Calorie cycling - 3 Fat Chicks on a Diet Weight Loss Community

snowbunny2 · 11-12-2006, 03:09 PM

Hi everyone,
I'm not too new to calorie counting but I've actually never heard of calorie cycling. Could anyone explain it to me? And do you think I could benefit from doing it?
I currently weigh 143lbs. and am looking to lose about 20, I'm barely 5'2" but I usually take in a good deal of calories. I'm aiming for 1400 a day, but sometimes I go a little over. I exercise usually 5 days a week doing 30-45 min. cardio at the gym and then a 20 min. pilates video that I just started. I'm going to try and do it 2-3 times a week.
Do you think calorie cycling would be a good idea? Any information about it would be much appreciated!

LookingForHope16 · 11-12-2006, 08:12 PM

I would love to help you, but I have never heard of it either!!

what is it?

srmb60 · 11-12-2006, 08:35 PM

In Tom Venuto's book Burn the Fat, Feed the Muscle he talks about what he calls the basic zigzag method. He advocates three low calorie days with one higher. I think there was about 500 cals difference.

kateful · 11-12-2006, 08:40 PM

I do this, but not especially intentionally. I eat between 1100 and 1500 calories a day for a weekly average of about 1350. On weekends I usually end up going higher.

LookingForHope16 · 11-12-2006, 09:10 PM

Is a good thing to do?

Is it more effective than just counting everyday?

srmb60 · 11-12-2006, 09:12 PM

I don't think it's any better ... just different. If variety is what turns your crank???
All in all ... you just have to eat less than you use. It's all about the averages in the long run.

LookingForHope16 · 11-12-2006, 09:26 PM

Very True Comment!!

Luv_Losing · 11-12-2006, 11:19 PM

I think you just have to keep trying till you find what works for you. I am currently doing a form of body for life. He states that one entire day you should eat anything you want. I don’t go to that extreme but I do have one meal a week that I just let go. Surprisingly it works for me. I usually have a big bowel movement (sorry for the extra info just felt it was relevant) soon after which I don’t have while watching my calories. I kind of think that doing this helps my body to realize I am not starving and lets me continue to loss weight. It also gives me a meal to look forward to especially if I am craving something. I have been heavy my entire life and have never lost more then 5 lbs at one time (never more then a week on a diet). As you can see this is working for me. This is also something I feel I can do for the rest of my life. In the end it’s all about what you can live with successfully.

srmb60 · 11-13-2006, 06:02 AM

Luv Losing! I'm bumbling my way through BFL right now. There's a thread somewhere. I'll see if I can find it and make a link.

here it is
http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/showthread.php?t=93196

ennay · 11-21-2006, 07:38 PM

The theory is that if you have a higher day every few days you prevent the body from going into starvation mode and lowering your metabolism.

I'm like a pp, I do it accidentally fairly frequently but not usually intentionally

I do know that for me in the past if I plateau hard, the only way for me to break the plateau is to INCREASE calories for a week or two (basically go to "maintenance" level) and then return to the normal diet level. It seems to give my body a break to quit fighting the loss so hard.