Detailed Version
Fasting and OMAD Week 1 of 18th June
From Saturday 15th June I officially started my Fasting and OMAD (One Meal A Day)Journey. Saturday and Sunday were easy as I was getting back to eat once a day and on top of that I was eating earlier, around 7pm with the family instead of 9.20pm during Ramadan.
I have to make an important distinction, fasting to Me means no drinks from 2am till sunset, and no food from 10.30pm till 9.30pm the following evening.
My idea is to fast once/twice a week and follow the OMAD 5 times/week ( this means I will have one meal a day 7 days per week) till the end of August and see what I achieve!
Monday 18th, Fasting day (no liquid): The unknown!
I was Fasting and felt No hunger or thirst at all. The Energy levels were steady, i had a good weight session in the morning. Throughout the day I felt slow and intrigued as I had to go to the BJJ academy for the first time in a month and a half. I went to the BJJ Aacademy and it actually went well, I sparred 5 rounds of 6 minutes and didn't feel tired or lacking energy.
Food:The meal in the evening frustrated me, I normally eat a big plate followed by a big salad and then a banana, a peanut butter sandwich, some dark and milk chocolate, all wash away with a large milk coffee. Yesterday for the first time I felt FULL after the salad...I MAY HAVE TO EAT LESS!
Tuesday 19th, Fasting day (no liquid): The Positive Outcome.
I slept 4 hours so I am really tired today.
Hunger: I didn't feel hungry or thirsty at all.
My energy and mood:They were both altered by my fatigue, it improved during the day and ironically I was at my best during the spin class at 6pm.
The spin class and how I was going to perform was the big question mark. The response couldn't be more positive, I had a strong class, I worked hard and everything without drinking at all during the day.
Both Monday and Tuesday feel like victory as I had to perform in my most demanding activities late in the day and I managed to dig dip in me and make things happen. Also I didn't drink any liquid at all which make the outcome more satisfying. I am pleased.
Wednesday 20th, OMAD: Easy With Liquid!
Hunger: None, I am actually feeling the need to eat less in the evening... a bit ANNOYING.Thirst: not an issue as I can drink and I have been drinking a lot if water, surprisingly as I don't like water!
I am having a coffee and just the thought makes me HAPPY!Mood: way better because I can drink, it feels easy and also I slept MORE as I had an early cancelation. It TURNS OUT THAT MY MAIN PROBLEM IS LACK OF SLEEP AND ALL THE SYMPTOMS DERIVED FROM IT.
It was a very easy day, I didn't feel hungry BUT I felt like eating as I had no obligation. When I Fast and don't drink at the same time, I am more focused. When I don't eat but can drink, it feels boringly EASY!
Another annoying thing, I will start cutting on food. My stomach is definitely shrinking!!
Thursday 21st, OMAD: I felt Great!
Hunger: Surprise surprise, I did feel hungry today, slightly but I did. It turns out that being able to drink make the fast easier, but drinking makes me crave for food.
Today I trained 3 times 5.45-6.30am weight, 9-10am BJJ and 6-6.45pm Spin, I came home HUNGRY AND I KILLED IT.
The menu was spaghetti bolognese, I ate a lot of pasta, a plate of kale with sardine and today I had 3 slices of bread with butter and peanut butter, 1 banana and some dark chocolate and my coffee with milk. I FEEL EPIC AND I COULD EAT MORE.
GUYS I FAST BECAUSE I WANT TO, SO I AM NOT PLANNING ON BEING MISERABLEWHEN I EAT, I EAT WHAT I WANT!
Thirst: I wasn't thirsty as I had half a cup of water followed by a black coffee at 5.30am, then a bone broth at 12.30pm, another coffee at 4.30pm and finally half a liter of water with sea salt from 6-6.45pm during the spin class. I drank Sea Salt water as I discovered today that I was exhibiting signs of lacking magnesium, moody, muscle tightness, near cramps. To my surprise it worked fine and as I am writing now 21.41pm, I don't feel tightness in my legs!
The Mood:
It is improving but the truth is that I am in difficult time of the year, as I go to bed around 11pm due to my last prayer and I get up around 2am for the first one and return to bed for couple of hours before getting at 4.20 or 5am depending on the day.
I suffer of a serious lack of sleep during the week, I manage to catch up in weekends.
My mood is highly influenced by the fatigue I feel.
Conclusion:
I liked the day, I learnt few things that I will apply tomorrow.
1. Not to rely on coffee, 2 max during the day.
2. Drink water with Sea salt to add and keep minerals and avoid cramping.
Friday 22nd: The Crash!
I implemented some changes in my morning routine and it made the difference.
1. I drank apple cider vinegar first thing in the morning.
I trained BJJ 5-6.30am and then spin 6.45-7.30am
2. I started to sip a black coffee during the spin class then once I finished the coffee, I hydrated myself with water with sea salt.
It is 8.30am and I have to admit that I really felt good, super energized, at the top of my game.
9am at home, everything started to go downhill, I started to feel slow tired, sluggish.
It is 6.02pm and I decided to eat as I feel properly MISERABLE! (Should eat around 8pm, so it is not dramatic as I still fasted for 22 hours!).
I started feeding with 3 tea spoon of peanut butter, I went for high fat food as fat restricts or annihilates hunger. After 10 minutes I felt better but I made the math, we have people coming over to eat at 8pm and we are getting a take away. So I decided to eat 200g of kale with a tin of sardine and change my take away order.
8pm the order is in, they delivered two extra portions of baked potatoes...I have one with the squids I ordered and topped the meal up with a massive homemade bowls of 2 gems salad, a yellow pepper with 4 cherry tomatoes, chia seed" and finally I had a large milk coffee and some dark chocolate.
after my feast, I can feel my blood sugar has finally stabilize, I felt normal again.
I almost forgot, I started to take vitamins B and Magnesium supplement.
11pm marks the end of that CRAZIEST DAY I recall. I am left with some questions to answer, what has happened to me? I will try to figure out on Saturday and keep you updated.
Saturday 23rd June, The Revelation!
I had a decent night sleep 5-5h30 sleep, I am stressed out as I don't know what exactly happened yesterday.
6am, I had a black coffee, I feel full and energized from the food of yesterday.
6.10am, here we go with the first workout...
7am the workout I've done consisted of overhead lunges, good morning and deadlift.
I feel alright but am decided to take it easy during the spin class.
Yesterday I worked REALLY HARD DURING THE SPIN CLASS AND I AM NORMALLY BAD ON FRIDAY MORNING AS TRAINING BJJ AND SPIN BACK TO BACK ALWAYS HURT ME.
I REALLY BELIEVED THAT I SUFFER WHEN I DO CARDIO.
ANOTHER IMPORTANT FACTOR HAS TO BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT...THE LACK OF SLEEP.
I DONT SLEEP ENOUGH, IT IS A FACT, I NEED TO ADDRESS IT AS IT DOES REALLY MAKE MY LIFE HARDER.
It is 4.35pm and I am adamant, my crash from yesterday was due to overdoing it, I simply pushed too hard during the spin class and gradually became hypoglycemic.
I Simply swallowed More than I could CHEW!
So my day so far, I was training weight from 6.10-7am, then spin from 9-10am. I must admit that I was apprehensive BUT I controlled my effort during the spin class and it went well. During the rest of the day my energy level has been steady. On top of that I managed to have one hour nap so I really feel good.
In general the day was good, my energy level were steady, I didn't feel fatigued, just relaxed.
i felt no hunger so ever or thrust. I felt in control.
My wife Cooked ameal that I really like, so I went for it and ate a lot.
I can say that today WAS A GOOD DAY!
Sunday 24th June: The Confirmation!
Today, I put all my theories to the test, I started with a coffee and my first training session 6.40-7.30am and the Spin class 9.30-10.30am. Both session went well, I generally don't have problems with weight training but suffer with Cardio. I had in the back of my head what happened on Friday so I made sure to be in control and it worked!
During and after the spin class I felt my blood sugar leveled, I felt normal/good.
Today was really hot so I blended in the day, walking slow as I normally do and doing as little I can. This is just the way I am, work/Train Really Hard and then switch off and move as fast as a Sloth!
Conclusion:
Sunday has been the Best Day of the Week for several reasons:
1. As I advanced in the week, I had more rest/sleep. YOU NEED YOUR REST!
2. During the week I assessed situations then tested them the following day and drew new conclusions.
3. I realized the importance of NOT OVERDOING IT AND LISTENING TO MY BODY!
4. I started to use B vitamins to ensure that my energy levels are optimum and Magnesium for the mood, as well as the stiffness and cramps.
5. I implemented a drinking routine, water first thing in the morning on FASTING/OMAD days.
On OMAD days, I will have more water before my pre workout black coffee. After the workout I will sip 1/2 liter of water with Sea Salt. Then I will have antithetical coffee during the day, then nothing till I Eat.
So far this seems to be the wining formula, nevertheless I am reading and open to new experiments.
Tuesday 19th of June 5am, I slept close to 4 hours, I am knackerd and weigh in 83.5kg, beginning of the Journey!