Thread for proponents of fasting for health & surfing fitness

General Discussion
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Any fans of fasting out there (intermittent fasting or regular extended water fasting)?? Since we are focused on surfing fitness, longevity, and health, especially if we want to continue surfing into our senior years, it seems logical that we seek out and explore different options for achieving health and fitness. Fasting can be one component in a balanced regimen that includes healthy diet and regular exercise.

I chose the thread title bcuz I really don’t want to debate the practice of fasting or explain or justify it to the skeptics, I want to discuss the benefits and maybe share experiences with any who are using, or thinking of using, fasting as a way to better health and fitness.

The swaylocks crew has changed so much over time I really don’t know if there are enough people here to support a thread like this, but I can share my experiences anyway, if there is even a little interest. Otherwise, the thread can fade away into oblivion.

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To quote Dr. David Sinclair from page 98 of his book,
“Almost any periodic fasting diet that does not result in malnutrition is likely to put your longevity genes to work in ways that will result in a longer, healthier life.”
There are many variations on that theme.

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Fasting only really works if you’re eating clean and in line with your metabolism and lunar cycles … we’re not that much different than plants from the studies done on our DNA.
For me I have a two or three days in each calendar month where I’m better off not eating and since I have been following that calendar I have fewer problems with my digestion. …
I grew up around amateur / professional competitive skin-divers and after a meet they would eat what they caught plus a huge ribeye or chuck steak with salads and whatever else the ocean would render … One time I was curious and asked a city lifeguard after I heard he competed in the paddle run swim triathlon and I asked him “what is your typical meal “ and he said…
“ I have no prejudice “

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I cut back on eating when we had to stay indoors because of Covid. I also started intermittent fasting a couple of years ago. I went for a high of 175 pounds to 150 pounds, then leveled off around 152. From early October 2024 until the last week of December, I had severe Sciatica pain and couldn’t walk without a cane. Spent a lot of time laying around and no exercise. Just sitting too long was a problem. I couldn’t do the stretching exercises the doctors told me to do with all the pain, but I’m getting better and I can do my stretches again. I tried to eat less, but I gained 7 pounds. My body is so stiff and it will take a lot of work to get loose. I’m also weaker and I’ll need to add more physical work to build up the muscles.
I think the one thing older surfers need to do is a regiment of stretches, and to exercise regularly. Probably good to see a chiropractor or massage therapist regularly.

I did get down to the ocean and try to surf yesterday. It was the first surf since the end of September of 2024, and even though my leg was a little sore, I was able to stand up and ride. A big deal since I couldn’t put any weight on my left leg less than a month ago.
I should do a lot of swimming before I get serious about surfing, but I hate swimming, it’s so boring.

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Man that is a lot to process, sorry to hear it. Sounds like intermittent fasting worked well for you. I tried it for a bit, I liked it, but ultimately I find regular extended fasting works better for me.

I did 2 weeks of fasting at the end of the year, and now I’m on day 2 of a 5 day fast. I dropped almost 20 lbs fasting, then gained most the weight back after. But the deep belly fat was gone, and didn’t come back, so the scale doesn’t tell the whole story.

Now 2 days of a follow up fast the weight is back down about 15 lbs, expected to go up some as soon as I start eating again. The overall health benefits have been very positive in addition to the weight loss. No surfing during a fast tho, I don’t have the strength while fasting.

I’m trying to focus on strength & health more this year, it has been a goal for a long time to drop the stored visceral fat before I turn 70, and the time remaining is down to months now. The catalyst was getting into my 5/4 front zip wetsuit, almost gave up on trying. This is fat I have carried for probably 30 years, despite being active and healthy.

I have only been getting in the water a couple times a month lately, but am really gonna aim for once a week this year. Surfing requires a commitment to regular sessions, its the nature of the beast.

I like swimming, but there’s always a bit of ego and a bit of weirdness at the gym swimming pool, and I hate the chlorine, and I worry sbout sanitation. I have been riding my bike once a week, and home exercises several times a week, and trying to stretch more this year.

Growing old sucks, but I’m really not ready to give up surfing yet.

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Good for you that you’re taking health seriously. I am comfortable with the weight I was at 150-155 but I’ve lost a lot of muscle. I think I would probably be heavier if I can get more muscle back. I think that swimming in a chlorine pool is not so bad in terms of what chlorine does to keep the water clean. There’s a beautiful swimming beach at Ala Moana Park where I surf, but depending on the wind, it can get nasty. The other problem is it has become an SUP haven for people that just paddle flat water. But those are just excuses for not doing what I need to do.

Fasting is a great way to take care of your body. Getting started is hard. I know people that have stopped taking medications and just eat right and fast. They’ve lost quite a bit of weight and are in great shape. They are also in your age group, 69. I had a great conversation with one guy about how he does his fasting, but it takes discipline. I never had discipline.

One the VPs where I used to work would ask me how I was doing. He knew I had heart problems and he’d ask whenever we talked. He was a cool guy, he worked his way from the bottom to the top. He told me “you know what you need to do, you just have to do it”. I said, all I need is a pass to go surfing when the waves were good, but he said nice try, no can do.

Funny how I would get all my exercise from surfing and swimming when I was younger. I just need to get serious and “do it”.

Take care Huck, Happy New Year!

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@Huck @sharkcountry @stoneburner You guys are definitely an inspiration! I think surfing is great for keeping us all motivated to stay young so we can keep doing it too. I turn 54 soon and had been out of the water for a while until I realised when I turned 50 that surfing was what I needed to maintain mental health and keep me fit. I made a concerted effort to start some basic exercise and implemented a stretching regime. I genuinely think I’m in the 2nd best shape of my life!
Keep up the good work guys, I hope you have a great 2025 and wish you all a happy and healthy year full of love laughter and waves!

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