Hey all! Let me start out by saying I'm a calorie counter. But I think I'd like to give cycling a try out. My issue is I'm the type that doesn't want to eat anything "useless" (well, most of the time). It's like a waste of my calroies... and then I only get 11-1300 in a day. Then there are days we eat out, or something comes up and I eat something I wasn't planning on. Accoriding to dailyplate I should be getting right at 1900 to lose 2lbs a week.

So I think calorie cycling will fit my lifestyle, really. I'd like to get my calories to even out at about 1800. I'm really worried about increasing my calories that much but I know that I need to. Otherwise what am I going to do when I lose and need to decrease calories?? Anyway, I'm wondering if this sounds about right. In one week I'd have 3 days that are at 1800 calories, 2 that are at 1300, and 2 that are at 2300. Or should I vary it up more. 1-1800, 1 1600, 1-2000, 1-1300, 1- 1500, 1-2100, 1-2300?

Why is it so scary to change thigns up? I want to make sure I'm doing it RIGHT.

Hi Jackie,
I have been calorie cycling for about 3 months now. Before that I was calorie counting and keeping it right at 1200-1300 daily. I hit a huge stall after I lost about 25-30 Lbs. It was really frustrating. That's when I first heard the term calorie cycling used here on 3FC. So I decided to give it a try. It immediately broke my stall. I was so happy.
Either one of those figures you give sounds good. The two lowest numbers space them far apart from each other. Like 1300 Monday- 1300 or 1500 Friday. To keep that metabolism guessing. The higher calorie day's move more. And change that up every few weeks. I would keep a diary of everything. Weight, foods, calories, etc. So you can go back and make adjustments if something is not working good. I'm losing about a Lb. a week. But I am not moving as much as I should. Some weeks I lose 1 Lb. some 2 Lbs. One week I lost 3 Lbs. Some weeks 0. I guess it is trial and error. I just still have the mentality if someone loses 1 Lb. a week or 5-6 a month that is very good.
It looks like you are doing very good with your weight loss! Congratulations!! It is always kinda scary trying something new, especially changing something that could effect the hard work you have been doing. For me daily plate tells me I can have 1794 calories daily to lose 1 Lb. a week. But I have noticed if I go above 1700 I don't lose. So I have to stay below that. And it could be because I am not exercising as much as I should. Each one is different. You will find the perfect numbers for you that work. Eat very healthy. Your good health is the main thing.

I decided to try calorie cycling too. I started last Friday so today will be the last day before I weigh in again. I decided to try it because in the past I noticed weird trends when I was trying to diet. I'd start one and lose 3 or 4 lbs the first week, then for a few weeks I'd only lose 1 or so. Then I'd get frustrated and splurg on some type of fast food for a meal the next week, and that week I'd lose like 3 lbs. When I heard about cycling it made me think of that and I realized it kind of makes sense.

Before I was trying to keep my calorie intake to about 1400, so that's my average. My schedule is

Monday ~ 1500
Tuesday ~ 1250
Wednesday ~ 1400
Thursday ~ 1250
Friday ~ 1750
Saturday ~ 1350
Sunday ~ 1250

I'm going to try it for a few weeks and see how it goes.

Thanks so much for replying, goal. And for the compliment on my weight loss. I'm really happy with my progress, but always wanting to tweak and make things better, ya know? I like the idea of changing it up... I don't know why I thought I needed to have exact numbers each week. But being able to change the calorie goals up each week is really more adaptable to real life.

I do have a journal I'm making. It will have my weekly menu, daily calorie goals, along with exactly what I've eaten, exercise, TOM, everything. That way I can look at it, and hopefully be able to be smart enough to tweak as need be. I am really nervous about jumping up there to 1800 calories, but we shall see..... Maybe I should move up slowly. 1400 this week, 15 next, etc etc

Dimples, I'd love to hear how it works for you. I've noticed something similar to what you mention with the scales. I am really excited about the calorie cycling. And really nervous.

Calorie cycling sounds like a great concept, to me. I have a habit of having 6 lower-calorie days and then one higher-calorie day, which keeps my metabolism revved. That's how I went about losing 60 pounds in the first place, so I hope it will work for me again now that I'm trying to lose 80 more. It's the same concept, except I don't have to do as much planning. It's easy, since I go out to eat with my family on Saturdays and stay up late playing cards that night.

This is what my husband and I have been doing. Eating fairly low calorie all week (though 2000 is my max i rarely reach that) and then one cheat meal. I also think it helps keeps things revved. So far I've lost 40 lbs and hubby has lost 140 so it works for us! But every BODY is different.

Thanks so much y'all! Looks like I'll be experimenting and tweaking as need be. I'm always afraid to do that because i feel like I'm not "smart" enough to do it right. Of course, I know that's wrong. LOL I can do this!

I've just started calorie shifting this week. I've absolutely no idea if there is any real 'science' behind it but I really needed something to grab my interest and make me concentrate after 144 perfectly on plan days at 1400.

Based on erm forgotten the name of the site but someone on 3fc mentioned it in a post on his subject just a few days ago, I'm on
1392
1392
1532
1392
1392
1392
1632

Yes, the odd '2's at the end are weird.
So far I've lost 1lb in 4 days ~ which is pretty much what I was doing before but I was in dire risk of slipping through boredom, so so far, so good.

So before I mentioned how usually when I'd start a "diet" in the past I'd loss around 3 or 4 the first week, then the next week it would drop to only around 1 pound and that would happen for a few weeks.

Well, my first week I counted calories normal and I had a 3.8 loss. This past week, which was my second full week since starting I did the calorie cycling and I'm down 2.8 more! So for me that's great motivation for me to keep doing the calorie cycling for sure.

Thanks to all the ladies that shared their info on Calorie Cycling. I am considering doing this once I come off my current protocol with HCG.
I am still researching and see what is the best way to go. Currently I am loosing about 5 pounds per week and I want that to continue. I know some say that's a lot but it works for me and good friend of mine lost at the same rate and she has kept it off.