Breaking the diet plateau by eating more?

[El Diablo Blanco]

I don't know if this makes sense but I've been eating low cals for months now and sort of hit a plateau.  Week after week I saw my weight go down then over the last few weeks it stopped.  Now after a big weekend binge at the Casino buffets, a birthday party and some nights out drinking, I am 10 pounds lighter and have remained so for a few days now.  Seems that 4 day binge helped me lose more weight.

Just when all the experts think they go this shit figured out stuff like this happens.

[Darren Avey]

If you ve done a lot of drinking you ll be very dehydrated. One big night out can make you lose up to 10 lbs in fluid. Weigh your self when you go out and then when you come in. See how much you ve pissed and sweated out.
Also cocaine if you been hitting that will make you lose weight.

[ProudVirgin69]

Did you ever have any cheat meals/days during your diet?

[240 is Back]

add 30 minutes to your workouts.
add 30 minutes to your sleeping.
after your workout, stop at buffet 4x a week.

volume rocks.

[El Diablo Blanco]

Did you ever have any cheat meals/days during your diet?

Not at all.  It wasn't until my bender last week.  I thought the same as the poster above that I'm just dehydrated, but days later, back to normal and still 10 pounds less.

[ProudVirgin69]

Not at all.  It wasn't until my bender last week.  I thought the same as the poster above that I'm just dehydrated, but days later, back to normal and still 10 pounds less.

Maybe it reset your leptin levels/metabolism or some bro-science like that..... I've never put much stock in those theories, but I guess we can't argue with the results

[_aj_]

Maybe it reset your leptin levels/metabolism or some bro-science like that..... I've never put much stock in those theories, but I guess we can't argue with the results

I've always wondered about "cheat days". Everybody says to do them, but are unclear as to why? Is it psychological: letting off steam so that you don't "blow" and eat 10,000 calories of ice cream? Of is there a physiological component, like "replenishment" or some other bullshit?

I don't like cheat meals because I have a psychological aversion to my own weakness. That said, I do have a couple of slices of pizza every week with my son. It's a Daddy/Son thing that we've been doing for years. I don't eat a lot of it.

Would I look "fuller" (oh brother) if I ate a cubic yard of craptastic Chinese every week?

[El Diablo Blanco]

I've always wondered about "cheat days". Everybody says to do them, but are unclear as to why? Is it psychological: letting off steam so that you don't "blow" and eat 10,000 calories of ice cream? Of is there a physiological component, like "replenishment" or some other bullshit?

I don't like cheat meals because I have a psychological aversion to my own weakness. That said, I do have a couple of slices of pizza every week with my son. It's a Daddy/Son thing that we've been doing for years. I don't eat a lot of it.

Would I look "fuller" (oh brother) if I ate a cubic yard of craptastic Chinese every week?

I guess when the body gets accustomed to eating low calories it learns to adapt and utilize them sparringly to not get depleted, then when it is hit hard with a big splurge, your metabolism goes beserk and the body reacts negatively like it's under attack.

All bro science of course.

[Meaningless]

No need to go on a 4 day binge, 1 day or even 1 big meal will be enough to upregulate the thyroid and fat buring hormones if you have been dieting correctly and improved insulin sensitivity.
No bro science, its the truth

[wes]

I don't know if this makes sense but I've been eating low cals for months now and sort of hit a plateau.  Week after week I saw my weight go down then over the last few weeks it stopped.  Now after a big weekend binge at the Casino buffets, a birthday party and some nights out drinking, I am 10 pounds lighter and have remained so for a few days now.  Seems that 4 day binge helped me lose more weight.

Just when all the experts think they go this shit figured out stuff like this happens.

I used to advise this to "kickstart the metabolism" (<----------my own saying/lingo) and get the body into fat burning mode again.

Broscience?

Maybe,but it does work when stalled while on a long diet.

[_aj_]

...upregulate the thyroid and fat buring hormones...

Sounds really brosciency. Is there a study or something to back this up?

[_aj_]

I used to advise this to "kickstart the metabolism" (<----------my own saying/lingo) and get the body into fat burning mode again.

Broscience?

Maybe,but it does work when stalled while on a long diet.

How often did a dieting body require this "kickstart?"

[Icelord]

do what natural people who are fed up with losing 20lbs and flatlining with a belly and soft legs/arms do
start using anabolic steroids



the human body is stupidly designed to survive in the wild by conserving fat. But it loves to use muscle instead. We're not cavemen anymore, but our bodies never got the message

[wes]

How often did a dieting body require this "kickstart?"

Back in the day,whenever I hit a plateau,I`d go 3 days of zero carbs or a day or two of huge meals,but the meals would still be clean.

Look up my carb cycling article on Google.

[_aj_]

Back in the day,whenever I hit a plateau,I`d go 3 days of zero carbs or a day or two of huge meals,but the meals would still be clean.

Look up my carb cycling article on Google.

Should I google "wes carb cycling" and will it be on the first page of hits?

[_aj_]

Back in the day,whenever I hit a plateau,I`d go 3 days of zero carbs or a day or two of huge meals,but the meals would still be clean.

Look up my carb cycling article on Google.

And I do get carb cycling, just not the binge day.

[Icelord]

Should I google "wes carb cycling" and will it be on the first page of hits?

You could also read galeniko's book, also available online.

[_aj_]

You could also read galeniko's book, also available online.

I actually bought a copy (oh brother/no homo)!

It also talks about the necessity of a "cheat day", but not the science behind it. "Upregulation of fat burning hormones" sounds like it might be a thing until you realize that is just a bunch of sciency words jammed together.

[wes]

Should I google "wes carb cycling" and will it be on the first page of hits?

Tim Wescott Carb Cycling For Fat Loss

[wes]

I actually bought a copy (oh brother/no homo)!

It also talks about the necessity of a "cheat day", but not the science behind it. "Upregulation of fat burning hormones" sounds like it might be a thing until you realize that is just a bunch of sciency words jammed together.

No science in my article either AJ,just stuff that works from being tested to work.

[Icelord]

I actually bought a copy (oh brother/no homo)!

It also talks about the necessity of a "cheat day", but not the science behind it. "Upregulation of fat burning hormones" sounds like it might be a thing until you realize that is just a bunch of sciency words jammed together.

It has some merit because you're throwing your body's metabolism into overdrive to expend those added calories in the context of a restricted regimen
problem is T3/T4 production is a major factor and it varies widely from one guy to the next
so that cheat meal will be assimilated within an hour on some ectomorph
but will only make a slight difference on a guy who's overweight

[no one]

I actually bought a copy (oh brother/no homo)!

It also talks about the necessity of a "cheat day", but not the science behind it. "Upregulation of fat burning hormones" sounds like it might be a thing until you realize that is just a bunch of sciency words jammed together.

thats because there is no science behind why we say to have a cheat day.

we state time and again we are not scientists, and we dont give advise based on 'science'.

dont try to paint us as trying to be something we freely admit to not being, and are proud of not being.

[OTHstrong]

I don't know if this makes sense but I've been eating low cals for months now and sort of hit a plateau.  Week after week I saw my weight go down then over the last few weeks it stopped.  Now after a big weekend binge at the Casino buffets, a birthday party and some nights out drinking, I am 10 pounds lighter and have remained so for a few days now.  Seems that 4 day binge helped me lose more weight.

Just when all the experts think they go this shit figured out stuff like this happens.

hate to burst your bubble brother but if you were drinking a lot, those ten pounds are water not fat, like avery said

[Meaningless]

Sounds really brosciency. Is there a study or something to back this up?

http://www.t-nation.com/free_online_article/most_recent/control_leptin_and_control_your_leanness

There is one article explaining Leptin, familiarise yourself with leptin, ghrelin, thyroid out put and insulin sensitivity you will see, plenty of science explaining why cheat meals/refeeds work.

Still doubt it? Try is it yourself and see, just make sure you are dieting for a few weeks before trying and make sure your diet plan is optimising your insulin sensitivity.

[_aj_]

dont try to paint us as trying to be something we freely admit to not being, and are proud of not being.

I am not trying to do that. I am independently seeking some science behind the "cheat meal" concept and why it works. Your book was brought up as a place to look for said research and I, like you, disputed that claim.

There is a selfish motive here as I feel that I don't need a "psychological" cheat meal. But, if there are real physiological benefits, I can go to Five Guys right now.