BCAA's

[aimeejean]

So this is January I will be starting my second Whole30 the only difference is I follow intermittent fasting 16/8 protocol. My question is after and during my fasted workouts I drink BCAAs (aminoX) to help my muscle tissue from breaking down and it somewhat curbs my hunger. I will usually stay fasted for about 4-5 hours after my workout so food is out of the question. I know aminoX has sucralose in it so maybe I can take a pill form? Any help is appreciated thank you!

[MeadowLily]

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008ON2E0Y?psc=1

 

There are unflavored brands, but it is best to ditch all supplements for 30 days and use authentic foods for muscle tissue recovery.  Pre and post workout meals with real foods vs. protein bars, protein shakes, powders,  smoothies, chemical cocktails.

[aimeejean]

Thank you for your response MeadowLily. Like I said I stay in a fasted state before and after my AM workout so food is out of the question.  My avatar must have come from my website ... haha! It is actually fully raw vegan with only 1 Tbsp agave in the filling for 2 whole tarts ... hmm I should change it ... i'll figure out how

[MeadowLily]

That looks great.   

[kirkor]

They make unflavored BCAAs but they're supposed to taste like ass.

I train fasted most of the time, and I wouldn't sweat the lack of BCAAs especially only the 30 days of W30. That's only like 12 weight sessions.

[Santip80]

Just out of curiousity, what is the reasoning behind being fasted for so long pre and post workout?

[MeadowLily]

It's advocated by some pro athlete camps.

 

http://greatist.com/fitness/why-you-should-exercise-on-an-empty-stomach

 

"The fasted state produces two significant effects:

1. Improved insulin sensitivity. Put very simply, the body releases insulin (a hormone) when we eat to help us absorb the nutrients from our food. The hormone then takes the sugars out of our bloodstream and directs them to the liver, muscles, and fat cells to be used as energy later on. The trouble is that eating too much and too often can make us more resistant to insulin’s effects, and while poor insulin sensitivity ups the risk of heart disease and cancer, it also makes it harder to lose body fat    . Eating less frequently (i.e. fasting more regularly) is one way to help remedy the issue, because it results in the body releasing insulin less often, so we become more sensitive to it—and that makes it easier to lose fat, improves blood flow to muscles, and evencurbs the impact of an unhealthy diet."

[MeadowLily]

Just out of curiousity, what is the reasoning behind being fasted for so long pre and post workout?

What say you, Santip?   You're an athlete.

I don't use pre/post because I'm a hiker..at a high elevation and on steep trails.   

[Santip80]

I read the link and it's interesting but very counter-intuitive if you think of things in terms of energy and calories.  We burn more calories when we workout and if there is no fuel in the tank then doesn't the body have to go into a catabolic state?  Or are you just supposed to eat huge meals in the non-fasted state?

 

I guess I can see the body having to make adaptations to eating less frequently with longer periods of fasting in-between. 

[Santip80]

What say you, Santip?   You're an athlete.

I don't use pre/post because I'm a hiker..at a high elevation and on steep trails.   

 

I don't know one way or the other if this is a good thing.  My rule of thumb is that i don't like 'tricking' my body into doing things either by fasting or dieting as these things usually are not sustainable.  Also, the article clearly states that it messes with your hormones, it says human growth hormone levels increase by upwards of 2000% -- That's great for building muscle but is that great in the long run?  Is it healthy?  Body builders often die young of heart attacks. 

 

I mentioned the body having to make adaptations above and these triggers are probably built into our bodies to deal with times of famine but times of famine are never supposed to last.  It's a stressful time for the body so personally, i would not want to force it on myself.

 

If you are worried about insulin sensitivity, i hear this Whole30 approach works wonders and you get to eat three square meals a day.  Slow and steady wins the race i'd say.... As always, we are all different, do what works for you.

[MeadowLily]

I don't know one way or the other if this is a good thing.  My rule of thumb is that i don't like 'tricking' my body into doing things either by fasting or dieting as these things usually are not sustainable.  Also, the article clearly states that it messes with your hormones, it says human growth hormone levels increase by upwards of 2000% -- That's great for building muscle but is that great in the long run?  Is it healthy?  Body builders often die young of heart attacks. 

 

I mentioned the body having to make adaptations above and these triggers are probably built into our bodies to deal with times of famine but times of famine are never supposed to last.  It's a stressful time for the body so personally, i would not want to force it on myself.

 

If you are worried about insulin sensitivity, i hear this Whole30 approach works wonders and you get to eat three square meals a day.  Slow and steady wins the race i'd say.... As always, we are all different, do what works for you.

Good one!

[kirkor]

My rule of thumb is that i don't like 'tricking' my body into doing things either by fasting or dieting as these things usually are not sustainable.

The sustainability thing is huge, I agree. I think part of the reason we see so much variety in approaches to health and fitness is that there really isn't one principle that works 100% of the time for 100% of people. Sure we can have some broad common themes and there's some stuff that is just silly, but a lot of other things are highly individualized.

I like the 30 day approach for any kind of personal life experiment. Whether it's Whole30, intermittent fasting, stopping nail biting, starting flossing, or whatever --- give it a go for 30 days, and then you'll *really* know if it's "right for you" or not.

A lot of people look at something novel and think "oh I could never do that" without ever giving it a fair shake.

For me, I like the way training in the fasted state makes me feel, but I think it takes trying it over a decent period of time to properly evaluate the protocol.

And regarding post-workout meals, I think the 'going catabolic' concern is overstated for most people.

[MeadowLily]

Kirkor, I agree with you, too.   Mall walkers don't need pre/post workout meals.   If you have sedentary job    ...walking up and down the hallways doesn't require pre/post emergency Larabars stashed in the desk.

 

Many of us were athletes through school/college years.  We didn't stress or think about pre/post anything, powders, sports drinks and bars.  We have the photos to prove we were in best shape of our lives.   I don't ever remember thinking about food or drinks.  

 

Larabars are for Donner's Pass.  If you're stranded in a raging blizzard and your relatives are looking really hungry...maybe then. 

[aimeejean]

@kikor yes I've had the unflavoured kind and yes they taste like ass ... not that I know what ass taste like, but you get the point LOL! I think I will stick to the unflavoured pill form.

 

@Santip80 I started Intermittent fasting, it's new for me but I've heard great results from doing this.  I have been stuck in a rut for the past 6 months trying to get rid of this last bit of fat (I've recently just lost 60lbs in past 2yrs) I am looking to shed about 15lbs left of fat.  Being fasted when I workout and remain fasted for at least 2hrs after will help me burn fat.  I fast from 8pm-12pm,  my morning cardio 5x a week is done around 630am so I usually don't eat until 12PM unless I cut my feasting window early the night before. My PM weight training workouts are done in a fed state.

 

I will be eating 3 meals a day, this works very well for me.

[MeadowLily]

@kikor yes I've had the unflavoured kind and yes they taste like ass ... not that I know what ass taste like, but you get the point LOL! I think I will stick to the unflavoured pill form.

 

@Santip80 I started Intermittent fasting, it's new for me but I've heard great results from doing this.  I have been stuck in a rut for the past 6 months trying to get rid of this last bit of fat (I've recently just lost 60lbs in past 2yrs) I am looking to shed about 15lbs left of fat.  Being fasted when I workout and remain fasted for at least 2hrs after will help me burn fat.  I fast from 8pm-12pm,  my morning cardio 5x a week is done around 630am so I usually don't eat until 12PM unless I cut my feasting window early the night before. My PM weight training workouts are done in a fed state.

 

I will be eating 3 meals a day, this works very well for me.

Aimeejean - did you have insulin resistance before you "released" the 60 lbs.?

[aimeejean]

Aimeejean - did you have insulin resistance before you "released" the 60 lbs.?

I am not sure, I very well could have? I got tested for diabetes as I had a dizzy spell and was worried as it does run on my fathers side of the family, it wasn't diabetes but I was diagnosed with Hypothyroidism. I am now on meds for it.  

Things can be very frustrating at times but I remember how far I have come and it is a process.

[MeadowLily]

Thanks.  It runs in my family, too.   You have come a long way.   Is it better since you started IF or do you need more time to tell?

[aimeejean]

Thanks.  It runs in my family, too.   You have come a long way.   Is it better since you started IF or do you need more time to tell?

Thank you, it's been a long road. I just started IF so far it has been ok but need more time to tell. 

[Sleeve]

I got tested for diabetes as I had a dizzy spell and was worried as it does run on my fathers side of the family, it wasn't diabetes but I was diagnosed with Hypothyroidism. I am now on meds for it.

 

I'm curious about this.  Was the dizziness blamed on hypothyroidism, or was the condition found as a by-product of sourcing what caused your dizziness? 

[MeadowLily]

Dizziness and extreme fatigue are symptoms of diabetes.

 

 

Thyroid disorder and diabetes

People with diabetes have an increased risk of developing thyroid disorder. In the general population, approximately 6% of people have some form of thyroid disorder. However, the prevalence of thyroid disorder increases to over 10% in people with diabetes.
Since people with one form of autoimmune disorder have an increased chance of developing other autoimmune disorders, people with Type 1 diabetes have a higher risk of autoimmune thyroid disorder. Up to 30% of women with Type 1 diabetes have some form of autoimmune thyroid disease. Postpartum thyroiditis, a form of autoimmune thyroid disease that causes thyroid dysfunction within a few months after delivery of a child, is three times more common in women with diabetes.

Although Type 2 diabetes is not an autoimmune disorder, there have been many reports showing a higher occurrence of thyroid diseases, particularly hypothyroidism, among people with Type 2 diabetes. The association between Type 2 diabetes and thyroid disorder, however, remains unexplained.

[Santip80]

I am not sure, I very well could have? I got tested for diabetes as I had a dizzy spell and was worried as it does run on my fathers side of the family, it wasn't diabetes but I was diagnosed with Hypothyroidism. I am now on meds for it.  

Things can be very frustrating at times but I remember how far I have come and it is a process.

 

I wouldn't be surprised if your Hypothyroidism resolves itself now that you are following Whole30.  I was able to get off of my medications over time once i changed my diet...it's incredible the damage we do to our bodys just by eating the wrong foods.

[ldb326]

I use the unflavored ones with lemon juice, a little himalayan salt and warm water. I work out fasted, and this is the only way I can choke them down. Before I started Whole 30 I used the MRM Stevia sweetened ones.