Fasting

I will be fasting 5AM to 5PM for the next month. I just want to know what are the potential effects of this and how to do it in the least damaging way possible.

-SA

I followed a diet plan a while back called The Warrior Diet. Basically you fast throughout the day and eat one large meal at night (I lost some fat, although also lost a bit of strength. To be quite honest, though, during the fast, I was extremely energetic and alert. Not the worst thing in the world). In my opinion, you have the potential to lose fat and increase insulin sensitivity - however, you also have the potential to lose muscle. If this is for religious reasons (I am presuming Ramadan?) I am not sure what would be allowed if anything during the fast. Personally I would take something such as glutamine to offset the possible catabolic effects of the fast. Not sure if this would help at all though, or if it would be allowed. My suggestion would be maximize the hours the you can eat. In other words, eat some really nutrient dense foods in the time period that eating is permitted: meats, eggs, nuts, vegetables, possibly fruit, etc. Just my 2 cents. Hopefully someone can chime in who may be of more help than myself.