Intermittent Fasting: The 24-Hour Trial Fast

Listen to this: Mishka & Willie Nelson - Homegrown

The crew over at Precision Nutrition just posted a free e-book download on Intermittent Fasting (http://www.precisionnutrition.com/intermittent-fasting). Having been interested in IF since hearing about it from a good friend, Jon Pope, I decided to give it a read. There are not many books or studies (not that I read scientific studies) on the subject, so finding quality information from a trusted source is tough. Precision Nutrition is a very well-respected nutrition coaching company - in fact, Jonathan Pope is Precision Nutrition certified. I look at PN as the basis for body transformation. Once I got my hands (or my mouse clicker) on the IF e-book, I finished it up and began planning my first trial fast!

Meat. I can't wait till 10 pm.

With Halloween coming up tomorrow, I know that I am going to house some candy. That is the unavoidable truth. So, why not do a 24-Hour Fast prior to that day to reduce my average weekly calorie intake? I haven't tested myself mentally like this in a long time, and I am always up for trying new things. So this is perfect. Today was a great opportunity to attempt a 24-Hour Trial Fast, and my good buddy Zach Strom, author of Ski to Work or Work to Ski, is doing the fast as well. We've been exchanging text messages about what we are going to eat once this fast is over!

Here is the 24-Hour Trial Fast protocol, as laid forth by John Berardi, author of Experiments with Intermittent Fasting, 2011. Before attempting this, make sure you have all the required supplements. The BCAA's (branched chain amino acids) will help conserve muscle while the Greens supplement will ensure you are getting the necessary vitamins and nutrients.

10 PM Saturday:
- Eat your last meal of the day
- Drink 500 mL of water

10 AM Sunday:
- Drink 1 L of water + 1 serving Greens supplement
- Drink 250 mL of green tea
- Take 5 grams BCAA

3 PM Sunday:
- Drink 1 L of water + 1 serving Greens supplement
- Drink 250 mL of green tea
- Take 5 grams BCAA

10 PM Sunday:
- Eat a small snack before bed
- Drink 500 mL of water

Monday:
- Eat normally

I am fifteen hours into the fast as I write this post. I just beat one intense little episode of cravings, but nothing too serious yet. I am beginning to understand the difference between psychological hunger (mental hunger), and physiological hunger (body hunger - aka REAL hunger). Having beaten that little episode, I feel confident that I can make it to 10 pm.

Here is some feedback thus far on a 1-10 scale, because 1-10 scales are easy to understand:
Hunger: 3/10
Mood: 8/10
Energy: 8/10
Determination to Finish: 10/10


Truthfully, I am really NOT that hungry. I haven't eaten in fifteen hours, and I feel just fine. I have good energy, good focus and a positive outlook on the fast. Writing about it sure helps, as does staying busy. Like I mentioned earlier, I went through a quick episode (about 20 minutes) of intense FOOD cravings, but it was a mental thing, not a HUNGER thing. 

I work tonight. 

At a steakhouse. 

Dealing with hungry customers who pay me on how I serve them.

The challenge lies ahead.