Weight loss : strategies to optimize it

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Replies

  • bump
  • Pihjin
    Pihjin Posts: 63
    Good morning! So no answer yet?
    Please tell me you have an answer that you will reveal!

    On the plus side today I did my weight-in and I've lost a stone/14 pounds finally! I'm so happy :) No plateau for me just yet!
  • olong
    olong Posts: 255 Member
    BUMP
  • PercivalHackworth
    PercivalHackworth Posts: 1,437 Member
    Ok, sorry for the mistakes I made, next time I'll make sure to double check- one interesting thing you may have noticed is pigging out once in a while during a diet can help to make the diet more efficient. When the calories are too restricted, the diet lose it's efficiency. One interesting way would be to enjoy big meals, and bam, the loss continues. But as you know, this strategy shouldn't be applied too often, you would gain weight.
    Here is an extra information :
    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10204826

    Two group of people (Mainly women) followed a 800 calories diet, the first group had a resistance training in their program while the second had an aerobic training.
    The first group lost less bodyweight than the second one, but their RMR increased, and no loss of lean mass has been measured
    The second group lost more weight, but both fat and muscle were used,

    So ?
  • Lilith47
    Lilith47 Posts: 52 Member
    If the fasting period increases fat burning, you should try to reach the 16 hours fast? Eat your cals in 8 hours and not eat the rest of the day? So for example eat between 10 - 18 and not eat after 18 ? Which is doable by the way, after you get used to it ;) Intermittent fasting. And you can move the eating period to any time you want, so if you train in the evening and eat say at 20 , you make your 8 hours from 12:30 - 20:30 and still have the 16 hours fast.
    Oh I like this thread, so much information! :D
  • PercivalHackworth
    PercivalHackworth Posts: 1,437 Member
    Yes, exactly, we see Intermittent Fasting show here all it's benefits :
    - increase the metabolic rate during fasting, making the burn more efficient
    - From 16 to 30 hours you burn fat, over 30 hours the lean mass starts to be attacked

    We also see that :
    - Cardio training burns fat, but on low calories diet, it also attacks lean mass
    - Strenght training also burns fat (less) but keeps our lean mass intact.

    We are moving, time to find a protocol for optimizing our weight loss :=)
    When you do an intensive training, you turn red, and you are unable to breath, how the hypophyse reacts ?
  • Dauntlessness
    Dauntlessness Posts: 1,489 Member
    Bump. Thanks a bunch!
  • MelissaGraham7
    MelissaGraham7 Posts: 406 Member
    In the research I've done lately, mainly in studying the Primal Blueprint and Paleo stuff, a lot of science has been showing big advantages to occasional intermittent fasting - although certainly not on a daily basis because then you just adjust, as the body is hugely versatile in making adjustments, otherwise we would not be here. Anyway what I've been reading encourages occasional intermittent fasting as well as much more strength training and less (I said less, not zero) cardio training to help keep us burning fat and not muscle. I'm only still weaning into the program though and have not lost any weight, though have begun the formation of some muscles and lost 2 more inches in my waist! This was also paired with weaning into the Primal eating, as well - so less carbs (processed carbs) and leaning more toward plants and animals.
  • PercivalHackworth
    PercivalHackworth Posts: 1,437 Member
    Yes we know now intermittent fasting can be part of the solution for us :)
    Regarding the adaptation of the body to fasting, have you extra informations ?

    We know we can have some cardio in order to help, strength training will burn less, but will preserve lean mass.

    What about our hypophyse here ? How the growth hormon level evolve against an intensive training ?

    Why would you avoid processed carbs ? - and how do you think they would optimize our weight loss ?
  • PercivalHackworth
    PercivalHackworth Posts: 1,437 Member
    I'll add extra informations :laugh:
    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12137178

    the HG hormon responds to sprint - while the interval hasn't been determined yet, we know it has benefits for that.

    Let's sum up :

    - In order to lose, we eat less (deficit)
    - Insulin needs to be calmed down
    - After 16 hours of fasting, fat is oxidized
    - After 24-30 hours, it's the intra-muscular fat which is used
    - 3 hormons come into play when the deficit is setup : GH, Epinephrine, Norepinephrine
    - The body apapts : adipocytes have their sensibility to insulin increased
    - Leptin influences your 3 hormons, it is decreases, the 3 hormons decrease - we burn less fat
    - Adaptation + 3 hormons less efficients means the fat burning gets harder
    - If you stagnate, by lowering even more the calories, the thyroid shrinks
    - By shrinking, the metabolism lowers and you will likely gain weight
    - Leptin levels lower when the bodyfat lowers and when the intakes decrease
    - Leptin receptors are enhanced via the strenght training and omega-3
    - Carbs have an influence on the leptin (it's level increase) but also insulin (more than Fat and protein which both higher it also)
    - Resistance training is the only way of preserving the lean mass
    - Cardio makes you lose more weight, but also more lean mass (so the metabolism lowers)

    We know know how a diet affects the body

    There is one thing left before working on our optimisation strategy :
    - What happens during a workout when we are dieting
    - Is there any influence from carbs to the muscles during and after a strength training ?
  • mmapags
    mmapags Posts: 8,934 Member
    According to Lyle McDonald, carbs before workout provide fuel to the muscles during workout acutally increases lipolysis compared to fasting workouts. Most recommed some carbs after but there is a school of thought that is espoused on Mercola's site that more that 10 or 15 grams of carbs in the 2 hour window after workout inhibits production of HGH. Refeeding the muscles with glycogen at some point is important for repair and restore. I don't have a clear picture of how this affects lipolysis. Ideas?
  • MaraDiaz
    MaraDiaz Posts: 4,604 Member
    And also what does mixing weight training with cardio do?
  • mmapags
    mmapags Posts: 8,934 Member
    And also what does mixing weight training with cardio do?

    Are you talking same day or on differing days?
  • PercivalHackworth
    PercivalHackworth Posts: 1,437 Member
    According to Lyle McDonald, carbs before workout provide fuel to the muscles during workout acutally increases lipolysis compared to fasting workouts. Most recommed some carbs after but there is a school of thought that is espoused on Mercola's site that more that 10 or 15 grams of carbs in the 2 hour window after workout inhibits production of HGH. Refeeding the muscles with glycogen at some point is important for repair and restore. I don't have a clear picture of how this affects lipolysis. Ideas?

    # Pre workout
    If you levels of glycogen are low, you would quickly use the fat channel, muscle contractions is more efficient with glucose over fat. (Less oxygen is required to burn glucose over fat.
    Glucose :
    6 carbone atoms, 12 hydrogen atoms and 6 oxygen atoms (in other words, glucose is partially oxidized)
    Fatty acid:
    Mainly carbon and hydrogen)

    # During a workout
    We know intensive workouts higher the GH levels, the GH enhances the fat usage, a fasted workout will likely allows the GH to higher, while insulin would lower it.

    A combo killer is catecholamines and GH :
    Circulating catecholamines with a low insulin concentration enhances lipolysis. GH enhances the actions of epinephrine and norepinephrine ; though a study showed the GH was superior when it comes to fat mobilisation over Catecholamines

    # Post-workout
    Researchers suspect the reason GH levels remain high after an intensive training is that glycogen needs to be replenished. During that window, as we saw, high levels of GH increase fat mobilisation. Why ? Simply for sparing the glucose that would be incorporated into glycogen ;-)

    Eating carbs (less but still applies for the two others nutrients) higher insulin, replenish the stores, but it also lowers the GH levels :-)
    Insulin promotes lipogenesis but prevents lipolysis finally, while GH promotes fat loss, and prevents fat storage

    We now have a better vision on how several mechanisms can work in an opposite way.
    Time now to see how the nutrients respond to that state
    - What happens to the fat mobilisation when you simply gain back your energy after a training by eating ?
    - When the fat mobilisation re-starts ?
  • PercivalHackworth
    PercivalHackworth Posts: 1,437 Member
    Since it's my post is about optimisation, and explanations, I'd like to talk about the stubborn fat. I'm myself focusing on it since a couple of weeks. The stubborn fat is that fat the simple diet is unable to go through, neither the 400 abs exercices, nor the huge contractions until you are out of breath.

    When catecholamines (epinephrine and norepinephrine) reach the fat cells, they try to bind to its receptors. Depending on what kind of receptors we are dealing with, the bind will allows the FFAs (Free Fatty Acids) to circulate into the bloodstream : we empty the fat cell (adipocyte).
    In order to make that happen, the good receptors on the fat cells are required. Lyle McDonald uses himself the analogy of a key (catecholamines) and its locker (receptor)

    To make it simple, the fat cell has two antagonists receptors : the alpha-2-adrenergic, and the beta-2-adrenergic. The alpha-2 receptor blocks the bind of the catecholamines, the beta-2 make the bind possible.

    When a fat cell possesses more beta-2 receptors than alpha-2 ones, catecholamines can act, that is what happens when you lose your fat ;-) (most of the fat cells contain more beta-2 receptors than alpha-2 ones)

    But why some fat refuses to leave ? :sad: A study of their composition showed that these famous fat cells have their alpha-2 and beta-2 receptors inverted ! Even if our catecholamines are here, alpha-2-adrenergic block the bind (Keys with the bad locker). No matter how much you cut on your intakes, the bind is not possible - making the removal of that fat not feasible via a simple deficit Most people lower even more their intakes, turn crazy, and experience what we saw previously.

    Before giving the solution, how could we make the bind possible ?
  • Pihjin
    Pihjin Posts: 63
    This there a way to change the composition of the fat cells? By swelling them or something?
  • mmapags
    mmapags Posts: 8,934 Member
    So then it is good to delay carbs for glycogen replenishment for a couple of hours? If that increases production of HG hormone and increases lipolysis, why not. You can increase carbs after that window and replenish glycogen, no?
  • soccermum75
    soccermum75 Posts: 588 Member
    Bump
  • PercivalHackworth
    PercivalHackworth Posts: 1,437 Member
    So then it is good to delay carbs for glycogen replenishment for a couple of hours? If that increases production of HG hormone and increases lipolysis, why not. You can increase carbs after that window and replenish glycogen, no?

    Yes... and no :-)
    Right after the training, while you have your GH levels high, the glycogen storage rate is at it's best, combined with amino-acids, you enhance the protein synthesis.
    I myself think it's pointless to focus on fat loss after a training, the priority would be : recovery, protein synthesis, and glycogen replenishment
    This there a way to change the composition of the fat cells? By swelling them or something?

    Unfortunately, we cannot change their composition. What kind of drug slows down the heart beat, reduces the force of the heart muscle's contractions, and decreases blood vessel contraction in the heart, brain, and the rest of the body ? These kind have an interesting property that could be used for your receptors (not the same, but the principle remain identical)
  • Pihjin
    Pihjin Posts: 63
    A sedative of some kind? Or sleeping tablet?
  • PercivalHackworth
    PercivalHackworth Posts: 1,437 Member
    Beta-blockers ;)

    .... just time now to find an alpha 2-adrenoceptor antagonist a blocker that would shut down the alpha-2 receptors)
    Which are :

    - Atipamezole
    - Cirazoline
    - Efaroxan
    - Idazoxan
    - Mianserin
    - Mirtazapine
    - Napitane
    - Phenoxybenzamine
    - Phentolamine
    - Rauwolscine
    - Setiptiline
    - Tolazoline
    - Yohimbine

    That one is by far the most used. It's main property is not the shutting down it is able to perform on our alpha2 receptors, but.. it it indicated for erectile disorders ;)
    So Yohimbine is our answer here for dealing with those nasty cells. The only thing to know about that is that it's action is inhibited by the insulin. Making it only efficient when the insulin is low
  • wackyfunster
    wackyfunster Posts: 944 Member
    Good thread.

    Relevant diet strategies based around these concepts: LeanGains, Eat-Stop-Eat.

    Re: Alpha-2 antagonists, I highly recommend alpha-yohimbine/rauwolscine vs. regular yohimbine for most people. The psychological side effects of yohimbine are very pronounced at effective doses (for me it feels like having a panic attack). Alpha-yohimbine/rauwolscine is much easier to tolerate. I am also not sure if these are necessary for most people. I didn't notice any difference taking these until hitting single-digit body fat.

    Hope this is helpful.
  • mmapags
    mmapags Posts: 8,934 Member
    Good thread.

    Relevant diet strategies based around these concepts: LeanGains, Eat-Stop-Eat.

    Re: Alpha-2 antagonists, I highly recommend alpha-yohimbine/rauwolscine vs. regular yohimbine for most people. The psychological side effects of yohimbine are very pronounced at effective doses (for me it feels like having a panic attack). Alpha-yohimbine/rauwolscine is much easier to tolerate. I am also not sure if these are necessary for most people. I didn't notice any difference taking these until hitting single-digit body fat.

    Hope this is helpful.

    If I'm understanding you, you are saying the side effect is much less with alpha-yohimbe? Also, can you share a little more about why you feel they may not be nessesary until you hit single digit body fat. I am currently at about 22% body fat and coming down slowly while eating at a deficit, strength training and a cardio session or 2 per week. Total burn in week varies from 1500 to 3500 calories. Would alpha-yohimbe be helpful for me with lipolysis or probably not in your opinion? Thanks in advance for the input.
  • Specialkayrina
    Specialkayrina Posts: 242 Member
    bump
  • PercivalHackworth
    PercivalHackworth Posts: 1,437 Member
    Good thread.

    Relevant diet strategies based around these concepts: LeanGains, Eat-Stop-Eat.

    Re: Alpha-2 antagonists, I highly recommend alpha-yohimbine/rauwolscine vs. regular yohimbine for most people. The psychological side effects of yohimbine are very pronounced at effective doses (for me it feels like having a panic attack). Alpha-yohimbine/rauwolscine is much easier to tolerate. I am also not sure if these are necessary for most people. I didn't notice any difference taking these until hitting single-digit body fat.

    Hope this is helpful.

    If I'm understanding you, you are saying the side effect is much less with alpha-yohimbe? Also, can you share a little more about why you feel they may not be nessesary until you hit single digit body fat. I am currently at about 22% body fat and coming down slowly while eating at a deficit, strength training and a cardio session or 2 per week. Total burn in week varies from 1500 to 3500 calories. Would alpha-yohimbe be helpful for me with lipolysis or probably not in your opinion? Thanks in advance for the input.

    Yes there will be less side-effects with the synthetic form :-)
    The reason why it gets interesting for single digits is for several reasons :
    - Only at this level, you can figure whether or not you carry some stubborn fat, the products only block alpha2 receptors, for the body fat you would carry all around the body, a simple deficit can do it

    For burning more fat, we have several options :
    - Making the fasted window longer
    - Enhance blod flow, which would likely speed up the FFA's circulation and irrigate more zones (specifically the less irrigated ones)
    - Enhance the resting thermogenesis : Green tea, Coffee, Pepper, etc...
    - Higher the levels of hormons we previously explained, by :
    # Putting more intensity
    # Putting more resistance

    I'd like to have your feedback around the nutrients cycling, before working on our protocol :

    Does a glyco replenishment during a resting day and a training one will have the same effect ?
    What are the consequences on our muscles when a deficit occurs the day next a training ?
  • wackyfunster
    wackyfunster Posts: 944 Member
    Good thread.

    Relevant diet strategies based around these concepts: LeanGains, Eat-Stop-Eat.

    Re: Alpha-2 antagonists, I highly recommend alpha-yohimbine/rauwolscine vs. regular yohimbine for most people. The psychological side effects of yohimbine are very pronounced at effective doses (for me it feels like having a panic attack). Alpha-yohimbine/rauwolscine is much easier to tolerate. I am also not sure if these are necessary for most people. I didn't notice any difference taking these until hitting single-digit body fat.

    Hope this is helpful.

    If I'm understanding you, you are saying the side effect is much less with alpha-yohimbe? Also, can you share a little more about why you feel they may not be nessesary until you hit single digit body fat. I am currently at about 22% body fat and coming down slowly while eating at a deficit, strength training and a cardio session or 2 per week. Total burn in week varies from 1500 to 3500 calories. Would alpha-yohimbe be helpful for me with lipolysis or probably not in your opinion? Thanks in advance for the input.

    Yeah, alpha-yomimbine provides the same fat-burning benefits, but with drastically reduced psychogenic effects (I can take 20mg of alpha-yombine and just feel a little twitchy, while 10mg of yombine makes me feel like I am having a panic attack).

    Basically, I tried yohimbine when I was around 12% body fat, and didn't see a significant change in fat loss. With fasting and a proper diet, you can drop something like 0.5-1% body fat a week at that point. Once you get down to 8% or so the rate of loss slows down to practically nothing (it may be easy for younger people, but being over 30 probably doesn't help :P). I am taking ~30g of alpha-yombine a day (20 in the morning+10 in the afternoon) on my 20+ hour fast rest days (2/week), and have seen a noticeable change in rate of fat loss now.
  • wackyfunster
    wackyfunster Posts: 944 Member
    Does a glyco replenishment during a resting day and a training one will have the same effect ?
    What are the consequences on our muscles when a deficit occurs the day next a training ?
    Re: #1, I try not to carry a caloric surplus on rest days, but that may just be broscience. Assuming you worked to failure, you need to replenish something like 200-400g of glycogen (~100g of liver glycogen, and ~1-2% of lean mass of muscles worked to exhaustion... correct me if I'm wrong there), so the caloric requirement in terms of carb intake is going to be significant. I suppose waiting longer after workout to replenish could provide for more lypolysis?
    Re #2: I have been doing LeanGains for a few months now, and have been able to preserve strength even with a substantial deficit on rest days (I've even managed to get some marginal gains on some movements). My lifts are all high enough that maintaining lifts is not likely due to functional improvements (~135lb. BW, 8x230 deadlift, 8x170 squat, 8x140 bench, 8x90 strict press... not competitive, but not bad either, IMO. Squat would be higher, but my right knee is gimpy.) I suspect that someone with more body fat would be able to still see noticeable strength gains. I have only done one month of bulking on this protocol, but saw linear gains in line with previous bulks, but without the fat gain.

    All anecdotal, but hopefully helpful.
  • mmapags
    mmapags Posts: 8,934 Member
    Wacky and Raz,
    Thanks for the clarifications!
  • sugarbone
    sugarbone Posts: 454 Member
    Interesting thread! I have used Yohimbine with great success, particularly for losing fat in stubborn places due to its alpha-2 antagonizing abilities. A2 receptors in abundance can make fat harder to oxidize in that area - while most parts of the body have 1:1 ratio of A2 and B2, a woman's thighs will have as high as 9:1! hahaha.
  • PercivalHackworth
    PercivalHackworth Posts: 1,437 Member
    Yes exactly :)
    These areas have are in fact two issues for us :
    - The first one is the inverted ratios of receptors
    - The poor blod flow circulation, making the FFA's re-esterification easier

    That brings us to the next question :-)
    - How to avoid re-esterification of FFAs's ?

    @wackyfunster : I'll reply later to both points ;)