Calorie cycling-Success anyone?

crazylizz

Has anyone tried the zig-zagging or calorie cycling methods for weight loss? I have been reading about it and it sounds promising though the calculators seem to set the calories high for me.

peddlepusher

I do 2 wks zig-zag then 4 wks regular and repeat... I don't really lose during zig-zagging but get a jump when I return to regular. It seems to help me from stalling out ...

carlove99

What is it? I'm curious

crazylizz

It is a method of alternating calorie intake to "trick" the body and help improve metabolism and increase weight loss.

I typed in zig-zagging calories on line and got lots of info all positive. There are also calculators available. Mine says;

Daily Calorie Requirement

Maintenance: 3080 Calories/day
Weight Loss: 2464 Calories/day
Extreme Weight Loss: 1848 Calories/day

Exteme
Weight Loss Weight Loss Maintain
Monday: 1848 2464 3080
Tuesday: 1479 1971 2464
Wednesday: 2218 2957 3696
Thursday: 1848 2464 3080
Friday: 1663 2218 2772
Saturday: 2033 2710 3388
Sunday: 1848 2464 3080

Those are higher calories than MFP allows me but it is interesting.

elizahbeth

Hi,

I just started trying the zig zag and lost a pound in the second week. I think I will go back to the steady cal count and see
if that works for me like Peddlepusher's did, since I'm just at the end of the second week now.

I'll check back and let you know how it went.

Liz

cal1973

I've tried zig-zagging. I'm ok on the days where I can eat more, but can't do the days when I have to eat less........:bigsmile:

JamesBurkes

I do this inadvertently. Some days I have trouble sticking to my calorie limit and am starving (even though I'm eating a lot!) and other days I have no trouble sticking to my guidelines. The fact that I generally stay under and only have a few of the "hungry" days means I don't sweat it too much - especially as it does keep the metabolism guessing and may prevent it slowing down.