How many of you have heard about or tried intermittent fasting?

[cobra2]

I have put myself on an intermittent fasting plan and have lost an incredible amount of body fat in a very short period of time. Have any of you heard of this strategy before? If so, what are your experiences with it. Also, would you be interested in trying it now that you have heard about it? The benefits include increased testosterone, increased metabolization of fat, simplified meal plans (fewer meals means easier calorie counting and macro nutrient management), improved muscle growth, decreased muscle metabolization, improved focus (the brain loves ketones), improved energy, and being able to eat large and satisfying meals.
My current fasting schedule is a 18 hour fast with a 6 hour eating window. I keep myself in a slight calorie deficit (I go only as low as 1600 calories per day).

[akadatank44]

I've wanted to try it my problem is I do a morning workout and after that I'm famished. I guess that's where my problem is. I wouldn't want to eat in the morning and be done.

[06CuriousMind]

couldv it work if you cut out dinner instead? or does it not work like that?

[akadatank44]

@06CuriousMind I guess so but I like to eat at dinner lol! Some people just have a protein shake after their morning workout then waiting. I might try that.

[06CuriousMind]

Haha yeah I completely understand.. That's the only bad thing about working out in the mornig. I feel like you eat more throughout the day.

[ConsultantIsBack]

You could cut out dinner in theory, I don't think that'd work for my body however. Yeah morning workouts make I. F. problematic for sure

[akadatank44]

@06CuriousMind hahah yeah. You do your workout in the mornings too? I've been doing it for years so its just been natural for me to do. Plus it gets ne ready for the day!

[06CuriousMind]

completely agree! Coffee and a run are a must every morning! I might try the dinner thing though cause I don't really like dinner that much anyways.

[akadatank44]

@06CuriousMind hahah you won't catch me running I hate it lol! Coffee yes tho!

[cobra2]

Try a tall glass of BCAAs instead. It will give you some energy and take care of hunger. I recommend Scivation XTEND BCAAs

[akadatank44]

Meh BCAA supplements are useless when I get them straight from source in food. Less expensive as well. Ratger take Whey

[cobra2]

They are not useless insofar as curbing appetite and being zero calories. Tbh I don't really need them anymore though because I get all my BCAAs from protein shakes and I don't really feel hungry during my fasting state anymore. But you definitely need something because you cave in.. If you do it properly, you shouldn't feel the need to. I would look into a prescribed regiment like kinobody or something, to help keep you on track.

[akadatank44]

Ohh I see what your saying. I've just stayed away cuz I know I'm getting enough through my diet.

[Phoenix98]

Never heard of it and honestly I'm pretty much against fasting for any reason other then religious reasons.

[cobra2]

What reason causes you to be against it? Scientific research has shown a clear health benefit for fasting that you can't ignore. Several peer reviewed papers have been published on the matter.

[Phoenix98]

Because training while fasting is typically not a good idea due to the fact that you body is starved of nutrients, protein etc. and training in that kind if state can be very dangerous. And a lot of the time the people fasting are people following trends, fads and don't have a overall lot of knowledge or experience in the area of fitness and nutrition. Which can lead to mistakes and serious problems.

[cobra2]

That is a myth. Training while fasting is perfectly fine. There is even scientific research indicating as much. I'd post the links but my xper level isn't high enough. Just go look through some peer reviewed articles on the matter. A lot of people fall victim to health myths as you have, but actually in regards to strength training and cardio, there are several benefits to doing it while fasting. The main benefit is that if you perform this training at the end of your fast before your meal, your body will be using energy stored in fat cells and also eating a meal immediately afterwards pretty much ensures most of the meal will be utilized for muscle repair and nutritional needs rather than being stored as fat. Another benefit is that your muscle fibers will be more sensitive to training and reach the critical threshold necessary to invoke new growth.

[Phoenix98]

I have studied it, among other things for my professional training degree/certification, but its just simply not something I'm going to do because it is unsuitable for my lifestyle and what I do, and fasting during training is only recommended for short periods long term it is not good, and that is what I am referring to.

[cobra2]

Well what you spout sounds more like quackery rather than actual professional advice. This is to anyone reading your bs: There are several PhD Medical Professionals who endorse, explain, and even encourage intermittent fasting so that you can improve your health. These professionals include but are not limited to Dr. Paul Jaminet Ph. D, Jason Fung PhD, Dr. Mercola PhD, and Dr. Micheal VanDerschelden PhD).

[ConsultantIsBack]

I'm on intermittent fasting rn mate (lunch is Bae lol)
Its a core piece of my pre-contest/summer cutting regimen

I. F. I highly recommend, but not necessarily for beginners

[Nomad69]

Yeah I tracked my macros and did the intermittent fasting and got abs but its was stressful and eventually I gave up

[cobra2]

What plan did you use? It doesn't have to be stressful at all. I noticed that all my cravings went away and I barely felt hungry at all. I would eat twice a day and and use BCAAs, coffee, tea, and water to curb hunger during my fasting state. But usually I just wasn't hungry at all. Your body just kinda gets used to it

[VicarioVivere]

I'm starting a new regimen this week. I'm eating one meal on Tuesday, one on Thursday, and one each on Saturday and Sunday. All low carb.

[VicarioVivere]

Nothing processed, so basically meat and a few veggies here and there.

[cobra2]

Wow, cutting back too much will destroy your testosterone levels, raise cortisol, and get you nowhere except health issues. Try to only cut back a little. I recommend if you are going to do one day on and one day off, etc, you will want to eat normally on your feed days. On your non-feed days you should only consume BCAAs, Tea, or A modest amount of coffee. I don't recommend the one day on and one day off plan... It's a bit impractical and hard to adhere to.

[VicarioVivere]

I broke down and ate something tonight. I've just been severely depressed this week, and I didn't feel like eating, so I decided to try and go back on low carb...

[VicarioVivere]

I already will have almost no testosterone if I don't start taking my weekly shots again... stupid doctor refused to keep giving me the long term injections because it might cost them extra because they have to buy it directly and then get reimbursed. My insurance would have covered everything but the office copay.

[cobra2]

Look carbs are important, don't cut back on them too much. You should make sure half of your macro nutrient intake is protein, and the other half is divvied up between carbs and fats. You should eat more carbs than fat on strength training days, and more fats than carbs on non-strength training days. This is what is referred to as carb cycling. It is the most efficient way to cut body fat while maintaining or even building muscle mass. Don't just cut out carbs because you fell victim to the myth that they are necessarily bad for you... They aren't.

[06CuriousMind]

@consultantisback lol

[ConsultantIsBack]

Lol great timing right