The Calorie Shifting Diet

Almost everyone who has ever tried to diet in the past knows all too well hitting the dreaded "plateau" or "wall" as it is sometimes called. It is that strange phenomenon that occurs when a person successfully diets, and it brings weight loss to an immediate halt, so no matter how hard you continue to try to lose weight it just won't occur. This plateau usually occurs at around the third to fourth week after you begin dieting and seems to be a constantly reoccurring factor from that point in your diet onwards. These frustrating periods of dieting are a natural defense mechanism in your body.

As your food intake routine changes, your body figures out what you are up to, and in a desperate attempt to prevent starvation from occurring your body goes into a protective stance against this change. It slows down your metabolism to prevent any further weight loss from occurring. Besides reducing the overall amount of weight that a dieter loses, these plateaus are also the time period when a lot of dieters start to believe that they are just incapable of losing weight, they get frustrated and a lot of times, just give up trying to fight their bodies urge to maintain its current weight!

The "Calorie Shifting" diets try to eliminate this plateau from occurring. By shifting the number of calories that a person eats each day, the diet effectively attempts to trick your metabolism into not recognizing that a slow or steady diet or weight loss is actually in progress, and your body does therefore not go into a protectionist stance. The theory is that your metabolism will then not slow down to prevent further weight loss from occurring and you will continue to lose weight at higher levels than you would on other diets.

There are a number of variations on how you can incorporate this type of diet plan into your daily routine, so courtesy of its versatility, it is a diet that should be relatively easy for almost anyone to accommodate into their current lifestyle. You can follow one of the plans that is currently out there or create your own.

1. Fat Loss 4 Idiots uses the calorie shifting method on a 14 day schedule, for 11 days you eat a scheduled diet plan, and then you take the next 3 days off to eat normally or should I say to consume whichever food you choose to on those days.

The diet itself rotates the different types of foods that you consume throughout the day to additionally trick your metabolism. The three cheat days built into the program are there not only to prevent the body from creating a defense mechanism but also to prevent the participant from becoming frustrated with a strict diet plan and falling off the diet. You continue this 14 day diet plan for as long as is necessary to reduce your excess weight.

2. The "Johnson Upday Downday Diet" is a calorie shifting diet plan that runs on a 2 day schedule. Consisting of an upday on which you consume your regular food intake and a downday on which you consume 20 to 35 percent less calories than you would normally consume. You continue this two day diet pattern until your desired weight loss is attained.

3. The Q.O.D. Diet or every other day diet by John Daugirdas is a 2 day diet plan. On this diet plan you alternate a fasting day or a semi fasting day consisting of a strict 300 to 400 calories with your regular eating days. You continue with this 2 day routine till you effectively lose the amount of weight that you are aiming to drop. I find this one a little startling and would not recommend it as a healthy means of losing weight.

The beauty of shifting calorie diets is that you can easily set your own program. In order to participate in this form of diet you have only to remember to not fall into a recognizable pattern of reducing your calorie intake. What could be easier? There are a few basic rules to keep in mind when creating your individual shifting calorie diet, but otherwise it is so versatile that whenever you need a break you can take one, and for this very reason the overall success of this diet type should be easier to attain than other diet plans.

Keep in mind that an average calorie intake for women is 1,940 to 2,200 calories per day while the average calorie intake for men is 2,700 to 3,000 calories per day. Calorie intake varies with each individual depending on a number of factors and taking into account your weight, height, activity level, fitness level and even genetic factors. When dieting, a person's calorie intake is usually reduced between 250 to 1,000 calories per day depending on the individual, and the type of diet that they are participating in. A safe weight loss is generally considered to run between a pound to 2 pounds per week weight loss.

An exercise program should run in addition to any diet. This will not only increase the amount of your weight lost, but will also tighten and firm the body, as you lose that extra fat. One half hour a day of yoga, walking or dance would be sufficient to produce dramatic results in a relatively short period of time. Choose what days you will do which form of exercise and alternate these to fit your lifestyle.

Alternate the food groups that you eat throughout the day. Eat mainly protein for one meal and then largely carbs the next. Then turn this around on your next diet day. Work at constantly confusing your body as to exactly what you are up to.

Remember To Be Proud Of The Small Steps That You Make And The Large Ones Will Follow - Cycling Calories Works!

Choose which days you wish to reduce calories on and by what degree you choose to reduce them. Try to maintain a reasonable and healthy weight loss plan.

Try not to binge eat on the days that you are to return to your normal eating patterns. Try to eat more foods that are vitamin rich for the calories that you consume. For example reduce your intake of pastries and sweets and replace these instead with an increase in fresh fruits and vegetables.

Always attempt to drink between 8 to10 glasses of water per day and to reduce your intake of other sweetened or caffeinated beverages.

Attempt to not skip breakfast and to eat 4 to 5 small meals per day rather than 3 large meals. This serves to help keep your metabolism from slowing down.

Remember not to be too harsh on yourself, just enjoy the adventure of your new diet plan and exercise program, and take pride in each small step forward. Every pound you do lose is one pound closer to a healthier new you.

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Dieting can be one of the most gosh awful things that a person can be forced to endure. The tummy growls constantly. You wind up sitting in a corner all by your grumpy old self, sipping herbal tea, and munching on a stick of celery to stave off the traumatic effects of self induced starvation. Every trip out into the glaring reality of life and living has you pouting as you find yourself staring into the satisfied eyes of the gazillions of skinny people out there in the real world .......Read More

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http://ezinearticles.com/?Calorie-Shifting-What-Is-It-Exactly?&id=640971
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http://weightloss.about.com/od/eatsmart/a/blcalintake.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calorie
http://www.intelligentfitnessnj.com/beta2/docs/how_to_count_calories.htm