Strategic, intermittent fasting is known for providing substantial health benefits. These include promoting weight loss, decreasing the risk of developing diabetes and heart disease, preventing some types of cancer, and more. Dry fasting, which includes withholding both food and liquid for defined periods of time, yields these benefits as well as several others. For example, dry fasting may reduce inflammation and symptoms of inflammatory conditions, and it provides detoxification and purification benefits throughout the body at the cellular level. Even a , intermittent water fast can help you to achieve a state of mental clarity that is sublime as well as to reduce joint pain and other health concerns. But dry fasting and working out can present a whole new set of challenges, along with some powerful benefits.
When you exercise in normal conditions, your body uses up its fuel stores and requires water to remain hydrated. Dry fasting and working out requires your body to work differently because its normal food and water supplies are not available. Because of this, it produces unique results.
The Benefits of Exercising While Dry Fasting
When exercising while fasting, your body must turn to its energy stores to fuel your activities. This means that your fat cells are converted into usable energy, and you essentially burn more fat than you otherwise would. Short bursts of intense exercise with intermittent dry fasting can also prevent depression and increase your production of growth hormone and testosterone. The extra element of dry fasting rather than water fasting adds the benefit of improving cognitive function.
Another unique benefit of exercising while dry fasting is autophagy. Autophagy is a natural process that occurs in your body regularly, and it involves the removal or recycling of unnecessary or damaged cellular components. Exercising while dry fasting speeds up this process and promotes detoxification. Through autophagy, your skin may also remain taut and healthy despite losing a potentially substantial amount of weight.
Special Precautions to Take When Exercising
Whether you are preparing to start a new exercise regimen or you are incorporating dry fasting in to your established regimen, your health and safety are top priorities. While short bursts of intense exercise are beneficial in combination with dry fasting, only exercise up to your abilities. In addition, choose shorter fasting periods followed by recovery periods, and make gradual adjustments as you learn how your body reacts. When exercising, pay attention to how you feel. Always stop if you feel lightheaded or have other concerns. In addition, you should nourish your body within 30 minutes after strength training. This is especially true if you’re working out well into a dry fast, for instance, 18 hours or more.
Whether you intend to use intermittent dry fasting to lose weight, address health concerns or simply feel more alert and aware, exercising while dry fasting can magnify your results. Remember to educate yourself fully about dry fasting in general and about exercising in combination with intermittent fasting before you begin. A good place to start is this blog, along with Dr. Mercola’s website or the Snake Diet YouTube video channel.
Cole Robinson, founder of the Snake Diet often prescribes a more extreme approach (especially for more extreme cases, like people who are severely obese), but I would exercise more caution, at least when you’re getting started with dry fasting and any type of fasting combined with high-intensity exercise in general. You may just want to rest on your first few fasts and see how your body handles it. Once your body adapts, you may eventually feel more energy, and the ability to workout during the fast, which as stated above, will only intensify the awesome benefits of autophagy and fat burning.