Early Morning Fasted Training and Breathing Squats

I have been doing fasted weight training for a couple weeks now and love it. I have been following the Leangains EMFT protocol of taking 10g BCAA shortly pre-work out and every other hour until my feeding window starts. I am performing better and enjoying my workouts despite their high intensity. I have become convinced that training while in the fasted state is the reason for the above occurrences. I will use this post to proselytize for fasted training, whether it be endurance or weights.

This morning was leg day; leg day is hell. I have been doing breathing squats as my maximum effort exercise followed by some specialized calf and quad work and finishing with a few sets of box jumps or stairs. It is a killer workout, and today was my first time doing it while in the fasted state. I can report that I thoroughly enjoyed my workout and my performance did not suffer; to the contrary, it was stellar. I was able to complete all planned reps and sets with perfect form. Even more, I felt great post-workout, almost euphoric. 

Much of what I have reported anecdotally has been experienced by others. It is normal that many fasters feel increased focus, energy, and motivation during the fast; I think that the fasted workout simply boosts the effect. In addition, my anecdotal evidence notwithstanding, the high performance is founded in scientific proof, along with increased metabolism and muscle growth. Refer here for an explanation of and links to the actual studies about muscle growth and fasted training. Refer here for an explanation and link to a recent study that sheds light on fasted endurance training.

In short, I love fasted training. I plan to continue my fasted weight training in addition to adding some fasted endurance workouts in the mixer. Regardless, people will still recoil in disgust when hearing fasted training, but as more research comes out, the dogma of needing to eat pre-work out will quickly become obsolete.