Regarding "Fasting" this is a must read from my favorite nutrition guy, Dr. Don Clum. Enjoy!

"No, you should not "take it easy" or avoid workouts while fasting.

First of all, most people, when they ask me about this are talking about a 1-3 day fast, and occasionally a 3-5 day fast.

This is considered short term block fasting as opposed to long term block fasting that is over 10 days.

There is no reason, other than because you might "feel weird", or fear, to change any behaviors while fasting, including workouts, intensity training, sauna work, or even max weight lifting.

In fact, fasting is an ideal time to step up the exercise efforts. During fasting your insulin lowers which in turn allows your your Human Growth Hormone to go up, Testosterone to rise, dopamine and serotonin and other neurotransmitters to work more effectively and your natural energy (adrenaline) to go steadily up.

Exercise just enhances that process even further!

I say take advantage of this hormonal and brain chemistry enhancement opportunity and use them to your advantage!

It is like when you don't eat your body shifts into high gear and clears your mind and preps your body to go get some food!

"But I need to eat to run my body, I need to have energy from food".......no, you don't.

In essence your body is running on the food from yesterday or that is stored in and on your body. Nutrient and blood sugar levels and distribution is TIGHTY controlled by the body. You have enough food in your gut from the day before and glucose in your liver and muscle to run the show for a couple of days. AND it only takes a couple days to start burning fat for energy and using ketones for fuel.

Plus, your body can make blood sugar at will by using the lactic acid and fragmented amino acids that come from exercise to make blood sugar. It can also make glucose from the breakdown of fat as you go through the day and workout either from the glycerol in triglycerides or from ketones.

This is also why you don't need a "pre-workout" meal or shake, or a "post-workout" recovery meal.....ever. In fact they can reduce the benefits you just earned from exercising in the first place. But that is for another post!

Remember most of how you "feel" while fasting, especially if you are new to it, is not truly hypoglycemia or energy issues but rather detox reactions and carb addiction issues.

So stop eating and start moving!

Dr. Don