I just found this forum doing a google search on the subject of starvation mode. Several members of another forum I belong to are hysterical about this subject. Anyway, I was impressed with the one thread I read on the subject and decided to join.
I'm 59 years old, 4'11 on a tall day. Back in 1980 I was about 185 lbs and I went on a very successful diet to lose weight -- very simple diet. I used a smaller plate (a salad plate instead of a dinner plate), filled it only once, and no in-between meal snacks. I also had a home garden and lots of what filled my plate was from it. I didn't get all the way down to goal weight -- I had a life change that disrupted my program, and gradually over the years I gained all of the weight back, and then some, topping out at 255+. In October 2005 I started again to lose weight, and now I am at 182-183.
It's not as easy to lose at 59 as it was at 32 -- but all in all I am pleased with my progress.
I was targeting 1200 as my daily calorie intake, with some aerobics/weights 2-3 times a week. However, I became concerned that as I reached goal weight, having consumed only 1200 calories per day for so long, my body would resist upping my calories to what would be normal for my age and height at my goal weight.
So I calculated what my calorie intake would be at my goal weight, both for sedentary and light activity, and set that as my calorie range. That ended up being 1350-1550. It has slowed down my weight loss, but I am able to get in more nutrition with the increase in calories, and don't have to rely so much on supplements.
My daily diet consists mostly of whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, and low-fat dairy, with very little meat.
For my workouts, I do 40 minutes of cardio, which consists of 10 minute warm-up in the Healthy Heart zone, and intervals of 5 minutes in the Fitness/Aerobic zones, and then 10 minutes in the fitness zone. I then follow with circuit weights. I like to do the circuit because then I don't have to pick and choose which machines to do. I don't like free weights. After weights I do stretching.
I can be very opinionated, so I hope that doesn't rub anyone the wrong way. But I am also very receptive to the experiences and knowledge of others.
I'm 59 years old, 4'11 on a tall day. Back in 1980 I was about 185 lbs and I went on a very successful diet to lose weight -- very simple diet. I used a smaller plate (a salad plate instead of a dinner plate), filled it only once, and no in-between meal snacks. I also had a home garden and lots of what filled my plate was from it. I didn't get all the way down to goal weight -- I had a life change that disrupted my program, and gradually over the years I gained all of the weight back, and then some, topping out at 255+. In October 2005 I started again to lose weight, and now I am at 182-183.
It's not as easy to lose at 59 as it was at 32 -- but all in all I am pleased with my progress.
I was targeting 1200 as my daily calorie intake, with some aerobics/weights 2-3 times a week. However, I became concerned that as I reached goal weight, having consumed only 1200 calories per day for so long, my body would resist upping my calories to what would be normal for my age and height at my goal weight.
So I calculated what my calorie intake would be at my goal weight, both for sedentary and light activity, and set that as my calorie range. That ended up being 1350-1550. It has slowed down my weight loss, but I am able to get in more nutrition with the increase in calories, and don't have to rely so much on supplements.
My daily diet consists mostly of whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, and low-fat dairy, with very little meat.
For my workouts, I do 40 minutes of cardio, which consists of 10 minute warm-up in the Healthy Heart zone, and intervals of 5 minutes in the Fitness/Aerobic zones, and then 10 minutes in the fitness zone. I then follow with circuit weights. I like to do the circuit because then I don't have to pick and choose which machines to do. I don't like free weights. After weights I do stretching.
I can be very opinionated, so I hope that doesn't rub anyone the wrong way. But I am also very receptive to the experiences and knowledge of others.
