If I understand correctly, by "starvation mode" Emily means the body's tendency to resist losing fat when a person reduces their calorie intake for a long time. The body thinks hard times have arrived and starvation is a possibility. And it reacts by trying to maintain its fat reserves.

So a person can try to pause their diet for awhile. The idea is that the body should be given a little time to get used to the "new normal" weight by maintaining a calorie balance for awhile, rather than the calorie deficit during weight loss periods.

This thread started before I began posting. How are you doing now?

I'm not sure I have any helpful experience, since my only successes have been permanent, incremental changes to my diet over long periods of time.

I've occasionally lapsed and reverted to bad habits. That made me feel icky. I assumed the immediate feeling was due to junk food, not just the calorie count itself. But I don't know that for a fact. I can only suggest asking your doctor, a dietician, or nutrition specialist. They might be able to tell you how people usually react, or if there is anything you can do to counter it.