Posted by Steve in Diet Program Reviews | 19 Comments
Calorie Shifting
Fat loss 4 idiots is now the #1 Clickbank weightloss product. I still don’t understand why? So in honor of their latest achievement, here is my post on Calorie Shifting again. You can do it on your own if you really want to without paying $35 (unless you want to pay me for this article 
)
I recently received an email from an obvious online marketer promoting the wildly popular fat loss 4 idiots diet program, which is based on the theory of calorie shifting. I didn’t bite but I’ll admit the promises are very enticing.
Claims like “Lose 9 pounds every 11 days” always spark my interest and curiosity. So I wanted to share my thoughts, research on calorie shifting and how it is done. (without you paying $39 for it)
What is Calorie Shifting
Calorie shifting is a method of eating that involves you having 4 meals a day and following a meal plan with foods that supposedly burn fat more effectively (mostly high protein foods and very little vegetables) That is how the commercial programs do it anyway.
You are constantly changing the total amount of calories you eat in any given day, “shifting” your calories up by 400 one day and then down by 300 the next day and so on.
Things to Note Before Starting a Calorie Shifting Plan
Below is an example of a typical calorie shifting plan. In order for this to work there are a few things you should note before you can see the 9 pounds in 11 days claim.
1.) You should establish a calorie baseline that your body has become accustomed to for at least 21-28 days. For this example it is assumed that a daily calorie intake of 2000 calories or very close to it has been maintained.
2.) Your current diet should be pretty bad already. If you have been eating well (lots of fruits and veggies, lean meats and whole grains), exercising regularly and getting plenty of recovery time this most likely won’t work for you. This is something the programs don’t mention as they assume you are already in bad shape to begin with.
A Calorie Shifting Plan Example
Day 1 -1700 Calories
Day 2 -2200 Calories
Day 3 -1600 Calories
Day 4 -2300 Calories
Day 5 -1900 Calories
Day 6 -2500 Calories
Day 7 -1700 Calories
Day 8 -2100 Calories
Day 9 -1500 Calories
Day 10 -2200 Calories
Day 11 -1600 Calories
Notice the up and down swings in the total daily calories. This is designed to confuse your body’s metabolism and supposedly burn more calories.
Is Calorie Shifting Effective?
For some people this can actually be an effective short term plan. But just like any other diet program/ plan it all depends on the individual as everyone’s metabolism is different.
Just be clear that once you return to your normal eating patterns you will most likely regain some of the weight.
Do I Recommend Calorie Shifting?
If you are looking to make a lifestyle change and improve your overall health then I don’t think a calorie shifting plan is the right way to start. These plans exclude many fruits and veggies which I think are essential to your health.
The other thing I dislike about calorie shifting plans is that they require no exercise. I understand that many people hate to exercise and this “no exercise claim” can seem appealing but trust me when I say that food alone is not enough. Please don’t discount the benefits of regular exercise.
Keep in mind that this is calorie shifting as I understand it and there are many variations in the calorie shifting theories and programs.
What is your opinion of Calorie shifting?
Thanks for your informative post. I also have come across similar weight loss programs, and I used to wonder how such an effective diet would exist which wouldn’t require one to do exercises. Your post clarified a lot of queries. a question.
Do you think the shifting will have to be a continued process? I mean, if one starts regular eating after getting some results, will his shape get back to the previous?
Thanks
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I have to say it makes sense to me.
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Always enjoy reading your informative articles. I try to check back here often for updates. Thanks again.
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Wow…I’m really surprise that we have to exclude
veges and fruits for calorie shifting. For long term
I don’t think these kind of diet is viable. I
prefer Atkins more than others.
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This is great! I am excited about learning from you in 2010. !!!!!!! It’s so important that this message is heard. Thanks for all your great insight and the wonderful information you share. It’s all about empowering people, as you are, so they can make the best decisions for themselves.
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I agree with you.How can you loose weight without exercise?Plus no veggies?Its kind of weird way of loosing weight if you ask me.Keep on posting,you have good point in your post.:)
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One of the key ingredients you should look for when embarking on a program that is designed to do your body good is longevity. In other words, is this program good for my body if I eat this way for the rest of my life. If not, then it should never be considered, even to “jump start” a weight loss journey. Eat Clean and exercise, this is the only solution that should ever be promoted.
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Thanks for the information. Calorie Shifting is great and it’s good to know that you need not to exercise with this method but I don’t think this works for me. For me, eating plenty of fruits and vegetables are the best option to loose weight and at the same time, it helps boost our immune system.
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I have to say, this was a wonderful article that was packed with great information. It is definitely an eye-opener to all who read it . Thanks for taking the time to share this with us. I do enjoy reading all your articles.
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Calorie Shifting is dieting technique that has become one of the most popular ways to lose weight. It is fast, safe and doesn’t require hard work. In addition I think that you can most of your favorite meals when calorie shifting (fast foods are not recommended, personal advice).
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i think Calorie Shifting can be effective for me, will five it a try with the calorie shifting plan example you mentioned and keep note of it
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Great Article!
I lost 12 pounds due to this method, and if you forget your doing it it doesent bother you!
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Great! I am looking for this as my belly started to grow again.
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I’m going to follow this plan as soon as possible. This is one of the best plans I saw. I try other things and I might as well try this one. Thanks for the post.
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I was just reading up on calorie shifting for weight loss, great tips. thanks. i would suggest to keep noted what kinds of foods you can eat and how many calories are in each per serving as to prepare a perfect diet plan
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Sounds interesting and certainly more viable than a radical calorie reduction diet. I can see how this parallels a concept of “food confusion” and may lead to weightloss. However, I’m not sure how easy one’s weight will be to maintain without eating properly and, as you say, not neglecting exercise. Overall, I feel calorie shifting would be worth trying.
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There are guidlines as to how many calories each person needs to maintain a healthy weight I have not seen a programme that leaves out vegetables great most people hate the thought of living on salads and vegetables for ever I think I’ll give this one a try.
Rita´s last blog ..Fat After Baby Weight loss Tips
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I’ve never been a “dieter” so I never even heard of this one. I’m astounded at the weird crap people will try. Whatever happened to just eating healthy and exercising??
Jennifer – Omaha Weight Loss´s last blog ..The Best Quick Weight Loss Diet –Not the Latest Hype
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it might works, jennifer, and this blog is not dofollow anymore
I mean, i have asked some of my MD friends and they’ve said that our body is definitely smart, being able to adapting to our daily habits, though the person is not necessarily bright:)
if you lower your calories intake, after a while your body will suit it up to your new intake
for example
you usually eat 2000 calories and your body normally consume 1800 calories, but as you dieting you reduce it to 1500 calories per day
after a while your body will reduce its calories necessity to 1500 (it wont burn more than that). while your brain ask you to eat more than 1800 calories. Your diet becomes obsolete, and your craving is increased, and that is baaaad news…
Shifting like this article said, is simply trick your body to still burn much calories while you eat lower calories… bashing all the extra fats inside you…
or if you want to gain weight, burn lower calories while you eat more…
but doing shifting does not necessarily means that you have to ignore exercising… skinny but no muscle and flabby skin? nobody wants that right? you just being lazy if you follow the book blindly
great articles by the way
Anggoro´s last blog ..About Body Wrap Weight Loss
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