High cycling day...opinions?

[toadcrack]

I've been successfully cycling calories for a few months now and have started doing some more extreme cycling...ie. big swings from day-to-day.

I just did my first "high" cycle day...targeting my maintenance calories w/ 5 500 calorie meals and 1 350 calorie meal for the day.

I'm not building to compete or necessarily "cutting," just looking to continue to lose weight/fat, get in better shape, and train for a 1/2 marathon. Having said that, for the past few months, I've been focusing on calories (not macros) and just trying to get a good amount of protein.

Here's how it shook out...tommorrow all 500 calorie meals will be 200 calorie meals (350 will remain in 1 meal)

Any thoughts/opinions?

___________________________________

Breakfast (500 cal):
Whole wheat bagel w/ 2 tablespoons natty PB

Morning Snack (500 cal):
Muscle Milk protein bar
1/3 cup mixed nuts

Lunch (350 cal):
Wendy's Apple and Almond salad w/ grilled chicken

Afternoon Snack (500 cal):
Muscle Milk lite shake
1 cup Kashi go-lean cereal
1 small bowl fresh fruit (red grapes and strawberries)

Dinner (500 cal):
Jersey Mikes "Jersey Shore Favorite," regular on wheat

Night Snack (500 cal):
1/2 cup granola cereal w/ 1/2 cup skim milk
1/2 cup Kashi go-lean cereal
1/2 cup Honey Bunches of Oats cereal
1/2 ON whey shake
(was craving cereal tonight!)

[thegymbum]

So you're doing only 950 calories on your low days..? What's your intention with going so low? Just wondering. I would honestly say that that is too low and is going to result in slowing of your metabolism and symptoms like fatigue and weakness. Even though you're "compensating" on higher calorie days, it's probably better to balance it out a little. Just out of curiousity, what are you trying to accomplish with the cycling that you thibnk you couldn't accomplish by a more even plan..?

[toadcrack]

So you're doing only 950 calories on your low days..? What's your intention with going so low? Just wondering. I would honestly say that that is too low and is going to result in slowing of your metabolism and symptoms like fatigue and weakness. Even though you're "compensating" on higher calorie days, it's probably better to balance it out a little. Just out of curiousity, what are you trying to accomplish with the cycling that you thibnk you couldn't accomplish by a more even plan..?

My low days would actually be 1350 (5 200 cal meals + 1 350 cal meal)...and my high days around 3000.

My intention on doing this is really just shaking up the cycling I had been doing, which I've had great success with but, as a whole, the changes in calories have been minimal (1800 one day, 1600 one day, 1900 one day, etc).

I just wondered if a more "extreme" high/low mix every couple of weeks would re-awaken my metabolism.

As noted, I'm not "cutting" per se (not really a builder or competetor) but looking to get into better shape and lose fat. I've lost 50 pounds since March and am training for a 1/2 marathon (I run 3xweek, stregth train 3xweek, and take a full rest day once a week).

As a comparison, my "low" day today will be something like:

Breakfast / Post WO (200 cal):
1 scoop whey w/ 20gm dextrose

Morning Snack (200 cal):
Oatmeal w/ almonds

Lunch (350 cal):
<Some approx 350 cal meal [will likely eat out]>

Afternoon snack (200 cal):
1 greek yogurt
1/2 scoop whey

Dinner (200 cal):
Turkey, rice, white bean mix

Night Snack:
3/4 cup dry cereal (Honey Bunches of Oats or Fiber One)
1/2 scoop whey

Thanks and let me know what you think!