I remember when I used to read all the glossy magazines and get my nutrition advise from them. Only now I know, it was ill fated advise. Every day, I would eat 6 meals (all low fat) and never missed breakfast (the most important meal of the day?). Unfortunately, I would get sleepy after my oats and egg whites and trudged through workouts irregardless.

As I questioned this scenario, I found it is best to skip breakfast, workout on an empty stomach, and fast once in a while. That way, you will burn fat as your primary energy source rather than carbohydrates, improve your body's hormonal response to exercise, and reduce inflammation.

Here  is a fantastic article from Fitness Black Book simplifying your "to eat or not eat" dilemma.

For the longest time, I didn't understand why I had more energy after fasting. I have my most productive hardcore workouts after fasting for 5-18 hours. If I ate anything in that 4-5 hour window before training, the workouts just weren't as intense. Ori Hofmekler explained where this "hidden" energy source came from…the Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS).

Why Does The SNS Kick In When in A Fasted State?

Ori explains it best…

"When fasting, a primal survival mechanism known as the fight-or-flight reaction to stress is triggered, maximizing your body's capacity for generating energy, being alert, resisting fatigue and resisting stress. The survival mode is primarily controlled by a part of the autonomic nervous system known as the sympathetic nervous system, or SNS. When it's in gear, the body is in its most energy-producing phase, and that's when the most energy comes from fat burning."

This makes sense, because as hunters and gatherers our ancestors needed to be at our peak performance when hungry in order to catch the next meal (kind of like the mountain lion pictured above).

Eating Before Working Out Interrupts This Surge of Energy

Ori explains how the Parasympathetic Nervous System slows you down after a meal. Note: In the article I'm quoting he is talking about morning meals and not eating before your morning workout…

"If you do eat a breakfast of, say, bagel, cereal, egg and bacon, you'll most likely shut down this energy-producing system. The SNS and its fight-or-flight mechanism will be substantially suppressed, and your morning meal will trigger an antagonistic part of the autonomic nervous system known as the para sympathetic nervous system, or PSNS. The PSNS will make you sleepy, slow and less resistant to fatigue and stress. Instead of spending energy and burning fat, your body will be more geared toward storing energy and gaining fat."

Ori, recommends mainly eating at night after your physical activities are done for the day. He claims that food makes your body relax and prepares the body for sleep.

You Can Have an Intense Workout While Fasting

As I stated earlier, I have a better workout in a fasted state. Not only do I have more energy, I don't burp up a meal when doing an intense interval or circuit. So, my argument is that working out while fasting allows the body to burn more calories during AND after your workout.

Start by skipping breakfast tomorrow and feel the energy!

Thanks Fitness Black Book .