For both schedule (travel, and prep for a mud run) and sanity reasons, I've decided to do a diet break- I'm staying around maintenance this week. Or at least I think I am- my Fitbit is messed up from time changes, and my tracking is a lot more general than usual; not being obsessed with tracking is a big part of the mental break. I'm sure evening cocktails (which I haven't had all year) made me go over calories a day or two with no nutritional benefit. Fun, though!

Next week my schedule returns to more-or-less normal, then I have a vacation the following week. I was thinking of going back to usual deficit next week, then likely another break during vacation, I figure there's no reason to indulge with a normal schedule and no real food challenges in the "in between" week.

But, would going back and forth disrupt any of the physical benefits of the diet break? I figure I have three choices:

1) go back to usual deficit (which fairly strict - 750ish cals/deficit/day)
2) go back to a deficit, but less aggressive
3) stay on break, stay at/around maintenance.

Any input on which would work best in this scenario? I wasn't necessarily looking for a 3-week break; the scale's already up 5lbs which is freaking me out a bit. But if I'm gonna take a break, I want to maximize the physical benefits, and not just put on weight I'll have to take off later.

Oh, and exercise is not my normal routine either- finishing one program, doing mostly cardio (running) until I get back home after vaca and start something else.

Another question, too - importance of macros in diet breaks? As part of this is mental, there are a lot more "treat" foods (and margaritas) with negligable nutritional benefit. Is meeting my deficit macros (i.e. 100g protein) sufficient during a break, where some of the other calories get filled up with the fun stuff, or should I be focused on meeting the protein % goal for that higher calorie level? Fat and carbs shouldn't be a problem.

Thanks for any tips and input!