T Nation

IF & BCAA's (When Not Training Fasted)

Supplements and Nutrition
#1

Hi all,

I’ve been doing Intermittent Fasting (16/8) for more than a year now, with awesome results.

I have two small/medium meals then train in the early evening, followed by one last huge meal before 8pm. I do not train fasted.

However, I wonder if there would be any anabolic benefit to taking one dose of BCAA’s (high in leucine). First thing in the morning (during the fasted state), even if I don’t train fasted? If fasted training protocols allow the use of several servings of BCCA’s during the fasted state - then surely the insulin response from BCCA’s is limited - and thus, it may be beneficial for muscle growth for me to add in one serving in the morning to help with recovery, and provide the muscles with some building blocks - while I remain fasted until 12am.

Any feedback would be great^^

#2

I doubt a couple of grams of BCAA’s would be very anabolic. It’s only 3 aminos. Being aminos and leucine in particular may be anti-catabolic but other than that I don’t think it would do much. If I were going to take them at all, aside from sometime pre, intra, post work out, I would take them 20-30 mins before your first meal to jack up protein synthesis… But that’s just me.

#3

Thanks - that is some solid, logical advice^^

#4

Your fasting regime sounds very similar to mine. I eat from noon to 8PM and train at about 5:30 PM. I do not workout fasted.

For the past couple months, I have been taking a shot of the Biotest BCAA’s with a scoop of Superfood and Power Drive in the morning. Shake it all up and drink it in the morning. I am not sure if it is helping anything, but if certainly hasn’t hurt. I basically started doing it for the “muscle insurance” to make sure I don’t lose any muscle while fasting.

Not sure if this helps you make a decision, but that is what I am doing.

#5

[quote]bdiddy5522 wrote:
Your fasting regime sounds very similar to mine. I eat from noon to 8PM and train at about 5:30 PM. I do not workout fasted.

For the past couple months, I have been taking a shot of the Biotest BCAA’s with a scoop of Superfood and Power Drive in the morning. Shake it all up and drink it in the morning. I am not sure if it is helping anything, but if certainly hasn’t hurt. I basically started doing it for the “muscle insurance” to make sure I don’t lose any muscle while fasting.

Not sure if this helps you make a decision, but that is what I am doing. [/quote]

Yeah, that’s exactly the reason I am considering using one shot of BCAA’s in the morning… ‘muscle insurance’. Thanks for the post.