zigzagging calories a good idea?

I'm at the last 5ish pounds and they are proving to be tough ones. I think been in starvation mode for a while (simply not interested in eating with the new school year and all among sports and other stuff), and my weight's stayed the same, so I think my metabolism's been suffering.

So, is it a good idea to zigzag my calories, as well as shaking up my exercise regime? Like having a 2 to 3 to 500 change in my calorie intake every day or is that a stupid idea? I've heard a lot of differing things on the topic. I know for sure mixing up exercise will be good, but I've never been quite clear on the eating bit.

Any help?

calorie cycling is one of the most used methods; it has worked for me as well ;) mix it wt a varied workout regimen

I've heard several people on cc that have had great sucess with zig zagging. Personally, I've come to terms with those last five pounds - I can live with them or without them. In order to keep them off, I have to exercise off like 500-800 calories per day (every day) and only eat 1300 calories. I can't live like that forever, so I decided to keep a moderate exerice and diet program (300-700 calories off in exercise 5 days a week, 1500-1800 calories a day) that I can live with.

Honestly, I've never heard anyone anti-zigzaging, save that it was too hard for them to do. (Either keeping track of how it varied was too time consuming, or that they couldn't stand the lower food days). I think that it's unquestionably effective, though, of course, how effective is always hard to say since everyone's body works differently, not to mention that starvation mode is only one possibility.

i would say defo. altho i have never truly purposely set out to zigzag. there were just days that i ate more or needed to eat more so i would compensate (just a little) the next day or so by eating less. i found that it worked best for me so that i can have a social life around food. not only does it allow me a social life without the guilt but it's actually helped me lose weight & keep it off. this is something i could do for the rest of my life.

I zig zag all the time ..i wasnt aware this was others strategy..

It works for me as long as your not over doing it ,you have to keep some sort of balance if that makes any sense.

for example 

sat  1000 cal

sun 600 cal

mon 1200cal

tue  500 cal

wed  1600 cal

thur 700  cal

fri  2000 cal

Original Post by nakedsoul:

I zig zag all the time ..i wasnt aware this was others strategy..

It works for me as long as your not over doing it ,you have to keep some sort of balance if that makes any sense.

for example

sat 1000 cal

sun 600 cal

mon 1200cal

tue 500 cal

wed 1600 cal

thur 700 cal

fri 2000 cal

ill have to chime in here to say that's a little low isn't it? im just going by the bare minimum that cc recommends which would be 8400 calories every 7 days. i would not have enough energy to even walk to work on just 500 for one day.

Original Post by rnjt:

Original Post by nakedsoul:

I zig zag all the time ..i wasnt aware this was others strategy..

It works for me as long as your not over doing it ,you have to keep some sort of balance if that makes any sense.

for example

sat 1000 cal

sun 600 cal

mon 1200cal

tue 500 cal

wed 1600 cal

thur 700 cal

fri 2000 cal

 

ill have to chime in here to say that's a little low isn't it? im just going by the bare minimum that cc recommends which would be 8400 calories every 7 days. i would not have enough energy to even walk to work on just 500 for one day.

 Did you see her profile?

Naked soul, you aren't zig zagging, you are anorexic. Good luck with that!

Nakedsoul, sweetie, you need to eat more.  I saw your photos, and you are not seeing what everyone else sees.    It is not good for your body to only eat 500 calories, you need at least 1200 per day, minimum to live. 

I've been zig-zagging for a while how I did it was I used the calorie count recommendation and then applied the following math

75% Monday

115% Tuesday

75% Wednesday

115% Thursday

75% Friday

95% Saturday

150% Sunday

This gives you a weekly average of the cc recommendation but varies it up enough that your body doesn't know what to expect.  Sometimes I switch Saturday and Sunday just depending on what my weekend plans look like.  My dad used to be a body builder and this is the formula he always used.

i never really zigzaged b4. but im gonna start once i hit my plateau! i hear its really good.