Zig Zag Calorie Calculator
How it works
We take your daily calorie target and split the week into high and low days. With weekends as high days, low days sit below your target and high days above it, so the seven days still sum to exactly seven times your daily goal.
The gap between high and low days can be up to about 875 calories. If a low day would fall below a safe minimum, we automatically narrow the gap.
Frequently asked questions
What is calorie zig-zagging?+
Zig-zagging (calorie cycling) means eating more on some days and less on others while keeping your weekly total the same. Some people find it easier to stick to than eating an identical number every day — bigger weekends, lighter weekdays.
How does the zig-zag calculator work?+
It takes your daily calorie target, then sets high and low days so the week still adds up to seven times that target. By default weekends are your high days, with the gap between high and low days up to about 875 calories.
Does calorie cycling burn more fat?+
There's little strong evidence it beats steady eating for fat loss — total weekly calories are what count. Its main benefit is adherence: it can make a diet feel more livable.
Won't my low days get too low?+
The calculator won't drop a day below a safe floor (about 1,200 kcal for women, 1,500 for men) — if it would, it automatically narrows the gap between high and low days.