Fluctuating Calorie Totals

mixmastermolly

I've read a few posts about people who fluctuate their calorie totals by day to boost their metabolism and weight loss results. For instance, you have 2 low days, 3 medium days, and 2 high days per week which total the total amount of calories you should have per week. Has this been working for anyone who is doing it? What are the pros and cons? It sounds like something I might be interested in trying.

lorinjer

That does sound like a good idea!! Hope some people respond

rosebarnalice

The big advantage I get out of it is psychological-- and specifically for me eliminating this idea of a "cheat day." I am NOT a cheater; but it's NOT cheating if it's part of my weekly budget!

I eat less on some days, and I eat more on other days-- and if I have a day that I go substantially over my calorie goal, then I will cut calories by 200 or 300 per day for the two or three days afterward.

ultimategar

I can't comment on this method other than to say I match my intake to my expenditure, which has the result of varying my daily calorific intake. Eg 3 days a week when I do a serious workout I up my calories by about 500 - seems to be working, I've hit my 2lbs per week target despite a few bad days..

jAdorelife

it's proven that calorie rotation works when done properly...but not if you go below 1200 cals. & if you go more than two days in a row without eating you max NET calories, not just cals consumed, but cals burned need to be consumed back as well. for example it should be done like this...

day one: 1500 cals
day two: 1500 cals
day 3: 1500 cals
day 4:1200 cals
day 5: 1200 cals
day six: 1500 cals
day seven: 1500 cals
day eight: 1500 cals

doing two days in a row is risking, it could start to slow your metabolism. if you do less than three days at your max, your body may not catch on to that as well. if you use this method it's only going to work if you monitor your burned calories.you have to make sure your net calories are hitting your goal. i've lost a lot of weight like this, but it is a lot of paying attention & could mess up your metabolism if your not doing it properly.

mixmastermolly

My diet profile is set for 1580 per day for 1 pound per week loss. The suggestion someone made for me was to have 2 days at 1280 calories, 2 days at 1880 calories and 3 at 1580 calories. Fluctuating, low, medium, high, medium, low, medium, high.

jAdorelife

i wouldn't do that...like i said more than two days in a row not at your max & your metabolism will start to slow, less than three days in a row & it wont be consistent enough to stabalize & you'll be off.

mixmastermolly

Thanks for the advice!