Deload week--questions about food, mostly.

Lupercalia

Hello Sara and Sidesteel,

I'm going to take a deload week next week, and I'm not entirely sure how I should be eating during that period. I've been eating in a deficit since July of last year--no break. On previous deload weeks, I've stuck to my usual deficit, but I am wondering if that is the best way of going about things or not.

In the past when I deload, I leave the barbell alone entirely and instead do "light" exercise. Swimming, walking, yoga, bodyweight stuff. Having that entire break from the heavy lifting and my usual routine seemed good for me, so that's what I was planning to do again.

Should I continue to eat as I am, or perhaps a bit more in terms of calories or specific macros to aid with recovery? Or should I eat less (please, no) as I'm not going to be exercising as intensely?


Thanks in advance for your help...

Sarauk2sf

I would recommend eating at maintenance for the week - give your body a break from the stresses of both training and dieting.

ilovedeadlifts

I typically eat about the same during my deload weeks as I would during an "on" week.
I might burn less energy during a deload workout, but as sara said, it's nice to take a short mental break from dieting and I don't think limiting my cals even more on a deload would really allow me to do that.

Chief_Rocka

I would recommend eating at maintenance for the week - give your body a break from the stresses of both training and dieting.

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SideSteel

I would recommend eating at maintenance for the week - give your body a break from the stresses of both training and dieting.

This

^ Both of these.

Lupercalia

Thanks, everyone.