Switching calorie intake daily?

AngeleyesJo
AngeleyesJo Posts: 191 Member
edited November 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
Has anyone heard of the theory switching calorie intake each day so you'd have say 1500 one day then 1600 the next etc, confusing your body and result in weight loss? does it work?

Replies

  • deannalfisher
    deannalfisher Posts: 5,600 Member
    I have a cycle of H/M/L day that I use on a 7 day rotation - it gets me the same avg calories during the week and works for me - I'm not sure about the idea that is causes confusion in the body though...that seems a bit like wonk science
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    It doesn't really confuse your body in any way but it is perfectly fine to do that. I tend to think that it is a more natural eating pattern than eating the same amount every single day, which could make things easier.
  • leanjogreen18
    leanjogreen18 Posts: 2,492 Member
    Yes I do this BUT it doesn't confuse your body (I though so at first too).

    It's just a way of eating so that you have variety. You can plan for social events and eating out etc. You won't lose weight any faster but it does work for weight loss because you are in an overall deficit.

  • CaeTroi
    CaeTroi Posts: 27 Member
    So I've heard of this/done this when I was battling my ED as to "tricking" my body to stop it from going into starvation mode. I don't know if it would increase/decrease weight loss if you're eating a normal amount of calories. Note: I am NOT encouraging extreme restriction of the diet. I have heard of people eating less on one day and more the next as a way to balance calorie intake out during the course of the week. i.e. eating less during the weekdays in order to eat more on the weekend.
  • TR0berts
    TR0berts Posts: 7,739 Member
    deannalfisher wrote: »
    I have a cycle of H/M/L day that I use on a 7 day rotation - it gets me the same avg calories during the week and works for me - I'm not sure about the idea that is causes confusion in the body though...that seems a bit like wonk science

    Wonk science. I like it.
  • AngeleyesJo
    AngeleyesJo Posts: 191 Member
    OK so is it worth trying?
  • deannalfisher
    deannalfisher Posts: 5,600 Member
    AngeleyesJo wrote: »
    OK so is it worth trying?

    what could the harm be TO YOU? i mean that is the question you need to answer - it works for me and others, but IMHO it takes more discipline if you are doing it - to make sure that you don't opt for consecutive days of higher calories
  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    AngeleyesJo wrote: »
    OK so is it worth trying?

    Will it make it easier for you to be at a deficit overall? IMO, that's really the only point of trying it -- if it makes it easier for you.

    "Confusing" your body won't result in weight loss. That will come through a deficit. You can do that while eating the same number of calories every day or you can switch it up each day. It's up to you what you prefer.
  • VintageFeline
    VintageFeline Posts: 6,771 Member
    If you think it will result in more weight loss for same overall consumed calories across a week, no, don't try it because that's not a thing. If you want to "bank" calories from one day so you can eat more on another then sure. Lots of people use a weekly average of calorie intake, myself included.
  • leanjogreen18
    leanjogreen18 Posts: 2,492 Member
    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10419148/zig-zag-or-calorie-cycling#latest

    Here is my very first post on the subject and some very knowledgable folks helped clear up the "confusing the body" issue. Its a bit embarrassing for me but I continue to zig zag for variety.

    Yes you will still lose weight I'm down 34 lbs and I've been zig zagging the whole time.

    The important thing is you stay in an overall weekly deficit.
  • Ready2Rock206
    Ready2Rock206 Posts: 9,487 Member
    Being at a calorie deficit works, how you get there is up to you.
  • AngeleyesJo
    AngeleyesJo Posts: 191 Member
    Thanks
  • TR0berts
    TR0berts Posts: 7,739 Member
    leanjogreen18 wrote: »
    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10419148/zig-zag-or-calorie-cycling#latest

    Here is my very first post on the subject and some very knowledgable folks helped clear up the "confusing the body" issue. Its a bit embarrassing for me but I continue to zig zag for variety.

    Yes you will still lose weight I'm down 34 lbs and I've been zig zagging the whole time.

    The important thing is you stay in an overall weekly deficit.

    I just read that thread. I have to say, I really liked your attitude throughout. Especially where you said, "Apparently I am missing some facts." It's always nice when people are open to the idea that what they think may not be (entirely) correct. It means learning can happen.
  • leanjogreen18
    leanjogreen18 Posts: 2,492 Member
    TR0berts wrote: »
    leanjogreen18 wrote: »
    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10419148/zig-zag-or-calorie-cycling#latest

    Here is my very first post on the subject and some very knowledgable folks helped clear up the "confusing the body" issue. Its a bit embarrassing for me but I continue to zig zag for variety.

    Yes you will still lose weight I'm down 34 lbs and I've been zig zagging the whole time.

    The important thing is you stay in an overall weekly deficit.

    I just read that thread. I have to say, I really liked your attitude throughout. Especially where you said, "Apparently I am missing some facts." It's always nice when people are open to the idea that what they think may not be (entirely) correct. It means learning can happen.

    Thank you. If I'm not listening and learning from feedback I'm not growing. I had to let my defensiveness drop though:).

    I'm determined to keep this weight off (once I get to goal) and I'd be stupid not to listen to folks regardless of HOW they state the information, especially when they can interpret the science.

    I've learned so much on this forum from so called "snarky/mean" posts:). If it were not for these folks I don't know how long it would have taken me to find out about TDEE and now I'm armed with years of missing information on HOW to keep this weight off.
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