Friday Finds: Evolution, Fasting, & Feeling 22

Cheers to the freakin weekend!

Author

Colin Dragon
September 29, 2023

Welcome back to the Daily Dumbbell, where we cheers đŸ„‚ to the freakin weekend every day. No need to wait til Friday.

But since it IS Friday


Let’s get into it!

Friday Finds

The Evolution of Hunting Weapons as our prey got smaller may have influenced cognitive increases in early humans.

As the prey we hunted got smaller and smaller, we had to develop different weapons to hunt them. This included smaller arrow heads, bow and arrows (easy to hit a mammoth with a slow moving spear, but not rabbit or bird). Most importantly, the increased dexterity required to create smaller arrow heads and more creative weapons may have increased the selective pressure on intelligence.

What does this have to do with health and fitness? Nothing at all. But it’s interesting to think about!

Adjusting Training for your Meunstral Cycle doesn’t seem to have much of a scientific basis.

The best & most rigorous study to date found there doesn’t tend to be much difference in RHR or recovery rate based on what phase of your cycle you happen to be in. As the researchers describe:

Menstrual cycle, the researchers point out, “should rather be regarded as one of many possible stressors.” Your recovery might be a little bit slower during the luteal phase of your cycle, but the best way to handle it is to pay careful attention to your training load, other life stressors, and how you’re feeling.

Fasting Friday

This is a question we’ve received a number of times. “What about fasting?”

Everyone wants to know if it works.

What they really want to know though, is if it is a viable shortcut. Can they just not eat for a while and lose weight faster/easier than through dieting.

The answer appears to be no.

For some people, it’s a useful tool. The reduced feeding window each day helps them eat less food. For others, it’s a binge trigger.

What we do know:

It’s suboptimal for training

It’s suboptimal for building muscle

There do not appear to be any health benefits that you don’t already get from a modest 15% reduction in calories. i.e. a standard caloric deficit.

If you want to fast, go for it! But don’t do it because you think you need to or because it’s objectively better.

Happy Friday! Hope you had an amazing week and all sorts of fun shit planed for the weekend.