Shocking your System

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Euphonasia
Euphonasia Posts: 136
in Health and Weight Loss
I've researched, researched, and reaserched some more. I'm currently in the throes of either PMS (very unlikely) or a plateau. I've read that shocking your system with one high calorie meal every few weeks helps to keep your metabolism from stagnating. I've read it from doctors, \personal trainers, dieticians, and everyone else who has a clue about this kind of thing. Has anyone done this and seen any results? Please let me know. I kind of don't want to get discouraged.

Replies

  • vanessadawn
    vanessadawn Posts: 249
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    I would think if you are at a plateau and your metabolism has slowed down, that one day of binging isn't going to wake it up. It'll probably hastily use those extra calories to store for future fuel. I eat pretty consistently at a low calorie (1200) but eat more on weekends, and I still have a plateau I am hoping to overcome. Perhaps the answer is a zig zag diet which I have heard of, it is more longterm switching up your calorie intake. Maybe that would keep your metabolism guessing. Anyways, good luck!
  • ellens292
    ellens292 Posts: 176
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    Problem for me is that one high calorie meal often leads to another, or a general slacking off. Maybe you have more will power, if so, even if it didn't work to get off the plateau, it also wouldn't do major damage.
  • Nich0le
    Nich0le Posts: 2,906 Member
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    with the amount of weight you have to lose it is not uncommon to hit several plateaus along the way. It is very common to have an initial weight loss of 10-20 lbs and then it can take up to 12 weeks for the body to start reacting to what you are doing.

    I don't know about the shocking your system Idea. I have seen posts on here about eating more one day and less the next but only by a few hundred calories, not by eating a big overstuffing meal.

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/44693-tami-s-secret-to-skinny

    I suggest you read the above link. Tami is a great inspiration, she lost 135 lbs with no gimmicky crap. She is currently pregnant and looking great and she makes note that on days she worked out she ate more than on days she didn't.

    :flowerforyou:
  • HipsLipsMama
    HipsLipsMama Posts: 74
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    ZIG ZAG DIET!!! or calorie cycling...

    go to http://www.freedieting.com/tools/calorie_calculator.htm , enter your info, and then on the bottom of the calculator click "7 day calorie cycle (zig zag). I would use the middle set of numbers. IT WORKS!!! I have done it twice and lost about 20 lbs total using this method. Basically, you switch the amount of calories you eat each day. Monday might be 1300, Tuesday 1700, Wednesday 1400 , thursday 1900 etc. by switching it around like this your metabolism never gets used to a certain intake. on the higher calorie days it prepares your metabolism to LOSE fat, because it is getting plenty of calories. then when you eat low cals the next day, it BURNS the fat.

    this really truly works. you just need to count EVERYTHING you eat because it is essential to be right on with your cals. also with the schedule, you want to have at least a 200 cal difference between days.

    good luck, feel free to send me a message if u have more questions. :flowerforyou:
  • havingitall
    havingitall Posts: 3,728 Member
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    I was speaking to a nurtitionist last night about this. Are you eating 5 - 6 smaller meals a day? This can help. Watch how much sugar and sodium you are eating. I was eating a Clif bar each day and it wasn't around exercise time so it wasn't doing me much good.

    Try changing up what you are eating. Sometimes we get in a routine of the foods we eat. Shake it up.

    Change up your exercise. Do more intensity, longer time or totally different exercises.

    You could try zig zagging your calories. Keep within your limits and go higher on calories one day and lower the next.

    I don't see how eating a big meal will help with any weight loss whatsoever
  • SHBoss1673
    SHBoss1673 Posts: 7,161 Member
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    To answer your question, yeah, a shock meal can help sometimes, in certain situations, but it sounds like you haven't been at a stop for very long. How long are we talking about with no loss? Have you checked all your numbers first, to make sure you are correct? Have you checked your RDA recommendations to make sure you're eating the RIGHT type of calories. Have you mixed up your exercise routines for a few weeks, to see if that helps? These are all things I would try before resorting to shocking the systems.

    Best luck to you.

    -Banks
  • NinaDawn79
    NinaDawn79 Posts: 164
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    I got to my weight goal of 142 lbs on Weight Watchers a couple years ago by dealing with my plateaus in this way. Basically, if I went a month or more without losing when I was doing everything "right", I'd take a day or two off tracking, enjoy myself, then get back on track. Everytime I did this and got back on track within 2 days, I'd have a HUGE loss.

    The big, BIG caveat though is that getting back on track was key; there were a couple of times this backfired and my "slacking" turned into a week or more and I had to pay for it with a gain.

    Works for me, and I came to it by sheer frustration, not diligent research, so you'll just have to approach it with a "Let's See What Happens!" attitude and be willing to accept the consequences, good or bad.

    Good luck!
  • persian_dancer
    persian_dancer Posts: 110
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    Yea I've heard rolling a dice in the morning and then whatever it lands on that day that's how many calories you eat:

    1=1200
    2=1300
    3=1400
    4=1500
    5=1600
    6=1800
    7=1900
    8=2000

    I think I should start that tomorrow because I have everything situated for my calories for today. :drinker:
  • SHBoss1673
    SHBoss1673 Posts: 7,161 Member
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    Yea I've heard rolling a dice in the morning and then whatever it lands on that day that's how many calories you eat:

    1=1200
    2=1300
    3=1400
    4=1500
    5=1600
    6=1800
    7=1900
    8=2000

    I think I should start that tomorrow because I have everything situated for my calories for today. :drinker:

    Um, I'm speechless, please tell me you're kidding.
  • HipsLipsMama
    HipsLipsMama Posts: 74
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    Yea I've heard rolling a dice in the morning and then whatever it lands on that day that's how many calories you eat:

    1=1200
    2=1300
    3=1400
    4=1500
    5=1600
    6=1800
    7=1900
    8=2000

    I think I should start that tomorrow because I have everything situated for my calories for today. :drinker:

    Um, I'm speechless, please tell me you're kidding.

    LOL
  • LeanLioness
    LeanLioness Posts: 1,091 Member
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    Yea I've heard rolling a dice in the morning and then whatever it lands on that day that's how many calories you eat:

    1=1200
    2=1300
    3=1400
    4=1500
    5=1600
    6=1800
    7=1900
    8=2000

    I think I should start that tomorrow because I have everything situated for my calories for today. :drinker:

    Um, I'm speechless, please tell me you're kidding.

    I think she was being sarcastic.
  • Euphonasia
    Euphonasia Posts: 136
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    Has anyone else tried calorie cycling? Does it work overall?
  • Zephyr36608
    Zephyr36608 Posts: 73
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    I went to the link for the 7 day calorie cycling mentioned above and here are the numbers it gave me:

    Ex Fat Loss Fat Loss Maintain
    Monday 1984 1984 2210
    Tuesday 1984 1984 1984
    Wednesday 2381 2381 2652
    Thursday 1984 1984 2210
    Friday 1984 1984 1989
    Saturday 2183 2183 2431
    Sunday 1984 1984 2210
  • SHBoss1673
    SHBoss1673 Posts: 7,161 Member
    Options
    Yea I've heard rolling a dice in the morning and then whatever it lands on that day that's how many calories you eat:

    1=1200
    2=1300
    3=1400
    4=1500
    5=1600
    6=1800
    7=1900
    8=2000

    I think I should start that tomorrow because I have everything situated for my calories for today. :drinker:

    Um, I'm speechless, please tell me you're kidding.

    I think she was being sarcastic.

    you'd be surprised at some of the things that have been tried with dieting, but yeah, I hope so!
  • Zephyr36608
    Zephyr36608 Posts: 73
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    I went to the link for the 7 day calorie cycling mentioned above and here are the numbers it gave me:

    Ex Fat Loss Fat Loss Maintain
    Monday 1984 1984 2210
    Tuesday 1984 1984 1984
    Wednesday 2381 2381 2652
    Thursday 1984 1984 2210
    Friday 1984 1984 1989
    Saturday 2183 2183 2431
    Sunday 1984 1984 2210

    This was listing all my current info and a sedentary lifestyle. I do NOT think this is very accurate--I dont see any way I could lose weight eating these larger numbers of calories! Heck, according to this I could just skip dieting and lose weight?!?!
  • SHBoss1673
    SHBoss1673 Posts: 7,161 Member
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    I went to the link for the 7 day calorie cycling mentioned above and here are the numbers it gave me:

    Ex Fat Loss Fat Loss Maintain
    Monday 1984 1984 2210
    Tuesday 1984 1984 1984
    Wednesday 2381 2381 2652
    Thursday 1984 1984 2210
    Friday 1984 1984 1989
    Saturday 2183 2183 2431
    Sunday 1984 1984 2210

    so what's the difference between fat loss and Ex Fat loss? The numbers are the same.
  • beckythebunny122
    beckythebunny122 Posts: 55 Member
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    I went to the website too - my numbers were different for extreme and regular:

    Ex Fat Loss Fat Loss Maintain
    Monday 1208 1320 1650
    Tuesday 1208 1208 1320
    Wednesday 1450 1584 1980
    Thursday 1208 1320 1650
    Friday 1208 1208 1485
    Saturday 1329 1452 1815
    Sunday 1208 1320 1650

    Not sure why they were the same for others...
  • sassiebritches
    sassiebritches Posts: 1,861 Member
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    Maintenance: 2372 Calories/day
    Fat Loss: 1897 Calories/day
    Extreme Fat Loss: 1848 Calories/day

    This is about right by my calcs.......although I eat 1500 cals a day, no less and sometimes more. I have been fluctuating pounds.....I was stuck at 1 weight for about 3 months though....glad to see I am outa that.

    This looks right too.

    Ex Fat Fat Maint

    Monday 1848 1898 2372
    Tuesday 1848 1848 1898
    Wednesday 2218 2277 2847
    Thursday 1848 1898 2372
    Friday 1848 1848 2135
    Saturday 2033 2088 2610
    Sunday 1848 1898 2372
  • Zephyr36608
    Zephyr36608 Posts: 73
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    I went to the link for the 7 day calorie cycling mentioned above and here are the numbers it gave me:

    Ex Fat Loss Fat Loss Maintain
    Monday 1984 1984 2210
    Tuesday 1984 1984 1984
    Wednesday 2381 2381 2652
    Thursday 1984 1984 2210
    Friday 1984 1984 1989
    Saturday 2183 2183 2431
    Sunday 1984 1984 2210

    so what's the difference between fat loss and Ex Fat loss? The numbers are the same.
    Don't have a clue. according to the site the ex was supposed to be to lose more so you would think the numbers would be lower there like they are for others posted. Maybe it's cuz I'm more overweight than they are and therefore the numbers are the same as it doesn't think I should safely go any lower?? Beats me! --Newbie and all-- :laugh:

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