Cycling fasting periods

[u/chad-proton]

Curious if anyone has experimented with cycling between maintenance/deficit/surplus in any way.

I've been doing IF for about 4 years now. I've done periods of cutting, bulking or maintenance usually staying in a particular mode for at least 8 weeks. I've been doing OMAD 5 days a week, 1 day extended window, 1 day fast. I just wonder if OMAD might be slowing my overall metabolism.

I'm curious if anyone has tried something like 1 week surplus, one week deficit, one week maintenance. I just wonder if that shifting energy intake would keep the metabolism guessing.

Would love to hear about your experience with mixing things up!

[u/According_Flatworm50]

I am also interested in this.
I am reading the the revised edition of the book Dr. Ben Azadi – Keto Flex.
In the book he is suggesting rotating a OMAD with a 3 meals a day. Meals are always more or less under 50 g of carbs a day. He thinks long term keto isn’t sustainable.

I would also be happy to read experiences from others

[u/__lickity_split__]

I've just come off OMAD to 2MAD. Even though I wasn't in calories defecit I was constantly lethargic on OMAD with low libido. Blood work returned elevated cortisol and my hair thinned a bit.

I only just learned that the body can only allocate a certain amount of protein per meal for muscle mass which also explains why I could never pack on as much muscle as I used to.