Zig Zagging Calories?

Cytherea

So I've found myself at somewhat of a plateau the past few months, and I've decided I should probably start doing something different. I've heard a lot about zig zagging calories, and I'd like to try it, but I have some questions.

First, I'm eating 1200 calories a day. Does anybody have suggestions as to how many calories I should eat each day to zig zag?

Second, how long do you do it for? Just a week? A month?

Third, I assume that you would still eat back exercise calories, but will that throw things off? Hypothetically, I could eat more one day, less the next day, but then exercise that day, resulting in me eating more food, and then end up eating exactly the same amount both days. Would this be counterproductive?

Any help/advice/suggestions anyone has would be greatly appreciated, especially from people who have done it and it has worked! Thanks thanks!

JessieAnneMarie

I heard about this!! id like to know too!

kkruse08

yes, i am also curious about this? does this also pertain to when some days you go over calories and then other days are under? is that called zig zagging and does this work??

Adudynski

I have used this calorie counter before and they offer a zig zag option...I have only heard great things about it.. not sure on the amount of time, I think its for a month but I cant remember http://www.freedieting.com/tools/calorie_calculator.htm

cheermom11

I just posted this on another thread yesterday:

I've been calorie cycling for two weeks now to try to beat a plateau - and it seems to be working. Basically, 'zigzagging' tricks your body into not knowing what's coming next so it doesn't get accustomed to a set amount of calories.

At the end of the week, your average daily calories is still what's needed for fat loss.

Check out this calculator to help determine some possibilities: http://www.freedieting.com/tools/calorie_calculator.htm

puggleperson

Google "wendy Plan" for some info on zig zagging

AbbyCar

bump

thisis4me

Bump!! Am curious as well:)

audreyyrose

i've heard of people having success following this cycle:
1200
1500
1300
1600
1400
1200

and repeat.

also switch up your cardio routine.

babytmarie27

I've heard that you should eat low calories for 3 days, then high calories for 1 day i would make the high calorie day 2,000

slimkitty

http://www.freedieting.com/tools/calorie_calculator.htm

Others have mentioned the site above. You can figure it out there.

elvb

The website referenced above is great for zigzagging! I tend to zig zag my main calorie count before factoring in my exercise. Which usually means my workouts are on the days when I have higher calories so I it doesn't mess with my net too bad.

goohan

Ive zigzagged for 6 months lol, I think its great I would recemond it. Just average a certian amount of calories per week and zigzag each day. I also zigzag over a month (being a lady) I eat more for two weeks before my pierod and less for two weeks after my pierod. my weight loss zigzgas with it too, instead of loosing a consistent amount a week, I would gain weight before my pierod and then loose that weight and a bit extra after my pierod.

countryrunner

Use this website.

http://www.freedieting.com/tools/calorie_calculator.htm

Once you calculate your calorie needs you can click on the "7 Day Calorie Cycle" and it will tell you how many to eat each day of the week. I had a lot of luck with when I did it. Not sure why I stopped.

K1Teacher

This thread is a couple months old but the OP gives her plan for zig zagging 1200 calories. Hope it helps.

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/178788-zig-zagging-calories-is-awesome

danielled6875

bump

Ampierce

bump, would love to find out more....

deadmittens

Use this website.

http://www.freedieting.com/tools/calorie_calculator.htm

This site seems to set calories extremely high. It's telling me for fat loss I need 2480 calories a day whereas the diary on mfp is telling me I only need 1800. What gives??

I've been eating about 1400-1600 a day and I'm on a plateau

elvb

This site seems to set calories extremely high. It's telling me for fat loss I need 2480 calories a day whereas the diary on mfp is telling me I only need 1800. What gives??

I've been eating about 1400-1600 a day and I'm on a plateau

Did it say that for your highest calories during one day in the week? Or was that your highest? MFP gives you your minimum, I believe. Mine was set at 1200 but I hated being in the red so I manually changed it to 1300 so I knew I was eating my minimum and not going "over" into the red. I think freedieting.com gives you your max calories/day.

abyssfully

I usually eat more on the weekends - does that count as zigzagging? lol. Because last week when I drastically ate more on the weekend by my mid-week weigh-in I lost 2 lbs!

mogenfire

bump

aeckels616

I do this... not as part of any type of program, just in general. It works fine for me and is a lot easier, actually, than making sure I'm at a particular calorie count every day of the week. I just make sure that my weekly average equals out to my "daily calorie goal." So some days I'm a couple hundred over, some days I'm a couple hundred under. Doesn't really matter which days are which, as long as that weekly average comes out right.

realme56

Bump

tlaker

bump

malabaugh

bump

morningmom

bump

slimkitty

I usually eat more on the weekends - does that count as zigzagging? lol. Because last week when I drastically ate more on the weekend by my mid-week weigh-in I lost 2 lbs!

I do the same thing and I think it counts as zigzagging. Sometimes I don't show any loss the entire week, but after eating more on Saturday and Sunday, I show a loss by Monday. Very interesting but I love that I can relax a bit over the weekend.


Edited to correct spelling

deadmittens

This site seems to set calories extremely high. It's telling me for fat loss I need 2480 calories a day whereas the diary on mfp is telling me I only need 1800. What gives??

I've been eating about 1400-1600 a day and I'm on a plateau

Did it say that for your highest calories during one day in the week? Or was that your highest? MFP gives you your minimum, I believe. Mine was set at 1200 but I hated being in the red so I manually changed it to 1300 so I knew I was eating my minimum and not going "over" into the red. I think freedieting.com gives you your max calories/day.

No, that was my minimum according to freedieting. I usually am under in calories and over in protein. I need to stop liking meat so much!

chrisdavey

I don't think there is anything magical about this zig-zagging concept. At the end of the day, if you want to lose weight you need to consume less than you expend. (by diet alone or through diet and exercise, and I clearly recommend the latter) If "zig-zagging" is what you need to psychologically reach your calorie deficit then it will work for you.

I don't "zig-zag" but used nutritional timing i.e. if I have a big workout that day, I will make sure I eat the majority of my cals post workout to refuel. If I have a lighter day then no need to eat as much. (the majority of my zig zagging is done with carb-cycling really as the carbs are required for energy for workouts)