Does Intermittent Fasting KILL MUSCLE? (Diet Confusion)

Stop being confused by how to eat to lose fat and build muscle

Intermittent fasting is certainly one of the most talked about methods of eating to lose fat. It has gained it's popularity mostly by those who have had some success with it...in the short term! The issue with intermittent fasting and even some of the other diet methods talked about in this video is that they are questionable long term solutions at best.

In fact, a recent study was published that questioned whether intermittent fasting actually killed muscle or led to accelerated muscle catabolism. Given the nature of the diet, it's easy to see where this research has come from. Going long periods without eating (up to 18 hours) flies in the face of sound long term nutrition principles and respect for one's metabolism.

I'm not even talking about metabolism in reference to metabolic rate, but rather just the brain's preference for consistent supply of nutrient rich (glucose rich) blood, preferentially in the form of food rather than through secondary compensatory means that the body has of producing glucose in times of need.

Other diet techniques and protocols similar to intermittent fasting in their "fad" nature include fat elimination diets, the Atkins diet, and juice diets. While all may in fact deliver short term fat loss results, most will never be sustainable for the long haul. They will wind up leaving you fat again and looking for the next short term solution.

In order to burn fat and build muscle most consistently, you need to follow a healthy and balanced diet consisting of fibrous carbohydrates, starchy non-refined carbs, high quality protein, and healthy fats. No macro or micronutrient should ever be entirely excluded from your diet if you want a long term solution.

[TheSimplylean]

I feel intermittent fasting is easy and very much a life style that can work

[LarrySmith-muru]

I haven’t eaten breakfast since high school. I’m 36 now. I was intermittent fasting and didn’t even know. Its definitely not a fad.

[mackgarrison]

Intermittent Fasting is a lifestyle for me now; it is brilliant!
After 3 heart attacks and pancreatitis X 4 times, Intermittent Fasting literally SAVED MY LIFE.

[LevelHeadedGamer]

I wouldn’t call intermittent fasting a diet but more of an eating pattern.

[netauri]

Intermittent Fasting is very sustainable
because once you get used to it you start to feel amazing, with a lot of energy

[arturos.]

Intermittent fasting is free. Supplements are not.

[kingsaw]

IF is not a diet. You're just eating your food in a restricted window. Still have to track Macros and Cals

[ragnarrock]

I actually cook all my protein on Sunday, fast everyday, don't eat until I get home from work..i don't drop money on breakfast, or lunch. Fasting got me from 20% down to 11% bf.. I eat very good. Its sustainable.. I have an occasional lunch.. No biggie. This needs a cavalier revisit.

[Daluto]

Lived all my life being fat, discovered fasting 7 months ago and i've lost 32kg so far, no musclr lost, eating once a day changed my life

[Titowylde]

I’ve been intermittent fasting since last September, I gain muscles and a 8 pack. 18/6 works for me!

[daniels]

12 months on IF, with 22-24 hour stretches every day. I've never felt better, and it's amazingly easy/cheap. See you in 29 years.

[someguy]

IF has been around for literally THOUSANDS of years... hardly a fad!!

[Cheddamusic]

Been IF'n for 2 years straight and can honestly say I can, and will, eat like this for the rest of my life. I don't even think about it anymore. I wake up, go to work, and eat my first meal during most people's lunch (around 1pm). It really is no big deal.

[dannypope]

A 16:8 IF diet is extremely easy to sustain for life, I do it. Some days are 20:4, 18:6, or even 48 hour fasts (once a month). I absolutely love it!

[TheAmericanZ]

Been IFing for a year, and it has literally transformed me.

[authentic]

IF is simply window of time where you eat and don't eat. it's not a diet.

[EnterBitcoin]

Best advice I could give anybody trying to get in shape: start eating healthy and combine that with IF. You won't regret it.

[istofal]

i feel good when i fast for 16 hours. i sleep so much better and i have mire energy

[transam]

Jeff - love your videos but you're completely wrong about intermittent fasting. It does not belong in the crosshairs next to all of those other fad diets. Unlike juice diets, Atkins, No-fats, etc, intermittent fasting simply regulates eating times instead of restricting what you eat like the others do. You are actually doing IF right now without even knowing it, most likely a 12-12 cycle. By simply going a few hours longer without eating, you gain a whole host of benefits ranging from burning more fat as fuel to huge increases in human growth hormone. IF is actually more in line with natural eating patterns based on how we evolved, instead of the conventional eat 6 times a day methodology (which I assume you do, based your negative view towards IF). I challenege you to do more research into IF instead of just simply labeling it "another fad diet" because it's not. IF has been incredibly sustainable for me because I actually feel better eating within a smaller window, rather than all day every day. Currently I'm on a 20/4 eating pattern and have absolutely no problem going 20 hours a day without eat. In fact I feel great doing it, I'm more focused at work while fasting and rarely ever feel hungry. I've lost a ton of body fat as well. IF helps regulate hunger pangs more than conventional eating, making a more sustainable approach.

[Mike_ps]

I love your videos and now came across this. With this being a 5 year old video, you should definitely do a remake of your thoughts and research of this "diet". I'd have to disagree with you on this one.