This week the ADOFitness trainers will be addressing topics we get asked a lot of questions about. This week coach Joey Guz explains and defines what a refeed is.

We get asked a lot about what a refeed is and why it is so important for your body. A refeed is different then a cheat meal or a cheat day in that is a day that is fully tracked. Having a refeed is a strategic way to achieve results you want, but without causing you to have a complete day of binging and eating unhealthy foods. Even though the idea of dieting may sound appealing because you will lose weight and get the body you want, being in a caloric deficit for a long period of time can make you feel a little crazy and have some negative effects on your body. Not only will you have food cravings, become irritable, and feel tired, but your body will begin to adapt to the lower calorie intake by slowing down your metabolism. This will make it harder to shed body fat. The point of a refeed and increasing your carbs for the day is to allow your body to stabilize your Leptin levels, which is the hormone that makes your body feel hunger. Normalizing Leptin levels can boost your metabolism and help alleviate cravings. It’s also a mental break from your diet, which can make it easier to stick to your plan for the long haul. How much you should intake on a reefed day and how often you should reefed depends on many things like your body fat percentage, how long you have been dieting for, and how your body is responding to your current macronutrient ratios. So it’s always best to do your research or ask your coach before implementing a refeed.