calories
"A study examined the effect of getting too few calories on physical activity, especially in terms of how hormones interplay in the observed body composition changes. Subjects ate diets that averaged between 1,000 and 1,200 calories less than their calculated requirements. Testosterone approached castrate levels, meaning that their bodies were hardly making any testosterone. Insulin like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), was only half the normal level. Cortisol levels began to rise". [Friedl, K.E., et al. (2000). Endocrine markers of semistarvation in healthy lean men in a multistressor environment. J Applied Physiology. 88:1820-1830.]
having said this, don't get your calories from sweets, get it from eating more nutritious foods.....because...
"Eating foods, high in sugar temporarily raises insulin levels". [Wolever TMS, Brand Miller J. Sugars and blood glucose control. Am J Clin Nutr 1995;62:212S–7S]
and why is that bad?....because....
"Insulin causes fat gain". [Mieyer-Velasquez, P.A., et al. (2003). Suppression of insulin secretion is associated with weight loss and altered macronutrient intake and preference in a subset of obese adults. Int J Obesity. 27:219-26.]
