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Gustaf E. Wolf
1930—2005
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Robb Wolf
A nutritional strategy for optimal health, longev-
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JOURNAL OF NUTRITION AND ATHLETIC EXCELLENCE
INTERMITTENT FASTING
Health, Longevity & Performance efficacy of this or that approach… but always
Robb Wolf with an eye on self improvement within the
framework of one’s OWN goals. This may
I wrote a paper on Intermittent Fasting almost equate to elite performance in a relative
two years ago but I have sat on it because… sense, but then again it may not; that is up
well, I am not entirely sure why, but I think to you.
some of it had to do with the unknown. Not
like the meaning of life, what happens when In chemistry and physics there is something
you die, or something heavy like that… just, called a triple point that describes a set of
What is going to happen if I release this thing conditions under which a substance, like
and it does not work? I have ruminated for water, transitions between solid, liquid,
a while on how best to implement this thing and gas. A graphical representation of this
(sorry… I am slow), but I realized a few weeks triple point shows pressure on one axis,
ago that it does not matter. I say this because temperature on another and a phase line.
every other nutritional plan from the Zone Altering the temperature or pressure can shift
to NHE is only a starting point. The Zone the relative position of the phase diagram to
has all the trappings of high science and some degree and thus emphasize one phase
sophistication, but the base Zone is simply a over another. Thinking about the triple point
point to deviate from. This is obvious when is what inspired me to write this paper: I see
you consider the marked difference between Performance, Health and Longevity as similar
the basic Zone and Athlete’s version. In Issue to the phases of the triple point and I suspect
2 we looked at this topic and there is simply that IF may bring about an optimization of
no comparison between 40-30-30 and 20-17- these parameters.
63! Beyond this there seem to be as many
exceptions to the Zone as consistencies. I Consider this example: If your one and only
know smallish hard-gainers who should be purpose is to live as long as possible, there will
on 16 blocks that make little or no progress. be implications from the IF information that
These people get bumped up to 19-20 blocks will make for some compelling arguments.
and take off like monsters. Why? It just Optimizing lifespan (in the IF scheme this
seems to work and clinical implementation seems to be feast one day, fast one day) will
has shown this result. No theory, no proof, likely by extension bring Health (an acute
just inputs and outputs. The Zone is a good measure of longevity) near optimization, but
starting point, and if one is meticulous it can Performance may suffer. Eating one day and
be adapted to get a good air/fuel ratio. But it fasting one day may not yield elite athleticism.
is an art, not a science. One may be able to be quite good, but perhaps
not elite and this is the similarity of altering
Similarly, Intermittent Fasting (IF), as the pressure/temperature conditions to shift
presented herein, is a starting point. It is not the triple point to a different emphasis of
meant to be an exhaustive final word on the solid, liquid or gas. I think it is obvious that
topic, but rather an introduction that will some may desire to optimize performance and
enable you to tailor it to YOUR goals. I love the pursuit of performance may necessitate
the Straight Blast Gym philosophy of avoiding levels of activity (wrestler Dan Gable does not
the Cult mindset, remaining grounded, and get around so well on his very worn knees)
using one’s own experiences to evaluate the and food consumption that are not conducive
The next action of IF I want to look at is These 2 states have obvious survival
particularly interesting in light of the action implications and in normal circumstances
of growth factors and the well fed vs. fasted there is a seasonal balance and interplay
states. In this study several parameters were between them. It is interesting to note that in
measured including blood levels of various general these two states are highly distinctive
biomarkers such as growth hormone (hGH) and show no metabolic overlap… except for
and insulin like growth factor (IGF). IGF and one situation: Intermittent Fasting. In the IF
hGH are crucial in actions such as tissue state we have elements of both the well fed
repair, hypertrophy, DNA repair, lypolysis, state and the acute stress state. As we will see
and, to some degree, strength. It is important below this is in stark contrast to CRAN.
to note that in recent years IGF has been
linked to various forms of cancer due to It was found that the CRAN animals
its mitogenic (cell growth) effects.7. This showed decreased levels of IGF. They also
appears to be due to excessive caloric and showed decreased rates of all cancers, as
or carbohydrate consumption. well as cardiovascular disease and neuro-
degeneration. The IF animals showed even
A brief digression into reproductive biology greater reductions in disease states but with an
may be helpful here… especially for those of increase in IGF. It appears that IF and CRAN
you who suffer from insomnia. All organisms act via different mechanisms. Professor Art
express different characteristics under DeVany made the point recently that there
varying conditions. During times of relative are a surprising number of redundant systems
plenty (lots of food), resources are directed in place for fat accretion. This metabolically
to reproduction. This state is typified by costly venture shows how important fat gain
high androgen levels and mitogens like was to our ancestors and allows for quite a
insulin, IGF, epidermal growth factors, number of mechanisms to be underway with
endothelial growth factors… it’s like spring interventions such as CRAN and IF.
for your body: everything is in bloom. During
times of scarcity, resources are directed It is worth mentioning a few other important
towards survival, and this state is typified results found in the CRAN/IF protocols.
We are getting close to the practical application If you are “just eating,” then I guess just eat!
of all this information, but there are a few Keep protein in most meals; make sure to add
more theoretical items I want to consider. fat in the form of nuts, avocados and olive oil
I mentioned previously that my goal is to (remember, IF combined with high fat intake
find an optimized nutritional protocol for produces the best results). If you are feeling
Performance, Health and Longevity. A key flat and not recovering from training, you
feature of both optimum performance and may need to increase your fruit intake. For
“effective” aging is a reserve of muscle mass. those seeking long life this may be the way to
The IF protocol, as mentioned previously, go. There may be other approaches, but the
does not leave the organism in an emaciated data has shown this to be effective.
state. Simple energy balance seems to
account for most of this, as the IF animals
consume on average the same amount as 15 Hour-ish Plan
the ad-libitum controls and consequently
do not lose weight. Add to this the finding This is what I do most days and it seems
that IF improves body composition and that pretty easy. Eat your last meal at 5 P.M. and
IF with a low carbohydrate diet improves it fast until the following day. The duration is
even further. We also have an increase in IGF up to you, but if you can fit in some training
and neuroendocrine response to exercise.8. while on an empty stomach, that is preferable.
All of this bodes well for muscle mass and Once you break the fast it is time to get down
performance. and eat! Zoners, fit in all those blocks some
way. Eaters… well, eat! Are you going to win
the Arnold Classic doing this? Likely not, but
Implementation if your results are similar to mine, you will
be lean, feel very good and, depending upon
Lots of theory thus far, but how does one your total caloric intake, possibly add some
do this? Whatever one’s approach, it is muscle mass. I am unsure if this abbreviated
important to on average eat as much as one fast still produces high levels of BHB and
would have done with regular day-to-day IGF/hGH. If this is in fact the case, this may
feedings. This is an important distinction be the best way to optimize performance
between CRAN, which usually peels off up to assuming one can take in adequate nutrition
40% of the individual’s body weight, and IF, to support activity level. In essence this
which maintains bodyweight, muscle mass plan may increase anabolic hormone status,
and overall body composition. With that in improve fat utilization, improve insulin
mind, here are a few ideas. sensitivity, produce an acute adrenal cortical
Feast/Fast response, allow for adequate nutrition and
perhaps even offer the life extension benefits
Notes
1. Cordain L. The nutritional characteristics of a contemporary diet based upon Paleolithic food groups. J Am Nutraceut
Assoc 2002; 5:15-24.
3. The human metabolic response to chronic ketosis without caloric restriction: preservation of sub maximal exercise capability
with reduced carbohydrate oxidation. Metabolism. 1983 Aug;32(8):769-76 Phinney SD, Bistrian BR, Evans WJ, Gervino E,
Blackburn GL.
6. Intermittent fasting dissociates beneficial effects of dietary restriction on glucose metabolism and neuronal resistance to
injury from calorie intake. Proc Nat’l Acad Sci U S A. 2003 May 13;100(10):6216-20. Epub 2003 Apr 30
7. Glycemic index, glycemic load and risk of gastric cancer. Ann Oncol. 2004 Apr; 15(4):581-4
8. Wan, R., S. Camandola, and M.P. Mattson. 2003. Intermittent food deprivation improves cardiovascular and neuroendocrine
responses to stress in rats. Journal of Nutrition 133(June):1921-1929.
9. Exercise and insulin sensitivity: a review. Int J Sports Med. 2000 Jan;21(1):1-12
This month we have the great fortune of a visit I love onions, but when a friend of ours told us
from Shira Yaziv from Haifa, Israel. Shira is a about this one, I was a bit incredulous. Onion
student of Ido Portal, whom you might recall as dessert? Battered and deep fried onions
wrote the QDR article in our premiere issue. are not tough to appreciate, but the idea they
Shira is enjoying the 106* weather in Chico, could compete with the likes of Ben ‘n Jerry’s
CA while learning CrossFit and the Olympic seemed far fetched, and well… perhaps it is,
lifts (we will all be attending the Mike but they are surprisingly good!
Burgener USAW certification in August) and,
of course, eating Paleo! Shira has a fantastic Time
contribution to the Performance Menu this 35-55 minutes
month that is fairly portable, super nutritious
and darn yummy. Ingredients