2012 FITNESS CHALLENGE

[Chrisksaint]

Re: 2012 FITNESS CHALLENGE

Yeah if I don't eat in awhile I feel like my blood sugar drops and then I get a bad migraine(my mom has diabetes and it runs in my family some so I have had that checked).

Granted that may have been more of a caffeine problem as I have drastically stopped my caffeine usage to just the occasional coffee(barely once a week) and a coke on the weekends when I drink alcohol

[bigbob]

Re: 2012 FITNESS CHALLENGE

Yeah if I don't eat in awhile I feel like my blood sugar drops and then I get a bad migraine(my mom has diabetes and it runs in my family some so I have had that checked).

Granted that may have been more of a caffeine problem as I have drastically stopped my caffeine usage to just the occasional coffee(barely once a week) and a coke on the weekends when I drink alcohol

Diabetes is big in my family, but it seems to be more of the females than anything.

I don't plan on getting tested, even if it is symptoms of it.

[AUChase]

Re: 2012 FITNESS CHALLENGE

First time posting in the thread, but I see you can are looking to get in shape.

Have you guys heard of the Blast Training System by Ryan Hughes? I started it last year and along with the keto diet dropped 75 pounds. Still have about 25 more to go, but damn this workout is intense.

Here's the link to his website, http://hughesfit.com/

If you're interested in buying the book PM me before you do. :wink:

Were you talking about ther E-Book that costs around $30 ?

I've been struggling, since working further from home. I'm trying to cut back and get more lean, but my diet isn't that great and I don't have much money to spend on buying groceries, right now... making it hard to buy healthy stuff.

I wish I had workout partner. None of my friends are really into fitness and It's hard to get self motivated, sometimes.. especially after working a 10 hour shift.

[Chrisksaint]

Re: 2012 FITNESS CHALLENGE

Diabetes is big in my family, but it seems to be more of the females than anything.

I don't plan on getting tested, even if it is symptoms of it.

Yeah I was at the hospital once for something and they tested for it to be safe.

[TarHeelMan]

Re: 2012 FITNESS CHALLENGE

I'd never be able to do that. I get the shakes and feel "lighter" when walking after a few hours.

The only time I really had a problem with it was one day when I had done a particularly grueling 45 minute session of swimming laps on an empty stomach, I was in the middle of a 20-something hour fast. For some reason I always get really hungry after swimming, but not this time. I drank a diet drink and I was good. But around 9:00 that night, I started feeling loopy. It was probably a combination of the after-effects of the swimming (it makes me really tired) and the fasting. I went home and ate, and it was like someone knocked me out.

Other than that, it's been smooth sailing.

[RockinDaMike]

Diabetes is big in my family, but it seems to be more of the females than anything.

I don't plan on getting tested, even if it is symptoms of it.

Get yourself checked. Diabetes is no joke, I been going through it for 6 years. I was on 3 different meds for it now I'm down to half dosage of one med. Really close to not needing meds for it.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2

[cjonesfan921]

Re: 2012 FITNESS CHALLENGE

The only time I really had a problem with it was one day when I had done a particularly grueling 45 minute session of swimming laps on an empty stomach, I was in the middle of a 20-something hour fast. For some reason I always get really hungry after swimming, but not this time. I drank a diet drink and I was good. But around 9:00 that night, I started feeling loopy. It was probably a combination of the after-effects of the swimming (it makes me really tired) and the fasting. I went home and ate, and it was like someone knocked me out.

Other than that, it's been smooth sailing.

I'm intrigued by IF. Do you drink throughout the day? The only fasting part is the actual fasting from food? When do you usually eat? Any differences in your metabolism?

[bh446066]

Re: 2012 FITNESS CHALLENGE

In addition to the warmups/stretching they do on the DVDs?

From what I understand, the warm ups/stretching don't hit those areas well enough. I'm just saying it seems to be a common theme with insanity (achilles issues).

[AllJuicedUp]

Re: 2012 FITNESS CHALLENGE

Yes, you can (and should) drink water. You can also have coffee in the morning if you want it, just no sugar and/or very little cream. Although 95% of the time I just stick to caffeine pills (you'll definitely feel the caffeine rush a lot more when fasting too, so you have to be aware of that).

The goal is to not take in anything that will cause your insulin to spike. So sugary drinks are a no no since thats about as counterproductive as you can get (I'd say in general just don't drink that crap and stick to water... so much better and so not worth it. I'll take a nice big bowl of ice cream and water all day over a few glasses of processed sugar filled drinks).

As far as metabolism goes, there are numerous studies that show contrary to what most people believe/have been told, your metabolism actually increases around the 12-16 hour fasted mark. Fasting gives you more energy... (evolutionarily speaking, it makes sense... if you're a hunter and gatherer, the time when you need that extra boost is when you're hungry and looking for food. You don't hunt on a full stomach! You hunt when you haven't eaten)

Not only does your metabolism increase, but studies have also shown that muscle catabolism doesn't actually begin until the 60-72ish hour mark. Fasting in lengths less than that does not cause any muscle loss. The propaganda about "stoking the metabolic fire" and "eating to prevent muscle loss" is just that, supplement industry propaganda.

Schedule wise, I know most IFers follow the Lean Gains (http://www.leangains.com/) method of 16 hours per day fasting, and then 8 hours to eat (and usually that consists of a feeding window from around 12-8 at night and then fasting till noon the next day). That seems to be the easiest.

For me personally, I'm a big fan of "getting the most" out of my fast. If I'm going to get the benefits of fasting for 16 hours, I'd prefer just to go that little extra and push it to 24+ (nothing beats the energy you have that 2nd day of a fast imo, especially with just a little caffeine to help suppress the appetite). In my opinion, I see no reason to break a fast at 16 hours just because... I've already reached the 16ish hour mark to have an increased metabolism, my body is in fat burning mode, so I like to keep it going as long as possible.

I usually do 1 or 2 36-60 hour fasts a week depending on my schedule (my favorite time to get in a good workout is a few hours after breaking a "long" fast. Prime up with some good food before, let it settle, and then lots of protein after). A 36 hour fast is as simple as just 2 skipped meals from the regular 16 hour fast. Stop eating at 8 PM, don't eat during that 12-8 feeding window the next day, and then eat at 12 again the day after. It is remarkably easier than you'd think...

You'll inevitably get those familiar hunger cravings at some point, but distract yourself (and drink water) and they go away quickly and you forget all about it. Honestly, I feel best on days when I'm fasting, and the longer, the better. And if you know your body at all, you know the difference between cravings, and when you really get hungry and need some energy and its time to break the fast.

My method certainly isn't the norm, and everyone usually tweaks their IF schedule to their own personal needs/wants, but it works for me (I went from 210+ down to 160ish with pretty much the only change in my routine being intermittent fasting, and am now sitting around 170-175 and MUCH stronger than I was at 210 (and the extra 10+ lb's from 160 is pretty much all muscle).

And it really doesn't feel like a diet to me either, I can certainly maintain this way of eating the rest of my life. When I eat, or when I go out with friends, etc, I eat however I want... that said, on days around my fasting, I certainly crave healthier foods. I guess thats one more nice side effect for me (and many others from what I've heard talking to people). I naturally eat healthier because it just feels so much better most of the time (breaking a fast w/ something nasty and greasy makes you feel awful lol).

I could literally go on and on about IF, its by far the best thing I've done healthwise probably ever lol (that and as I said before, becoming a big water drinker). If you're interested in it though, I'd definitely check out that lean gains website, as its probably the best resource for all things IF (and he actually sites sources and provides legitimate scientific studies... although I should note the majority of the science has been done on animals and there is a lot less hard science and research that has been done on people).

[bigbob]

Re: 2012 FITNESS CHALLENGE

Get yourself checked. Diabetes is no joke, I been going through it for 6 years. I was on 3 different meds for it now I'm down to half dosage of one med. Really close to not needing meds for it.

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Honestly, I'm not even worried about it.

As morbid as it sounds, I don't expect to live past 45 years old. I'm just going with the flow. I'm that guy that doesn't go to the doctor for anything. The last time I went to the doctor/hospital was in 2008 whenever I head a heart attack during football. Before that, I couldn't tell you the last time I went for anything but to get a physical for football and track.

If I do live past 45, I know I'll have major problems walking and possible brain damage from football and now, boxing.

I'm that "It's fine, it'll get better in a few days" guy when it comes to be sick or having something wrong with me.

[TarHeelMan]

Re: 2012 FITNESS CHALLENGE

I'm intrigued by IF. Do you drink throughout the day? The only fasting part is the actual fasting from food? When do you usually eat? Any differences in your metabolism?

I have a big 64 oz thermal jug that I keep filled with ice water and lemon. I'll drink two of those during the day, and I'll also drink diet soda, but not too much... I also drink water during my two trips to the gym. I go to a gym by my job to do compound lifts around 2:00 on Monday-Wednesday-Friday, and on those days I'll go later on in the evening with my son, doing isolation stuff on the machines since he's only 12 and I'm not comfortable with him on free weights yet, although I'll probably switch that up when he turns 13 in February.

I started out with the basic 16 hour fasting protocol, but I eventually found that once I ate a big meal to break the fast, I wasn't even hungry to eat any subsequent meals. The great thing about IF (for me) is that it taught me to really sense if I was hungry, or if I was just wanting food because I was "supposed" to eat, at times that I was conditioned to (breakfast, lunch, watching a game, etc.)... So I eventually started drifting toward longer and longer fasts. I'd go lift, then come back to the office and feel like "you know what, I really am NOT hungry". There have been days that I've gone around 23-24 hours and only eaten because I didn't want to break the fast during the AM at work. I prefer to eat my meals in the evening.

As far as meal(s), I've been keeping it pretty basic. I'm the kind of dude that can eat the same thing every day of the week. I keep it somewhat low carb, and this week my normal meal has been 4-5 scrambled eggs, turkey bacon and/or sausage, with some Nature's Own bread (lower in carbs). Then after the gym, I'll have a nice Syntha-6 protein shake. An hour later, I'm in bed. Then rise, rinse and repeat. On the weekends, I try to follow a fasting window, too, which is getting progressively easier. It was harder cause you know, you always seem to NEED some food when watching a game or something on the tube. So I relax the dietary macros somewhat, I just have a window where I eat it, within reason. And I still swim on Saturdays anyway.

Another thing I've noticed, too, is my energy level in the mornings. I am absolutely, positively, NOT a morning person. I generally don't wake up until I get to the office. But I've noticed that while IF'ing, I can wake up in the morning, and get rolling about five minutes after I open my eyes. Weird. Not sure if it's the metabolism or anything. I do feel more energy, which I guess could be attributed to the metabolism.

In any event, I really like this way of eating. It's really flexible, and can be tailored to a person's preferences and lifestyle. The only drawback is having to explain it to people who think you're from another planet because you choose not to eat breakfast and/or lunch... Funny thing, if I told them I was doing it to save money, they wouldn't have said anything. Stupid me for trying to enlighten folks.

Honestly, I'm not even worried about it.

As morbid as it sounds, I don't expect to live past 45 years old. I'm just going with the flow. I'm that guy that doesn't go to the doctor for anything. The last time I went to the doctor/hospital was in 2008 whenever I head a heart attack during football. Before that, I couldn't tell you the last time I went for anything but to get a physical for football and track.

If I do live past 45, I know I'll have major problems walking and possible brain damage from football and now, boxing.

I'm that "It's fine, it'll get better in a few days" guy when it comes to be sick or having something wrong with me.

To each his own, but dang dude.... Don't you have family or anything that you wanna be around for?

[bigbob]

Re: 2012 FITNESS CHALLENGE

Oh, I absolutely want to be around for my family.

But I'm realistic about everything that's happened in my life. I've given my body up for sports, and I will continue to give my body up for sports until I have nothing else to give.

[TarHeelMan]

Re: 2012 FITNESS CHALLENGE

Oh, I absolutely want to be around for my family.

But I'm realistic about everything that's happened in my life. I've given my body up for sports, and I will continue to give my body up for sports until I have nothing else to give.

My man.... Well, here's to hoping you're around for a lot longer...

[RockinDaMike]

Re: 2012 FITNESS CHALLENGE

I'm eating 1 meal a day technically right now but its not fasting. I drink whole food shakes (vega one) with almond milk or water for breakfast and dinner for the past two weeks and lost weight faster than have been and my energy levels and lifting have not sacrificed from what I noticed. I also take a vegan performance protein twice a day before and after my workouts as well as an amino energy blend.

I was at 238 a week ago and I'm 233 at this moment but could probably break into the 220's tomorrow morning which I haven't been to since I was in high school. (man boobs are almost gone....WOOOT!)

I'm still drinking my veggie juice everyday (kale,spinach,broccili,celery,cucumber, lemon, green apple) and eating almonds or sunflower seeds for snacks in between.

After I get to my goal of under 200 I'm going to go on the Engine 2 diet which is a whole foods diet that this station of firemen in Austin went on. Great story where they all healed their health issues adopting a plant based diet. They have a documentary on netflix I just caught.

[cjonesfan921]

Re: 2012 FITNESS CHALLENGE

Thanks for the responses regarding IF. I'm starting today. I weighed myself this morning at 192.2. Mind you, prior to leaving for Florida (8/17), I checked in at 179. I'm trying to shed as much as possible and also enjoy whatever else comes with it. I do have trouble staying focus in the AM, and usually don't wake up at work until noon.

In the beginning I'll be going with a eating schedule from 9AM - 1-2, give or take. I'm rolling with 2 english muffins for breakfast and a hefty sized lunch. I'll try and only water throughout the day, although I do have a little bottle of apple juice with my breakfast.

I will try to incorporate some home workouts at night. I'm thinking a variety of crunches and push-ups some days, while using dumbbells another. I get enough of a work out for my legs with the commute and the flight of stairs I run up and down while at work. I'll try and check in weekly and see how it is.