[F32Fleet]

Originally Posted by 3PedalJake

From an evolutionary perspective fasting is the norm, it's a condition we evolved under, the difference being historically it was not voluntary fasting. What is a "fad" is our current 24/7/365 supply of endless variety of food. Voluntary fasting can be challenging at first, not because fasting "messes up your metabolism", but because your metabolism is already compromised from an excess of feasting and zero fasting.
The body stores energy in 2 ways, first could be considered your capacitor, it is carbs stored in the liver and muscle tissue as Glycogen with a capacity of a few hundred grams. Second is as adipose tissue (fat), this is your battery. Too frequent eating and no fasting conditions your metabolism for a constant stream of energy input leaving no need to retrieve from storage, insulin levels stay high and you are effectively locked out of using your stored energy. This is a "messed up" metabolism, and is the condition that the majority find themselves in today. You should be able to seamlessly transition from a fed state to using your glycogen stores to metabolizing fat stores with no appreciable change in metabolic rate. For prolonged fasts, once you're able to do them, basal energy expenditure actually increases after around 36 hours.

Yes being in a negative caloric state was the norm however that doesn't mean it should be mimicked. Fasting, as I understand it, can cause a reduction in your post-fast metabolism. It creates a circle where the more you fast the easier it is to put the weight back on. It's less noticeable when you're younger because the metabolism is at a higher starting point. It's why for example a lot of inactive people gain more weight when they go off some low caloric fad diet.


In the end it's about burning as much or more than what you're consuming and managing insulin as well as corrtisol (sp?) levels.