Expert: Leigh-Anne - 2/23/2004

Question
Hi, what exactly isstarvation mode?  and what is the maximum daily calorie intake for an anorexic?  how long can you eat 1000cal a day before you loose weight?  ta!!

Answer
Chantelle,

Starvation mode is when your body has been deprived of nutrition for a period of time sufficient enough for it to sort of shut down. Take the analogy of a bear going into hibernation. When he is asleep for so long his body systems go to a state where they are using the minimal amounts required for your body to stay alive. This also means that your metabolism is at a very low level. What calories you do take in are all being stored because your body knows that you are depriving it so it wants to hold on to anything it can get. And what it does get it uses apringly because your body doesn't know when the next time you are going to feed it is going to be and how much you are going to give it.

I don't want to answer questions that in a way my answer is sounding pro-anorexia, because I definitely do not promote proana. Your body can survive on little food for a long time, as it slowly wreaks havoc on your body, and body systems will eventually start to break down. But that series of events depends on the persons physical and chemical composition.

To lose wight your body has to be getting 3500 calories less than what it is used to. When doctors recommend weight loss they usually tell their patients to eat 500 calories less per day in order to lose 1 lb per week, but add in exercise and you are probably burning and extra 500 or so calories per week depending on the type and duration of the exercising.

I hope this info helps you some. I hope that you will not use this information in the wrong way, to do harm to yourself. If you need help, tips, or suggestions for trying to recover from anorexia or any other eating disorder I would be more than welcome to do that. If you are just looking for ways to lose weight, turning to anorexia is not the answer. i can give you some healthy diet plans that will be sure to help you lose weight the healthy way if you would like. Please feel free to contact me again with any further questions or if you just need someone to talk to.

Leigh-Anne