19 I weigh 308lbs, eat 2150 kcal/day, and swim laps 45
minutes/day. The breakdown is usually 18% protein, 18% fat, 65%
carbohydrates. I'm taking vitamins. I'm drinking more water.

My ideal weight is 200-205lbs (not 185-195lbs as some tables suggest).

Is this a healthy weight-loss plan? Two things concern me:
= On a Tanita BIA scale, my body fat% went UP from 27% to 29%!!
= My appetite dropped. I'm forcing down 200-300 kcal (4 meals) to
eat 2150 kcal.

My exercise is intensifying and my spine feels better. My pants feel
looser. But I'm worried about entering "starvation mode" and/or
gaining body fat. Any ideas?

Cheers,
HavingFun

Those scales are extremely unreliable for body fat. But they show
percentages, his body fat percentage could have gone up while losing weight
if he was losing muscle instead of fat. First get your body fat done by a
professional to insure you are losing primarily fat not muscle then add
strength training to prevent muscle loss and improve fat loss.


"Chris Braun" wrote in message
news
On 19 Sep 2003 08:49:24 -0700, (HavingFun)
wrote:

Hi,

I'm 24/M, 6'4". I have a fairly sedentary job.

On 9/8 I weighed 314lbs, ate 4000 kcal/day, and didn't exercise. The
breakdown was around 18% protein, 30% fat, 52% carbohydrates. I
didn't take vitamins.

On 9/19 I weigh 308lbs, eat 2150 kcal/day, and swim laps 45
minutes/day. The breakdown is usually 18% protein, 18% fat, 65%
carbohydrates. I'm taking vitamins. I'm drinking more water.

All good stuff. Except I'd recommend a higher percentage of protein,
maybe a little more fat, and less carbs.


My ideal weight is 200-205lbs (not 185-195lbs as some tables suggest).

This sounds plenty low enough for someone who's 6'4".


Is this a healthy weight-loss plan? Two things concern me:
= On a Tanita BIA scale, my body fat% went UP from 27% to 29%!!

I wouldn't worry about that. They aren't all that accurate. You'll
be able to tell soon enough that you're losing fat. If you do want a
body fat measurement, is there someone who can do a caliper
measurement for you? If you belong to a gym, someone on staff there
should be trained to do it.

= My appetite dropped. I'm forcing down 200-300 kcal (4 meals) to
eat 2150 kcal.

My exercise is intensifying and my spine feels better. My pants feel
looser. But I'm worried about entering "starvation mode" and/or
gaining body fat. Any ideas?


You probably aren't likely to enter starvation mode at that calorie
level. If you find yourself really hungry and obsessing about food,
then you might want to start eating a bit more. It's good that you're
taking vitamins; that will help ensure your nutrition is adequate.
(But do increase the protein.)

And I'm sure you're not gaining body fat. Give it a few more weeks
and you'll start seeing a difference, and I think you'll feel more
confident that you're doing it right.

Chris
262/180/???