Calories on a deload week on cycle

[ackmack78]

So I'm running 550mg/Wk Test C for 17 weeks, the goal is to grow as much as I can without getting unnecessarily fat but not trying to stay lean. Week 4 is almost over and Im planning to deload week 6. My maintenance before cycle was 3k calories. My body likes to put on fat pretty easy along with muscle so I pyramided up the calories like this:
Wk1 +150, Wk2 +250 , Wk3 +350, wk4 +500, Wk5 +600

Diet is 225-250pro/50 fat/500 carbs on training days, 90 fat/350 carbs on rest days.

Training is 5 days a week U/L w an arm day in the middle. Deload is RP style. First 3 days is 2 sets of each exercise with heavy weight and half the reps as usual. Last 2 days is the same but with weight cut in half also.

So what should I do for calories during my deload week?
I'm not going back to my pre cycle maintenance, and was thinking maybe +250 or 300. Just wanted to see what you guys think. Don't know that there's any reason to stay at a 600 calorie surplus if workouts arent going to be pushing the intensity. So far in 4 weeks I'm up 12-13lbs, actually 15 as of this morning but that was probably because of a planned free meal yesterday.
Im planning on jumping back to +600 calories after the deload is over.

 

[Avarice911]

I always scale back to maintenance for a deload. I’d go with your proposed plan of 250-300 over your previous maintenance. Even if you’re off by 100-200 calories in your estimate, a week of doing that isn’t going to make a noticeable difference in the end

 

[Mac11wildcat]

Keep them the exact same. Don’t go into a deficit or negate a surplus. The deload is for recovery, let the food sit.

 

[ackmack78]

Keep them the exact same. Don’t go into a deficit or negate a surplus. The deload is for recovery, let the food sit.

So you're saying keep the full surplus and just push +600 all week. I am planning on eating all the same clean food as usual.

 

[Mac11wildcat]

So you're saying keep the full surplus and just push +600 all week. I am planning on eating all the same clean food as usual.

Yessir. At least that’s how I approach it.