Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

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Hi,

I've heard that for people who are trying to add muscle, fasting is generally not recommended. I never really understood why, because conceivably you could get enough calories (say, 3000) with one huge meal per day. Also, doesn't fasting help your body secrete growth hormone? Wouldn't that help the cause?

edited Dec 1 2010 at 2:33

Ed♦
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asked Dec 1 2010 at 1:06

AtrocExhib
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It sure does. I am having no problems building pleasing amounts of muscle with one meal a day, averaging a calorie deficit and taking 30g of BCAA before and after training. – Alan Dec 2 2010 at 12:53

David Leitner · Answer 1 · 2010-12-01 02:26:24Z UTC

The high-fiber high-protein paleo diet lends itself to a slow amino acid release that can make fasted training very effective.

Definitely check out this article over at leangains.com: "Fasted Training Boosts Muscle Growth?" http://www.leangains.com/2009/12/fasted-training-boosts-muscle-growth.html

Leangains has a system that takes advantage of the hormonal effects (increased growth hormone and insulin sensitivity). He advocates 16 hr fasts, uses amino acid supplementation to prevent protein breakdown during exercise, and high intensity exercise to boost GH.

If you browse his site, some of his articles are quite technical. And he is no way paleo, but I feel his approach adapts well well with a "modernized" paleo.

Fasting and muscle gains

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