I’ll chime and and restate what I mentioned in my blog: I happen to enjoy my cheat days and I eat pretty much all the foods I normally deprive myself of. Because this will include things like pizza, burgers or whatever else…well, forgive me for getting overly scientific, but my tum tum hurts =(
I originally started fasting after cheat days because I was trying to find a way to mitigate the digestive aftermath of eating crappy (no pun intended) foods.
I have found, in the years since doing this, that I get lean a little bit faster; mainly because fasting is obviously creating an extraordinary level of caloric deficit; and despite that I have never lost mass while doing that.
Regarding whether this can encourage an eating disorder, I don’t disagree. If you’re someone who struggles emotionally with food, then this approach would not really be something you’d want to look into, as it might exacerbate whatever you’re dealing with. In that case, I suspect that you’d not really be suited by using a diet that incorporated either cheating or fasting; although it is debatable of course.
Having said that I’ve always gotten good results of cheating protocols, whereas I know many people simply have not. For me, this is a case where I may be able to get away with certain things other many not, due in part to an admitted level of genetic freakitude.
On the other hand, it’s an approach that’s worked well with my clients.
Consider, though, that I work with a number of clients who would probably be less worried about losing mass than many of Thibs, as the total number of bodybuilders I train is woefully disproportionate to the number of fat loss clients I have.
Ultimately I’m left to wonder if it’s something that will vary in efficacy (and thereby recommendation) by population.
Finally, I need to just stress that this is done with plan in mind, not, as has been suggested, to “make up” for an accidental cheat day. The cheats are planned, and the fast is planned.