Zig Zag Calories-Net or not?

morefitmom

I am stuck pretty hard on a plateau.. I have been teetering within a few pound range for weeks now. Today I start to zig zag. I used the calorie calculator on www.freedieting.com but wondering if this should be my net calorie goal or should I not include my calories gained from exercise. You input is greatly appreciated. Especially if you have had success zig zagging.

maillekelly

I do not count my exercise calories, only the calories I put in my mouth. People on here have told me to eat back my exercise calories, but that really doesn't make sense to me. You have to see what works for you, if you are losing weight while not eating your exercise calories back then continue to do that if its working. If it's not try and eat back some of them. every body is different, I just feel that after I exerise it is an achievement and I don't want to go eating back my hard work.

Helice

Whats is zig zagging?

morefitmom

Whats is zig zagging?

Zig zagging or calorie cycling is where you flux your calories on a daily basis to trick your metabolism. There are lots of posts on the forums talking about it.

morefitmom

bump for more input

Red13

I would just add up your weekly totals that it gives you and compare to what MFP had been telling you to consume. It does ask you on the zig zag calculator how many times a week you exercise but that isn't specific enough to know what your body is really doing.

Calif_Girl67

This is a little confusing for me and on the free dieitng website when you put all you info, which column do we go by
as far as number of calories to eat. It shows 3 different columns.

They show Ex Fat Loss, Fat Loss & Maintain, So which column do we go by?

KPstartingover

This is a little confusing for me and on the free dieitng website when you put all you info, which column do we go by
as far as number of calories to eat. It shows 3 different columns.

They show Ex Fat Loss, Fat Loss & Maintain, So which column do we go by?

I think it means you can use zigzag or cycling in any stage of weght loss - if you are trying to really lose pounds, use the extreme fat loss column. If you are at your goal and want to stay there, use the maintain column.

Calif_Girl67

Ok so I can just use the Ex Fat Loss column and the numbers it gives or do I have to change the numbers?
ANd the numbers will be different then what is on MFP right and they already include my exercise points?

morefitmom

Ok so I can just use the Ex Fat Loss column and the numbers it gives or do I have to change the numbers?
ANd the numbers will be different then what is on MFP right and they already include my exercise points?

I know, the numbers are different. The EX FAT LOSS column is only for obese people. I used the weight loss column...

foxxybrown

Since it allows you to put in the amount of exercise you plan to do, I would not eat back the exercise calories.

rhiannon1979

The number that website gives should be the total amount of calories that you actually eat. You don't need it to be the net amount.

froglegjack

Yes it is the total that you eat. do not eat back exercise cals. It is the same as doing it MFP way just different wording

Calif_Girl67

So doing he zig zag I will actually be eating more then what MFP shows according to my info, Is that correct?
I have it set to only losing 1 pound a week

glassyo

So doing he zig zag I will actually be eating more then what MFP shows according to my info, Is that correct?
I have it set to only losing 1 pound a week

No, by zig zagging, you're eating the same amount of calories per week but changing up how many per day you're eating.

I would also take exercise calories into account. Telling mfp the amount of exercise you PLAN to do doesn't take into account the exercise you ACTUALLY do. It's just a goal. You should be netting your days calories. I will never understand why people would rather not eat all the calories they're allowed if it means they'll still lose weight. MFP already takes into account the calorie deficit so if you don't eat your exercise calories, you're putting yourself into a bigger deficit and a lot of times that could be a bad thing. At least try to net your calories for a couple weeks and see how it goes before you don't eat your exercise calories back.

amccrazgrl

I say go for it.
Some days I eat just a few over 1200 and someday I eat under 1200 (not more than 50).

I have zig-zagged, changed workouts(more/less) everything possible. My weight loss has been incrediable slow compared to others. Only 14lbs in 6 months. I just have to keep saying slow and steady if i get to my total of 30-40lbs at my 1 year on MFP then I'll be happy and shouldn't have ANY loose skin.

glassyo

Wow, mfp only lets you edit posts within an hour of posting? Didn't know that.

Anyway, I was going to say I wasn't taking freedieting into account when I posted. When I put my info in and picked the Mifflin-St Jeor calorie formula, it gave me numbers very close to mfps. So, just like on here, netting your zig zag calories vs just eating the amount they tell you depends on your activity level. I tend to choose sedentary (or little to no exercise) since I have a desk job during the day and I'm incredibly lazy at night and then eat my exercise calories back. I played around with the exercise level on freedieting and by picking exercise every day (which I do), it gave me numbers very close to what mpf gives me when I eat back my exercise calories.

So, yes, if you pick the exercise level on freedieting that describes what you do, you should be ok eating what they tell you. If you pick little to no exercise, add the exercise calories back in.

morefitmom

thanks ladies for all the feedback!

kkmark

hmm

that's an interesting website falicia

i calculated mine and it shows
Maintenance: 1798 Calories/day
Fat Loss: 1438 Calories/day ( i want to do this however this is alot more than MFP)
Extreme Fat Loss: 1088 Calories/day

here MFP my cal intake is 1200 sometimes i go over sometimes under.

Anyways good luck

Kathy

Calif_Girl67

Yeah and it seems hard to be eating a huge amount of calories accroding to the free diet website especially now when
I try to eat healthy and not a bunch of crap.

Helice

Zig zagging or calorie cycling is where you flux your calories on a daily basis to trick your metabolism. There are lots of posts on the forums talking about it.

But i thought if you didnt have set meal times and amounts, etc..
Your body go into starvation mode, etc..
=S

Helice

bump for an answer!