Tried zig zag and . . . . Failed Lol

Debx12345
Debx12345 Posts: 210 Member
edited September 2024 in Motivation and Support
well tried the zig zag method for 2 weeks, lost a pound then put it back on.

I did:
1200
1400
1200
1400
1300
1500
1200

Did alternating each day with strength on days I ate more, and then other days cardio.

Any clues what I did wrong, or did I not give it long enough?. I don't eat meat and my sodium levels are very low as I don't use salt, I am always in the black on my protein, sodium etc figures.

Wondering whether to give up or try the new weightwatchers pro plan.

Replies

  • lordofultima
    lordofultima Posts: 293 Member
    IMO calorie and carb zigzagging are for losing fat while gaining muscle. I don't see significant scale loss, and when I do I gain most of it back over the next week. If you're looking to just lose that number on the scale, a normal calorie deficit is fine.
  • Gogo76
    Gogo76 Posts: 581 Member
    I have not tried zig-zagging (well, not intentionally) but I think from what I have read from others in the past is that you have to give it at least a month whenever you make a change before you should expect to see results.
  • mckval
    mckval Posts: 64 Member
    Are those net calories? Because if they aren't you may not be eating enough on your "zag." For instance, when I burn 400 cals on a day, and that's the day I want to spike my calories, I try to have at least 1800+ calories, so that my net calories are still high.

    I am very sorry you are frustrated...I know this is all so hard, trying to figure out what's best for your body.

    Hang in there!
  • meggonkgonk
    meggonkgonk Posts: 2,066 Member
    ^^^what she said
  • ashlee954
    ashlee954 Posts: 1,112 Member
    I think your differences need to be a little more extreme. You're eating pretty close to the same amount of cals per day. I would try bigger differences. I zig zagged my cals for 5 weeks and lost 17 pounds. I ate as low as 1000 and as high as 1900. My goal cals for a typical day was 1350.
  • Debx12345
    Debx12345 Posts: 210 Member
    I think your differences need to be a little more extreme. You're eating pretty close to the same amount of cals per day. I would try bigger differences. I zig zagged my cals for 5 weeks and lost 17 pounds. I ate as low as 1000 and as high as 1900. My goal cals for a typical day was 1350.

    Can you give me a typical week example of how you did this, I'm new to it and didn't want to go too mad. My bmr is 1198' and I only burn about 250 when I do exercise. Really lost the will this morning, got on scales ( I know I shouldn't) and have gained a pound !!! So scared of putting weight on when I am so hard trying to shift weight off.
  • ashlee954
    ashlee954 Posts: 1,112 Member
    Basically take your daily calorie goal that MFP gives you. For example: 1200. Multiply that by 7. 1200 x 7 = 8400. Eat that total by the end of the week but eat different amounts each day like you were doing. Just a lilltle more tweaked. Maybe a 300-500 difference on some days. I wouldn't plan too much which days to eat way less and which to eat way more. I would go by what your body tells you each day. If you are super hungry one day make that the day you eat more. Likewise, if you're not hungry another then make that the day you eat less. On a couple days eat around the goal cals. This makes it more like regular eating. When we are not dieting or so focussed on food we just eat when we're hungry. Use that concept just monitor it a bit and make sure to stay within your weekly calorie goal. It's important to remember that not everyone is the same. You may have to try different numbers to find which ones suit you the best. Good luck!
  • Debx12345
    Debx12345 Posts: 210 Member
    Basically take your daily calorie goal that MFP gives you. For example: 1200. Multiply that by 7. 1200 x 7 = 8400. Eat that total by the end of the week but eat different amounts each day like you were doing. Just a lilltle more tweaked. Maybe a 300-500 difference on some days. I wouldn't plan too much which days to eat way less and which to eat way more. I would go by what your body tells you each day. If you are super hungry one day make that the day you eat more. Likewise, if you're not hungry another then make that the day you eat less. On a couple days eat around the goal cals. This makes it more like regular eating. When we are not dieting or so focussed on food we just eat when we're hungry. Use that concept just monitor it a bit and make sure to stay within your weekly calorie goal. It's important to remember that not everyone is the same. You may have to try different numbers to find which ones suit you the best. Good luck!

    Thanks will give that a try, do you eat your exercise cals?
  • ashlee954
    ashlee954 Posts: 1,112 Member
    Most of the time I do. :)
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