Zig-zagging???

PrincessLaundry
PrincessLaundry Posts: 2,758 Member
edited September 18 in Health and Weight Loss
Does anyone know anything about "zig-zagging" calories? This is more of what I am doing now, and it seems to be helping me slim down even more. Anyone?

::discuss!::

:laugh:

Replies

  • PrincessLaundry
    PrincessLaundry Posts: 2,758 Member
    Does anyone know anything about "zig-zagging" calories? This is more of what I am doing now, and it seems to be helping me slim down even more. Anyone?

    ::discuss!::

    :laugh:
  • CrystalBella
    CrystalBella Posts: 848 Member
    You can do that?!

    Please someone explain.
  • kahoots
    kahoots Posts: 18 Member
    I have noticed that when I ZIG-ZAG calories I tend to lose more weight. I dont know the scientific reason but some how it works for me.
  • AJCM
    AJCM Posts: 2,169 Member
    I started it last week trying to break this plateau (these last 7lbs are hanging on for DEAR LIFE!!!!). But I never went below 1200, just ate a couple hundred more on the other days (like Banks recommended - and I trust that fella).

    Well, I weighed in Monday and.... nothing. Still nothing. Not a single lb lost in 4 weeks..... no movement greater than a 0.5lb in either direction. At least I'm not gaining! Geez!!

    Princess... are you still losing 1 or 2 lbs a week? Is everyone still losing that way? I don't know what my problem is...
    :grumble:
  • 2Shoes
    2Shoes Posts: 396
    I have been doing the zigzag too...... here is the thread...... http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/15189-zig-zag-diet-or-calorie-shifting
  • kahoots
    kahoots Posts: 18 Member
    yeah you dont end up eating the same amount of calories everyday. I dont do it on purpose but it seems to end up that way at the end of the day when I finish calculating. It makes it so your body doesnt know what to expect to burn off..???? I'm def not educated in this either:tongue:
  • gabrielled
    gabrielled Posts: 247 Member
    Does anyone know anything about "zig-zagging" calories? This is more of what I am doing now, and it seems to be helping me slim down even more. Anyone?

    ::discuss!::

    :laugh:

    Here is a different name:

    Caloric Cycling.
    I do it, and I discovered when I hit a plateau, here is what I do:
    Day 1--1200 cal/mostly cardio workout at fat-burning level (30-55 minutes depending on how I feel and how much time I have)
    Day 2--1600 cal/mostly weights with cardio cool down

    and I do this hitting UP TO 1600 on my weights days. Sometimes it's around 1450-1550. I keep cycling this, and eventually (4-5 days) I will drop 2-3 pounds. You also want to watch carbs and proteins if you have plateaued. Going over your carbs can keep you at a stand still.
  • AJCM
    AJCM Posts: 2,169 Member
    Are you ladies finding it working??? I'm ready to quit!!! This is ridiculous!!!! (sorry, having a little moment here...)... come on, inspire me, and tell me that you all broke a plateau, and lost some weight this week...

    Cheer me up...
    :ohwell: :flowerforyou:
  • PrincessLaundry
    PrincessLaundry Posts: 2,758 Member
    During down times during the day and now with my DH TDY I'm comparing the WW diets I have successfully done in the past, what I am doing now, and how many calories, fat and such I am doing differently.

    I see that with the WW diets I did not plateau as quickly, but is it now because I'm older??? LOL But I didn't have this much flexibility for fat intake as I did way back...so there is more fat on this diet. My calories are higher, but with WW I was starving all the time, but lost more, but here...and there and whatever!!! Who am I? What was I thinking? LOL

    Anyway...I somehow missed the post on here a few weeks ago about zig-zagging. The posts move quicker than I can see them! lol

    The zig-zagging information I am looking at can be found on this page...Let me know what you think?

    http://www.naturalphysiques.com/tools.php?itemid=64
  • PrincessLaundry
    PrincessLaundry Posts: 2,758 Member
    Here is what I found:

    Zig-zagging can be one of the most effective methods for dropping fat or adding muscle while keeping fat gains to a minimum.

    The way it works is simple. Your body is constantly trying to stay the same - a state that scientists refer to as "homeostasis." The typical dieting approach (calories at a set level) will usually lead to a plateau. This is because body will slow down (remember, it is trying to stay the same, not lose or gain weight) to match your calorie intake. Not a good situation!
  • 2Shoes
    2Shoes Posts: 396

    Anyway...I somehow missed the post on here a few weeks ago about zig-zagging. The posts move quicker than I can see them! lol


    girl, NO kidding!! I know what you mean. If you're not on here all day long....forghettaboutit!! I miss so much when I can't get on. Then when I do, there are like PAGES in one day! LOL. I only remembered that thread because I was posting on it....otherwise, I never do a search first. Is that bad? LOL:embarassed:
  • gabrielled
    gabrielled Posts: 247 Member
    Are you ladies finding it working??? I'm ready to quit!!! This is ridiculous!!!! (sorry, having a little moment here...)... come on, inspire me, and tell me that you all broke a plateau, and lost some weight this week...

    Cheer me up...
    :ohwell: :flowerforyou:

    I still have a ways to go, and you are VERY close and that may be why those last seven are hanging on (the last 10 can take up to a year--sorry), but the cycling works for me. As well, don't drink alcohol. It sooo impedes the fat burning process. If you do like a drink now and then, save it for something special, and then just know that the following week you might have to eat a bit less.

    Good luck. Don't stick to 1200 calories, or your body will figure it out. Like a budget, it wants to know how much it can spend and still stay the same. You want it to think it has a big budget so it spends, spends, spends (and then your bank of calories goes in the red and you drop weight.).:tongue: Sorry, the teacher in me creeping out!
  • beep
    beep Posts: 1,242 Member
    Isn't that what Jillian Michaels site recommends? Thought I read that on a thread here awhile back.
  • 5KNohno
    5KNohno Posts: 503
    Cheer me up...
    :ohwell: :flowerforyou:
    I think you are really, really beautiful.
  • PrincessLaundry
    PrincessLaundry Posts: 2,758 Member

    Anyway...I somehow missed the post on here a few weeks ago about zig-zagging. The posts move quicker than I can see them! lol


    girl, NO kidding!! I know what you mean. If you're not on here all day long....forghettaboutit!! I miss so much when I can't get on. Then when I do, there are like PAGES in one day! LOL. I only remembered that thread because I was posting on it....otherwise, I never do a search first. Is that bad? LOL:embarassed:

    I can't stand doing the search...because it starts with something from a year ago...then click click click, and oh, I found the word zig, and it was someone who had to zig down the road when she was taking her kid to school. WTF? That's not helpful! LOL
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