drtbear1967
Musclechemistry Board Certified Member
Metabolic Damage ? More like Metabolic Adaptation.
️
A lot of people believe that the metabolism can get "damaged" by following large deficit diets or by dieting for a long time, yet, while larger deficits are certainly more difficult (and not recommended) to stick to (long term), they don't *damage* the metabolism. Especially to the point where we can gain fat in a deficit (nothing further from the truth).
Our metabolism adapts to the food intake and body fat levels, by reducing our energy expenditure and increasing hunger, kind of like a "thermostat". And that's well documented in the Minnesota Experiment.
But even if it adapts and remains suppressed for the period we spend at the lower body weight, it doesn't mean it can't get back to normal. In fact it will do so as soon as you will regain weight.
But then why are you not able to see weight loss, even if you're dieting ?
That's because first of all weight loss isn't the same as fat loss - and provided a calorie deficit - then the diet will always result in fat loss.
Sure, metabolic adaptations do get more frequent as we keep dieting and lose more fat, and many times we have to re-adjust/double check our food intake and add more cardio to keep losing at the desired rate.
Many other times though, we're not being 100% honest with ourselves.
Get rid of the "metabolic damage" mentality.
Your metabolism adapts, as it should, to a new body weight, body fat level and food intake.
️A lot of people believe that the metabolism can get "damaged" by following large deficit diets or by dieting for a long time, yet, while larger deficits are certainly more difficult (and not recommended) to stick to (long term), they don't *damage* the metabolism. Especially to the point where we can gain fat in a deficit (nothing further from the truth).
Our metabolism adapts to the food intake and body fat levels, by reducing our energy expenditure and increasing hunger, kind of like a "thermostat". And that's well documented in the Minnesota Experiment.
But even if it adapts and remains suppressed for the period we spend at the lower body weight, it doesn't mean it can't get back to normal. In fact it will do so as soon as you will regain weight.
But then why are you not able to see weight loss, even if you're dieting ?
That's because first of all weight loss isn't the same as fat loss - and provided a calorie deficit - then the diet will always result in fat loss.
Sure, metabolic adaptations do get more frequent as we keep dieting and lose more fat, and many times we have to re-adjust/double check our food intake and add more cardio to keep losing at the desired rate.
Many other times though, we're not being 100% honest with ourselves.
Get rid of the "metabolic damage" mentality.
Your metabolism adapts, as it should, to a new body weight, body fat level and food intake.
