I’m cutting. I’m having a lot of success with regular refeeds wherein I’ll eat at or above maintenance for one or two days.
I struggle with losing mental focus in a calorie deficit, so these refeeds usually take place when I start to notice an increase in psychological symptoms of calorie restriction or a day before I know I’ll want to be sharp.
I take a balanced approach in terms of macros. Protein will be over 200g, but I will also get a substantial amount of fats and carbs together. Perhaps the hormonal support from the fats helps, but I tend to respond best to this.
My pattern usually is that I will get fresh comments on different aspects of my physique that I’ve given special attention to about 1-2 days after a refeed, after Ive shed the water weight. Sometimes before. I have very little problem retaining water weight or slow digestion with these refeeds because I end each day with a hefty dose of Metamucil, which I HIGHLY recommend ahead of any other supplement in my cabinet. It is also a nice mental and physical boost in having a day or two a week where I can confidently approach PRs and still be losing weight - stronger than I was 5-10lbs heavier just a month or two ago.
I feel that fat burning is prioritized too. This is borderline bro science and 100% conjecture, but I believe lifters with a developed CNS simply “feel” better when they are burning fat in a deficit than when they are in muscle catabolism. Thusly, prolonged cuts without a break will just give me a sort of hunger that I can’t stand to continue on with, having me urgently search for the most rapidly digesting calories I can find. I believe conditioning my body to expect hard work after every high calorie day, in conjunction with the anabolic rebound associated with coming out of a deficit, can only be a good thing.
Appreciate thoughts and discussion, mostly wanted to share my experience so far. I have been lifting consistently and with discipline for just under two years, so I very probably can get away with a lot more lackadaisical of an approach than most dialed in members here who have spent years counting macros, but it is by far the most successful cut I’ve ever set upon.
I struggle with losing mental focus in a calorie deficit, so these refeeds usually take place when I start to notice an increase in psychological symptoms of calorie restriction or a day before I know I’ll want to be sharp.
I take a balanced approach in terms of macros. Protein will be over 200g, but I will also get a substantial amount of fats and carbs together. Perhaps the hormonal support from the fats helps, but I tend to respond best to this.
My pattern usually is that I will get fresh comments on different aspects of my physique that I’ve given special attention to about 1-2 days after a refeed, after Ive shed the water weight. Sometimes before. I have very little problem retaining water weight or slow digestion with these refeeds because I end each day with a hefty dose of Metamucil, which I HIGHLY recommend ahead of any other supplement in my cabinet. It is also a nice mental and physical boost in having a day or two a week where I can confidently approach PRs and still be losing weight - stronger than I was 5-10lbs heavier just a month or two ago.
I feel that fat burning is prioritized too. This is borderline bro science and 100% conjecture, but I believe lifters with a developed CNS simply “feel” better when they are burning fat in a deficit than when they are in muscle catabolism. Thusly, prolonged cuts without a break will just give me a sort of hunger that I can’t stand to continue on with, having me urgently search for the most rapidly digesting calories I can find. I believe conditioning my body to expect hard work after every high calorie day, in conjunction with the anabolic rebound associated with coming out of a deficit, can only be a good thing.
Appreciate thoughts and discussion, mostly wanted to share my experience so far. I have been lifting consistently and with discipline for just under two years, so I very probably can get away with a lot more lackadaisical of an approach than most dialed in members here who have spent years counting macros, but it is by far the most successful cut I’ve ever set upon.
