Trying out a new way of eating

[Jessica Loesch]

What you are saying is a little bit off of the point I Was trying to make. When people say "cheat meal" they tend to binge. If you just have a bit larger meal of burger and fries at mcdonalds and don't follow up with a large dessert, of course that is easier to rebound from. However, it would be best to get a small fry and a cheeseburger rather than a triple stack and a large fry with a milkshake, and you would probably be just as satisfied without the feeling of lethargy or self-regret.

Your 500 deficit theory is correct per regular cheat meal, where I theorized a 2500 calorie day, you would be at 500 surplus, which is correct. Of course this won't kill you, but there is no reason not to get smaller portions as they will satisfy you and avoid you discomfort.

The 2500 surplus however, with your 4000 calorie day (opposed to the theorized 1500 "limit", which isn't really a good way to put it as you should listen to your body and eat a little if you're hungry), will cancel out every other deficit you had that week except for one. Worth it? Not really.

I think most people would be surprised how fulfilled they feel if they would opt for the smaller portions of what they consider a "cheat meal" and realize there is no need for these terms at all.


PS
excess protein CAN be a bad thing, if you aren't using it. It is great to increase protein to 1-1.5g/kg (note, I said KG not LB), if you are healing through an injury, and it is recommended to not really go above 1-1.2g/kg for lifting as excess protein will not help you any beyond that. It is hard on your body to eat excess proteins unless you need them for healing (muscle, injury, etc).