Anyone else train whilst fasted?

[Mrpb]

Good to hear it's working out for someone in the long-term! Sounds like a neat routine, not too dissimilar from my own. I wake up, sink a strong black coffee and hit the iron!

I haven't look into this but do BCAAs break a fast?

BCAAs do nothing to preserve muscle. And they do contain calories, so they do break your fast. Not that that matters.

Why people still pay for BCAAs in 2019 is beyond me. Get whey or some EAAs instead. They actually do something.

[AdamWW]

BCAAs do nothing to preserve muscle. And they do contain calories, so technically they do break your fast.

Why people still pay for BCAAs in 2019 is beyond me.

Dat dere placebo

[grubman]

Good to hear it's working out for someone in the long-term! Sounds like a neat routine, not too dissimilar from my own. I wake up, sink a strong black coffee and hit the iron!

I haven't look into this but do BCAAs break a fast?

No calories, nothing to digest...I perform better with a completely empty stomach (other than water/liquid).

[Mrpb]

No calories, nothing to digest...I perform better with a completely empty stomach (other than water/liquid).

BCAAs have calories, even if the package says they don't. https://www.myoleanfitness.com/do-bcaas-have-calories/

EAAs have calories too. And they do stimulate MPS, unlike BCAAs. Win win.

[grubman]

BCAAs have calories, even if the package says they don't. https://www.myoleanfitness.com/do-bcaas-have-calories/

EAAs have calories too. And they do stimulate MPS, unlike BCAAs. Win win.

Ha ha OK...but not enough calories to upset my apple cart when it comes to digestion.

[Mrpb]

Same amount of calories as EEAs or whey basically.

Given that whey and EEAs actually do something that's where I'd rather spend my calories and money.

10 gram EEAs would give a robust stimulation of MPS.

BCAAs pre workout? Maybe have some decaf coffee as well?

[Nicksosure1]

Same amount of calories as EEAs or whey basically.

Given that whey and EEAs actually do something that's where I'd rather spend my calories and money.

10 gram EEAs would give a robust stimulation of MPS.

BCAAs pre workout? Maybe have some decaf coffee as well?

Joke all you want but there's something about decaf that gets me going too. Surely placebo, but that's probably why I drink BCAAs during my workout too lol

Decaf and BCAAs, lets get it!

[Mrpb]

Joke all you want but there's something about decaf that gets me going too.

Actually most decaf has some caffeine in it. So that could explain it.

It resembles the situation with BCAAs a bit. They actually have a minor effect on MPS. But for the same amount of calories you can get EEAs, that have the full effect.

So if you spend your money on BCAAs, why not get EAAs instead?

And while you're at it, have a double espresso too. Or a big cup of strong coffee.

[AdamWW]

Joke all you want but there's something about decaf that gets me going too. Surely placebo, but that's probably why I drink BCAAs during my workout too lol

Decaf and BCAAs, lets get it!

Warm liquid in the morning as well as something with sharp flavors can have an effect on energy

[Nicksosure1]

Warm liquid in the morning as well as something with sharp flavors can have an effect on energy

I really just usually drink it because I love the taste/smell of coffee and usually by the time I get around to coffee I've already had a load of preworkout caffeine that morning. Usually try to limit my caffeine intake to preworkout only outside of an occasional green tea in the afternoon.

[Motiviert]

Love training fasted. I train better fasted

[pondus_levo]

Love training fasted. I train better fasted

This.

I've run numerous half marathons and mountain biked 20+ miles on a completely empty stomach. Food makes me sluggish.

[AdamWW]

This.

I've run numerous half marathons and mountain biked 20+ miles on a completely empty stomach. Food makes me sluggish.

I just don't get this at all...

I feel like this wasn't a thing 10+ years ago... people saying that consuming energy takes away their energy... so counter-intuitive...

Plus, I mean how many top-level athletes ever train fasted? I'm sure it's <.01%

[grubman]

I just don't get this at all...

I feel like this wasn't a thing 10+ years ago... people saying that consuming energy takes away their energy... so counter-intuitive...

It’s not consuming the energy for me, it’s the multitask of digesting the energy while working out. I could easily eat...digest...and work out, maybe 2 hours later. But I have less productive workouts “full” of food, digesting recently consumed food, or while actually hungry...but fasted, early morning, i surpassed the “hungry” hump while sleeping, so I'm not hungry or full and all my energy can be focused on working out. Plus, without food to digest, rehydration (or any pre or intra supplements) are quickly absorbed.

But hey, if it doesn’t work for YOU that’s cool...doesn’t mean it’s not more productive and/or optimal, or just preferred by other people.

[Bigdumogre]

I love fasted am workouts , wish I had more time to do them again

[Paulie1986]

I wake up at 8AM, only consume about 10 cals in the morning through an energy drink so not totally fasted and then about 4PM I'll do my workout and I feel great and ready to raise the roof. Then from about 6PM to midnight I'll consume all my calories. Wouldn't do that bulking though, because getting over 3000 calories in a few hours would be too hard for me.

Feel the same amount of energy as when I used pre-workout powder and a meal some years ago. If I get leaner and lose a bit of strength I'll maybe throw in a small pre-workout meal if feeling sluggish too.

[AdamWW]

It’s not consuming the energy for me, it’s the multitask of digesting the energy while working out. I could easily eat...digest...and work out, maybe 2 hours later. But I have less productive workouts “full” of food, digesting recently consumed food, or while actually hungry...but fasted, early morning, i surpassed the “hungry” hump while sleeping, so I'm not hungry or full and all my energy can be focused on working out. Plus, without food to digest, rehydration (or any pre or intra supplements) are quickly absorbed.

But hey, if it doesn’t work for YOU that’s cool...doesn’t mean it’s not more productive and/or optimal, or just preferred by other people.

I was more talking about the idea of doing a half marathon and a 20mile bike ride.... lifting I understand for some people... but the post I responded to was different.

[grubman]

I was more talking about the idea of doing a half marathon and a 20mile bike ride.... lifting I understand for some people... but the post I responded to was different.

My bad

[pondus_levo]

I just don't get this at all...

I feel like this wasn't a thing 10+ years ago... people saying that consuming energy takes away their energy... so counter-intuitive...

Plus, I mean how many top-level athletes ever train fasted? I'm sure it's <.01%

Not sure. I just know I perform better on an empty stomach. I guess that doesn't necessarily mean I am in a fasted state, though, I suppose.

For running, if I eat within 3 hours of exercise I always get side cramps, so I couldn't give 100%. Got tired of it and wouldn't run unless I had not eaten in 3-4 hours. Quickly realized I performed way better and nothing seemed to hold me back. It was hard at first, especially for longer distances, but my body adapted and I never went back and do the same for riding.

For weight lifting, I've never like doing it on a full stomach. I just feel bloated and slow and I feel like I can't breathe as I recover in between sets.

Most of my exercise is done after work, so I just don't eat anything after lunch. Interestingly, after a hard run, ride, or workout, I'm not hungry. A protein shake is enough to get me through the rest of the evening. The next morning I'm pretty hungry, though.

On race days, I will eat a single piece of toast with jam and a banana, but I still have to make sure I eat it at least 2-3 hours before race time.

[AdamWW]

Not sure. I just know I perform better on an empty stomach. I guess that doesn't necessarily mean I am in a fasted state, though, I suppose.

For running, if I eat within 3 hours of exercise I always get side cramps, so I couldn't give 100%. Got tired of it and wouldn't run unless I had not eaten in 3-4 hours. Quickly realized I performed way better and nothing seemed to hold me back. It was hard at first, especially for longer distances, but my body adapted and I never went back and do the same for riding.

For weight lifting, I've never like doing it on a full stomach. I just feel bloated and slow and I feel like I can't breathe as I recover in between sets.

Most of my exercise is done after work, so I just don't eat anything after lunch. Interestingly, after a hard run, ride, or workout, I'm not hungry. A protein shake is enough to get me through the rest of the evening. The next morning I'm pretty hungry, though.

I see. Yeah, that's a bit different because you're not actually fasted in the traditional sense... most people associate a fasting window as beginning with with/after a night's sleep, or using the nighttime/sleeping period as the beginning of the fast.

[Paulie1986]

Watched an interesting documentary about performance with and without carbs. They got some man to stationary bike ride only drinking water during the 30 mins. 2 days later he did the same thing but this time a with sort of Gatorade drink..but he was only allowed to swish it in his mouth and not allowed to swallow it. Without consuming the carbs, his distance in that trial exceeded the one with water by an extra 677 metres in the same 30 minute period. The mind is a hell of a thing. He wasn't an athlete either.

Wouldn't mind trying that.

[JussKnowJulian]

I’ve been doing this since April and since I always workout in the AM I just wake up get ready take a pw then hit the gym. That’s it. IN the evening if I do workout I always have meal before tho

[AdamWW]

Watched an interesting documentary about performance with and without carbs. They got some man to stationary bike ride only drinking water during the 30 mins. 2 days later he did the same thing but this time a with sort of Gatorade drink..but he was only allowed to swish it in his mouth and not allowed to swallow it. Without consuming the carbs, his distance in that trial exceeded the one with water by an extra 677 metres in the same 30 minute period. The mind is a hell of a thing. He wasn't an athlete either.

Wouldn't mind trying that.

Well, n=1 is kind of a hard sell...

Plus, if he never biked on a regular basis, his performance two days after having started training SHOULD improve because he was basically untrained...

[Revvorc]

What do you mean 'break a fast'? There's no inherent reason to NOT 'break a fast' beyond convenience... so, even if you arbitrarily did 'break it', it does nothing of importance...

The info that I read before about BCAAs breaking the fast is that some studies suggest Leucine spikes insulin (not massively but enough), so it can spike insulin levels to a point where you are no longer in a fasted state. I'd imagine BCAAs in general would begin to contribute to anabolic functions in the body also? Then there is the calories of course (if there are any).

Don't take my word for it though, could be wrong on that one! Need to check out the studies again.

[AdamWW]

The info that I read before about BCAAs breaking the fast is that some studies suggest Leucine spikes insulin (not massively but enough), so it can spike insulin levels to a point where you are no longer in a fasted state. I'd imagine BCAAs in general would begin to contribute to anabolic functions in the body also? Then there is the calories of course (if there are any).

Don't take my word for it though, could be wrong on that one! Need to check out the studies again.

What I'm getting at is why would it matter if you 'technically' broke a fast? There is no universal health or body composition benefit to IF beyond it's ability to regulate daily energy intake... so unless you drinking BCAA's makes you personally more likely to eat more during the day, it's of no important if it 'breaks a fast'...

Technically, anything caloric can raise your blood sugar, and even regular coffee can cause transient changes.

[Paulie1986]

What I'm getting at is why would it matter if you 'technically' broke a fast? There is no universal health or body composition benefit to IF beyond it's ability to regulate daily energy intake... so unless you drinking BCAA's makes you personally more likely to eat more during the day, it's of no important if it 'breaks a fast'...

Technically, anything caloric can raise your blood sugar, and even regular coffee can cause transient changes.

This is why I do my own version of fasting..even though it's not technically fasting. I eat less than 20 calories until the evening and the floodgates open. Just having a few sips of low calorie Pepsi and a strawberry or 2 satisfies me. Lost 3lbs this week.

[AbeFroman12]

This.

I've run numerous half marathons and mountain biked 20+ miles on a completely empty stomach. Food makes me sluggish.

I just started trying some IMF this week (16 hour fasts) and could not believe how much better I felt and performed in a fasted state. I was utterly shocked. I thought I'd be dragging, but not at all and food beforehand always causes me to drag and sometimes not even feel like working out.

[AdamWW]

This is why I do my own version of fasting..even though it's not technically fasting. I eat less than 20 calories until the evening and the floodgates open. Just having a few sips of low calorie Pepsi and a strawberry or 2 satisfies me. Lost 3lbs this week.

This can happen to me without even trying sometimes during certain situations... like today I played golf (rode in a power cart) and I only had about 500 calories at 9am... it’s now 4pm and I’m not even hungry, but wait for one hour and I’ll be starving.. certain activities completely turn my hunger off until my body starts to relax, then I go into feast mode.

[LukeEverhart]

I just started trying some IMF this week (16 hour fasts) and could not believe how much better I felt and performed in a fasted state. I was utterly shocked. I thought I'd be dragging, but not at all and food beforehand always causes me to drag and sometimes not even feel like working out.

First off, I want to say how cool it is to have the Sausage King of Chicago in the forum.
Secondly, I had the same experience back when I first tried IF.
Re the OP, I don't IF year-round but when I do I do train fasted. There are some nice endocrine benefits to doing so.

[Paulie1986]

This can happen to me without even trying sometimes during certain situations... like today I played golf (rode in a power cart) and I only had about 500 calories at 9am... it’s now 4pm and I’m not even hungry, but wait for one hour and I’ll be starving.. certain activities completely turn my hunger off until my body starts to relax, then I go into feast mode.

Think I'm the same with activities. If I sit and watch something, I just simply have to eat, but when doing something else outside, there's just barely any hunger. When I play a game that I enjoy, I'll sit for hours not even realising I have barely touched any food because I'm distracted by something else.

Being relaxed I think is a trigger for most to overeat. People could say you're sort of relaxed by playing golf or a video game, because you're not doing anything strenuous, but it's something you're focused on.