Blog 82 – Fasting and Working Out

I am 36 hours in to my 72 hour fast. It’s true that the body will burn fat and muscle when you fast. Survival is the goal of the body’s metabolic responses, therefore muscle is reduced/burned (catabolized) because it is not needed. Think about it, if you are heading into a famine, shedding resource hungry muscles makes sense; muscle requires calories and other resources to maintain. Best to reduce some lean body mass and preserve fat stores to increase the probability of survival during the potential famine. For this same reason I believe the body will slow metabolism and move towards a low energy pre-hibernation state. Again, if no food is coming in, better gear down and prepare for famine. This is the theory I have adopted, based on the fact that our ancestors for millennia (even billennea – is that a word?) faced regular famine and our genes adapted these metabolic responses.

Well, if there are two things I am not seeking from my fast, it is losing muscle and slowing my metabolism. No thanks. So what is the answer? Change the conditions! Remember, survival is the goal of the body. Combine fasting with vigorous workout and the body will hold onto that muscle. Think about it, if you were your ancestors (and you are) you would be hungry at some point and need to go hunt, or go into hibernation mode. That hunt requires muscle, physical effort, and a cranked up metabolic system. The body responds to the muscle being used and needed by maintaining it instead of catabolizing (burning/reducing) it. Therefore, the only fuel available is stored body fat. Research shows that maintaining your workout regimen during an intermittent fast results in minimal or no loss in lean body mass (muscle) and increased loss of stored body fat, as compared to taking it easy while fasting.

This line of thinking led me this morning to complete my 150 body-weight squats, 1/2 mile run, and 5 set of 120 yard uphill sprints. I told myself “This is gonna suck,” and then I smiled. Actually, it did not suck all that much, I felt pretty good. Yesterday, even though I was 12 hours into my fast I completed 38 pull-ups and did 5 sets of heavy curls. Tomorrow morning, when I am at the 60 hour mark, I will do 89 pushups (w/feet elevated on a chair), and likely throw in some dips. I’m not bragging here. I realize that these are not big numbers for anyone who is very fit. Most importantly, these numbers represent my current state of incremental improvement. Steady incremental improvement, steady plodding and commitment are the keys to attaining goals. This is the The 365 Commitment way. And, my goal is to honor the gifts I have been given by the Almighty. Increasing the strength and vitality of my body aligns with my goal. Join me in the 365 Commitment and move toward the future you desire.

Looks like it is going to be a glorious day. I hope your day is too.

Ben Wagner (89)

Member The 365 Commitment

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