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Intermittent Fasting Is Gaining Acceptance

well.blogs.nytimes.com

61–70 of 174 posts

Re: Intermittent Fasting Is Gaining Acceptance

#61
post #12
post #2

> The scientific community remains divided about the value of intermittent fasting. Critics say that the science is not yet strong enough to justify widespread recommendations for fasting as a way to lose weight or boost health... Its always strange when ancient practices like fasting are so poorly understood.

That's because they were not done for any good reason. By this I mean some person with mental problems started a cult told everyone to start fasting for "religious" reasons and people followed. Obviously we don't pay much attention to that these days. Just like we don't investigate the scientific benefits of sanctified food.

Barely worth responding to, but many of dietary restrictions imposed by early religions had very real benefits, such as Hebrews with pork (Trichinella).

It's beyond foolish to flippantly dismiss knowledge offhand because you dislike or are prejudiced against the source.

Re: Intermittent Fasting Is Gaining Acceptance

#62
post #57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Your experience is interesting to me. I'm a runner as well and I end up doing several races per year including a marathon, a few 1/2s, few 5k and 10ks. Do you do any interval training or long runs on the days you fast? What do you do about post run nutrition replacement and do you do glucose replacement during your longer runs? I'd love to shave off a few pounds for racing reasons as well. I always find myself eating…

Fasting days (Mon/Wed) are recovery runs. I usually run long on the weekend, and do my workouts on Tue (intervals) and Thu (tempo), but before breaking my fast. My Tue interval day may include a 12 mi AM run of 2 mi w/u, 8 x 1000M at 8K pace w/600M RI, 2 mi c/d and 4 mi PM recovery run. My Thu tempo is usually something like a 10 mi AM run of 2 mi w/u, 6 mi at HMP, 2 mi c/d, then possibly a 4 mi PM recovery run. Sund…

I have never heard of a Guiness Float before, but seeing as I like both Guiness and Coke Floats... I want to try it as soon as I stop my short-term keto diet! What's it like?

Re: Intermittent Fasting Is Gaining Acceptance

#63
I've done intermittent fasting (specifically, the 'Leangains' protocol) for 6 years now, and it's treated me very well. The biggest benefit to me is that it makes diet adherence much easier, and keeps my macronutrient intake top-of-mind, which has a sort of trickle-down effect in my overall health.

Coupled with intense fasted weight lifting or sport activity, I feel great whether I am cutting or bulking. I can play 90 minutes of soccer while fasted and feel more energetic than anyone else on the field.

For anyone interested in starting: ease into it, track your calories and protein/fats/carbs to get a sense of what ratios make you feel better / lose bodyfat more effectively, and keep in mind caffeine and alcohol will feel more potent. Some people find the first few days uncomfortable, but wait for the one week mark before making any judgments (or 1-month if you're comfortable gathering more data).

Re: Intermittent Fasting Is Gaining Acceptance

#64
post #7

I've been doing IF (the "one meal per day" form) for a while now, mostly because I find it helps me focus during the day. When I used to eat breakfast, I'd be productive in the morning, until I started getting distracted by craving lunch. Then I'd eat lunch, and end up sleepy and groggy afterwards while I digested. Now that I'm used to IF, I feel more productive; I spend less time at work thinking about food, and I m…

I'm with you. Breakfast has always felt very skippable for me. My body doesn't seem to crave it in any way. I'd grown up listening to the conventional wisdom: eat a hearty breakfast, or else you'll be so hungry you'll snack all morning and afternoon. But I never really found that to be the case. Really, I experienced the opposite effect, as you've described. Whenever I eat breakfast, I find myself hungry again anywhe…

I have the same tendency, when I eat breakfast I get ravenously hungry within an hour unless it's a massive breakfast. Even with a large breakfast, I'll be just as hungry by lunchtime as I would be without the breakfast, sometimes even more.

Re: Intermittent Fasting Is Gaining Acceptance

#65
post #53
post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do you feel a need to eat right after running to rebuild muscle?

I've read conflicting information about whether it's truly necessary to consume protein/carbs within 30 minutes of a workout, which I think is the basis of your question. Or whether as long as your overall diet is sufficient, it doesn't matter. I've been fasting on Mon/Wed, and these are usually the days when I do recovery (i.e. slow) runs. I will run once or twice on these days, with my single meal in between. Typic…

Yes I was curious about the 30 min "rule". Thanks for the detailed info.

Re: Intermittent Fasting Is Gaining Acceptance

#66
post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's because they were not done for any good reason. By this I mean some person with mental problems started a cult told everyone to start fasting for "religious" reasons and people followed. Obviously we don't pay much attention to that these days. Just like we don't investigate the scientific benefits of sanctified food.

Barely worth responding to, but many of dietary restrictions imposed by early religions had very real benefits, such as Hebrews with pork (Trichinella). It's beyond foolish to flippantly dismiss knowledge offhand because you dislike or are prejudiced against the source.

Even a broken clock is right twice a day. Same I guess goes with a broken brain. I mean I guess you could say that mental disorder for instance hypochondria has benefits now and then so I guess we can justify all the other problems it causes for a few solutions that it provides, due to the hyper-vigilance of the individual against preconceived threats.

Re: Intermittent Fasting Is Gaining Acceptance

#67
post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's because they were not done for any good reason. By this I mean some person with mental problems started a cult told everyone to start fasting for "religious" reasons and people followed. Obviously we don't pay much attention to that these days. Just like we don't investigate the scientific benefits of sanctified food.

Barely worth responding to, but many of dietary restrictions imposed by early religions had very real benefits, such as Hebrews with pork (Trichinella). It's beyond foolish to flippantly dismiss knowledge offhand because you dislike or are prejudiced against the source.

They may have had real benefits, but not scientifically understood benefits, and by now they are followed for religious tradition rather than because research has been done showing that it's a good idea. Pork is a good example, as far as I'm aware there aren't people recommending avoiding pork (while still eating other meats) for health reasons, just for religious reasons.

The person you replied to worded it rudely about religions, but I agree with his overally point in that I want to hear from scientists not religious leaders when it comes to health advice, regardless of how sensible the religious advice was when it first came into existence.

Re: Intermittent Fasting Is Gaining Acceptance

#68
I've been doing Leangains style IF for the past four years. I'd like to share a few quick tips.

If anyone here wants to try intermittent fasting, do it for the sake of convenience. I don't eat breakfast or lunch, I just eat when I get home from work or after weight training. On weekends I break my fast earlier than on weekdays.

I wouldn't say you should do it for the "benefits" if it doesn't fit your lifestyle. Right now all we know is that it's not bad for you. It does work pretty well for hunger control, which can help if your goal is weight loss.

Also, don't live by the clock. It's OK to eat outside your feeding window, you might get hungry later during the day and the next day you might get hungry earlier.

Here's a guide if you're looking for a place to start: http://www.leangains.com/2010/04/leangains-guide.html

Here's a good article if you have general questions about IF: http://www.leangains.com/2010/10/top-ten-fasting-myths-debun...

Re: Intermittent Fasting Is Gaining Acceptance

#69
post #8

I really wish there was more scientific research around extended fasting. There's so little research and much of it doesn't wait long enough for ketoadaptation. I've done extended water fasts as well. 18 days of just water is the longest I've done and I felt like I could have gone longer.

The longest I have fastest for was 48 hours. It was wonderful. Those first few bites of food were heavenly. I'm probably gonna try doing that today

Did a 48 (actually a few hours more I guess) water fast ending yesterday and haven't had carbs since, am quite low on calories yesterday/today and still feeling absolutely fine and not hungry. Definitely will repeat again in the future (and staying off carbs for at least a few weeks, hopefully).

Re: Intermittent Fasting Is Gaining Acceptance

#70
post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Barely worth responding to, but many of dietary restrictions imposed by early religions had very real benefits, such as Hebrews with pork (Trichinella). It's beyond foolish to flippantly dismiss knowledge offhand because you dislike or are prejudiced against the source.

They may have had real benefits, but not scientifically understood benefits, and by now they are followed for religious tradition rather than because research has been done showing that it's a good idea. Pork is a good example, as far as I'm aware there aren't people recommending avoiding pork (while still eating other meats) for health reasons, just for religious reasons. The person you replied to worded it rudely a…

Considering all the other problems that have been caused by religion, I think being a bit critical of it is more than justified. I am not going around oppressing millions if not billions of people with bad ideas that are quite literally based in mental problems.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJM5mipwebw

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