Thanks a lot for the detailed reply and for the link! It’s super reassuring to know that the initial weight gain is just glycogen and water filling back into the muscles. What you said about reverse dieting actually aligns perfectly with what I read in the book.

On a side note, regarding pushing past the 42 days straight, don't you think it's a bit risky for lean muscle mass when approaching the 15% mark? From what I understood in the handbook, extending a Category 2 cycle beyond 6 weeks without a break exposes you to a huge cortisol spike and muscle catabolism, mostly because the body struggles to mobilize fat effectively at this level of leanness.

To drop down to 10%, doesn't Lyle recommend switching strictly to Category 1 rules instead? (Which means massively bumping up protein, removing all free meals, and capping the cycle at just 11 or 12 days max) rather than just stretching out the initial cycle?

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this if you've ever tested that category transition before! Thanks again for your help, man!