Alex's Journey

No not cannibalism! Catabolism, it’s the state in which your body is breaking down. The body will be in a catabolic state when we fast, or go without food for several hours.

A person is assumed to be fasting after 8 to 12 hours. Many of the metabolic shifts of fasting take place as a meal is finished absorbing. Typically 3-5 hours after a meal.

Glucose is the body’s primary fuel source and is essential for a functioning brain. When the body is denied glucose for more than 4 to 8 hours the body will turn to the liver for glycogen,( which is a storage form of glucose or energy) to be used for fuel. At this point the body will use small amounts of protein to supplements this fuel. Can you see why constantly feeding out bodies is important for muscle growth now? This fuel from the liver will last for up to 12 hours before the body needs to turn to muscle stores of glycogen, lasting a few more days. Now thats a scary thought, if we went without food for half a day our muscles would start to break down at a very accelerated pace.

Yet another reason why we favor slower digesting foods, and meals with protein every 2 to 3 hours.