RP&D Overview
This document explains what the body commonly goes through after a prolonged calorie deficit—and why many people feel “soft,” “flat,” or “water-bloated” even when they didn’t suddenly gain fat.
This is not a protocol, not instructions, and not medical advice.
It’s a research-style explanation of transition physiology so you don’t sabotage the phase that protects your results.
1) Glycogen Refill = Water Refill (And It Happens Fast)
During a cut, muscle glycogen trends low.
When calories come back—especially carbs—glycogen refills.
Important part:
- Glycogen pulls water with it (a lot of it).
Translation: You can look “smoother” and weigh more before you look “fuller” or “harder.”
That’s not failure. That’s tissue rehydration.
2) Cortisol Doesn’t Clock Out Just Because You Ate More
A long cut is a stress block.
Even if life was calm, the body still had to run:
- higher stress signaling
- more sympathetic tone
- more recovery debt
When intake rises, the stress system often lags behind.
Common outcomes:
- water retention
- sleep not instantly improving
- inflammation staying sticky for a bit
This is one reason people feel “puffy” right when they’re trying to feel “tight.”
3) Thyroid Output Lags Behind Intake
Cuts commonly reduce T3 output and conversion.
When calories rise:
- intake changes first
- thyroid recovery follows later
So you can be eating “normal” and still feel:
- sluggish
- softer
- like your engine isn’t fully back online yet
That gap is part of the transition.
4) Insulin Sensitivity Rebuilds the Tank (It’s Not a Flex Contest)
Post-cut, the body is hungry for:
- liver glycogen restoration
- muscle glycogen restoration
- tissue repair resources
If calories jump too hard too fast, the visual tends to look like:
- more water retention
- more inflammation noise
- less “sharpness”
That’s why stabilization matters. Not for vanity—because it protects the rebound risk.
5) Connective Tissue “Catches Up” After the Scale Changes
Fat loss can outpace recovery of:
- tendons
- joint tissue
- general structural resilience
So the body allocates resources to rebuild the frame.
That work is quiet. It doesn’t always show in the mirror. But it determines whether you can train hard without breaking down.
6) The “Soft Phase” Is Often the Cost of Getting Healthy Again
After a long deficit, the body prioritizes:
- hydration normalization
- inflammation reduction
- sleep depth restoration
- hormonal normalization
Hardness and “sharp look” are often downstream effects.
Trying to force hardness too early usually keeps you stuck in stress mode longer.
Protocol V Takeaway
If you feel soft right after a cut, ask a better question:
“Is my body restoring capacity?”
Because that’s the phase that keeps the fat loss permanent and sets the runway for lean mass later.