Stage 1: "The world is my calf" - with unbounded hunger and a strong jaw you think you can literally eat the person next to you and still have room to never go "red" until they run out of meat.
Stage 2: "What's this? I feel mortal!" - The servers were laughing at you during Stage 1, because they knew your brain would eventually start firing "we're running out of places to put this stuff" signals through your body and to the tips of your swelling fingers.
Stage 3: "Heartbreak Hill" - Oh Jesus it came faster than you thought. It's only been, wait, how long have I been here? You can't really read your watch because your vision is starting to blur and you've been sweating now for at least the last 3 plates. This is when you'll see your comrades leaning back, rubbing their eyes and temples, and muttering to themselves.
This is when you get up, take a lap, and hit the salad bar for your 10%!
Stage 4: "You got any crab cakes?" - Renewed by your leafy greens and tv timeout, your stomach has magically grown and is ready for more. You feel that optimism from Stage 1 start to creep back in, and then...
Stage 5: "WHAM!" - Done. No no. Put down the fork, you're done. Step away from the gristle and fat, it's over.
