grrlAthlete

Hi Just finished reading the book and find it very interesting. Years ago I remember reading about Juice fasts and buying an expensive juicer (yet another gimmick) but this makes much more sense.

I just wondered what kind of physique can you expect to have while encorporating this style of eating into your life. When I picture fasting people I think of pale, saggy skinned, concentration camp looking people or yogis

I'm 4 weeks away from my first fitness competition and am working with a well known coach who has me on the typical high protein and lean veggies protocol and have now started fancy carb cycling and macro shifting. I'm not leaning out as expected but I still feel like I'm stuffing myself. So it would make sense I'm eating to much but my coach has me so concerned that I might blow through muscle if I stop stuffing myself full of protein that I don't know what to think.

I'm also concerned about post competition rebound that affects many girls. Would the eat stop eat method fit into this provided I kept up my training and or shifted to my Turbulence training workouts?

Also what about training during fasted state. I usually have some whey or something before my HIIT training or weights because I get dizzy during long workouts if I don't eat. I'm worried about the same thing during ESE (eat stop eat) fasts.

Did you ever come across any research that supports the notion that fasting contributes to Type II diabetes? My mother in law's has it and her doctor told her that going long periods without eating followed by large dinners caused her diabetes. I personally thought this was bull.

thanks for such an informative, yet different book

First of all, the research firmly supports the the fact that you DO NOT lose muscles during a fast as long as you are doing resistance trianing at least 3 times per week (which I am assuming you are)...no offence to your coach, but most trianers have never bothered to really examine this research and they are simply repeating typical dogma they have grown to believe. Brad and I have been picking through all of this type of metabolism research with a fine tooth comb for the past year so we can tell you that you do not lose muscle if you fast.

The force feeding of protein and carb cycling is all gimmicks with little or no research at all backing any of it up. Most trainers and physique 'coaches' just go off of the experience their other athletes get from these techniques. From there they build up their 'evidence' for what works and what doesn't work. This may have some merit to it, afterall if you get shredded in 4 weeks time, something had to have worked. but it doesn't mean it was the most efficient way of arriving there!

I can say that there is no reason to believe that you will lose any muscle if you incorporate the Eat Stop Eat style of fasting.

If you don't mind being your own little mini test subject I suggest you stick with everything your 'coach' is suggesting. Document it all, right down to the pickiest little detail.

Then try it all again in a couple months time, but use the Eat Stop Eat program instead. And then compare how both methods worked, and how fast they worked.

As for feeling dizzy during workouts...that would have to be a self assessed measurement. Both Brad and I have done multiple workouts on a fasting day and felt fine. My suggestion is that you test it out (but after your competition) and see how you manage. If you feel it is limiting your workout, bring a gatorade type of drink with you, and that should push you through if you feel like you're not all there.

Please keep us updated on your progress. And let us know if you would be interested in trying to do another cut down phase with the Eat Stop Eat program.

As for the diabetes thing. I cannot really comment as well as Brad can with that as he has spent more time researching in that area than I have.

Brad, care to comment?

John

Hi Darlacz,

This was a funny comment "When I picture fasting people I think of pale, saggy skinned, concentration camp looking people or yogis"

I assure you this is not the case (Especially since I've been following Eat Stop Eat for almost a year now!)

I would agree with John about your competition diet. I'm not saying those diets don't work. I followed a very similar one myself during my competition prep. However, they are not the only way to diet, and its not the "magic" of the nutrient ratios that are making you lose weight. Its the caloric restriction plain and simple.

And as for the high protein saving your muscle. It is your hard work in the gym that prevents you from losing muscle, not your diet.

Post competition rebound - from my personal experience..this effects guys too, and its horrible. DO NOT, I repeat DO NOT stuff yourself after your contest, just eat normally.

Regarding the diabetes connection. As someone with a family member with typeII diabetes, I would be very upset if your mother in law's doctor had the preventative cure to diabetes and didn't share it with the rest of the world!

I wish we knew what causes this disease, but as I understand we still don't. I doubt very much that it is fasting. I'll add to this that I'm not a medical doctor, (and if you have diabetes you should consult your doctor before starting any diet). But again, with regards to what your mother was told, I have a very hard time believing this to be true.

I really like John's plan, stick with what your doing, then after your contest switch to eat stop eat and see how it goes.

Brad

thanks for the replies guys

I would be really interested in trying the Eat Stop Eat approach to leaning out for my next competition.

Right now I track macros only but I have everything in spreadsheets down to the last fish oil, gram of chicken breast, leaf of spinach and sppon of oatmeal. I know what the calories are for everything as well.

I hate the process and am only doing the competition for the hot body so being that I'm lazy and always looking for a better way, I'd love to try something different.

Weighing and measuring and carb restriction is NOT how I want to go through life. It has been crummy the last couple of weeks and it will only get worse.

The bad part is ....I haven't gone down in BF in two weeks. I could endure anything in the short term as long as it produces results. Coach's response was to up the cardio. I'm doing 6 days at 1 hour each and next week start two a days.

I HATE CARDIO but have the typical female fat storage problems and this has always been the prescribed solution.

Brad, I love how your response to the doc's comments about the cause of diabetes. If he truly knew the cause, it would be plastered all over the news not kept "secret" LOL

I frequent other fitness related forums and find it funny to read how some people are so misguided that they truly believe your body will go into "starvation mode" if you don't eat your prescribed meals at the correct times. As if our body says "oh, it's 6:05 and you didn't eat your 22.3 grams of protein, I'm going to shut down and store everything as fat"
I don't want to turn into one of those people who charts everything for the rest of my life and neither do I want to be out of shape. I think this might be the answer I've been looking for.

thanks for the heads up on the rebounding. Would love to look like a fitness model day in and day out but realizing that is an impossible ideal (stage ready every day that is) and am looking forward to just getting to my personal happy place with the least amount of effort that is.