What is Calorie Cycling?
You’ve probably heard of counting calories, but what about calorie cycling? Calorie cycling is a dieting strategy that involves planned periods of calorie restriction alternated with days of normal eating. This method is also sometimes referred to as zigzag dieting.
The cycle goes like this: you eat at a calorie deficit for a few days or weeks, then you “recomp” by eating at maintenance for a day or two.
This helps to avoid the dreaded plateau that so many dieters experience. It also helps to keep your metabolism guessing, which can lead to more fat burning in the long run.
How Does Calorie Cycling Work?
A calorie deficit occurs when you burn more calories than you consume. This can be accomplished by eating less food, burning more calories through exercise, or some combination of the two. A period of calorie restriction is often followed by a day or two of maintenance caloric intake, and then the cycle begins again.
Some people choose to calorie cycle because they find it easier to stick to than a traditional diet. Others find that it boosts their metabolism and helps them to lose weight more effectively. When done correctly, calorie cycling can help you lose weight without feeling perpetually hungry or deprived.
If you’re interested in trying calorie cycling, there are a few things you should keep in mind. First, you need to figure out how many calories you need to eat each day to maintain your current weight.
You can use an online calculator like this one from the Mayo Clinic to help with this task. Once you know your maintenance level, you can begin planning your cycles of restriction and maintenance.
It’s also important to make sure that you’re getting enough protein while calorie cycling. Protein is essential for maintaining muscle mass, and it takes more energy for your body to digest than either carbs or fat.
This means that you’ll actually end up burning more calories by eating protein than if you were to consume the same number of calories from carbs or fat. In general, aim for 0.36 grams of protein per pound of body weight (0.8 grams per kilogram). So, if you weigh 150 pounds (68 kg), you should aim for 54 grams of protein per day.
Conclusion
Calorie cycling is a dieting strategy that involves planned periods of calorie restriction alternated with days of normal eating. This method can help people lose weight without feeling perpetually hungry or deprived.
If you’re interested in trying calorie cycling, there are a few things you should keep in mind, such as figuring out your maintenance level and making sure you get enough protein each day.
