Starting diet phase tomorrow

zfitgal

Hi everyone, tomorrow I’m starting my diet phase and I was curious to know what you all feel about consistent calorie counting example eating 1500 cal every single day of the week or zigzag calorie counting? Example eating 1500 cal one day 1800 cal another day, 2000 cal another day all to equal the same amount of calories at the end of the week that puts you in a deficit? If so, do you know how to set up a zigzag calorie count? It’s very confusing for me. I have about 20 to 25 pounds to lose and I’d like to lose it over a 4 to 5 month time span. Looking forward to your answers.

AnnPT77

For weight loss, it doesn't make much difference whether you eat the same number of calories daily, or different calories on different days, averaging out to the same number over a week. Bodies don't reset at midnight, even though MFP does. The only effect might be indirect, for example if someone gets fatigued and drags through a lower calorie day (burning fewer calories as a result).

I'd point this out: If someone follows the method MFP suggests, they would eat exercise calories (on top of base calories) on days they exercise, and just base calories on days without formal exercise, so they're possibly already calorie zig-zagging, in effect.

I do that basic MFP method (for 9+ years now, about one year of loss, the rest maintenance). My calories in maintenance are 1850ish on non-exercise days, but can be up to 2400-2500 on a day with a long bike ride or something. More typical exercise days (multiple per week) would usually be around 2100-2200. Once in a rare while, for some special occasion for example, I'd probably go over calorie budget, eating maybe 3000-4000 calories?

There used to be a few people who used 5:2 intermittent fasting (so called) to lose weight, eating maintenance calories 5 days, and really low calories, like 500, 2 days (usually non-consecutive days). They seemed to like it, and some succeeded, but I don't know of any of them who are still around.

There are web sites that suggest schemes for intentional zig-zagging, with rationales about why they think it's a good thing to do. I don't have suggestions in that area because I don't think it would help me, and I'm pretty happy the way I am. YMMV.

Alatariel75

I tend to eat lower calories (around 1300 plus some exercise cals) during the week, which gives me the freedom to eat more calories on the weekend when I'm more likely to be socialising or eating out and have less control.

As Ann says - your body only reacts to trends, so really for me it's all about making my calorie allowance work best for me.

springlering62

….you all feel about consistent calorie counting

That part I feel great about. Counting calories helped me lose nine sizes.

Consistency was 100% the key.

If you’re eating the average calories per week it takes to stay in a deficit, have at it.

Just don’t beat yourself up when, on the days after higher calories, your weight shoots up several pounds. That’s part of the consistency. It will ultimately drop, but you have to prepare mentally for the ups and downs of that type of eating.

Frankly, it’s too much trouble for me to deal with. I’m probably going to have a wham bang day every two or three weeks (Thanksgiving was double my goal) but a quick check of my 7 day stats reassures me I’m still well under. That’s all I need to know.

Consistency may be the hobgoblin of little minds, but it is also the gobblin’ preventative of little bods, too.