To fast or not to fast?

(jilliangordona) #1

Hi all…

On Monday I hurt my back pretty badly at the gym (I assume it was from a dead lift, it didn’t hurt at the time, but it started killing me at work and has been awful ever since).

I have rested, and have found that instead of my fairly easy IF habit… I am STARVING. I am trying to figure out what impact fasting/feasting could have if any. One part of research tells me that FEASTING would be best as to provide energy to repair the body. The other part says FASTING would be best as they body can focus on reducing inflammation and only on repairing the body, not digesting.

help?! its crazy how one day I feel like an expert… then the next I feel helpless! Lol

(Allie) #2

If you’re hungry eat. Fasting should come naturally, not be forced.
Listen to your body.

#3

I’d combine the two. Feast then fast, get the nutrition and some growth hormone going for you.

(G. Andrew Duthie) #4

This might be a case of “listen to your body.”

I have certainly found that fasting reduces joint pain, presumably due to lower systemic inflammation. But that being said, if you are feeling intensely hungry, your body could be trying to tell you that it needs more nourishment in order to repair and restore the damage.

Without knowing the frequency or intensity of your workouts, I’d just say that you should be sure that you are getting both sufficient rest between workouts and sufficient nutrition. Lack of either can increase the likelihood of injury.

If you’re doing IF, make sure you’re still getting sufficient food to support your BMR and exercise level.

(jilliangordona) #5

Thank you! Work out each muscle group once per week, and practice 16/8 IF during the week with fasting on the weekends. I lift fairly heavily so I am still working on ensuring I am getting enough food.

(G. Andrew Duthie) #6

The extreme feeling of hunger may indicate you’ve crossed some threshold where you’re body is saying “hey, not getting enough raw materials here.”

Lifting heavy requires fuel. You don’t necessarily need a ton of protein, but if you’re doing both IF and EF, I’d agree it’s a good idea to make sure you are getting enough raw materials, including good fat.