Cheat Meals On A Calorie Deficit

2 Sept 2024 · 1 min

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In this video, Eric Roberts examines a research study that compared two groups of women who were all on high‑protein diets, performed resistance training, and consumed identical calorie amounts. One group incorporated planned breaks from their calorie deficit (i.e., “cheat meals” or diet breaks), while the other maintained a continuous deficit. The study measured body‑composition changes and resting metabolic rate. The results showed no statistically significant differences between the groups in either body composition or metabolism. Roberts interprets these findings to mean that taking mental or dietary breaks during a calorie deficit does not harm progress, and there is no fixed maximum duration for staying in a deficit—individuals can remain in a deficit until they achieve their target body‑fat level.

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You need to take breaks from your calorie deficit. Otherwise, you are going to slow down and ruin your metabolism. You've probably heard some butt sniffer on the internet tell you this before, but is it actually true? This study took two groups of women. Both groups were eating high protein, lifting weights, and ended up eating the same amount of calories. One group took breaks on their calorie deficit along the way, and the other group didn't take breaks on their calorie deficit. At the end of the study, they found no difference in their. Body composition, and they found no difference in their metabolism. So this means if you want to take a break from your calorie deficit, maybe for a mental break from being on a diet, then by all means you can do that. But there's no set time like, oh, you can only be in a calorie deficit for 12 weeks. You stay in a calorie deficit until you've reached your desired level of body fat.