Is there such a thing as being too low on calories if your macros are good?

[Chris_W]

This is not true. I eat generally 800-1000 calories a day and when I do my body goes into starvation mode. I track my macros too and I eat 10-20 carbs a day.

I didnt say it wasn’t real, I said it was misunderstood. Read my post again. It’s a not just a question of low calories and bang! starvation mode, or more accurately, metabolic adaptation. If insulin is low, then your body has full access to fat stores and won’t “starve”, but rather will “eat the Krispy Kreme from ten years ago”, thus greatly mitigating the problem.

[Iwanttobelieve]

I can’t seem to find a way to mitigate the problem no matter how low carb, high fat and moderate protein I go. Wish my body was more efficient. Trying to be patient with it!

[Chris_W]

It takes time to get chronically high insulin down. Have you read Jason Fung’s books, or watched his Aetiology of Obesity series of videos? That is very helpful.

[Iwanttobelieve]

I am going to take your advice and do so. It’s been 3 months. This whole month my scale has fluctuated within 2 lbs.

I’m beyond frustrated. Today I started a 36 hour fast. I do my 16-18 hour fasts daily.

I know my calories are a bit low at 1000-1200 daily. I have decided to eliminate cheese and as much dairy as possible and to increase calories slightly. I just stated this and will see!

Hopefully longer fasts once a week will help along with my daily intermittent fasting. I’m also going to start walking 30 mins a day for 3-4 days a week and lifting weights for 15 mins and see if this helps. Since I’ve been sedentary and wonder if my metabolism is just dead despite being at 10 carbs a day and eating so clean and no junk.

[Freefall_Doug]

I am going to take your advice and do so. It’s been 3 months. This whole month my scale has fluctuated within 2 lbs.

I’m beyond frustrated. Today I started a 36 hour fast. I do my 16-18 hour fasts daily.

I know my calories are a bit low at 1000-1200 daily. I have decided to eliminate cheese and as much dairy as possible and to increase calories slightly. I just stated this and will see!

Hopefully longer fasts once a week will help along with my daily intermittent fasting. I’m also going to start walking 30 mins a day for 3-4 days a week and lifting weights for 15 mins and see if this helps. Since I’ve been sedentary and wonder if my metabolism is just dead despite being at 10 carbs a day and eating so clean and no junk.

Why are you throwing so many things at this? I have seen you post similar things in other threads that you were the O/P on.

I understand the frustration but it sounds like chronic calories restriction in addition to a mix of intermittent fasting and extended fasting has been a contributor in getting you to this point… maybe.

I say maybe because after all of this you don’t even have a good idea of what your resting metabolic rate is.

If it was me I would cut it out and start from ground level. Go to a place that can actually measure your RMR is. Then you will know the impact your past diet and actions have resulted in, and you can plan your calorie intake and plan going forward.

Without that you are bumping around in the dark, and with all of the additional things you are adding you are bumping around in the dark after you set loose a few roombas into the room.

Even without knowing your true RMR I am going to go out on a limb and say that 1000-1200 calories is a significant deficit from what your maintenance calories should be. Add in steady state cardio, and you are going in the wrong direction.

Eat less move more doesn’t work. And at this point throwing even more “strategies” into the mix doesn’t sound like a good plan to a foundation of future success.