A. Same cals every day
B. Low cals during the week, higher cals on the weekends
C. Cycle/Zig Zag cals
I'm currently cycling my cals to lose weight and I like it a lot because it makes the menu different every day and really allowes for dinners out or unexpected situations. We go out on the weekends frequently and order pizza occassional so having flexibility on the weekends is important for my lifestyle so I'm thinking option B or C will be best for me. What about you veteran maintainers which do you prefer and why?
You can see in my siggy bow long this has taken. If you subtract the baby break and weight gain from that it was 1 year and 10 Months to lose the first 71lbs, then about 6 month to lose these last 40lbs and I figure at least 2 more moths for the last 10lbs. So the whole process is about 2 1/2 yrs. I've been typically doing b, but these last few months c. It's taken me a long time though because we eat out a lot and this is not a diet to me it's a permanent lifestyle change. I also struggle with bingeing.
I do the same amount of calories every day. With an occasional treat. I find that so much easier than having to go shop at the fat ladies shop again. I have no problem varying my menu, that is the beauty of counting calories, the variety of food is endless. I just need to stay in my calorie allotment.
I do a modified B, I suppose. But it's not "high calories on the weekends" - it's high calories for one meal. I get one treat meal a week - normally it falls on the weekend, sometimes it doesn't (depending on social situations usually). That gives me some flexibility.
I do B. Technically my plan is to have one treat meal on the weekend (or Friday night), not to eat a lot more on the weekends in general, but I usually end up eating more on both days. Typically the day with the treat meal is the highest, and the other day is only slightly higher than the weekdays.
Mainly I like doing it that way because on weekdays I am at work, so my meals are much more controlled. I bring my lunch with me, and I plan out what I'm cooking for dinners. On the weekend I tend to be away from home far more often and at the mercies of food for sale rather than home cooking, so if I "plan to be off plan" then I don't have any guilt about it.
Last edited by paperclippy; 05-17-2010 at 11:05 AM.
I stick to the same amount of calories every day (not same exact; same range -- technically my range is a couple hundred calories wide but in practice I am very consistent and close in cals). On previous diet attempts (before my successful loss 08-09) I would do what I've seen referred to as calorie cycling on here, and it would make me hungry. Smart strategy I'm sure, but I associate it with some bad times. I find it easier to do the same thing day in/day out.
Last edited by WhitePicketFences; 05-18-2010 at 07:18 AM.
Reason: add detail
I use a tight and loser count system. During the week I use a tighter count,
food scale, measuring cups. The weekends or events I count a little loser no scale or measuring cups. It gives me a little more flexiblity but keeps me focused. A free day or weekend isn't the plan for me, I have never eaten one cookie a dozen maybe never one...LOL
I'm in the A category but not rigid if there's a reason not to be. I consistently have trouble getting back on plan when I let a trip or celebration detour me. I find it HARD. So if I stay close to the same cals daily, I don't have to fight that fight. Since I just returned from a trip, I'm in that battle and it's winning at the moment. The munchie monster has me in its grips. If I had been totally rigid at disneyland, I would be on plan. But I'm not and will be by the end of the week. Since it's taken me a week to stop saying to myself "I don't care" when I really do, I have to be consistent.
Marie
I aim for a range (1500-1800), so it ends up being a combo of B and C. I find that after a couple of days of eating at the 1500 end of the range (or lower), I have a day when I'm extra hungry, and end up eating around 1800. It seems to be a natural cycle for me.
Which do you prefer?
