0 (1s): Hello, and welcome to the get lean and eat clean podcast. My name is Brian grin. I'm a certified health coach, trainer and author. And this podcast is for middle-aged men and women looking to optimize their health and get their bodies back to what it once was 10 to 15 years ago. I will give you simple, actionable items to get long-term sustainable results. Thanks for listening and enjoy the show. This week I interviewed Noah Sidon. He's a friend of mine. He's a golfer, and he's been using fasting for years and clean eating as tools to overcome his blood sugar issues, psoriasis, which is a skin disorder and lose some inches around his waist while maintaining muscle mass. 0 (50s): And so the reason I wanted to publish this was it's always good to hear different individuals stories and what they're doing either healed themselves or help them reach their health goals. So hopefully this will help inspire you to take action on your health and become the best version of yourself. Thanks for listening and enjoy the interview. All right. Welcome to the get lean eat clean podcast. My name is Brian grin and I have a special guest on today. He's a friend of mine from the Chicago area and his name is Noah side. And welcome to the show. 2 (1m 23s): How's it going guys? Happy to be here? 0 (1m 26s): Yeah, thanks for coming on Noah. I've gotten to know over the last few years, and we always talk about fasting and eating clean and you know, different things that he's tried. And I thought it would be, I thought it'd be a advantageous and positive thing to bring him on to get another perspective and hear someone's story because I always, because it's always good to hear what other people are doing and how it's affected them and positively impacted their health. So perhaps no, maybe you can tell a little, give a little background of yourself and, you know, just tell us your story. 2 (2m 2s): Yeah. And I also want to add in, you know, a big thing too, is I'm only 20 and you know, a lot of people see fasting later in life to kind of revamp a lot of things. But I think, you know, if, if people could start to see it as a tool to use throughout your life, starting at a young age, I think people really start to see the benefits, you know, in the long run, if it's kind of implemented throughout your whole life instead of later on just playing catch up. 0 (2m 33s): Yeah, no, that's a good point. And yeah, you're way ahead of the game. That's for sure. Cause I did not start when I was in my twenties. I was in my twenties. So how did you get into fasting and what, what led you down that path? 2 (2m 46s): Well, you know, I, you know, I think so when I started in high school, I was about 15 just, you know, like everyone else, weightlifting, you know, the usual stuff, eating as much as you can try to get as big as you can. And you know, it got to a point where, you know, I was lifting the weights I wanted. I was, you know, big, but I'm like, all right, this is not the look I want. You know, I don't want to be big and pudgy like all these guys. So, you know, I tried the traditional, you know, chicken and rice broccoli, you know, small amounts of calories cardio. And I'm like, you know, this, you know, you're getting lean, but it's not, you don't feel good. 2 (3m 28s): It's exhausting. You know, you're cooking all the time, doing dishes, you're eating around the clock, you're doing tons of cardio. And then, you know, I still kept doing research and then I, I came across fasting and I tried it and I'm like, you know, this is so effortless. And my energy levels are through the roof and you don't need to implement cardio unless you want to, because you know, the fasting alone does it for you. And you know, a big reason I picked up fasting too, was because I always had blood sugar issues when I would eat. 2 (4m 10s): So often through the day my blood sugar would spike like crazy, you know, I would eat a meal and then I would go do something active and I would get this crash and I'd have to go, you know, eat some fruit or something sugary, you know, and it would just be a constant cycle. And then every time I went to the gym, you know, some days I'd be exhausted. Some days I'd have tons of energy, you know, taking pre-workout and this and that. And then, you know, once I started the fasting, the insulin levels started to balance out like, you know, like that, you know, and I have auto-immune, you know, I have psoriasis that drastically improved with fasting and, you know, I've heard, I've heard that from other people. 2 (4m 53s): So, you know, besides just looking good and feeling good, you know, there's, there's actual real health benefits to it too, you know? 0 (5m 1s): And so initially you were lifting, you were eating all throughout the day and you, you wanted to get strong and put on some weight, but it got to the point where you were heavier than where you want it to be. And you wanted a way to, you know, in a healthy way, cut, cut some weight, but, but also have energy and be just as strong, pretty much. 2 (5m 26s): Right. Well, yeah, that's how it started. But then it got to a point where, you know, now I'm putting on, you know, good quality muscle and strength while still fasting, you know, I don't just use it as a tool to cut down and I don't compete or anything. I don't do shows. I just do it for myself. But you know, like now, so, you know, instead of just fasting or not fasting based on what I want to do, I, I always fast, but I just adjust the hours and how much a meeting in my window of, of, you know, eating where I gauge, how I want to perform in the gym and the way that I want to be. 0 (6m 5s): And how do you go about picking your fast, I guess, what is your current fasting and feasting times? And like you said, you adjusted depending on maybe the activity level. So what does a typical day look like for you? 2 (6m 19s): Right. So let's say I go to the gym on an average between four 30 and five o'clock. So I'll eat, you know, a moderate size meal, maybe about an hour before training, some sort of light fish, you know, some sort of light protein and carbs and some fats, you know, just an all around nutrition, dense food, but not super high calorie. It's something easy to digest like fish, you know, I'm not eating a ribeye before the gym, you know, go to the gym right after I'll eat some fruit or something, something that gets some glucose in my system, go home and eat a meal right away and go to bed. 2 (7m 3s): So I'm eating, you know, let's say going to the gym at 5:00 AM, start breaking my fast around four o'clock. And then by the time I get home, let's say it's five 30 or 6 37, you know, I'm eating by eight. So I'm done by 8, 8 30. So you know, about a four and a half, five hour window of eating, but you know, I'm still getting calories in, you know, eat, you know, that first meal it's light, but you know, it's still six to 800 calories. No problem. You know, I'm eating, you know, sometimes up to a pound of fruit after my workout, just for the glucose and, you know, to keep my appetite going in the window and then, you know, I'm still hungry from the workout. 2 (7m 46s): So I'll go home and I'll eat some sort of red meat with carbs and I'm happy. I feel satisfied. 0 (7m 54s): And so, okay. So you're, you're probably done eating, let's say 8, 8 30, and then, you know, you're obviously you're fasting till, like you said, maybe around three 30 Before your workout. So you have sort of pre pre-workout meal. Cause personally, I, I actually do my workouts fasted and then I'll break my fast, but I've tried both. And I guess, what is your experience? Do you like to have a little something in your system before you go work out? 2 (8m 24s): Well? So the thing for me is I'll gauge that based on my goals in the gym, right? If so, right now I'm kind of on a strength gaining program. Okay. So I want something in my system say it's like a Saturday or Sunday. I have some stuff in the afternoon. I'll go ahead. A fast to work out in the morning. No, no problem. But you know, when it's later in the day, I want that food. But so say I'm trying to lean out, you know, I got a vacation or the summer coming up, whatever, and I just want to be a little then. Yeah. I'll I will implement the fasted workouts. And I think that's a great tool to have. And you know, a big misconception is people think, you know, oh my God, you're going to be so tired. 2 (9m 7s): You know, how are you going to have any energy? I'm like, you know, the biggest energy drainer for me is digesting a big meal. 0 (9m 13s): Yeah. Good point. Yeah. And what, when you talk about carbs, you mentioned obviously you, you have fruit a lot of times after the workout, which is a good time to have it. When you have the fish, what type of carbs are you having you having vegetables or what are you implementing as far as carbs? 2 (9m 34s): So for me, you know, I try to be very basic with my foods carbs, 90%, you don't, let's take the fruit out of the equation. Cause that's more of like a sub, that's not a meal, that's more of a supplement, you know, something I throw in. So, you know, proteins, it's either fish eggs or beef carbs at sea, 90% of the time it's rice, white rice. And then the other 10 it's potatoes, you know, I would do oatmeal. It's just, I don't eat breakfast, you know, but I think oatmeal's a great carb source, but me, you know, I want whole foods. I want things that digest. Well, I want things that last, you know, when you get a big sugar rush, if you had a bowl of cereal, you know, you, you feel great for about 30 minutes and then after that it's downhill. 2 (10m 21s): But you know, when you eat a really good quality organic rice or potato sweet potato yam, you know, you, you feel the effects and longer term energy. Yes. 0 (10m 33s): Yeah. That's a good point. What, what I know you mentioned like psoriasis and then you had some blood sugar issues with those, the main reasons you decided to do this, it was just more like performance in the gym because you know, a lot of people, when they're 19, 20 years old, they want nothing to do with anything that's health related. You know, I'm sure a lot of your friends probably don't maybe they do, but I would imagine a lot of them 2 (10m 57s): Don't They don't care. Yeah. 0 (11m 2s): What made you want to flip the switch and get, you know, you start eating clean and fasting? 2 (11m 8s): Well, so it was, it was kind of a combination of things because I was looking for diets that, that aid in weight loss. And when I saw that this can benefit other areas of my life, I'm like, why not try it? It's going to help me maintain and not only weight loss, but it helps maintain weight when you're at a weight you want, you know, so I saw, you know, obviously the weight loss and a big problem too, is I feel on a traditional diet where you're trying to cut you, you know, you give up a lot of muscle that you gained in on fasting with, you know, the increased growth hormone and the energy and the way your body functions on it. 2 (11m 56s): I feel like you maintain muscle a lot better. So when I saw all those things combined and then, okay, insulin levels, this is a battle I struggle with daily. You know, I'm like, why not give this a shot? And ever since it's been, it's been awesome. 0 (12m 13s): Yeah. And you know, you talk about a lot of people think, you know, to lose weight. I mean, it's not as simple as just calories in calories out. I had a Dr. Jason Fung out and he talked a lot about that. You know, it has to do with insulin. It has to do with hormones. And the nice thing about fasting is you're not like chronically under eating. You're just not eating at a certain time during a certain time period. I think it just keeps it simple. Right. You're not eating for a certain time period. And then, you know, it's not like you're going into your meals, like under eating, right. You're eating two hours until you're satisfied. Right. 2 (12m 47s): Right. Oh, absolutely. And you know, another thing is if you take guys like us, right. We're golfers, we're active guys, you know, in the summer, if I want to go play around a golf, how am I supposed to get six to eight meals in every day? You know, what am I going to do? I'm bringing top of where on the golf course. You know, at that point, I'd rather just not go, but that I'm not just talking about golf that applies to everything. You know, when you fast, it's like, okay, I'm going to complete my tasks for the day. You know, if you really put all your time and energy into it, you could finish what you want. You, you supplement your time for that. And then in the afternoon you supplement your time for eating. You know, it's not like a constant thing you could section off times and I feel way more productive in other areas of my life because I'm not cooking as much. 2 (13m 33s): I'm not doing dishes and cleaning, you know, I'm not eating as much. So it's, it's a, it's a great time-saver as well. Like you mentioned. 0 (13m 43s): Yeah. And maybe talk, how, how has it helped with your psoriasis? I know this is a common issue that people, that people will get like, you know, auto-immune how, how has it helped with that? 2 (13m 58s): So, you know, I had patches on my elbows knees, you know, cause psoriasis surrounds your joints. Typically I had a little bit on my back, you know, around my shoulder blades and stuff, it's a completely gone zero, like literally zero. You wouldn't even know I ever had it. You know, sometimes psoriasis can be stubborn and you know, you can use, you know, different creams and prescription stuff, but you know, I, I don't, I'm not a big fan of that route. You know, I've always been a fan of, you know, trying to do it the natural way. 2 (14m 39s): And then if it doesn't work, go that route. But for me it worked great, you know, and I'm sure some people are more severe and there's always cases where you need, you know, extra, an extra push. But for me it was, it was great. Yeah. 0 (14m 53s): And maybe what type of tips would you give someone that's, that's maybe wanting to get into fasting and how, how would they go about implementing it from what you've learned in your life? 2 (15m 4s): Yeah. So I would say don't expect to be perfect at it right away, obviously, but that goes for everything. Sure. And you know, the feelings you'll have in the first week or so are not going to last because everyone gets hungry when their body's not used to it. And you know, everybody I've told to fast has been, you know, they'll call me three days after they start to like, you know, no, this is awful. You know, how am I going to do this? And I'm like, call, call me in three days, three more days and tell me, it'd be like, wow, I feel amazing. You know? So take it slow. 2 (15m 45s): Don't go for a huge, you know, fasting window right away. You know, say you eat your first meal at nine o'clock. You eat your second one at, you know, 1230, you know, like a traditional breakfast lunch, maybe just cut out the first meal and still eat that 1230 meal, you know, just go slow, let your body adjust. And I won't kill yourself with exercise during your fast right away. But your body gets used to fasting and, and use, use the food you have, you know, make sure the food is being used efficiently and eat whole quality foods. Because if you're not fueling your body properly, when you are eating, the window of fasting is not going to be as efficient, you know? 0 (16m 32s): Yeah. Those are great, great tips. Yeah. And I always like tell the people the best time to start fasting too, is when, you know, maybe it's on a day that you're busy and you have a lot of stuff going on. Cause you know, distractions, you know, sort of makes the day go faster and you don't have to think about whether you're eating or not. 2 (16m 52s): Yeah. Yeah. You know, if you're just say it's a Saturday, you're sitting around the house doing nothing. It's like, all right, this is going to suck. But you know, it's Monday morning, the market's racing, you got to get to your job. You know, you got to pick up the kids from school, whatever you gotta do by the time you get home, you're like, wait, I didn't eat today. Right now. I can eat whatever I want. You know? So like, yeah, it, that's a great point pick, pick a day or just a timeframe in your life where you're more, you know, inclined to succeed, set yourself up for success. You know, 0 (17m 28s): I love that. Well, no, this was, this was great. I, I, this was your idea and I love it. I love just sharing stories of how people have succeeded in fasting and eating clean. So yeah, it's never obviously fasting. You don't want to do it when you're too young and you're growing. You're still growing Noah, but not, maybe not height-wise but, but getting stronger, probably I would say, I wouldn't say there's a certain age. You can, what would you say, would you say there's a certain age to start maybe looking in the fast thing. I think that if, if you're under, obviously if you're underweight and things like that, you don't, I would not recommend fasting, but you know, if you're 20 years old and older, 18 and older and, and you feel like you want just another tool to use for weight loss or mental clarity or just having more time. 0 (18m 19s): It's, you know, this is obviously a great tool. 2 (18m 22s): Yeah. You know, when I get asked, you know, real deep questions like that, I try to think back to, you know, how people live back in the day. You know, people didn't eat all day, you know, even the kids, everyone, you would go out and you would hunt and you would eat a meal, you know, and those people were bigger and stronger than most of us, you know? So I don't think it's a matter of whether you're fasting or what you're doing. I think it's more the whole picture of what you're eating, how much you're eating and your whole lifestyle, you know? So, you know, if you're going to choose to fast at a time or age where you want to grow, eat more and eat high quality foods, you know, fasting doesn't mean you can't eat. 2 (19m 4s): It just means you can't eat for a certain period of time. You know? And believe me, I still get my calories in. That's not, that's not an issue, you know? 0 (19m 14s): So 2 (19m 14s): Yeah. I think listen to your body is the number one thing, whether you're fasting or not, any, anything you do listen to your body. If you're more hungry, one day, if you're just starving, maybe, maybe stretch the eating window out and hour, you know, if one day you feel great and you don't feel like eating when it's time to eat, maybe go an extra an hour or two there's no, you know, nobody's setting these guidelines for you. It's it's your body. 0 (19m 40s): Yeah. That's a good point. People are like, oh, well what are, what are the perfect times to fast? I'm like, there is no perfect time. I always just say like, don't eat right when you get up and don't eat too close to bedtime are like two good rules, but everything else, the rest of it is, is like you said, it's up to you and sort of a self experimentation depending on your goals and what you're looking to do. So this was great. No, I, I really appreciate you coming on. And hopefully people got some good, impactful tips that they can apply in their lives and yeah, there's just thanks. Thanks so much for coming on to him. 2 (20m 13s): Yeah. Thanks Brian. It was a pleasure. 0 (20m 16s): Thanks for listening to the get lean, eat clean podcast. I understand there are millions of other podcasts out there and you've chosen to listen to mine. And I appreciate that. Check out the show notes@briangrin.com for everything that was mentioned in this episode, feel free to subscribe to the podcast and share it with a friend or family member who looking to get their body back to what it once was. Thanks again, and have a great day.
