Original email for context: Today would have been my very last day of P3 but because stabilization was so difficult this last round I am gonna continue in it. I cheated yesterday and had some sugar, I gained but not above the 2 lbs mark. Is it okay to do a steak day even if I haven’t hit over the 2 lbs mark? I feel bloated and gross and wonder if fasting for the day might help?
This is a good question with a couple of answers depending on the situation. In your case, you are aware that you ate off-course, and in a scenario like that, I agree that doing a steak day is a great thing to do to course-correct, since a gain from eating that way can include some fat. I think as a staying-on-top of things measure it’s a great idea.
If you have been eating within P3 guidelines and have a gain that seems random and you are not to the 2 lb mark yet, in this case I would really just hold off and wait it out. The 2 lbs is there for a reason – both because the body has normal fluctuations, and because you need a little wiggle room for where your body naturally begins to stabilize – if you are fighting to stabilize lower than that you can drive yourself made doing steak day after steak day.There is also a time when you have to ignore the 2 lb rule – check that out as well.
