Slow Me Down, Lord
Universally, the word ‘fast’ implies swiftness. We live in a fast world.
Fast is the speed at which I traverse the freeway en route to the gym unless traffic dictates otherwise. Fast is how quickly I lose my cool when the traffic dictates otherwise. Fast is the rate at which time passes after turning 30. Fast is the food the majority of oversize people eat across the thriving nations. Fast is not used to describe the clip at which we build muscle and power. Fast is the talk of promoters when advertising sensational products to do just that.
I like to train fast, though it is no longer my style. The last time I moved fast in the gym was in ’04 when I fell off a ladder changing a florescent light bulb over the squat rack.
There’s more. We hold fast to things important to us: truths, notions, our pants, our pride, the dollar. I make fast my grip upon the bar to perform deadlifts or widegrip pulldowns.
Fast reveals itself as a noun and as a verb, both referencing the practice of abstaining from eating some or all foods. He and she go on a fast; they fast to detoxify, lose weight, lighten the load on the body’s systems or draw near to God -- a spiritual cleansing and discipline.
I fast... slowly. I appreciate the values of fasting and have practiced them since the gilded days of Muscle Beach.
Like everything else related to my training, fasting is not something I studied to determine what it offered, what to expect, how it is done and when, where and why. Between sets of press-behind-necks supersetted with side-arm lateral raises, our absolute favorite, my training partner and I concluded fasting would be productive to us bulking muscleheads cuz we could use a break from the consistent heavy food intake. Force-feeding can be tiresome and the body works overtime to process the daily quarts of milk, pounds of meat, cartons of eggs and smorgasbord dinners.
STOP! Fast.
And, we heard from the guy at the health food store where we purchased our fresh squeezed carrot juice that a fast will detoxify the body -- rid it of accumulated poisons. How great is that?! As the body empties of food over time, it commences to draw existing toxins into the bloodstream and dispose of them. Hence, cleansing, refreshing and energizing the cells, new words and new thoughts for this oversized muskrat from the Jersey swamps.
My instincts and commonsense were being stirred. And a thimble of each is worth more than bucketfuls of gold.
As a wannabe musclebuilder, short and intermittent fasts are the most worthwhile and appealing. I fast twice a month when I get the urge, the vibe, the itch or the body’s calling. It’s a 24-hour pause -- water, no food, mild activity -- commencing 12 hours after my workout and ceasing 24 hours before my next. This arrangement allows me to feed the system sufficiently for muscle repair after my last blast and before my next training to fuel up for action.
No biggee. No trauma. Just the benefits.
Gut feeling and logic, of course, play important roles in determining a pause that refreshes. A micro-fast after misbehaving nutritionally (junk, overeating) is smart, and it’s wise not to fast before a record-breaking workout. I like the feeling and the idea of a slow-down of internal body function: a break from assembly-line duties, sufficient down-time to turn off the burners, vent the air, clean the counters, mop the floors and reorder the shelves.
I’m hungry, as compared to I’m stuffed, is a novelty. The free time offers serene moments without food prepping, chewing and swallowing.
The IronOnline Forum, a positively wired discussion group composed of bright and energetic health- and muscle-minded adult kids of all ages, has been tossing about the subject of fasting. You’d think they had nothing better to do but sit around and talk about not eating.
Lucrative stuff about fasting surfaced as the forum intelligentsias dissected the matter: Epinephrine is produced more readily when food intake is severely restricted, and coveted growth hormone stores are increased. Take me to your leader.
Discussion of short-term, intermittent fasting
The topic, or thread, began with a discussion about losing fat-weight without losing muscle-weight and training energy. The balanced meal every three hours was challenged, along with the need and value of breakfast. I cringed as I felt muscle shrivel and shrink and slip from my stubborn body. I was offended and embarrassed and blithering.
These instigators, once my friends, have turned coat. And Laree is among the band.
Of course, I jest. My days of bulking and blasting have been long and many, and worthy in my quest for muscle and might. But let’s face it, health and long life were not my priorities. When reaching for one’s limits, the latter often fall off the charging horse, take one too many blows to the head, eat it in the end zone and otherwise crash and burn.
It is only after a certain number of birthdays -- the number varies from person to person -- that one begins to calculate health and longevity more carefully. The day sneaks up on you like a thief in the night. “Stick ‘em up or I’ll shoot!”
Take note. It’s noon and I haven’t eaten since last night at 9 PM. I had chicken, Laree had beef. We shared coffee this morning. I’ll down some Bomber Blend with water and manage some salmon and salad before heading to the gym for a 90-minute truth or consequence discourse of the most physical variety. Lord willing, I’ll strain with pain, but won’t mess with stress; I’ll blast to last, but no hurry to worry.
Losing weight is not my thing. It’s always been gaining or maintaining sound weight I wrestle with. Today, “Getting Huge” is not a real smart or feasible idea for this warrior whose vital stats are 210 over 65 [weight over age] and currently undergoing IV EDTA chelation and rebounding from open heart surgery. That doesn’t mean I won’t poke at the notion every other rep.
I find eating just enough throughout the day is a better and more likable approach to keeping what one has longer and happier. Twice weekly intermittent fasts of 15 to 20 hours neatly wedged between workouts and rest are becoming more and more a part of my musclebuilding, health-maintaining regimen. The protein is high, the nutrient-dense carbs and essential fats are low to medium.
Feeding and fasting are arranged around activities (workouts) and rest according to commonsense and instinct, occasionally convenience. I rock with the roll and roll with the rock. I punch, jab and duck. I fight the good fight with music in the background.
The skies are calm and blue and gold, the vista below sea green and azure. I step from my cockpit and carefully stand spread-legged upon the upper wing of my gliding bi-plane. Exhilarating!! Don’t try this without sneakers, a helmet and some practice.
Zoom, boom... DD
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