Cyclical diets?

[Romans5.8]

I've heard some people talk about cyclical diets to maintain weight loss. In other words, say my maintenance calorie intake is 2000 (using easy numbers). I eat 1500 per day for 14 days, and then 2000 per day for 7 days. Meaning I only lose weight 2 weeks and maintain one week, but I lose MORE weight on those two weeks because of an improved metabolism.

I just wonder if anyone has any information, or like an empirical study on such an idea. I know people talk about plateuing but I wonder if the root cause of that has more to do with a slowed metabolism; or more to do with simply not adjusting their caloric intake to match their new, lower weight.

I've always been interested in so many discussions about metabolism. But there just doesn't seem to be a lot of 'scientific data' out there about it. Sure, a lot of things that a lot of people repeat; but I'm just curious as to what's real and what's another fad. Because the idea of a cyclical diet is intriguing, IF it's more effective. In other words, I wonder if it really does benefit your metabolism so much, that it is worth the extra caloric intake over time. (For some like myself who are dropping an extra 1000 calories per day; to shoot for 2 lbs per week of weight loss, a cyclical diet would mean, to use the 2 week down 1 week maintain example, 7000 extra calories every few weeks!)

 

[icychic]

I've heard that you want to vary your calorie intake every day. Supposedly it helps your metabolism not get too used to smaller calorie intake and slow down permanently. I think that's why cheat days (like once a week or something) aren't really so bad, because they kind of trick your body so when you are eating less it doesn't kick into starvation mode. I don't think I would do a whole week of full calorie intake though, probably more of a 1 out of 7 days eat more than 2000 calories, or least more than 1700-1800, then back to the 1500 for the other 6.

 

[Romans5.8]

I really have a hard time with the whole 'cheat day' thing as I am really wanting to 100% change my lifestyle. I still eat the old foods; just less of it, and I prepare. Going out for pizza with friends? Sure but it'll just be a slice or two (instead of, like, a whole pizza or something), and I'll have some very low calorie meals during the day.

My caloric intake does vary every day though. Not a lot, but, I'm not a 'super strict' calorie counter. Because I want this to be sustainable. And I want to get to a point where I can lose my weight and be able to just live healthy, not need to measure everything. That's not to say I eyeball things. I use a scale, setup my portions, plan ahead. But I don't sit there and make sure I have the EXACT amount of calories. If I'm 100 or so high for the day or 100 or so low for the day I'm okay with that. Is that enough variation?

 

[lemlih aimad]

The CKD is for those who’s main concern is true fat loss and muscle preservation. It's usually used by people who need muscle for sports and high intensity activities.
It's a low-carbohydrate diet with irregular periods of high or moderate carbohydrate consumption