The FastDay Forum

I do Goju Ryu Karate, train about 3 times a week for about 90 minutes each time. I've been doing it for about 3 years, totally love it. I can honestly say it's changed my life.

Any other martial artists out there?

I used to do it many years ago. Started when I was 15. Achieved my 1st Dan at 19.

Unfortunately I had to stop in my mid 20s when it damaged my knee's.
Like you, I loved it. In my mind I can still do it, but not in reality..

Great way to exercise though.

I do Taekwondo Twice a week when I'm at uni. About to go for my green belt which I'm excited about!

I go kickboxing between 1-3 times a week and normally do it on my fast days, I love it.

Hey everyone!

How do you find training on fast days? Only did my first fast day today, and did a bit of light technical training this morning after a spot of breakfast, and that was fine, but my usual training routine is a 90 minute class in the evening. Some of the classes can be a real sweat fest and quite tough endurance-wise, and I don't think I'd do that well on a fast day.... any words of advice?

I have a 500 cal meal at 4-5 then go training at 7 and I'm fine, and fat burning is increased over night while I sleep

Thanks Gernats. We have yet to discover whether we can have fast all day and then eat one 500 cal meal.... that sounds like a big endurance test....

Resumed aikido here recently, 2x a week.

I used to fast on the day after training but now that training has picked up (yesterday was over 2hrs and intense, my whole body feels like I've been beaten with a stick) I don't think it's wise to fast when I should be recovering, right? I will switch to the 2nd day after (training is 2 consecutive days -- kinda rough).

If I had to, I could fast on a training day -- never hungry on the mat and better to NOT have a full stomach with all those falls and rolls. haha I might adapt the 5:2 though and maybe do 30-40% of calories those days (some of the studies MM used showed benefit at 40%) or even break the 36-hr fast (if you go 7pm-7am) into 2 18hr fasts (or just do 24hr fasts) so that you can eat before or after a practice. I've "split my fast in two" when I was fasting an a migraine (I already had) got too severe and I had to stop fasting. I "finished up" my fast the next day.

I am curious how other people handle recovery from intense workouts, though.

I would find it tough to fast a day after training, I do manage to last till 1-2 till I eat something but I'm only doing an hour. 2 hours two days in a row is hard going. Maybe try the first training day as a fast day but having your 500 cals 2-3 hours before training so you have the energy, then have 2 days off and fast on the 3rd so you have time to recover

Sorry prairiechicken just saw your post, it takes a few weeks of getting out of the habit of eating during the day but after a while you just slip into it, well i did anyway

I'm going to try fasting on the first of my 2 MA days and see how that works.

Good luck newoldme, I can't wait for my fast and training tomorrow after a boozy foody weekend

Hi guys. I have recently started Taekwondo with my two children. We absolutely love it and we got our first belts (yellow stripe) last week. We go once a week but in winter we'll go up to two or three times a week I think

I did Kung Fu for a few years and now do Thai boxing, which is pretty hard core. Interestingly, fasting is a very common practice amongst boxers when they have to lose weight for a fight. They also reduce water intake though. Since they sometimes have to have a weigh-in one hour before the fight, they fast for a long stretch and then have a very light meal just after the weigh-in (novices have been known to throw up on the ring if they eat too much!)
I hurt my knee a few months ago so haven't boxed since I started fasting. I'm going to start boxing again very soon, but really don't think I'll be able to box on fast days, it's just too tiring! Even a slightly calorie-light day used to make boxing very inefficient and I almost fainted a few times...

I nearly passed out last Monday but that had more to do with my massive hangover then the fast hahaha Wednesday I was fine and full of beans, I prefer fasting on training days as I have more of a rush and really push myself