A few weeks ago I was working out with a long time mentor and family friend of mine, Coach Billy King.
Growing up I was always enamored by his physique and his passion for weight training.
To see a guy now, in his 60s, still passionate about training and in incredible shape is truly something to admire...
He doesn't just like to train... he loves it!
And he lets everybody he comes across know it... You must be FIT FOR LIFE!
It was his advice a few weeks ago that really got me thinking about explaining "fueling" and "nutrition" to people.. and it went a little something like this...
"Dana.. your body is filled with fat cells.. the problem with people that are eating bread, muffins, pasta, desserts, and sugars is that these cells become full...
Once those cells fill up.. the fat has to go somewhere.. and that is usually around your waist and for some women their hips...
They the key is to STARVE them out for 4 weeks every few monthsto make sure they do not fill back up and stay depleted... this will keep you leaner longer and keep your body running well when combined with weight training and conditioning every other day...
The problem is most people are running around with fat cells that have been filled for years and they are used to storing everything they eat because they are already full... you gotta starve your fat cells."
Now this was obviously a very simple conversation and explanation.. but I feel it has A LOT of merit for people...
This is what gives way to the discussion of "intermittent fasting", a new conversation in the nutrition/ diet world to conserve energy and give your digestive system a break..
But.. as somebody who has tried this.. I believe it takes much longer than just "fasting" for an 10-12 hours period to see results...
Over the past few weeks I have followed Coach King's advice and have gotten on a really good plan for myself.. which is about keeping calories moderated, eliminating sugar, wheat, and dairy... and in the past 2 weeks I am down over 6lbs. and 3% body fat...
And.. I have never been starving.. I have actually been eating much more frequently.. but all WHOLE FOODS...
Although before this "experiment" I was eating well.. I never gave my system a chance to deplete or ring out the sponge.. so the sponge kept holding water and the excess would drip into "storage"...
So, I hope you think about this and can take the advice of Coach King... and starve your cells for a few weeks..
**This does not mean STARVE YOURSELF.. it means to moderate calories but increasing the amount of nutrients you consume each day via fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and lean meats/ fish.#eatlikeapro
Dana Cavalea
Dana Cavalea is the World Champion Director of Strength and Conditioning & Performance of the New York Yankees.
Currently, he is a High Performance Speaker & Consultant to Pro Athletes, Entrepreneurs, Business Executives, and Workforces on lifestyle strategies to reduce stress, improve work/life integration, and most importantly improve daily performance /outcomes.
Book Dana to Speak at your Company Event or Conference Today!
3 Responses
Luann
May 03, 2022
Intermittent fasting does not work. I went 3 weeks 18-22 hours a day ( includes normal peloton workout and the second I went back to regular diet boom Weight flew back on
Michael Zaccardo
October 06, 2017
Haha, meant to say I don’t eat much wheat or sugar, but I eat dairy daily.
Mike
Michael Zaccardo
October 06, 2017
Dana-
I intermittent fast, but like you I am looking to clean up my diet just a little more. Can you send an example of your meal plan without dairy, wheat, and sugar? I don’t eat much dairy of wheat, but I do eat dairy daily.
Luann
May 03, 2022
Intermittent fasting does not work. I went 3 weeks 18-22 hours a day ( includes normal peloton workout and the second I went back to regular diet boom Weight flew back on