Creating Your Own Calorie Shifting Meal Plans

Creating your own calorie shifting meal plans may seem like a good idea. You don’t have to pay for a diet plan and (in theory) can create meal plans that suit you best. But there are a few problems with this.

Translating the calorie shifting theory into actual meal plans is tricky, to say the least. That’s because calorie shifting works by constantly changing the foods you eat. You have to know exactly what to eat when, and create the “correct” meal plans each and every day.

Secondly, you need to follow the principles closely. If your meal plans veer off course with too much customization, they’re not going to deliver the results you’re hoping for.

Calorie Shifting Diets with Meal Planning Tools

It makes far more sense to invest in a calorie shifting diet that makes it easy to plan your meals and/or ready-made calorie shifting meal plans (read on for the top picks).

Calorie shifting diets are inexpensive, ranging from $40 to $50, and will save you a lot of time and trouble. This means they are more likely to work. They deliver the full benefits of calorie shifting and reduce or completely eliminate the hassle of meal planning that can make any diet difficult to stick to.

Calorie shifting diets typically include one of three levels of meal planning help:

• Simple meal planning guidelines with the calorie shifting principles built in. The guidelines vary from day to day. To prepare your daily menu, all you need to do is follow the “rules of the day.”
• Simple guidelines plus some ready-made calorie shifting meal plans, usually enough to see you through several weeks or months. You can get started with the ready-made meal plans and get to grips with the guidelines in your own time.
• Calorie shifting diet generators. These online tools make meal planning as simple as it can be. You just log in, select your favorite foods and the diet generator will create a complete calorie shifting meal plan lasting several days or weeks.

Best Diets for Easy Calorie Shifting Meal Plans

The most popular (and recommended) options for easy calorie shifting menus are:

• Every Other Day Diet (EODD) – Meal planning guidelines (incorporated into a “SNAPP!” system) plus ready made meal plans.
• Cheat Your Way Thin Diet – Meal planning guidelines plus ready made meal plans.
• The Idiot Proof Diet – Fat Loss for Idiots – Meal planning guidelines (incorporated into the Idiot Proof Diet Handbook) plus lifetime access to the Fat Loss 4 Idiots Diet Generator that creates complete 11-day calorie shifting meal plans.

Each of these diets also gives you days off – part of how calorie shifting works. Compare days off as well as meal plans, here.

This is an original Calorie Shifting Meal Plan article, exclusive to this site
Copyright © 2010 Caroline Mackenzie/TheIdiot-ProofDiet.com

If you’ve already tried to find out how calorie shifting works, you may have ended up more confused than ever. That’s because the science of calorie shifting is quite simple but the method – how it is put into action – is quite complicated.

Here is a straightforward explanation of calorie shifting, to help you decide if a calorie shifting diet will work for you.

Calorie Shifting Theory

To start with the science, calorie shifting works by constantly changing – literally shifting – calories about so that calorie intakes are never predictable. You do this by eating different types of foods at different times. This keeps your metabolism (your fat-burning engine) revved up and responsive.

At the same time, the “fat-burning hormone” glucagon is kept at peak levels by ensuring a healthy and adequate amount of both carbohydrates and proteins in the diet. This means that calorie-shifting diets are never “low carb”, “low fat” or “high protein”. It also means that they are healthy, and far less likely to leave you feeling tired and drained.

Another great side benefit is that you don’t need to count calories. It is the type and timing of food that matters rather than how much, so you just eat until you are satisfied but not stuffed at each meal.

Best of all, an important part of the constant change is to have days off now and then, when you can eat more or less normally – though not to excess!

As you can see, the calorie shifting theory is simple enough. Putting it into practice is where it gets complicated.

Calorie Shifting in Practice

Information on how to create your own calorie shift diet is likely to leave you with a serious headache. You need to know exactly what to eat, and when. In other words, it helps to be a trained dietitian, mathematician – and extremely patient!

Remember, calorie shifting works through constant change – it is not as simple as figuring out a daily plan and repeating it. You’ll need to figure out a new plan that follows exact rules each and every day.

Planning out what to eat each day is a big challenge in any diet – and a big reason why many diets fail. Having to plan out your day according to complex rules is even harder.

The good news is, there’s no need. It makes way more sense to opt for a ready-made calorie shifting diet plan.

Calorie Shifting Diets

The better calorie shifting diets provide easy to follow guidelines to follow, with the calorie shifting principles built in. They also include some ready-to-go meal plans and recipes, to help you get started.

Some make it simpler yet. For instance, The Idiot Proof Diet – Fat Loss 4 Idiots – includes unlimited access to an online calorie shifting Diet Generator that creates complete 11 day diet plans.

Take a good look at all the features – some calorie shifting diet plans will suit you better than others. For instance they have different schedules for days off and may or may not require some exercise.

For more information, you can read our reviews of the most popular calorie shift diets:

• Fat Loss for Idiots – The Idiot Proof Diet
• Every Other Day Diet
• Cheat Your Way Thin

You can compare the days off that each of these diets gives you with our quick comparison chart.

An original article, exclusive to this site
Copyright © 2010 Caroline Mackenzie/TheIdiot-ProofDiet.com

If you’ve heard of Fat Loss for Idiots and how it’s one of the most popular weight loss programs in a long time, your next question is most likely, how does the “Idiot Proof” diet work? What exactly is involved that makes it work so well?

Also known as the Diet for Dummies you can read a detailed Idiot Proof Diet Review HERE (opens in a new window).

But first, here is a quick summary to help you decide if it sounds like a diet plan that will work for you too.

How does Fat Loss for Idiots Work?

There are two parts to Fat Loss 4 Idiots – the Online Diet Plan Generator and the bonus Diet Handbook. Each diet works differently and achieves different rates of weight loss so you get two different diet programs to choose from – choose whichever best suits your weight loss goals at any one time.

• The online Diet Generator is for Fast-Track weight loss – up to 9 lbs every 11 eleven days.
  You log-in to the Fat Loss Diet Plan Generator to create personalized daily meal plans using the foods you like best. These meals are eaten for 11 days. You then take three days off before starting a new 11 day diet cycle. (Yes that’s right – you get 3 days off out of every 14!) Again, there is no calorie counting or portion measurement.

• The Diet Handbook is a bonus plan for a more casual approach to weight loss.
  It contains simple key principles or “rules” and does not involve counting calories or portion measurements. Simply follow the principles and you will lose weight.

You choose what you eat

Naturally cream cakes and chocolate bars are not included in the Handbook or Diet Generator but you can eat virtually all the foods you currently like and enjoy.

You eat four meals a day

You eat four instead of just three meals a day – one more meal than most weight loss programs allow. This extra meal actually boosts the way that Fat Loss for Idiots works, for more effective weight loss.

You eat until you are satisfied

You can eat until you are satisfied with only one simple requirement – that you don’t go past this point and keep eating until you feel stuffed full!

Fat Loss 4 idiots then tricks your body into losing weight

So how does Fat Loss for Idiots work if you can eat the foods you like over four meals? The principles in the Handbook and the meals created by the Generator mix and match foods in such a way that the body is tricked into producing the fat-burning hormone Glucagon.

This effect is known as Calorie Shifting – a natural process triggered and turbo-charged by Fat Loss for Idiots. In a nutshell, it’s all about juggling calories about and achieving a particular balance of carbohydrates and proteins – getting all you need of both.

… and that’s how Fat Loss 4 idiots works!

Sound too simple? It really is this simple and easy, which why Fat Loss 4 Idiots is such a popular and effective weight loss program. It proves the point that simplicity is the key to weight loss success – a key characteristic to consider when choosing the best diet for you.

Unfortunately many people set themselves up for weight loss failure by thinking quite the reverse – that diets have to be painful and complicated to really work. If this has included you, you’ll be delighted at how Fat Loss 4 Idiots works without the pain or hunger.

Whether you visit the site from our full review (opens in new window) or visit the Fat Loss 4 Idiots website from this page, the complete system will be available with a 50% off coupon code, for $39.

An original Fat Loss 4 Idiots Review, exclusive to this site
Copyright © 2010 Caroline Mackenzie/TheIdiot-ProofDiet.com

Cheat Your Way Thin by bestselling author, personal trainer and nutritionist Joel Marion is based on Joel’s analysis of research papers on bodyweight and metabolism, combined with real world testing.

The end result is a fat loss diet designed to help you lose weight without cutting out the foods you love. In fact, eating foods you love is part of the plan – a concept that has helped make this a highly-popular as well as effective fat loss diet.

How does Cheat Your Way Thin work?

• The Cheat Your Way Thin system works by constantly varying the amount and type of foods you eat each day. Switching foods and calorie intakes in this way is known as “calorie shifting.” It prevents the body switching into “starvation protection mode” where the metabolism slows and burns less fat. Instead, The Cheat Your Way Thin system includes periods of “strategic” overfeeding to trick your body into continually running at full speed – and burning fat.
• The science behind the system and how it was developed is explained in two mp3 audio files. The diet plan itself is detailed in the Cheat Your Way Thin program manual.
• Basically, there are three different phases. There is a 3-week “primer phase,”, a one-week “core phase” – repeated until you achieve your fat loss goals – and a “maintenance phase” for long-term healthy eating and weight maintenance.
• During each week-long core phase, there are three “types” of day (each featuring more or less carbs) over six days. On the seventh day, you eat whatever and as much as you like. There are four versions of the core phase – try each one until you find the version that works best for you.
• There is no calorie counting necessary, but you can opt for a calorie rather than portion controlled method (calorie calculator included) if you wish.
• The plan involves some moderate exercise – three 20 to 25 minute workouts a week.

Visit Cheat Your Way Thin

Results with Cheat Your Way Thin

The Cheat Your Way Thin fat loss diet plan does not make any specific claims about rates or amounts of fat loss. As with all fat loss/weight loss plans, actual results will depend on your start weight and how well the plan is followed.

What you get with Cheat Your Way Thin

Cheat Your Way Thin is a downloadable product – a series of e-manuals, mp3 audio and video files. After you order, you get instant access to download all the components onto your computer.

There are two versions available: the Basic version and a Deluxe version.

Basic Package includes:

• The Program Manual – All you need to know about the diet plan including what to eat, when to eat it, detailed food lists, charts, tables, FAQs, and 4 different variations of the program to suit your individual preferences and needs.
• Confessions of a Habitual Cheater – mp3 audio explaining the creation of Cheat Your Way Thin and the power of strategic cheating.
• The “Game-Changer” – mp3 audio discussing dieting, psychology and the human body, and how and why Cheat Your Way Thin is a more effective approach to fat loss.
• The Cheat Your Way Thin “No-Fail Strategies” Video – Provides practical strategies for success in other challenging situations such as dining out and traveling.
• Ultra-Easy Quick-Reference Cards – In the Cheat Your Way Thin system there are several different “types” of days. These Ultra-Easy Quick Reference Cards include specific guidelines and food lists that make it easy to know what to eat each day.
• Cheat Your Way Thin Workbook & Success Journal – Includes daily and weekly log sheets and questionnaires.
• The Cheat Your Way Thin Pre-Program Quick-Start Checklist – detailed, step-by-step checklist to ensure everything is in place for your “official” first day.

Deluxe Package includes:

• All the above, plus:
• One-on-One Jump-Start personal email consultation with plan creator Joel Marion
• 84 Days of Done-for-You Meal Plans – 84 complete daily meal plans (almost 3 months’ worth), created specifically for the Cheat Your Way Thin diet plan by Registered Dietitian Jayson Hunter.
• 130+ Cheat Your Way Thin Recipes – additional breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack, and shake recipes by Registered Dietitian Jayson Hunter, especially for Cheat Your Way Thin.
• Cheat Your Way Thin Workouts – seven “fat-annihilating workouts,” all less than 20 minutes long, requiring very little or no equipment.
• Cheat Your Way Thin Calorie Calculator – In the Cheat Your Way Thin program you can opt for a portion control or calorie method. If choosing the calorie method, this easy to use calorie calculator makes it easy.

CHEAT YOUR WAY THIN at a glance

Visit Cheat Your Way Thin

Cheat Your Way Thin comes with a “no-questions-asked” 60 day guarantee.
That gives you two full months to try out the program, and if you’re not getting the results you were hoping for, you’ll get a full refund.

This is an original Cheat Your Way Thin Review, exclusive to this site
Copyright © 2010 Caroline Mackenzie

Now in Edition 2.0, the Every Other Day Diet fat loss program by fitness expert Jon Benson launched back in 2004 and became very popular, very quickly. Today it is one of the most popular options for weight loss.

One of the reasons is of course the concept – diet one day, take the next day off.

Being able to take every other day off with the Every Other Day Diet is obviously appealing but it’s not a gimmick.

The “Every Other Day” concept has real value. Not only does it keep your metabolism on its toes, it allows you to ease into fat loss and, at the same time, achieve results that are a great motivation to continue and progress.

As you can read below, this “on-off” approach applies to the first level of this multi-level fat loss diet plan. At all levels (there are five altogether) The Every Other Day Diet (EODD) is a good diet plan for anyone who finds it difficult to stick to rigid fat loss programs that strictly limit what and how much you eat.

This is a fat loss plan (with fitness benefits too) that you can stick with for the long-term, always motivated by results as you progress to the next level at your own pace.

Please note: This report covers the “Every Other Day Diet” by Jon Benson. Two other diets are often called “every other day diets” – “QOD” by Dr. Jon Daugirdas and “The Alternate Day Diet” by Dr. James B. Johnson. Both are criticized by health professionals and NOT recommended.

How does the Every Other Day Diet work?

• The Every Other Day Diet fat loss program works through a mix of “feed” and “burn” days.On “feed” days, you eat more than your body needs of just about anything you like, within reason (guidelines provided).On “burn” days, you eat less than you need, sticking to low calorie, high fiber foods, vegetables, very lean meats and so on.This feed-burn approach varies both the amount and types of foods (fats, carbohydrates and proteins) consumed, keeping your metabolism on its toes so it is always running high and burning up fat.
• The Every Other Day Diet is actually five different plans each with a different mix (or schedule) of feed and burn days.The “Primer” plan is the simplest – this is the “every other day” plan with one burn day, one feed day.You can then move on to the “Lifestyle 1” plan which gives you two days off (feed days) a week, and “Lifestyle 2” plan and (totally optional) continue through to the EODD “Ultimate” and “Extreme” levels – advanced plans for fat loss, fitness and muscle building.
• You can start with any level you like – a guide in the program will help you choose the best starting point, usually the Primer or Lifestyle 1 plan.
• There is no calorie counting involved in any of the levels. The plan includes the “SNAPP!” system – a quick and easy way to work out what and how much you can eat.
• You eat four meals a day, with an additional snack on burn days.
• For the Every Other Day Diet to work best, you are asked to accept three “conditions” before you get started – that you are genuinely committed to change, prepared to do some exercise and have realistic expectations of how quickly you will reach your goals.

Results with the Every Other Day Diet

The Every Other Day Diet does not make specific claims about rates or amounts of fat loss. Actual results will vary depending on your start weight and which level of this fat loss program you are following – some provide much faster results than others.

Visit the Every Other Day Diet

What you get with the Every Other Day Diet

The Every Other Day Diet is provided a downloadable system – you can download the complete system instantly you order.

The “Standard EODD Package” includes:

• The complete Every Other Day Diet – The latest 2nd Edition with the SNAPP! System, including all levels, the Easy Exercise Guide and over 60 recipes and meal plans.
• A year’s membership of the Every Other Day Diet Member’s-Only Forum for motivation and support.
• A year of Holly Lucille’s Weekly Recipe Secrets – new Dieter’s Choice Recipes and Smoothies weekly.

Plus, these free bonuses:

• Perfect Posture in 30 Days, by Vince Delmonte, CPT
• Cholesterol LIES, by Dr. Duane Graveline MD
• Hormones 101, by Dr. Holly Lucille, with Jon Benson
• Online Virtual Exercise Demonstrator, by Vince Delmonte, CPT
• Skinny Mini Meals – 80 Super-Fast Recipes, by “Body Sculptress” Angela Ursprung
• Female Power – How Any Woman Can Attain a Feminine, Firm and Fit Body, by Kelli Calabrese (with Scott Colby, CSCS)
• The Fitness Primer Hypnotic Audio: Preparing For A Fitter Future, by Rick Beneteau
• The No-Struggle Plan – Getting Things Handled Once And For All, by Mathes Jones
• Lifetime Free Updates of The Every Other Day Diet

The “Deluxe EODD Package” includes:

• All the above, plus:
• 30 Days of M-Power Audio – Transform your Mind, Meals, Muscle and Motion
• 21-Day “Fit Yummy Mummy” Trial for $4.95
• 7 Day Membership to Global Health For $1 – over 100 exercise videos, e-books, and more

EVERY OTHER DAY DIET at a glance

Visit the Every Other Day Diet

Every Other Day Diet comes with a “no-questions-asked” 60 day guarantee.
That gives you two full months to try out the program and if you’re not getting the results you hoped for, you will get a full refund.

This is an original Every Other Day Diet Review, exclusive to this site
Copyright © 2010 Caroline Mackenzie