Big H - Question about the Zig Zag Diet?

[Shaolin Temple]

Yo, Whatever i found through any search engine was BS. I was hoping you can expain the basics of the diet, any pros and cons, and most of all the science behind why it works.

Thanks man

[Big H]

Well its not really a diet; its more of a concept. Pretty much you go on the calorie deficit portion from Monday to Friday, and then on Saturday and Sunday you up your calorie intake to reset Leptin levels and promote SOME muscle growth. Its simply cuz you can't really gain weight or muscle without enough calories. In essence its simply cheating on the weekends, but it does provide results. Plus it helps people stay on diets; however some may alter it to only cheating on Sundays. This action gives it the name Zig Zag.

Here is a great article by a knowledgable person that explains it in full detail: http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/drsquat6.htm

You can use the opposite for gaining mass too. Eat heavy from Monday-Friday, and cut calories on the weekends. It makes the biggest difference for those who apply the concept for fat loss; bulking is usually a full week thing.

[makavalli]

Well its not really a diet; its more of a concept. Pretty much you go on the calorie deficit portion from Monday to Friday, and then on Saturday and Sunday you up your calorie intake to reset Leptin levels and promote SOME muscle growth. Its simply cuz you can't really gain weight or muscle without enough calories. In essence its simply cheating on the weekends, but it does provide results. Plus it helps people stay on diets; however some may alter it to only cheating on Sundays. This action gives it the name Zig Zag.

Here is a great article by a knowledgable person that explains it in full detail: http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/drsquat6.htm

You can use the opposite for gaining mass too. Eat heavy from Monday-Friday, and cut calories on the weekends. It makes the biggest difference for those who apply the concept for fat loss; bulking is usually a full week thing.


so this zig zag thing is more for weight loss?if so i might try it

[Big H]

Well It just makes dieting easier to live with. Looking forward to those one or two days of extra calories helps keep people on the right track longer. As long as your not grubbin sh*t like 2 large pizzas with wings, the damage will be minimal. You may notice that on the scale you MIGHT go up a few pounds, but its only water weight so don't worry about it. A day or two of dieting will drop your weight back down.

[Psutopshotta]

Well It just makes dieting easier to live with. Looking forward to those one or two days of extra calories helps keep people on the right track longer. As long as your not grubbin sh*t like 2 large pizzas with wings, the damage will be minimal. You may notice that on the scale you MIGHT go up a few pounds, but its only water weight so don't worry about it. A day or two of dieting will drop your weight back down.
So what should be a persons cal intake daily from monday-friday?

[Big H]

So what should be a persons cal intake daily from monday-friday?

Well you wanna start out by cutting 500 calories a day for a week, then 700 next week, 1000 the next week, and so on. You can do it slowly to avoid muscle loss and cut 100 more calories every week. As long as your eating 6 meals a day and getting ATLEAST 1,300-1,500 (absolute minimum in my opinion) the fat will drop.

[Psutopshotta]

Well you wanna start out by cutting 500 calories a day for a week, then 700 next week, 1000 the next week, and so on. You can do it slowly to avoid muscle loss and cut 100 more calories every week. As long as your eating 6 meals a day and getting ATLEAST 1,300-1,500 (absolute minimum in my opinion) the fat will drop.
why do u feel like thats the absolute minimum..like whats yoru thinking behind it

[makavalli]

why do u feel like thats the absolute minimum..like whats yoru thinking behind it


because if u go below that you will be cutting into your muscle being canobolized or end up crashin your metabolism then u wont burn shyt just store fat

[Big H]

Pretty much.

It just isn't healthy and you'll be feeling like sh*t. And since most people cut those calories in the form of Carbs, you will without a doubt feel it. Cutting at calories below that are drastic and shouldn't be done for more than a few days.

Now people who are obese and have a lot of bodyfat are a different story. They can easily drop to low cals like that and keep losing fat with little to no muscle loss. Their bodies will attack fat first since its quicker to metabolize and more available. They can easily go on a liquid diet even and still rip the fat off. While its still not advised since a lack of nutrients and other essentials will be gone, it can be done with extreme care.