Zig-Zag Calorie

srcardinal10
srcardinal10 Posts: 387 Member
in Food and Nutrition
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

Replies

  • nehushtan
    nehushtan Posts: 566 Member
    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
    magerum Posts: 12,589 Member
    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
    Chief_Rocka Posts: 4,710 Member
    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
    medennison123 Posts: 191 Member
    It makes sense. But in my opinion it is just easier to eat around the same numbers every day.
  • californiagirl2012
    californiagirl2012 Posts: 2,625 Member
    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
    angee1126 Posts: 185 Member
    Bump
  • srcardinal10
    srcardinal10 Posts: 387 Member
    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!

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