Not so fat banana?

Correct, defoliation is not really a good idea, your plant needs as many healthy leaves as possible to make the energy she needs to grow her biggest and best flowers. In reality, only yellow leaves should be removed, for by the time they are yellow, they have served their purpose. The older leaves also provide a ready source of amino acids, carbs, sugars etc that she will draw upon during flowering, as it is far more efficient to do so than to make them from new during flowering. So, not only does defoliation reduce your plants capacity to produce energy, it also robs her of a ready source of vital growth elements that she needs during flowering. Just remember, maximum healthy leaves = maximum energy production = maximum growth and fastest too. At this stage of flower development she is pretty hungry and upping the nutrients will boost growth. Adding some fulvic or humic acid will also benefit your plants greatly and organic too. Adding some organic P/K booster at this stage will also benefit flower growth positively. Autos can be scrawny in general and I am not a fan, much preferring "normal" photoperiod plants with their better genetic stability and much greater yield. Hope this helps,......... Organoman.