Posted by: Walrus
« on: April 24, 2013, 05:20:18 pm »I have some experience with fasting.
IMO, longer-term fasting (consecutive days) is difficult, but also highly effective at cleansing the body, eliminating food and other minor addictions, balancing hormonal and metabolism function, as well as shedding excess body mass. There is also the spiritual aspect of being free of all things materialistic, as Tyler described. However, too much fasting can weaken and damage the body, especially in the form of muscle loss. Not to mention how it can make it difficult to function at work, school, etc. I believe long term fasting can also be difficult on body organs. IMO, long-term fasts should only be done occasionally (perhaps every few months), and even then for no more than a few days.
Short term (intermittent) fasting (IF) I have found to be very beneficial. My protocol is to fast until early evening (4-6 pm), exercise (usually weight lifting), then, when hunger occurs (usually an hour or so after exercise), eat as much real food as I'd like over a few hours. This amounts to a daily fast of 16-20 hours. I don't exercise everyday, in which case I merely break the fast around 4-6 pm. This doesn't have to be done everyday, and there is no rigid eating schedule that needs to be followed.
In this manner, you still get the benefits of fasting without depriving your body. This can also get you in tremendous physical shape (while in the fast you burn body fat, whereas eating after lifting builds muscle - see "Leangains").
Eating real food is also very important (Paleo is, IMO, the best diet). Fasting can be tremendously helpful as a bridge to a healthier lifestyle. As Tyler described, the benefits of fasting can be quickly lost if one falls back into bad habits.
IMO, longer-term fasting (consecutive days) is difficult, but also highly effective at cleansing the body, eliminating food and other minor addictions, balancing hormonal and metabolism function, as well as shedding excess body mass. There is also the spiritual aspect of being free of all things materialistic, as Tyler described. However, too much fasting can weaken and damage the body, especially in the form of muscle loss. Not to mention how it can make it difficult to function at work, school, etc. I believe long term fasting can also be difficult on body organs. IMO, long-term fasts should only be done occasionally (perhaps every few months), and even then for no more than a few days.
Short term (intermittent) fasting (IF) I have found to be very beneficial. My protocol is to fast until early evening (4-6 pm), exercise (usually weight lifting), then, when hunger occurs (usually an hour or so after exercise), eat as much real food as I'd like over a few hours. This amounts to a daily fast of 16-20 hours. I don't exercise everyday, in which case I merely break the fast around 4-6 pm. This doesn't have to be done everyday, and there is no rigid eating schedule that needs to be followed.
In this manner, you still get the benefits of fasting without depriving your body. This can also get you in tremendous physical shape (while in the fast you burn body fat, whereas eating after lifting builds muscle - see "Leangains").
Eating real food is also very important (Paleo is, IMO, the best diet). Fasting can be tremendously helpful as a bridge to a healthier lifestyle. As Tyler described, the benefits of fasting can be quickly lost if one falls back into bad habits.