What do you guys think about calorie cycling in the medium term, for example 4 weeks with a caloric surplus, 2 weeks in a caloric deficite, for pushing metabolism and lean bulking?
Calorie cycling in the medium term!?
Sat, 2011-03-26 15:27
Calorie cycling in the medium term!?
Mon, 2011-03-28 21:02
#1
I've never been a fan of going back and forth if you're trying to make gains. The only reason to diet during the off-season is to get a "primed" response for anabolism. Just like new research shows that going in a protein deficit for a period of time makes protein synthesis rates increase - is that the price you want to pay for a little extra protein synthesis.....catabolism for a prolonged period of time? That's like reaching your hand in the piggy bank and taking money out and then putting the same money back in and thinking you made a gain. Why force a step back to get a step forward when you can avoid that step back and just have a steady plan?
It also depends on the extremes. If you're over eating like crazy and then dieting hard, you're going to see it's not worth it. If you're in a slight overage and then a slight deficit, it may help keep you from gaining too much too fast.....more like a typical off-season but then you pull back for two weeks.
Tue, 2011-03-29 02:59
#2
Thank you Joe! I am thinking as you do. But I have read an article of Dr. Hatfield and was wondering, that he recommends things like that. So I thought, better to ask here what your thoughts are :-)
