Starvation mode isn’t a thing
Perhaps not, per se, but as someone who's routinely lost between half a stone and a stone just about every year for the last 30 years (I like eating and I also like not buying new trousers!) I know that I definitely have a "starvation-like mode". If I cut back too hard, I feel significantly colder, whatever the time of year, and totally exhausted if I do more than very light exercise. It might only be because my body's not able to eat itself fast enough to compensate for plentiful and easily digested colon calories, but to me it certainly
feels like a starvation mode has kicked in.
It's possible that slight variations is individual fat-burn rates (or calorific accessibility due to gut bacteria imbalances), or whatever) may account for why some folk struggle more than others. You're going to feel less satisfied, on the same calories, and less energetic, leading to the 'it's my metabolism' myth... though I guess you could argue that if some people access their fat less efficiently than most, this is part of their metabolism on the supply side rather than burn side.
Anyway, we're getting bogged down in the details, as these kind of threads often become. As someone who's had long term semi-success keeping my greedy appetite and weight under control the hard way, I know that at least 50% of my battle is mental... I've got to really want to cut back! The rest is cutting out snacks, reducing portion size (except for vegetables), and avoiding fat and sugar wherever possible. The less fat and sugar I have, the less I crave it. Except now, obviously, when I want Hobnobs dipped in microwaved Double Decker bars... which isn't something I've ever tried, but my imagination is rather cruel when I'm trying hard to be healthy.
Last week really put me on a downer which has prompted me to start dieting again.
I have a pretty gloomy personality, given half an excuse, which may be one reason why I've always turned to food for easy 'support'. I can only imagine how I'd have struggled if I hadn't also been able to go through my annual 'correction torture' phase. The mental side of things is
so important, and so hard to maintain; I've never dared put on more than I can lose in about 4-6 weeks because I'm not sure I'd make it any further! I routinely don't make it past 4-6 days!
If it helps, in recent years I've become a carer for my mother with dementia and have struggled to keep the calories out of my face in a way I've never struggled before. But when I need inspiration I think about the bloke I've passed regularly when out walking the dog, or rushing into town for shopping while Mum's asleep. He was unhealthily large when I first noticed him. But then I noticed that every time I saw him there was a little bit less of him and his stride was a bit more confident.
One day I decided I'd take a risk and asked him, a complete stranger, if he was walking to help with losing weight. He wasn't instantly offended, thankfully, and I congratulated him on an incredibly job so far, and wished him all the best for future loses. He seemed genuinely pleased that his hard work/walk had been noticed... but it's quite possible he wandered off thinking 'what a twit!' or something very similar.
Whether I'm a twit or not, don't underestimate the power of simply leaving the front door and walking... preferably somewhere where there's plenty of greenery, even if it's only trees along a road. We need greens inside as well as out to be healthy.
Jeez, I go on a bit, don't I! Anyone would think I was hungry and finding displacement activity in between less glamorous chores which might normally be alleviated with dunked Ginger Nuts.
But will absolutely be going back. I think it’s definitely worth getting your heart rate really, really high every now and again. Keeps your body on its toes.
