Zig-Zag Calorie

srcardinal10

I have seen a few people post about using a zig-zag calorie counting method. I would like to hear people's thoughts on this and if it works for them? I'm thinking of doing this as I train for my next half marathon since I will have long run days, cross training days, and no running at all sometimes...


Many thanks in advance!

xoxo

nehushtan

Works for me. I have a weekly instead of a daily calorie budget. I use a spreadsheet like this:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AtLvWeJyKrzLdDhPVW9VTkc3cTA3RGp0b191ci1sUFE

At the end of each day I put my MFP diary's number in that day's cell. The last column on the right gives the running total for the week.

magerum

In a way I do this... I eat the same amount every day, but "zig-zag" with exercise. Some days I'm in deficit, others I'm not.

Chief_Rocka

I do it, Because I like to feel like I'm eating somewhat "normal" some dayys.

The benefits are all based on personal preference, calorie balance over time is what matters.

medennison123

It makes sense. But in my opinion it is just easier to eat around the same numbers every day.

californiagirl2012

I have seen a few people post about using a zig-zag calorie counting method. I would like to hear people's thoughts on this and if it works for them? I'm thinking of doing this as I train for my next half marathon since I will have long run days, cross training days, and no running at all sometimes...


Many thanks in advance!

xoxo

I sort of do this. It's a random pattern for me, but I eat low some days and high some days. You can look at a calorie budget weekly or monthly. Lately I've had a lot of social events. I know I'll eat higher those days, so I eat lower on other days, and I'll even have some lower weeks and some higher weeks. You can do it how ever you want.

angee1126

Bump

srcardinal10

This is all very interesting to me. I guess I've been just attempting to eat low but I am lifting and like I said, training for a half marathon. I would think (I'm not a personal trainer or a doctor) that on days where I work out very hard (cross train/intervals/long runs) that I should eat more....not sure.

<--sorry for the ignorance!