Muscle gain

When I started off, I was only doing the Intermittent Fasting, as Sam had convinced me to do, I was not including the ketogenic/ low carb diet at this point

I was doing a 16/8 IF Schedule – 16 Hours Fasting Period and an 8-Hour Feeding Period and, within the first 2 weeks, I felt, and, saw changes that I had not experienced before on other “diets” that I had tried – within the first 2 weeks, I knew that something was “happening” !!

I did NOT change my foods (eating, my diet) – I just continued to eat the same things that I had been eating (including carbs), but, now, I was eating everything during the 8-hour Feeding Period – I was doing 4 meals a day (eating a meal every 2.5 hours +/-)

Then, Sam asked me how I felt, and, how I was doing – and, when I told him that I felt and was doing great – he had me switch the IF schedule from 16/8 to an 18/6 schedule... within 3-4 days, the immediate problem that I was experiencing was trying to eat all 4 of my meals within the 6 hour Feeding window – it was almost impossible – too much food – so, I adjusted and changed to 3 meals – one meal every 2 hours

So, I was still doing high carbs, high protein, low fat – because at this point, I did not have all of the information, and, I did not know any better

the low carb discussion didn’t enter the picture until about month 2 – and, then, from month 2 through about month 4-5, my carb intake went from over 200+g per day, down to 150g per day, to 100g per day, to 50g per day, eventually down to about 35g per day, a level that I then stayed at for several months, as I continued to educate myself on everything, and, to tweak and adjust other facets of my foods/ diet – and, although I had adjusted the Carbs down to a low carb intake – I was still doing the balance of my foods as high protein, and, moderate fats (which I still believed to be necessary – keeping my protein high for muscle building and maintenance, and, low fats, so that I didn’t get fat)

Feeding window on a crack

Over time – during the first 6 months (end of June when I started) – I went from the initial 16/8, then to 18/6, then to 19/5, and, eventually, by October 2017, I was on an IF 20/4 schedule – and, as noted, I adjusted my Carbs from over 200g/day, down to 35g/day… but, I was still doing 3 meals/ day during the 4-hour Feeding Period – and, I stayed on this Schedule from Oct 2017, up through May-June 2018 –  – during which time I brought my Carbs down to 20 g per day – and, this schedule lasted from about June, 2018 up through Oct 2018 – at which time I kept the same foods, during 3 meals, but, adjusted the IF Schedule again from 20/4 to 22/2 (eating the 3 meals one every hour) and, I then stayed on this schedule (22/2), with minor adjustments along the way in the foods – but, still, high proteins, moderate fats, and low carbs – from October 2018, up through February, 2019 – one of the adjustments that I made during this period is to change from 3 large/ regular sized meals to 2 regular meals (the first meal of the day, and, the last meal of the day, with just a snack (like peanut butter, sugar free jello, almonds, or pork rinds, string cheese, or similar) in between the 2 meals

Somehow, not by any thought or planning, one day, during February, I couldn’t eat the 2nd meal, I was just full, and, not hungry – so, I had just eaten the first regular meal, and, the snack, and that was it… then, this feeling, of not wanting, or needing the last meal, continued – and, all of a sudden, not by choice, or planning, my IF Schedule went from 22/2 to 23/1 and, I was eating everything within 1 hour everyday – which is what I continue to do up to now

In March 2019, during additional, extensive research – I made a decision to adjust my Macros to a true ketogenic formula plan – 75% Fats, 20% Protein, and, under 5% Carbs (I was actually under 2% Carbs by this point) – within 2 weeks I was seeing, and, feeling immediate differences and great results – I truly believe that having too much protein (which I thought was absolutely necessary as an active bodybuilder for not only adding new muscle, but, to maintain the hard earned muscle that I had) – but, I was wrong – now, looking back, I truly believe thgat the Protein, the extra protein, was an obstacle, and, holding me back from further gains – especially the Whey Protein Powder supplement shake that I was doing as one of my meals every day (which turns out to be the worst form of protein to ingest because of the immediate insulin spikes it causes) – the leaner the proteins, the proteins absent sufficient fat, the quicker it is digested, and, the more insulin that is produced in conjunction with the protein consumption.

So, not by planning, not by conscious choice – I somehow ended up on an IF Schedule of 23/1 – which, by operational definition, is the same as, or, very similar, and, close enough to the OMAD (“One Meal A Day) diet that people talk about – because although during my 1-hour Feeding Period I am eating multiple times (2 regular meals, and, a snack in between) – I am basically consuming all of my foods non-stop during that 1 hour period.

my current Macros are approx. Calories (2,200 to 2,400) / Proteins (0.4 to 0.5 g per pound (so 90-100g/day)) 20% of my diet) / Carbs (under 10g/day) under 2% of my diet)), and / Fats (upwards of 200g/day) over 75% of my diet)) – all consumed during my 1-hour Feeding Period – and, then, for the next 23 hours – the Fasting Period, I do not eat anything of any kind whatsoever.

I feel great, I feel healthy – I am never hungry, I have lots of energy, and lots of mental focus.