Question:
I believe in set point theory. What stops you from going into starvation mode?

Set point theory explains that your body knows what your ideal weight should be. Then whenever you eat fewer calories than are needed to maintain this goal, your body goes into starvation mode. You can actually gain weight on 700 calories a day. Why won't the same thing happen when we are eating so little after the surgery? I know this was how I gained so much, because I kept going on new diets and each time, I would gain more weight. When I fasted through a hospital, I hit a plateau, they upped my calories, the next week I lost!    — [Anonymous] (posted on May 19, 1999)

May 19, 1999
As long as you stay NOURISHED. You can use supplements to stay nourished without compromising the integrity of your pouch OR stuffing up with calories. Using high quality proteins AND teh specific vitamins that we're short on, you can convince your body that everythign is JUST FINE for quite awhile. Hopefully, you can keep it "in the dark" long enough to get all the way down!
   — vitalady

May 20, 1999
You will go into starvation mode over and over. It is what is causes plateaus. But your subconscious mind cannot perform miracles, and you will eventually have to "give it up" and you will return to losing. I walk with ankle weights and every time I hit a plateau of more than a week, I up the weights and extend the distance. You must keep your protein up though, or you will experience some serious appetite (mental hunger) problems.
   — Deborah L.

May 23, 1999
You don't go into starvation mode because at first you are eating 5-6 times a day. It takes you body about 18-24 months to figure out what you have done. That is why you have a "window of oppotunity" to lose your weight. That window is 18-24 months. After that your body sets a new set point. Good Luck!
   — Donna D.

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