I wasn't sure whether to post this here, or in the PT / H2H forum, I decided to post it here because I wanted more of a medically oriented response (18Ds, PAs, and MDs (although any response will be gladly appreciated, for I am a green horn and want to learn)), Mods do as you see fit.
I am going to try and paint a complete yet concise picture, as to facilitate with responses.
I have been working myself pretty hard for the past six months or so, in preparation for a deployment to Afghanistan and eventually selection. One thing that I have began incorporating in to my workout cycles prior to a good recovery week, was a week of "tempering" as I like to call it.
"Tempering" is when I cut my caloric intake to my Basal Metabolic Rate(BMR) on day one, for me that is about 1900 calories (5'10", 170, 21 years, male), I gradually reduce my caloric intake on each of these days by about 100 calories, so by day seven, I am consuming 1200 calories.
During these days, most of my calories come from protein (whey, fish, or lunch meat), and the carbs I do get come from a few slices of whole wheat bread that is I swear is a close relative to sandpaper, never more than 600 to 800 calories. I do my best to eat a bag of leafy greens, usually spinach every day, light on the calories, high in nutrients.
My workouts during this week are still decent. I run everyday, distance will vary from 4 to 7 miles, at a nice aerobic pace (This is extremely difficult for me, because I love and live for lactic acid threshold training, 80% - 90% MHR for an hour or so, at pace where if I run any faster I'm going to have to slow down in the next minute). I don't lift during this week, but I do a lot of calisthenics, situps, pushups, chinups, pullups, and dips (10 sets till failure, 1 minute rest between sets, 3 minutes between exercises), Then I'll cap it off with a good five minutes of flutter kicks. The numbers I put up on day one are great, but by the last day, they are pretty bad compared to the first.
Last night was the last day of one of these weeks, and I went a little crazy on the run, I clocked in just over 10 miles, on 1200 calories, 440 of which were carbs. I hit a nice wall around mile 7 and got a pretty crazy runner's high for the rest of the run. I spent the rest of the run fantasizing about eating... (All I wanted to do was eat a two pound bad of mandarin oranges when I got back) I laid down in the yard for a good 20 minutes post run, waiting for the high to wear off (It was 0230 in a college town, I got some weird looks from some of my fellow students). I drank water, ate a bag of spinach and went to bed.
Motivations- Mental Conditioning/Toughening - Its easy to run/workout while you are well fed, it becomes more of a mental endeavor for me when I don't get to eat.
- Fat Loss - I shed a lot of fat during one of these weeks (got to be some muscle too....)
- Reality Focused Training - Being in the Army for three years, I have learned that it very rarely do we get to do our jobs under ideal conditions (lack of sleep, food, water, supplies, etc). To me this reinforces this.
- SFAS - From what I have heard and read, I like to think that this type of training is going to help me be successful.
- Confidence - I like knowing that I can operate on so little, so if shit hits the fan over there and I need to hike back to the FOB with little or no food, I can rely on this.
- Personality - This type of training fits in with the type of person I am, competitive, never content, proactive, etc. I like it.
Am I crazy for doing this?
Is there any real physical benefit to doing this to my self?
Is there any danger in what I am doing (long term or otherwise)?
Would you say in your opinion that I am wasting my time? Destroying my gains by doing this?
Would you advise against this type of training?
Any other comments.
I have a pretty good understanding of how the body works, so feel free to be as technical as you want.
If you just want to ream me for being stupid too, that will be greatly appreciated too. I am just trying to push the envelope, and I want to see if I am on target, or overzealous.
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