<<I don't really know who calls working out and training for a 1/2 Marathon daily and NOT eating the calories back that you burn "free". >>

When I said "free lunch" I wasn't referring to this regimen. I was referring to the idea that you can jumpstart a weight loss by INCREASING your weekly (or monthly or whatever) calorie count compared to your previous calorie-restricted regimen. I have trouble buying the concept, but if a credible scientific study comes along I'm certainly willing to changing my mind. (I've looked and haven't found one so far.)

F.

I have been counting calories since last July, and have lost 48 lbs so far. I started out with following a strict 1200 calories a day, and soon started hitting plateau after plateau. I started going out to dinner every 7 to 10 days, even though I still tried to make healthier choices, I would usually split a dessert and have a few glasses of wine. I will wait a few days to weigh myself, and always have a weight loss. I went on a cruise in December, and ate horrible for a week, got home and got back on the 1200 calorie train, and lost 5 lbs a week later!! I have been on a plateau for 10 days or so, ate some great superbowl food yesterday, and will see if I lost anything on Friday.

Now, we're getting serious!

Week 5
Sunday (Spike Day)
Cals: 2530
Weight: No WI
Exercise Cals: 530

Monday
Cals: 1229
Weight: 145.6
Exercise Cals: 356

Tuesday
Cals: 1416
Weight: No WI
Exercise Cals: 525

Wednesday
Cals: 1294
Weight: No WI
Exercise Cals: 530

Thursday (TOM)
Cals: 1237
Weight: 143.2
Exercise Cals: 685

This is a 2.6 lb drop for me in 1 week! Even though I gained in week 4 (which I thought was just a blip), I dropped the 0.4 I had gained, then a whole lot more for a person my size! I have yet to weigh in officially for this week & with TOM here, it is messing up my weigh in anyway!! :devil:

I'll update this again on Sunday! Hope you are all having a great week!!

Hi K9 Owner. That's brilliant! Well done. I was away for a week and have gained a couple of pounds. I'm going to do a week on my usual 1400 and then see how I go. I'm encouraged by your success to go and try the refeed day again afterwards.

Freelancemomma although there have been no trials done on regular people body builders have been doing this for many years to get down to almost 0% body fat. If you google leptin etc you will find scientific evidence showing boosts in leptin levels after a spike/refeed day. The thing that I don't know is how it can help me or other non body builders to lose weight or if it will increase metabolism.

At the beginning of this thread a lot of women posted to say that it worked for them. Maybe this won't work for me. I don't know. But I've been on a plateau for months and months and I need to try something different. It's also great for allowing me to eat nuts, avocados and other high cal good stuff once a week. The worst that can happen on this diet is that I will gain a bit of weight. Then I will have to try something else.

K9 owner, I forgot to ask. On your spike day what kind of stuff are you eating.

I don't get cravings after the spike day but you're losing more weight. Maybe it depends on how you do it.

You can find out everything I eat each day by looking at the Daily Thread

I am in awe of how much I am CONTINUING to lose w/spiking.

Last of Week 5
Friday
Cals: 1481
Weight: 143
Exercise Cals: 289

Saturday (work night)
Cals: 1285
Weight: no WI
Exercise Cals: 462

Sunday (SPIKE DAY) **Begin Week 6**
Cals: 3082
Weight: No WI
Exercise Cals: 732

Monday
Cals: 1206
Weight: 143
Exercise Cals: 513

Tuesday (Happi Heart Day) :val1:
Cals: 1913 :fr: **beginning of sabotage for the week! MSG @ Mexican Restaurant
Weight: 143
Exercise Cals: 671

Wednesday (work night)
Cals: 1319 **Lots of sugar from cupcakes and cookies!
Weight: No WI
Exercise Cals: 289

Thursday (work night)
Cals: 1285 **Lots of sugar and cookies!!
Weight: 145.2
Exercise Cals: 462

Friday
Cals: 1368
Weight: No WI
Exercise Cals: 973 :broc:

Saturday (work night)
Cals: ~1200
Weight: 142.4
Exercise Cals: REST DAY--Chiropractor

I picked up the books: New Rules of Lifting for Women & New Rules of Lifting for Abs. I am 2.6 lbs away from my 1st goal of 140 & started strength/lifting 2 weeks ago. I have set a new goal for myself. It is no longer about weight loss--it's more about fat loss and physique. I want to look fabulous naked! I WILL have ABs!!

Wow that's brilliant! Well done! It seems that weeks 5 and 6 are when the weight loss kicked in for you. I wonder what that's about?

Just what I've Been Looking for!!!
 

Hi!
In the past the only times I've been able to lose weight is on a LOW calorie diet. I mean between 1100-1200 calories a day [and yes I'm counting right]. For some reason if I eat even 1300 or 1400 the scale never budges and I even gain. In the past after I lose the weight I eventually need to eat like a normal person and when I start eating even the slightest bit more I balloon and gain it all back. -_-

To combat this I've done a little nutrition research and I'm going to do six days a week with my restriction and one day a week where I don't count and eat as I please to keep my metabolism up and my body guessing.

I assume I'll eat 2000 calories on this free for all day so I'll be still averaging about 1300 calories a day or less.

[[As a ps when I mean cheat, I mean the amount of food and maybe some extra sugar or a glass of wine. I don't eat processed foods ever.]]

From what I see some people are losing weight? Intotouch we have the exact same metabolism. I hope you guys are still around.