Has anyone tried doing this?

Jess5825
Jess5825 Posts: 228
in Health and Weight Loss
So my weight is at a dead stall. I workout 6 days a week (I would do 7, but I know you should take one rest day). I do kickboxing, also train with a trainer once a week, and started doing a bootcamp class once a week (hopefully they continue it). I can't seem to lose anything.
I've been thinking about trying to zig zag my calories, but also I started thinking about totally shocking my body. I've been doing my lifestyle change all gung ho (though I was dieting prior to that) for a year and a half. So I was thinking of shocking my body and taking a week and eat whatever I want, and I mean whatever, I really have no limits in my diet, but I try to avoid things. So I was thinking of just eating whatever and not tracking calories or anything. I would still workout, because it makes me feel good.

So any advice if that may get me started again?

Replies

  • emrys1976
    emrys1976 Posts: 213 Member
    a lot of people on here have had great success with spike days (you can search forums for info about that). I broke my plateau by adding a 200-300 calories per day to my diet.
  • dr_tina
    dr_tina Posts: 225 Member
    I believe research shows that 8-12 hours is enough to do the trick regarding spike in calories. I spike on Saturdays and eat double my usual amount, but I don't eat my exercise calories during the week. This has been very effective for me.
  • MadeOfMagic
    MadeOfMagic Posts: 525 Member
    Here is a post a while I made a while ago, its basically everything I learned from here (from peoples stories and suggestions) and online research on how to break through plateau by different methods, and I have listed them ALL in one place. If you have questions, message me.
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/390579-ways-to-avoid-break-plateaus
  • cassblue21
    cassblue21 Posts: 207
    I say zig zag the calories. Don't go all out for a whole week. That may just end up discouraging you or give you cravings for things you stay away from. :) Good luck with whatever you decide though!
  • ksumme
    ksumme Posts: 283
    You've obviously made great progress so far. Congrats!!

    I can't see your food diary, so don't know what things have been like lately for you.

    I wouldn't open things completely to eat anything and everything you used to 'crave'. My trainer does have me do some 'carb cycling'. So typically, I only have a max of 45 grams of carbs per meal, and most are much lower. But, I would have a day with up to a 200 to 250 grams of carbs, and as such higher calories that day, then the next day - minimal carbs - and well below my 'daily calorie' intake (not too low), but if I am 250 - 500 calories over one day, the next I would definitely be in the 1050 to 1100 calorie range.
    Remeber when you eat carbs, have a good protein to help carry that carb through.

    Don't do anything too radical with your diet. Overall adding a couple of hundred calories would be worth trying, assuming you are operating too low with all the exercise.

    Again, we could offer better advice if we saw your journal, though.

    Good luck!!
  • cbirdso
    cbirdso Posts: 465 Member
    No, I would not do that. I would suppose that is how you put on weight in the first place - via uncontrolled eating . I would try zigzagging calories, but keep within your limit for the week. Make sure they are nutritious calories and that the level is not lower than MFP recommends. Also, I would back off on the exercise A LITTLE - not have a strenuous workout each and every day. Do yoga or pilates or take walks a few of your workout days, drink lots of water, de-stress. I know it worked for at least one person --- me.
  • Jess5825
    Jess5825 Posts: 228
    I like the ideas and I'll probably just try zig zagging my calories. I recently added in biking (forgot to mention that) and like I said I started a bootcamp class. So maybe that will start to change things.
  • Katwilkins
    Katwilkins Posts: 39 Member
    What works for me is consistency, and when I wasn't loosing weight, I decreased the calories by 100 to 200, now I consistently eat the lower calories. I do NOT add calories for exercise, or I would never loose. I have to eat high protein to feel full, and drink lots of water with each meal and snack. I also try to eat high vegetables and fruit, going low in other areas, but if I want a cookie, I eat it and count the calories.

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