My stomach is rebelling against me...

[Dave Van Skike]

Originally Posted by Steven Low

Regulation of metabolism (lowering it) with IF is definitely a valid way to gain mass although probably tough to get all those cals in during a short feeding window. As MOD said it might be a better thing to expand the feeding window a bit if you're having trouble choking down the cals.. although it seems you're fine for now.

Got any references on that? Sounds plausible but then the whole downregulation of metabolism thing smells of bull puckey to me given that the research that gets cited is that whole metabolic ward type study where morbidly obese people are living off 800 kcal a day and doing zero activity.

under those circumstances i'd downregulate into a coma.

[Steven Low]

Nope, but you can take my word for it if you want.

Considering the fact that lowered metabolism is obviously a side effect of IF (similar to caloric restriction; and there are studies at least on mice that show IF and CR have similar effects)... otherwise there's probably a few studies out there that show it somewhere (maybe on this forum.. haven't read all the threads in here).

[Dave Van Skike]

Originally Posted by Steven Low

Nope, but you can take my word for it if you want.

Considering the fact that lowered metabolism is obviously a side effect of IF (similar to caloric restriction; and there are studies at least on mice that show IF and CR have similar effects)... otherwise there's probably a few studies out there that show it somewhere (maybe on this forum.. haven't read all the threads in here).

It's not what I would call obvious. Plausible, maybe but the range of IF "practice" is pretty broad.

OTOH The type of IF being described here is nowhere near the type of every other day eating that has been studied alongside CR. What it sounds like most people are doing is something like the "warrior diet" or such...just a really structured eating window, that has several psychological benefits, some anecdotal inflammation benefits, and a really practical benefit of controlling intake because snacking is eliminated or severely curtailed.

I thought Robb was writing a book on this, you know with science and stuff.

[Steven Low]

Hopefully.. would be interesting to read about.

[Mike ODonnell]

Originally Posted by Steven Low

Nope, but you can take my word for it if you want.

Considering the fact that lowered metabolism is obviously a side effect of IF (similar to caloric restriction; and there are studies at least on mice that show IF and CR have similar effects)... otherwise there's probably a few studies out there that show it somewhere (maybe on this forum.. haven't read all the threads in here).

Funny how some people like Lyle say that short term fasting BOOST the metabolism (and I have yet to find a study that backs it). Honestly I may have more sensitive to cold hands and feet, but I can still eat a ton and have energy when doing the IF window...so I have a hard time believing my metabolism actually is down. I think there is something to be said about the cleaning of the gut to improve protein utilization for more muscle...that and periods of short term fasting may increase cell sensitivity to amino acid intake through a protein down regulation. Or maybe it's more improvement in muscle insulin sensitivity that allow more amino acid uptake...or all of the above.

I think you will see plenty of people showing results for IF and mass gain, but they have eating windows of 8 hours and eat a good amount of calories. So it can work....a part of it may also be just a more enjoyable lifestyle factor that makes people more consistent on how they eat as well. (and not feel like a piece of crap all day long...which is how I felt back in the old days of EAS Mass gain shakes and eating all day long)

If IF works for someone....then it works. If IF is not working for someone...then they need to change it up and either modify one of the many variable with an IF plan or get off it completely and just eat all day long until they can fine tune their eating and results. IF doesn't have to be for everyone.

[Steven Low]

I think (well, I don't actually know) that IF or any other type of caloric restriction does increase sensitivity to everything. Like sensitivity in the digestive tract to utilize consistently more macronutrients from the same amount of food ingested... bringing them into cells, metabolizing them. It's kind of like protein consumption where your body utilizes it better if you eat less and less efficiently if you eat more. Depends how you're defining stuff I guess -- overall metabolism as in caloric need to maintain muscle mass is lower but your metabolism is definitely improved in that sense that it can process everything better.

The body tends to work along a logarithmic curve I've found for almost everything whether it be training, nutrition or whatever. Personal observation.