Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Intermittent Fasting Is Gaining Acceptance

well.blogs.nytimes.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

71–80 of 174 posts

Re: Intermittent Fasting Is Gaining Acceptance

#71

Post by sliverstorm »

Lazare wrote: 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…

Do you snack heavily? I can't get enough calories for the day in one sitting unless I specifically choose lots of super high energy density foods.

Re: Intermittent Fasting Is Gaining Acceptance

#72

Post by bcook »

stevenkovar wrote: post #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 9…

I have always preferred avoiding digestion when physical exertion is imminent. The harder I work, the less hungry I become.

People have mentioned to me that I may have a food allergy, or some other type of disorder that makes digestion a problem. Have you considered this?

Re: Intermittent Fasting Is Gaining Acceptance

#73

Post by stevenkovar »

bcook wrote: post #72
stevenkovar wrote: post #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 9…

I have always preferred avoiding digestion when physical exertion is imminent. The harder I work, the less hungry I become. People have mentioned to me that I may have a food allergy, or some other type of disorder that makes digestion a problem. Have you considered this?

It's not so much that I feel better exercising while fasted; it's that I don't feel inhibited exercising while fasted. However, the hunger-dampening effect of working out is common[0]:

> "There are two important hormones involved in provoking appetite: ghrelin and peptide YY. Ghrelin is a hormone that stimulates hunger while peptide YY suppresses it. Aerobic and anaerobic exercise, such as weight training, both stimulate an increase in the peptide YY hormone. This is the primary reason healthy people have a feeling of fullness post-workout."

After reflecting for a moment, I realize I experienced that sensation more often before I started intermittently fasting.

[0] http://www.livestrong.com/article/405012-exercise-loss-of-ap...

Re: Intermittent Fasting Is Gaining Acceptance

#74

Post by corin_ »

x5n1 wrote: post #70
corin_ wrote: post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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

I'm an atheist, and I have many criticisms of many religions, but imposing dietry restrictions on those who wish to follow them isn't one of them. I'd also suggest that being constructively critical in a debate is fine, posting comments like yours that I refered to is only going to make religious people dislike you and won't change a single opinion, other than making you and other people who already agree with you feel smug.

(For the record, while I wouldn't necessarily agree with a statement of "religions have done more good than harm", I do think they can and have done good in some areas. A religion that promotes good morals and tolerance, without preaching the negatives that you and I dislike, is fine with me, even if I don't personally believe in everything they believe in. And on a personal note, I'm thankful for some of the wonderful music and other art that religion has inspired and/or funded over the years.)

Re: Intermittent Fasting Is Gaining Acceptance

#77

Post by JoeAltmaier »

Florin_Andrei wrote: post #75

I strongly doubt we are evolutionarily adapted to a steady regimen of 3 meals a day every day. I think it's virtually certain that our biochemical engine is optimized for something a lot closer to "intermittent fasting".

Sure but we're also adapted to a parasite load, sleeping with the sun and dying young. We want to do better than that. Better, faster, stronger.

Re: Intermittent Fasting Is Gaining Acceptance

#79

Post by ajross »

Florin_Andrei wrote: post #75

I strongly doubt we are evolutionarily adapted to a steady regimen of 3 meals a day every day. I think it's virtually certain that our biochemical engine is optimized for something a lot closer to "intermittent fasting".

That's pseudoscience. Irregular eating is normal for hunter/gatherer societies, and most animals like our ancestors that sit in a scavenger niche. We know (or have good evidence that; I followed a link once and am too lazy to look up the research) our gut has adapted just in the 10k year period after the advent of agriculture. Agrarian societies are built around grain storage and rationing. They absolutely have regular access to calories.

That doesn't prove anything, of course. But it does argue that you should be careful with that kind of "it's the way our bodies are intended to work" logic. To a large extent, we're already adapted to "modern" eating styles.

Re: Intermittent Fasting Is Gaining Acceptance

#80

Post by mordocai »

corin_ wrote: post #67
15charlimit wrote: post #61

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…

I don't have sources handy, but one of my friends doesn't eat pork because he believes (based on some source or another) that it is worse for his health than other meats (including beef).

I never asked him for his sources because it doesn't really affect me. The only reason it came up is because he was eating dinner at our house one day.

Post reply on HN