The FastDay Forum

So, this is my fast day and I have an exercise class. I'ts 10 am and I usually wouldn't eat my first meal till about 11:30. Feeling quite hungry though. Would having a stalk of celery be ok? I guess whatever you eat for the day is the end of your no food portion of the fast. I do split my meals during the day anyway. Just would like someone more knowledgable (I'm kind of a newbie, 3 weeks in) to explain in detail the fasting rules. Thanks

Fasting and exercise seems to be quite personal. I'm just back from a Crossfit class, which involved rowing, weights and press-ups.

I had been having a watery smoothie before class but went with 4 pistachio nuts today! I feel fine, just had a 4 more nuts and a cup of tea and will now wait until 5pm for main food.

I'm pretty adapted now, having done a lot of fasts since starting 3 months ago. Think it would have been more difficult when I was getting headaches and tiredness. See how you go and listen to what your body is saying. If you feel weakness, eat a small thing and see how you react.

I run for 5kms first thing on my fast day then eat nothing until the evening. I sometimes feel hungry but know that if I ate something I'd probably have to write off the fast day. You get used to it. I'm lucky in that I don't get headaches or tiredness on fast days. Just a little grouchy in the evenings occasionally!

I went swimming for 1/2 hour early this morning, then had porage at 7.30am before going to work (190 cals). Then after work I took the dog for 45 minute brisk walk and did 1/2 hour gardening, now waiting for OH to cook Thai Beef Stir fry and veg. I find fasting much easier if I'm busy, and that includes exercise.

I agree that fast day is easier when you are busy. I usually fast Monday and Thursday, both days I also do gym exercise. I am 65 but enjoy gym classes including Zumba and bodyjam, today I did a cardio session and Pilates. I had porridge made with water and blueberries for breakfast and didn't eat until tonight chicken salad, some fruit and yoghurt. This is the start of my sixth week and I am finding this 5/2 suits my lifestyle.

I also exercise on Fast Days. I eat one small 50 calorie yogurt around 11:00 am and then run 3 to 4 KM at lunch. I do not eat anything else until around 6:00 pm. It has never been a problem for me.

Hi,
I usually swim ~2k/60min twice a week and kept doing it after I started the diet last week. Feeling good, I've actually decided to keep fasting on my swim days. I do get very hungry afterwards, though. So, I have a lunch of a thin slice of bread and with some ricotta cheese and really lean ham, which is about 180 kcal in total and lots of black tea and water.
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I find exercise difficult on a fasting day. If i push myself I get light headed and shaky. Basically you have to judge for yourself and see how your body handles it. A lot of people thrive on exercise whilst they are fasting, other cannot do it. Give it a go!

I fast on Monday and Thursday and always exercise on those days. I either walk for an hour at 4 mph or ski on the Nordic Track for an hour. I haven't had any problem with this schedule even though I exercise at 7 am and do not eat anything till 5pm.

I run on my fast day. I ran 6 Miles on my second fast day last week & felt fine. I make sure I've had 2 cups of tea before I go out & have been fine. I'm not sure I would want to run the morning after a fast day. It really is down to how you feel. I also don t eat til the eve but find that my exercise followed by shower takes up most of the morning & is a good distraction. X

Great answers regarding exercise. I did do my exercise class which consists of some cardio and weight training. My question is more about timing of calories on fast days. I seem to get a very unpleasant feeling in my upper stomach when it is feeling empty, not just hunger....and it lasts till I put a bit of something in there. That is why I seem to be grazing (within my 500 limit)
I know that it's not the best way to go and wish I could keep to just 2 meals a day. Tea or coffee doesn't seem to relieve the feeling.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.

I've been doing a weights class in the evening which has gone pretty well so far... i save 120 calories for a protein shake straight after. I get really hungry too on fast days but I have found that a can of diet coke really helps it's worth a try, i know it's not the healthiest but i now make sure I have some in the fridge in case of a fast day emergency! Herbal tea also a good idea

I brisk walk 4 miles on a fast day, and do one hour of yoga class on another. Works for me, and make fasting much easier than sitting around getting bored and checking out my fridge just out of bad habit.

I get the impression it's actually better to have your exercise on fast days,as it's supposed to prevent muscle loss and increases fat loss. Makes sense to me, if you use your muscles in a fasted state it should be a signal to your body those muscle cells are needed, you tell it to get those calories somewhere else, from fat for example.

I had a few weeks without much exercise recently, I lost weight alright, but my fat percent didn't go down at all, and I noticed I did get a lot weaker than I expected from such a short rest.

Training hard during fast days is so far not a problem for me, it seems to decrease my appetite. If you train during feed days, I suspect there's a risk you allow yourself to overeat more to "reward" yourself for your efforts.

I have found that light exercise: doubles tennis in the evening or a 30-40 minute jog first thing in the morning on a fast day helps distract me from focusing on food and I don't feel weak afterwards. That said, yesterday was a fast day and I did a body combat class followed by body pump which is the first time ever in my life to do consecutive classes. I felt fine yesterday evening after my 200 cal meal and lots of fluids, but slept awful last night and felt nauseous & light headed in the shower this morning after I'd had a big bowl of Special K, fresh orange juice and a cup of tea.
So, how much exercise is too much? I think I've found my limit!