How much time can the human body stay without food

[BD2003]

Originally posted by: Injury

Originally posted by: eits

Originally posted by: ScottSwingleComputers
And then there is also the myth that if you do this, once you eat something again, your body immediately stores it all away as fat in fear of being starved again, hence killing any gain.

it's not a myth... your metabolism alters itself to be slower because there's no need to go fast because there isn't any food to be metabolized.

Sounds sort of obvious when you put it that way.

Please correct me if I'm wrong:
As someone already mentioned, paying attention to your caloric intake is the most accurate way to burn fat. Fat stores calories, if your body is using less calories than you are taking in for a day, your body creates more fat cells to store the calories.

Muscles require calories to suppliment work. If you aren't using your muscles, they essentially die out because your body knows to not suppliment them if they aren't being used.

Fat cells that stay empty for a short period also die out.

What's the step I'm missing? If your body uses calories directly from fat, then wouldn't it make sense that staying active but not eating would burn calories very fast, while not doing anything and not eating would still burn calories at a constant, just not as fast?

You're missing the rest of the body - excercise and calories do not exist in a vacuum.

Your body uses calories from fat, but can only access these stored calories at a certain rate.

Staying active and not eating would slowly deplete your body of vitamins and other essentials it needs to function properly. It'll also drop your body down into starvation mode. Slow your metabolism etc. Without an active intake of carbohydrates, your liver is going to have to break down those fats into usable energy, which takes time. The lack of vitamins is not going to help this process. Your brain and heart are getting first dibs on the energy at this point - your muscles are second in line. You'll find it very hard to even be active at this point, and will probably take only a day or two before you reach this point.

Not doing anything and not eating might extend that period an extra day or two, but you'll still end up starving and slowing down.

 

[dxkj]

Originally posted by: chambersc

Originally posted by: dxkj
Also, dont drop below around 1200-1500 calories or your body will go into starvation mode and your metabolism will suck

That's basically my everyday and yet I have a high metabolism.

obviously my statement doesnt cover every single person and every single body range.

Im just saying dont drop too low or your metabolism will change.