HIIT on fasted days?

[conniek]

Hello,

I am just starting this program along with a LCHF diet. I started with a 16:8, for a couple weeks, but would like to try a 24hr fasting. I have about 10 stubborn pounds I have been trying to lose for quite some time. Currently, I do yoga every morning (nothing too intense) and walk my dog in the evening (a good brisk 45 minutes or so). I would like to add a couple days of HIIT during the week, and am wondering if this is more preferable to do this at the end of a fast day, just before dinner, or on non-fast days? I figure I would just try both and see how I feel, but if anyone would like to offer their experience, that would be great also.

Thanks,
Connie

[Pam]

HI, Connie!

Honestly. I wouldn’t. Make it a rest day. I did try this once and though I felt fine during the workout, immediately afterwards I nearly vomited, and for the rest of the day I felt awful .

[Anonymous]

I never found it to be problematic to lift weights or even do HIIT fasted. If you ate the day before (dinner) and you work out the following morning it really is no big deal. I have even worked out in the afternoon towards the end of a fast and had no problems.

Weight training and HIIT tends to use stored glycogen in the liver and muscles. Most people have plenty of body fat that can be converted to fuel as well which is what you are using as energy while fasted. So the body has many excellent sources of energy for what ever you are doing. I realize that not everyone has the same fitness/training history and also this is something that your body becomes accustomed to doing so it shifts easily into fat burning mode. So those who have not done this ever might have issues.
If you are one of those people who seems to have problems doing this then just shift your fast days to non-workout days.

[Tess]

I workout during fasts on a regular basis..I actually find I work out better when my stomach is completely empty! The “Eat Stop Eat” method of fasting recommends only a 24-hour fast a couple times a week. For me, that means I fast from about 2 p.m one day to 2 p.m. the next (I’ve tried other timeframes, and that’s the “easiest” for me psychologically)… and I generally work out in the morning. So I’m well into the fast and my workouts are fine. But as with everything, listen to your body and trust your instincts. You might need to split a workout up into multiple sessions while fasting, for example, or just work out on non-fasting days. Good luck!

[carol]

I do 24-36 hour fasts up to two times per week, and train fasted. I sometimes notice that I have to decrease the weight lifted after a 36 hr fast, but not always.

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