Although fasting is usually linked to weight loss, one recent trend suggests that you can use a particular type of fasting to gain muscle. The type of fasting is called intermittent fasting, and it’s gaining popularity all over the world. But, like many fasting diets, intermittent fasting reduces your calorie intake, which can be contradictory to gaining weight.
So, let’s see whether you can gain muscle while fasting.
What Is Intermittent Fasting?
Rather than being called a diet, intermittent fasting is an eating pattern. This means that it doesn’t regulate which foods you eat but when you eat them. There are many ways to do intermittent fasting, the most popular being the “16/8” method.
The point of every intermittent fasting method is alternating between “eating” and “fasting” periods. These periods can be either certain days of the week or parts of the day. So, for example, the “16/8” method means you don’t eat for 16 hours and then pack in all of your meals and calories in the remaining eight hours of the day.
Can You Gain Muscle While Fasting?
Since it’s viewed as a great method to lose weight, many people suspect you can lose muscle mass while doing intermittent fasting. However, if you keep your protein intake high, you should be fine.
Furthermore, studies show that intermittent fasting can increase human growth hormone production, which can lead to higher muscle gains and fat loss.
Final Word
So, can you gain muscle while fasting? While it certainly has its own benefits, intermittent fasting is a slippery slope. You have to be disciplined and pay close attention to your protein intake. If you don’t think you have what it takes, there is nothing wrong with eating a regular healthy diet, getting enough rest, and pushing yourself in the gym.
