The benefits of intermittent fasting have been talked about for years, but a lot of people are still wondering whether they should do fasting after workout.
There’s a lot to consider when it comes to this question: is exercise supposed to have an effect on your circadian rhythms and metabolism? Does fasting prolong muscle recovery? How much time do you need to rest between workouts before you can start fasting again?
Before we dive in, let’s have a brief look at what is fasting.
What is Fasting?
The process of spending one or more days without any food. Fasting is a method of food restriction that has been used as a therapeutic and cleansing intervention for centuries. The most commonly known forms of fasting are religious fasts which are observed in many faiths, such as Islam and Judaism, where it is practiced by followers who believe doing so will lead to spiritual enlightenment or even immortality.
There are also other types of fasting practices such as intermittent fasting for weight loss, depriving oneself of certain foods (such as sugars) throughout the day to promote health or performance outside of just water-only fasting.
One of the most common forms of fasting is water-only fasting. In this type of fast, you intake only water for a specific period of time such as 24 hours. The reason why this works well is that our bodies are comprised mainly water, so by taking in only water your body will easily be able to survive the time frame that you have given it.
Benefits of Fasting
There are many benefits to fasting. Fasting improves your digestive system by decreasing the amount of food that you have consumed daily.
- Fasting has been shown to increase weight loss. The body utilizes fat stores for energy during a fast so you lose weight during your fast and after the fast (when you start eating again).
- It helps to detox and cleanses your body. By not eating for a certain period of time, your body is able to start the detox process which will eliminate toxins from your body so it can be fully cleansed.
- It has been shown to improve memory and focus as well as prevent fatigue after eating meals.
- Fasting allows you to reduce insulin levels in your blood (which is also known as insulin resistance).
Should You Do Fasting After Workout?
There are a couple of reasons why you might want to do a post-workout fast.
Firstly, it helps the digestive process and prevents unnecessary energy breakdown.
Secondly, fasting after exercise is an ideal way to maximize fat burning by promoting the secretion of human growth hormone (HGH) and other fat-burning hormones that are released during the fasted state.
While many people find fasting after their training session quite incredible, there are others who have difficulty with it because they believe they will lose weight or experience muscle loss as a result. It is true that you’ll have less energy to do your workout.
However, if you do a regular fast between 30-60 minutes post-workout and perform cardio regularly after your fast, you’ll not only maximize fat burning but also build muscle.
Still, if you do an intense workout, you need to fuel your body with both protein and carbohydrates after the workout. This will help your body get rid of muscle breakdown. Please read the article to learn more about this:
Shocking Truth About Fasting and Muscle Loss
Eat some food that contains a high amount of protein such as chicken breast, turkey breast, and other lean meats. Carbohydrates come in the form of rice, oats, and bananas if you are not planning to do fasting after workout.
If you want to perform cardio after your fast, it is recommended that you do it 2 hours after your post-fast meal in order for your body to digest the food easily. That’s because, during a fast, there is no food being digested so the stomach needs time to recover before adding more nutrients to it.
Finally, remember to hydrate yourself enough during your fast. You can do so by drinking water and other liquids like green tea. Staying hydrated will help you prevent headaches, muscle cramps, and dizziness.
If you want to be healthy and stay in shape, it is a good idea to try fasting at least once a week. You should include this practice in your workout routine for better results.
Summary
Fasting can be a great way to improve your health and fitness. So next time you are training, try skipping a meal and see the effect it has on your workout. Furthermore, try fasting after you have completed your training sessions instead of your regular meals.
As always, if you have any questions or comments please post them in the comment section below.
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