I'm a little confused about something.. I've heard about people eating maybe 1200-1800 calories a day but having 1-2 higher calories days, maybe 2000-2200 to "boost" their metabolism.. does this really work? Is it good to do every week or just when you hit a plateau? Has anyone done this and gotten good results? Better results than just staying low calorie all week? Any info would be great thanks in advance

The general idea is that your body gets used to whatever you give it so it is good to mix it up. If you eat 1200-1400 calories every day, then your body gets used to that. If you fluctuate your calories a little, then your body doesn't quite know what to expect. Some people use higher calorie days and some people zig zag calories (1200 one day, 1400 the next, 1600 the next, 1200 the next, etc). I personally have a few higher calorie meals throughout the week that kind of balance out my lower calorie days.

I also like to mix up my days. I have days at 1200, 1400, every now and then 1600 and occasionaly 1750. Keep the metabolisim guessing is the idea behind it, so it never gets too comfortable. It also just plain works out for me that way, sometimes I am hungrier then other days. I don't know what validity it has. All I know is I have been steadily losing weight. I haven't come anywhere near a so called plataeu. I sure as heck would like to keep it that way. For the time being I plan to continue what I am doing as it has been successful so far.

There's an ebook called Burn the Fat, Feed the Muscle by Ton Venuto that I think gives wonderful explanations of how to boost your metabolism.
Off the top of my head, I remember .... eating, if you put something in your stomach that is difficult to digest (like protein)
... cardio, increased heart rate increased metabolism
and ... building muscle, uses calories almost even at rest

I think he talks about calorie cycling too.

lol - I do that (see my plan in signature) but more to give me room to splurge & indulge a little (i.e. when I eat out) than for any metabolic purpose. But if it turns out to be true, looks like I get a 2-for-1 bonus

I used to calorie cycle: I would do 2-1200 calorie days 2-1400 calorie days 2 1700 calorie days and the 7th day I would use to either bring down or move up my weekly average. I tried to aim for 1450 as a weekly average. It did work for me, I did hit a plateau, but that happened more because the holidays did me in. I need to get back in the habit of cycling. It took a month to really start to lose, but I did lose steadily.

I calorie cycle... M-F I do around 1400 and I let things slide on the weekends and probably do closer to 1800 or even 2000... I try to make up my extra calories with lean protein, and do let myself have a treat (or I'd go insane). I've lost slowly, but loss is still loss... and I'd rather lose the weight at a snails pace in a way that I can maintain for the rest of my life than lose it super quick and have it come back on just as fast (as has worked for me in the past!)

I eat around 1535 a day. Sometimes a little more and sometimes a little less. But once a week I go to 2100 and I seem to lose more when I do that.

I don't think I've ever heard of "calorie cycling". But it really sounds interesting!!! I learn SO MUCH just from reading these forums!

I'm gonna do me a google!

wow guys thanks for the info It seems like it has really worked for a lot of you so I may give it a try!

Ok - I thought this was a pretty good article:

Calorie Cycling - Men's Health 2002

In the weight watchers forum there's a section on the "Wendie Plan." It's about varying your points throughout the week. It's basically the same as calorie cycling, but with the points thing. It has some good info on how it works with your metabolism. I've tried it off and on, and lose a little bit faster when I do cycle.

Interesting! I've heard about calorie cycling, but I was skeptical...it seems to be giving results though. I'll look at changing my diet around a bit