In this episode, Dr. Kashey talks about the rationale behind gradually increasing calorie intake during a fat loss phase, rather than continually decreasing calories. He explains that initially starting with a very low calorie intake allows individuals to improve their skills in measuring, tracking, and reporting their food intake accurately. As the fat loss phase progresses, calorie intake is increased, which creates a more psychologically and physiologically satisfying approach to fat loss. Dr. Kashey highlights that when an individual carries more body fat, it is easier to tolerate lower calorie intake, whereas as body fat decreases, hunger and the desire for more food increases. By structuring the fat loss phase to provide the highest calorie intake at the leanest point, it becomes more sustainable and reduces the risk of binge eating or regaining lost weight. He also suggests that this approach may be more hormonally healthy, promoting thermogenesis and improving the calorie-to-body-fat ratio for future fat loss phases.