Planned "deloading" phases

[Phineas]

I'm currently in the last day and a half of my planned deloading phase (I do them every 3 months after my "max" week). For future reference, how, if at all, should my diet change during this week? I cut down the calories only slightly, but otherwise kept my diet the same as when training.

 

[Marat]

I cut down the calories only slightly, but otherwise kept my diet the same as when training.

That sounds fine.

But every three months? Why so infrequent?

 

[Phineas]

I thought three months was the norm for deloading? I guess I could do it every 6 weeks, at the end of each of my two programs. I just thought three months was a good amount of time and the right time considering week 12 is my max attempts.

 

[Marat]

I'm a fan of deloading after the third week.

Here's a pretty good article that touches on it:
TMUSCLE.com | Get Bigger By Doing Less

 

[P-funk]

I go three weeks up, 1-week down.

I don't change my diet when I de-load either.

patrick

 

[Merkaba]

I go three weeks up, 1-week down.

I don't change my diet when I de-load either.

patrick

Patrick how much of a decrease do you usually shoot for?

 

[gtbmed]

Why change your diet at all? The only reason I see to change the diet is if your goals change in regards to gaining/losing weight.

Also, deload according to how you feel. There's a difference between deloading because you know your body is physically worn down from training and deloading when you still feel strong and physically capable.

 

[P-funk]

Patrick how much of a decrease do you usually shoot for?

You mean in training?

patrick

 

[CowPimp]

I wouldn't reduce calories during a deload. Yeah, you are burning slightly fewer calories, but you also shouldn't be limiting nutrient intake during a week when you are trying to recover and supercompensate after several weeks of hard training!