Did i damage my metabolism?

[Metabolicbro]

Hi all,

I'm 21 years old (5'7 143 pounds, ectomorph) and have been into fitness/weight lifting for a few years. During this time I've developed a reasonable understanding of nutrition and weight lifting exercises. A few months ago I became obsessed with being lean (visible and vascular abs).

As a result of this obsession, i began 'intermittent fasting' (fasting) and eating very very low calories. At the time i wasn't tracking calories but i'd estimate i was eating around 900-1000 calories a day and sometimes less. I was also exercising 6 times a week (cardio + weight lifting). During this time i was CONSTANTLY hungry. I would have terrible hunger pains and would often have insomnia due to feeling hungry at night. I also felt terrible both mentally and physically (low libido, sore muscles, poor concentration, irritable etc). I continued like this for a few months and eventually became very lean. However, i lost a substantial amount of muscle too.

After a while i realized what i was doing to myself and stopped immediately. I began eating normally again and started bulking a few weeks ago. Already i feel like i've gained a bit of fat but i'm trying my best to ignore it and continue bulking (so my hormones/metabolism can be normalised).

Anyway, do you guys think i damaged my metabolism? If so what are the consequences? Moreover, is this damage permanent? I've always felt like i've had a high metabolism (never really been overweight in my life - always been skinny guy), have i damaged this high metabolism? Should i continue 'bulking' (btw i feel amazing ever since i started bulking and eating more)

[VIsland]

metabolic damage has no scientific merit. You have nothing to worry about

[Metabolicbro]

metabolic damage has no scientific merit. You have nothing to worry about

Thanks for your input. So metabolic damage is a myth? But what about articles which suggest that your metabolism adjusts to low calorie diets and slows down?

[Kraken]

Thanks for your input. So metabolic damage is a myth? But what about articles which suggest that your metabolism adjusts to low calorie diets and slows down?

Metabolic damage is a result of severe dieting/over eating that causes the metabolism to slow or alters other parts of the system. It alters the hormones in the body, like the thyroid, and possibly other issues like liver (hepatic steatosis). It also alters how the body utilizes fuel sources. Fortunately, most of it is temporary. It only takes as long as it takes the hormones etc to return to normal levels. Hepatic Steatosis is not typically reversible, however, that is more rare than the typical metabolic issues that people refer to when discussing this issue.

Your caloric intake is severely low though. This will have a catabolic effect, which is no good for anyone, especially a weight lifter.

There are some on this site that say metabolic damage doesn't occur and that it's a myth, however, they clearly do not work in the medical field, nor have any advanced education on the subject. Some that discuss metabolic damage are simply misguided about what it actually is, and therefore, have been proven wrong. I assure you, what I am referring to is very real

[VIsland]

https://gomaleo.wordpress.com/2013/0...ction-edition/



http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7594141

[rhadam]

metabolic damage has no scientific merit.

You can decrease metabolic rate, however it will rebound at some point. But if you're talking about going past a point of no return then ya that's not something most people have to worry about. There are chemicals that will "damage" the metabolism though, so yes there is in fact scientific merit.

[Kraken]

https://gomaleo.wordpress.com/2013/0...ction-edition/



http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7594141

I'm not really sure you understand what you just posted.

The study you posted was inconclusive because 8 of the 10 subjects severely under reported their energy intake. The study was posted in the article you posted because that was what the author was trying to prove, that most people aren't suffering from metabolic disorders, but instead, are simply under reported. He then went on to admit that there are negative metabolic changes that occur when you are in a large deficit.

One of these proves nothing, while the other is contradicting what you posted.

[EmperorRyker]

Thanks for your input. So metabolic damage is a myth? But what about articles which suggest that your metabolism adjusts to low calorie diets and slows down?

It's a myth in the sense that there are no permanent metabolic adaptations that you can't do by getting fat again. It's not a myth if you take the word to indicate metabolic adaptations that go beyond actual muscle and fat loss. So when you diet, your metabolism might slow down more than what would be expected from someone with your muscle and fat mass. Your hormone levels might also get messed up and it can take years to get them restored and even then you might need to get fat(ter) again. So it really just depends on what you mean. But saying you have nothing to worry about is false. It's possible for you to screw yourself over with dieting.

You can decrease metabolic rate, however it will rebound at some point. But if you're talking about going past a point of no return then ya that's not something most people have to worry about. There are chemicals that will "damage" the metabolism though, so yes there is in fact scientific merit.

Yeah, but it won't rebound if he stays at the same weight. I don't know if that's what you meant, it wasn't clear.

[allrnder]

It is metabolic slow down / adaptation. Damage does not exist.

[ErikTheElectric]

You're fine OP.

[magician27]

Hi all,

I'm 21 years old (5'7 143 pounds, ectomorph) and have been into fitness/weight lifting for a few years. During this time I've developed a reasonable understanding of nutrition and weight lifting exercises. A few months ago I became obsessed with being lean (visible and vascular abs).

As a result of this obsession, i began 'intermittent fasting' (fasting) and eating very very low calories. At the time i wasn't tracking calories but i'd estimate i was eating around 900-1000 calories a day and sometimes less.

there is huge contradiction there . anyway. your body does not want to stay in low very bodyfat forever. its not healthy. it can adapt to lower calorie intake , but when you load calories for a while it will reset back. there is no such thing as metabolic damage. its not permanent. adaptations will happen depending on what you are doing

[Metabolicbro]

there is huge contradiction there . anyway. your body does not want to stay in low very bodyfat forever. its not healthy. it can adapt to lower calorie intake , but when you load calories for a while it will reset back. there is no such thing as metabolic damage. its not permanent. adaptations will happen depending on what you are doing

Yea I posted that i understood nutrition (calories, macros) etc to avoid people posting stating that i should read the sticky threads. I really regret what i did and was very stupid.
Thanks for the input

So i should be fine?
i'm also a little concerned that my body will put on fat easily because my metabolism may have slowed? So eating a small surplus may result in big fat gains? Could this be possible?

[HongAnz]

You're fine!

Your body is pretty amazing at adapting to the food intake.

What you done is barely long term and I haven't seen or heard anything scientific that would suggest it causes damage.

[Heisman2]

This review sadly is not open-access but with those who can access it, it's a great overview of a lot of the literature on this topic and was published last year: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26362728. Studies are conflicting to a degree but overall point to a larger impact of reduction in NEAT than a reduction in RMR beyond that expected from decreased body mass.