Calorie cycling: yes or no?

vitani88
vitani88 Posts: 8
edited December 2024 in Food and Nutrition
I have recently gotten back on the wagon. I only need to lose about 10lbs, but I'm thinking about trying calorie cycling and here's why: I don't want my body to get comfortable at my normal 1200 calories/day again. I ate 1200 calories per day for a year or two, lost the weight I wanted and then the weight loss stopped. As soon as I started eating a couple hundred more calories per day, about 7lbs crept up on me. Granted, it took quite a few months, but I believe it's because my body became so comfortable with eating 1200 calories per day.

Now, calorie cycling. I've looked at some numbers, and the only thing I see wrong is that this will cause me to have a couple days around 1050 calories and I'm not sure I'll survive.

So, who here has tried calorie cycling and what do you think? Or just opinions in general are appreciated too :-)

Replies

  • PercivalHackworth
    PercivalHackworth Posts: 1,437 Member
    eat more first, then go cycling if you want. :wink:
    What are you expecting from it actually ?
  • vitani88
    vitani88 Posts: 8
    I don't want my body to get comfortable with 1200 calories. Because then when I lose the weight that I want to lose and I start eating normally again, I'll gain it back slowly.
  • PercivalHackworth
    PercivalHackworth Posts: 1,437 Member
    I don't want my body to get comfortable with 1200 calories. Because then when I lose the weight that I want to lose and I start eating normally again, I'll gain it back slowly.

    You would lose more by eating more, when you don't eat enough (most 1200 calories people don't) you just, make things harder.
    Eat in accordance to your daily expenditure, weight will drop after that if you put a deficit afterwards.
    In your case, aim the calories increase, not the cycling
  • vitani88
    vitani88 Posts: 8

    You would lose more by eating more, when you don't eat enough (most 1200 calories people don't) you just, make things harder.
    Eat in accordance to your daily expenditure, weight will drop after that if you put a deficit afterwards.
    In your case, aim the calories increase, not the cycling

    I'm a 5'2" female and 1200 calories is what most calculators suggest. It's what I've always done and it's always worked. My issues come when I start eating more post-weight loss. Also, I did not understand your last sentence.
  • MelissaGraham7
    MelissaGraham7 Posts: 406 Member
    The trouble with calorie cycling - and I"ve done it so I speak from the experience - is that you don't really want to sustain it and just like any other weight loss method you are looking for something you can maintain. I find that my body likes a daily amount. I did not feel good on the day I had to eat more - felt like I was binging with 300-400 more calories - so I felt bloated and yucky and over stuffed. On days I ate less, I felt starved and crappy. So, for a month of cycling I felt crappy. It also did nothing for my plateau. Lots of people say it works. It did not for me. Like you, I have 10 more pounds to go. I have tried virtually everything including cycling. However, I can also say that I lost more weight, as above posts, when I started eating MORE and the 1200 calories was just not correct. Anyway, the bottom line for me on the cycling was that it was too artificial - it never felt "right" and it was a constant struggle so it was not for me.
  • MelissaGraham7
    MelissaGraham7 Posts: 406 Member
    Sorry - one more thing - you stay your problems come when you start eating more post loss. That is exactly the key. Obviously, you can't maintain cycling long term. Nor do you want to eat 1200 calories long term. You should listen to Razique as he knows a TON about BMR and TDEE, etc, etc. Ask him for his spread sheet and plug your numbers in. You will be AMAZED that you can eat more and lose weight and be comfortable doing it long term. I've maintained over a year. I have not lost the last 10 pounds (curses!) but I have maintained on more calories - thanks to the philosophy behind all the statistics like your BMR and your TDEE and the science of the numbers. You don't want to put weight on when you start eating more calories. That's where you need to train your body now so you lose weight and can eat enough to be able to do this long term. Seriously - ask Razique for his spread sheet.
  • vitani88
    vitani88 Posts: 8
    The trouble with calorie cycling - and I"ve done it so I speak from the experience - is that you don't really want to sustain it and just like any other weight loss method you are looking for something you can maintain. I find that my body likes a daily amount. I did not feel good on the day I had to eat more - felt like I was binging with 300-400 more calories - so I felt bloated and yucky and over stuffed. On days I ate less, I felt starved and crappy. So, for a month of cycling I felt crappy. It also did nothing for my plateau. Lots of people say it works. It did not for me. Like you, I have 10 more pounds to go. I have tried virtually everything including cycling. However, I can also say that I lost more weight, as above posts, when I started eating MORE and the 1200 calories was just not correct. Anyway, the bottom line for me on the cycling was that it was too artificial - it never felt "right" and it was a constant struggle so it was not for me.

    Thanks so much! I'm confused about how many calories to eat, but I know what you mean about feeling crappy. I've only been doing it for a week, but I have been feeling like garbage. I love having a cheat day on Saturdays (though I never binge - I sometimes get ice cream or sushi). Suggestions? I also sent that message about the spreadsheet, though I'm not really sure what exactly that's for.
This discussion has been closed.

Categories