How do you fast without slowing metabolism?

#1

I don’t understand how people can fast for longer than a day without slowing metabolism. Or, my god, a week long fast. How does that not slow down your metabolism to the point that you can no longer lose weight? Or even worse, how is that not making you gain weight when you start eating normal maintenance again? I personally think I have slowed my metabolism just by IF and eating less because I’m not as hungry as before. But for me to lose a few pounds is incredibly hard now, so I think my metabolism must have slowed.

(Allie) #2

I suggest you read some of the work by Dr Jason Fung as it will help you understand, or just listen to the Fasting Talk podcast. When done correctly fasting actually increases metabolism.

(jilliangordona) #3

I agree with @Shortstuff. Are you doing IF at the same time each day? The body craves homeostasis, and will get comfortable with your current trends and stop losing weight. I would suggest changing up your eating window through out the week.

(Michael ) #4

The reason it’s supposed to work is that a calorie deficit over time will allow you to adjust your metabolic rate. However, short fasts without any calories will increase energy and focus by burning extra calories. The reason is that your body goes into calorie gathering and hunting mode during starvation vs. Adjusting metabolism for prolonged periods of less food available. Of course, this is how a healthy body works but after a few decades of a western diet, the reality may be insulin resistance at a level that prevents access to fat stores and makes fasting no fun at all. If you stick to a IF window long term that creates a calorie deficit, you’re likely to adapt and lower metabolism. Mixing it up and having extended fasts and unrestricted high calorie days can help alleviate the issue…at least in theory. I sometimes do 5 or 6 thousand calorie days after a few good weight training sessions. And sometimes fasting for days. I try to keep my body guessing.

(Dameon Welch-Abernathy) #5

Mixing things up a little bit is definitely a good thing here. My travel schedule does this for me, resulting in some 24+ hour fasting days mixed in with a few days of eating off-diet.

#6

Yeah, I usually stop eating around 6 or 7 pm and dont eat again until 3 or 4 pm. So I guess I need to start eating more for a while.

#7

That does make more sense. I just don’t think I could ever do a fast for more than a day, and even then I would probably freak out.

(jilliangordona) #8

By change up, I also mean just changing WHEN you eat, so maybe eating from say 9am-12pm and not eating again until the next day