Any thoughts on choosing to calorie cycle?

mamareese
mamareese Posts: 1,573 Member
edited September 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
Here's my question (and thanks ahead of time for any responses! :smile: ) I've been doing Insanity and eating around 1430 calories (plus exercise calories) behaving really well during the week with some ups and downs over the weekends. I've consistently sat around 157 almost the entire Insanity program. THEN this last week, I ate perfectly meeting both calorie and macronutrient guidelines but over the weekend, got really off course and just ate whatever was on hand while doing a home remodel. I know I was WAYY over my calorie allotment. Yet this morning, I've finally seen some movement on the scale losing 1.8lbs since my last Monday weigh in. I recognize some of this could be considered water weight but I always drink my water- that's never an issue for me. I'm also having TOM (sorry, TMI!) so I would have assumed no weight loss or even a gain.

I have read about calorie cycling after the great posts on here about it. I realize it's not for everyone but it does seem to be effective for a lot of people. Does any one have any thoughts? Those who have tried it, did you find a similar situation and decide to give it a go? Or am I way of base?

Replies

  • ecaz
    ecaz Posts: 115
    Warning - TMI to follow: I know everyone is different but the week BEFORE my TOM is when I dont see the scale move, the week of, I usually lose at least a pound.
  • mamareese
    mamareese Posts: 1,573 Member
    Warning - TMI to follow: I know everyone is different but the week BEFORE my TOM is when I dont see the scale move, the week of, I usually lose at least a pound.

    Interesting point! I hadn't considered that!
  • Drunkadelic
    Drunkadelic Posts: 948 Member
    I started calorie cycling / calorie zig-zagging about a week and a half ago due to a 3-4 week stall in weight loss. After the first week, I had lost a little over 3 lbs!!! I was totally shocked. I've been keeping track of everything in an excel spreadsheet and I've been posting my updates on my blog. If you want to try it out and need some support, feel free to add me! I really am starting to believe in it!! :D
  • timeformajorchange
    timeformajorchange Posts: 73
    I follow it simply because I have a really hard time staying exactly at say 1400 EVERY day. Some days I'm lower, some days I just get the munchies. I like the calorie cycling because I know if I'm "good" for a few days, I have a higher calorie day coming up. It REALLY helps me with my emotional/mindless eating. I'm a home based daycare provider and mom of 3, so I'm at home all day, with the kitchen just steps away. It helps to keep me from feeling like I've "blown my diet, AGAIN". :) Haven't really noticed if it's helped me lose more lbs or not though. I do try to do my workouts on the days I eat higher though. Maybe I should try to workout on the days I have lower cals? Any idea?
  • BreakOnThru
    BreakOnThru Posts: 66 Member
    I've read in Tim Ferriss's book, The Four Hour Body, that calorie cycling (or including what he calls a re-feeding day) can really give your metabolism a kick in the pants, not to mention keep you sane, as you have that day to look forward to. For me it helped break a plateau. And the Get Fit Guy podcast describes a little about calorie cycling here, though his is slightly different: http://getfitguy.quickanddirtytips.com/how-to-lose-weight-in-4-weeks.aspx Seems there isn't one right way to do it. Figure out what works for you. :smile:
This discussion has been closed.

Categories