5K Row
Fasting and cleanse diets are not something that get much attention around here. I for one have never subjected myself to such a thing nor have I heard many stories of those who have. However, given that thanksgiving is just behind us I figure this is as good a time as any to facilitate a discussion involving the trend. I want to be the first to say that I am no expert on the subject. I have read a few articles on intermittent fasting and the Neera Cleanse program but this is the extent of my education. From what I've gathered, fasting and cleanse diets are used as a reset button for your digestive system and hormonal levels and can, when used appropriately, assist recovery. Digestion itself requires valuable resources that can be allocated elsewhere (rebuilding tissue for example). Did anybody else fall asleep immediately after thursday's feasting? This is because staying awake was taking a back seat to digesting the 3 plates of food you scarfed down and most of your body's blood rushed to your gut (this is why thanksgiving is the least sexy holiday out there). Also, this can be a means to balancing out the week's caloric intake. Long story short I still feel tired, low energy, and out of whack after thanksgiving and suspect this could be a common theme in my life for the coming month and may give something like this a go. I don't mean to recommend that each and every one of you stop eating immediately but just recognize that their are alternative perspectives on nutrition that can be valuable to performance. Also, for those of you that subscribe to a neopaleolithic lifestyle do recognize that fasting would be common in the life of early man (not that that means its a good thing!!!!!).
P.S. do not come into the gym after a three day fast or you risk passing out (or do–you signed the liability waver)…this is more intended as a tool for surviving the holidays with your waistline and bowels in check. Do some research (google the shit) before starting anything like this. For a quick overview click here and here.
brother mike
That’s it, after reading Blake’s post I am never eating again. [insert whatever sound a lemming makes here]
Oh and if Thanksgiving is the least sexy holiday, New Years Eve must be the sexiest- with the most popular (I can’t say common because it’s my mother’s birthday) birthday in America being October 5, subtracting 9 months makes New Year’s a popular day for that kind of thing.
Scott
Blake: well I think overeating is common enough. I think I’ll go have some chocolate. Cheers.
Matt P
Alright… I’ll start it. Cleanse is bullshit.
You only need to eat in days that you WOD, for fuel, and on days that you rest, for recovery. So, fast on the rest of the days.
Your body “cleanses” itself all the time. We have organs for that.
brother mike
5k row is a great WOD. Let’s see it more often.
Olga B
Fasting ain’t so bad. Actually, there is a study that shows that kids who went from normal eating habits to gluttony in one season produced children and grandchildren who lived shorter lives. It was based on a study of population in Norrbotten, Sweden during feast and famine years in 19th century.
Timely post Blake.
J P Carey
here’s one of the best articles/ebooks I’ve seen on intermittent fasting http://www.precisionnutrition.com/intermittent-fasting
Scott
Matt: well yes roughage is “natures broom”, but I’ve found 1/2 day fasting works for me. Generally I find that overeating is one of the worst things I can do.
John: thanks for sharing that link.