Eat Stop Eat Review – Fad Diet or Real Success Stories?
As part of my series on the Physiology of Fasting, I read Brad Pilon’s ebook Eat Stop Eat. It is an incredibly well-written and in-depth book. Scientific, yet easy to read. All-encompassing, yet short enough to get through in several hours.
The main premise of the book, if you didn’t gather from the title, is Intermittent Fasting. Brad’s main point comes out early with this sentence:
When I realized that almost all nutrition research was working under this completely backwards paradigm [of "what should I eat to lose weight?"]…
His point is that as long as you’re eating, you can’t be losing weight, a valid point. Brad goes on from this point to discuss fasting as a protocol for losing weight and being healthy. Brad discusses, much as I did in Part 1 of the Physiology of Fasting series, that the body is either “fed and storing calories” or “fasted and burning calories.” There isn’t really an in-between state.
Eat Stop Eat dispels the rumor that going without food for a few hours will cause your metabolism to slow down. It discusses exercising while fasting. Maintaining muscle mass while fasting. Hormonal changes and health benefits that I missed in my posts. And all of this is backed up by scientific studies, no less.
And for those wondering about exercising while fasted, check this out:
In other words, they found that a three-day fast had no negative effects on how strongly your muscles can contract, your ability to do short-term high intensity exercises, or your ability to exercise at moderate intensity for a long duration.
I also checked out the Advanced Package, which includes six audio files and a transcript. If you are content with just understanding that Intermittent Fasting does work, you’ve probably read all that you need to. If you want the basics of the science and the hows and whys, you should check out Eat Stop Eat. If you’re a real geek, like me, wanting to know every bit of science you can to understand what exactly your body is doing throughout the day, the Advanced Package is for you. It’s six audio files, about 15 minutes each, discussing various aspects of fat metabolism, insulin, muscle metabolism, body composition, etc.
About Scott
Scott Kustes loves to cook and loves to eat. He started Real Food University to help you get maximum enjoyment out of the meals that you eat. To find out more about how he has rebelled against the fast food culture and counting calories or carbs, join the Real Food Revolution.
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Actually, I’m sometimes stronger in fasted state
, but I tried only 15-24 hours not three days.
The main thing I think we can be Thankful for is that “Eat Stop Eat” brought IF to the mainstream via channels like Turbulence Training. It dispelled the horrendous myth about eating 6-7 times a day and metabolism. I am thinking of buying the e-book but I am not super interested in what goes behind IF i just know it works and thansk to sites like these and your series of IF there is tons of information available for free…..
Thanks so much Scott.
Scott,
I checked out the Eat Stop Eat web site and the “come-on” looks very good. But I don’t have a lot of money to spend on another diet book that will just tell me what I already know. In your opinion, is this book worth the price for someone on a tight budget?
Thanks. And thanks once again for all the information you post for free. A lot of gems in those archives.
Dave
Scott;
Going to pass on the book, as IF’ing just works really well for me, simple to follow, yada yada yada, plus I’m pretty close to buying in as a partner on a long time established Italian restaurant.
I’ll keep ya posted.
Nice job on your blog, keep at it.
Dave, as I said, if you’re content with just knowing that IF works, you’re probably good to go. If your budget is tight, quality food and rent is far more important than science. This book is really a) for those wanting to know more science, possibly to use as backup to well-meaning friends and family who try to dissuade them from IFing for fear of their health or b) for those not convinced that IF works and needing more proof.
Jay, an Italian restaurant huh? I’m hoping it’s more like this and less like this.
Cheers
Scott
I get headache-y and grumpy when I don’t eat. I don’t think this approach is for me.
Hmm… maybe I should get this book. Seems interesting.
Dana, your symptoms are very common (or at least people think they are). I wrote in my blog post:
“The most common objection to intermittent fasting I hear is that “my body simply couldn’t cope with it”, as if it were something only a small fraction of people could reasonably do. People say they need to eat regularly or else they will feel “tired” and “irritated”, which apparently is a result of low blood sugar. Certainly blood sugar can have that kind of an effect, but who says it’s a permanent one? The body is quite good at adapting to different kinds of environment, and as far as I know, there is no genetic reason why anyone in normal health could not go without food for at least 24 hours.”
http://inhumanexperiment.blogspot.com/2008/09/psychological-effects-of-intermittent.html
I’d say it’s a matter of getting used to, and while I’m personally not one to gradually ease into things, it might be a good idea for those who feel fasting gives them headaches etc.
Cutting your eating period by something like two hours is a good start; then you can gradually make the fasting period longer.
Then again, if IF doesn’t appeal to you, it’s not a good idea. I’m just saying that the symptoms you describe are not genetic (rather, they’re a result of constantly keeping blood sugar high) and will eventually go away.
I didn’t read the Brad Pilon’s ebook but I was fasting for 3 days thrice this simmer and lost 15 pounds. So I can say the method of IF really works!