Calories during a deload

[BlueDay93]

When bulking, should calories be reduced to maintenance during a deload?

My reasoning being that there is less stimulus and also less calorie burn so any weight gained during a deload week is more likely to be fat rather than muscle?

[air2fakie]

My reasoning being that there is less stimulus and also less calorie burn so any weight gained during a deload week is more likely to be fat rather than muscle?

How much weight are you planning on gaining in 1 week where this would actually matter?

[paulinkansas]

How much weight are you planning on gaining in 1 week where this would actually matter?

Probably less than one of my big dumps. I can drop 1.5 pounds after dropping the kids off at the pool.

[TearsOfIce]

One week probably won’t make a difference, but I guess it’s your choice. What I always suggest whenever one is deloading/vacationing/sick is to avoid a calorie deficit. I feel like that’s the most important thing (I’d rather gain a pound of fat and maintain my muscle than lose muscle that took me months and years to build).
In your case, I would probably eat at maintenance just to give my body “a break” from the extra calories. But I guess it depends on how you feel.

[AdamWW]

In your case, I would probably eat at maintenance just to give my body “a break” from the extra calories. But I guess it depends on how you feel.

I'm not sure how the 'break' would factor in... I doubt he's overeating so much that he feels sick...

[Strawng]

One week probably won’t make a difference, but I guess it’s your choice. What I always suggest whenever one is deloading/vacationing/sick is to avoid a calorie deficit. I feel like that’s the most important thing (I’d rather gain a pound of fat and maintain my muscle than lose muscle that took me months and years to build).
In your case, I would probably eat at maintenance just to give my body “a break” from the extra calories. But I guess it depends on how you feel.

I agree with the first pat of this 100%. If you're deloading or sick, you should definitely eat around maintenance and certainly not a deficit. Even a slight surplus is likely better. Muscle memory is real but you're gonna set yourself back much farther from losing muscle, which you're far more likely to do in an untrained state with a caloric deficit. As for the second part...

I'm not sure how the 'break' would factor in... I doubt he's overeating so much that he feels sick...

This. I don't think OP necessarily needs a "break" from a surplus.