Calorie cycling/counting calories over the week

Tatarataa

I heard that it is good to not eat the same amount of calories every day and that it speeds up metabolism or helps prevent starvation mode to cycle calories. Some people say it is only the weekly average that counts. Others say that you should eat a similar amount every day. What is your opinion on this? Does anyone do calorie cycling here or just watch the weekly calorie intake? If so any advice on how to spread calories? Is it important to eat your daily minimum every day or should I also cycle my calories lower than that with higher days evry couple of days? Many thanks for any opinion and advice!

veganbaum

A lot of people keep an eye on weekly calories rather than daily. If they are using MFP's method, some people will save their exercise calories for the weekend so they can eat out or things like that and still be in a deficit.

Generally speaking, you should be successful if you eat a different number daily and you are in a deficit when you look at your week, but you should also be successful if you eat the same calories every day and have the same deficit every day.

bhealthy1516

I believe in calorie cycling. That's what I did a couple months ago, I was only on for a month. I just think it's good for me, some days I had, lower, some days s little higher gonna do that again, some days I can manage with less, and some, I need a little more.

feisty_bucket

Yeah, I do both calorie and carb cycling. It's pretty common, especially with weightlifters.
I'm in maintenance, so I'll eat more on exercise days and less on others. The main thing I watch is what's going on weekly with my caloric balance. I want that to be flat.
Found it to be super-useful.

Wouldn't worry about "starvation mode" or the speed of your metabolism.

shans34

I believe in calorie cycling and carb cycling. Chris Powell (Extreme Weight loss) suggests this method and I have tried it and it works. I think it is a great way to change things up and not give up everything you love. You can add me if you like.

Tatarataa

Thank you so much guys for your quick and very motivating answers!! You are helping me a lot and giving me the much needed support to believe in that I can do it and that calorie cycling is worth trying!

Tatarataa

@feisty_bucket: why do you think I should not worry about "starvation mode" or the speed of my metabolism? I heard about that a lot and that it is easy to ruin your metabolism in a way that you can only eat less and less and less...

Tatarataa

So most of you are just watching calories over the week to do the cycling? And how are you doing the carb cycling? Are there certain amounts you allow yourself or do you do it more how it comes? Many thanks again for all the useful answers!