Question:
Hibernation/starvation mode

Hi everybody: Please explain hibernation/starvation mode to me. I understand your body does not want to give up its fat, so you plateau and do not lose as expected. However, no matter what you do, don't you eventually HAVE to lose weight. As someone pointed out to me, if hibernation mode lasted forever, no one would ever be in danger of starving to death. I know that so many on here do everything right, like myself, and still cannot manage to maintain a steady weight loss. Yet others can, no matter how much or little weight they started out to lose. I understand RATES of weight loss, being younger, more active, etc., should probably increase the rate of weight loss. What I do not understand is no weight loss. The reason that WLS can never be compared to conventional diets, is that if I were on a conventional diet I would have been so disgusted by now, I would have probably pigged out. However, with WLS you cannot do this and just have to wait it out. Early, long plateaus are so discouraging. No one undergoes all that is involved with WLS, expecting this to happen. Is there a maximum length of time that you can be on a plateau so early in the game? Thanks guys.    — Grace H. (posted on October 9, 2002)

October 9, 2002
Personally, I don't believe in this 'starvation mode' theory. How do all of the people on Survivor lose so much weight in a month eating practically nothing? My greatest weight loss was when I was eating close to nothing. As soon as my volume increased, little by little, my weight loss slowed. I see a correlation here. Keeping your caloric intake less than your caloric needs results in weight loss. I have seen where many say that eating 600-800 cals a day results in starvation mode. Sorry, 600-800 cals a day results in weight loss for me. When I eat as much as 1000 a day, I maintain. 1200 and I gain. I believe that metabolic rate is very individual and everyone needs to figure out what works for them. Some can lose on 1200-1500 cals a day. Plateaus are a normal part of the process, no matter what the kind of diet. My mom laughed when I said I was on a plateau at one point. She did not think that we could plateau after WLS. It is very normal and we all just have to wait it out and let our bodies do their individual thing. If you plateau lasts more than 4 weeks, then you probably need to evaluate how much you are really taking in and how little it really takes to take off the pounds.
   — Cheri M.

October 9, 2002
Grace, I just want to say that I can hear your pain. I'm sorry you are struggling. Hang in there.
   — Amber L.

October 9, 2002
I am not a doctor or a scientist, but after being a student for the last few years, I can honestly tell you that some of us are just better "survivors" and our metabolisms tend to slow down when we don't eat as much. I know people that are at the same surgical date as me 7/16 and have lost 2X as much weight as I have, and I have been exercising, drinking my liquids, eating my protein, etc....by the book! Plateau is my middle name...but when I average out my weight loss, it comes to about 3 pounds a week, which is really great! AND I am not going to gain it back...what diet offers that to us? I totally know how frustrating it is, but be sure to measure, measure, measure. I am 208 pounds at 5ft. 2" and I am wearing a size 16....go figure (pardon the pun).
   — missmollyk

October 9, 2002
You can check this site out, it has a little explanation of hibernation syndrome, and a link for some tips on getting thru it (Keys to Success) <br> http://www.sabariatric.com/side_effects.htm#"Hibernation%20syndrome"
   — Ali M

October 9, 2002
Hi Guys: I am the original poster, and want to thank you all for taking the time to answer. The site explaning hibernation syndrome was great. I put it into my favorites. Thanks again.
   — Grace H.