Break my fast or..?

keto
fasting
exercise
extendedfast
#1

I am going on 21 hours, not super hungry, so i’m not wanting to break my fast yet, but my main concern is-I have a cycling class tonight (HIIT- 500 cal in 45 mins) and i haven’t ever done it fasted. Should i eat now before my class or try it without breaking my fast?

(Michael - When reality fails to meet expectations, the problem is not reality.) #2

Do the experiment and let us know what happens. :slightly_smiling_face:

#3

When I work out I’m always somewhat fasted (around 20 hours) and I can’t imagine it any other way. I take salt before working out (about a tsp). I’ve done Bikram classes (90 minutes, 105 degrees, pretty intense) on the 3rd, 4th and 5th days of a water/electrolyte fast and they were some of my best ever classes. But I was fat adapted before doing this, so YMMV

If I were you I would take some electrolytes now and again right before class and take the class but monitor how you feel and be willing to rest as needed.

#4

I think i’m going to do that! I like the idea of doing it fasted, cause i’ve been keto for 5/6 months now, but the week before last i went on vacation & had a cheat WEEK lol. So since then, i’ve been bouncing in & out of ketosis & I’m fasting & working out to try to accelerate getting there. You really can’t beat how you feel when you’re there!

#5

I also have some MCT oil i can take beforehand, should i take that or skip it?

(Michael - When reality fails to meet expectations, the problem is not reality.) #6

That might work, but I suggest a couple tablespoons of plain coconut oil. It contains the MCT for immediate utilization, plus longer chain fatty acids for sustaining it.

#7

I totally would! BUT i have MCT oil capsules here at work & I’m not going home before my class :slight_smile:

(Michael - When reality fails to meet expectations, the problem is not reality.) #8

Then back to my original response. Just do it fasted and let us know what happens.

#9

I would also vote for skipping the MCT!
Re your recent cheat week: we keep our fat adaptation for a while. I’ve sometimes gone almost a season with much higher carbs and can still do fasts (and fasted workouts) with no problem.
(I’m not recommending this to anyone with metabolic problems! Just saying that you probably didn’t lose fat adaptation in a short period of eating carbs.)

#10

Ok good to know!! I hoped i didnt! :slight_smile:

#11

@Madeleine @amwassil Did the class fasted! It was 445 cal & cant say i lacked too much energy while i was doing it either. I took electrolytes before the class & ate afterwards & got my ketones up to 1.2 this morning! i can’t say i would do that for every class, but now i know i can accomplish it fasted!

(Susan) #12

Congrats =) that is great.

#13

Yay! thanks for the update.
It’s pretty cool, right? I was so excited and pleased with my first fasted Bikram class.

#14

it is!! it’s insane what our bodies are capable of! I would definitely do it again

#15

I’m going to try to do another fasted cycling class today! I’ll post on how it goes :slight_smile:

(Susan) #16

I wish you the best for success again.

#17

Fasted workout done again yesterday! 445 cals & felt great. I took electrolytes before & ate dinner (OMAD) when i got home. Had a 7oz ribeye topped with butter, some cheese & some bacon. Definitely need to figure out how to eat more calories with doing OMAD though. & my ketones were 2.7 mmol this morning!! (GKI was 1.3) so i feel fantastic! :smile:

(Susan) #18

Maybe try to do 2 meals a day but in a short window? I do TMAD with lunch at 1pm and supper at 4:30 to get all my calories in, as I cannot do it on OMAD. I still have a 20:4 IF from that.

That is great that you did the fasted workout again, congrats.