Question on Fat Levels:

I was wondering when your body will stop using fat as fuel when using hibernation recovery methods, as surely once the body gets to a certain level of bodyfat it will not want to go lower?

Does this differ from person to person? and if so what does the body use to fuel recovery whilst hibernating if it thinks you are holding too little fat?

Thanks

Ratios?
Honey contains both fructose and glucose in proportions varying with the plants the nectar is collected from. Oil seed rape is high in glucose.
Would you advise against using oil seed rape honey in the Hibernation Diet?

Fruit and Night Time Biology

I was also wondering what your thoughts are on the studies that show fruit in the evening can ferment in your stomach causing yeast infections and so forth.
I love the way hibernating makes me feel otherwise, is there anything you can reccomend i do?

ThanksFreddie

Quention on Diabetes

What would the effect of the Hibernation Diet be on those with Diabetes, whether type 1 or type 2?
Wouldn't the honey taken at night increase the blood sugar?
Writerinresidence

Fructose

Name: Georgie
I was doing some research on the internet regarding the principles behind your claims that fructose will help maintain liver function through the night without the need for the relases of cortisol. But from what I have been reading, I thought that fructose promotes production of triglycerides in the liver and increases appitite leading to weight gain and artheroslerosis.
With this confusion in mind I have two questions.
1) Which hormones are switched on at night to burn fat?
2) Growth hormone is naturally released during sleep, so do you have to do the exercise?
Thank you
Georgie

Question on Fat Loss

Name: Bruno
Well, what to say? ...
I'm quite fascinated with the idea of hibernation diet and would like to try it out sometime in the future, but I'm also a bit sceptical when it comes to the fat-losing part. I'm a recreative bodybuilder and this "revolutionary" discovery could really help me out.
So, I would like to know if there are some valid and published researches to back this theory and its statements up?
Thanx in advance!

Question from Reader

From: Zaina

Hello, I have been taking a teaspoon of honey for the past few months and i have amazingly lost 2 stones so far. I just wonder if it ok to contiue with my honey if i am pregnant.
I am so hooked on the honey... I have to give exceptions once in a blue moon! thank you.
Another thing... I have just downloaded the training recommnded with the diet...but it is so simple and would be more useful if there are illustrations on how to do these.
PS: diet alone doesnt and will never help anyone to lose weight and I did it all along side an hour aday excerising in a gym and I eat normal but less than I used to as in quantity and much healthier.
Thanks

Question on Calories

After finishing your book I have noticed there is few mentions of calories in the diet or nutrition section.
I would like to know what your take is on excess calories turning to fat? does this still apply whilst using the hibernation diet?
I ask as before reading the hibernation diet I had controlled my weight by eating less calories than my calorific needs for the day, can I eat above these calorific needs and still lose fat if I have a spoon of honey before sleeping?

Athletes

I have noticed you seem to have many Athletes on the Hibernation program, would it would be great if you coould mention some of the Athletes using this program....

Also I was wondering what you would reccomend as further reading for the hibernation diet and liver fuelling?

Thanks

Fruit and Fat?

I have come across an article that says fruit can make you fat and as a follower of your diet I would like to know your take on it:
Regards,
Dirk

Question about aesthetics

I have a question in regards to the Hibernation diet and Aesthetic appearance.
I am trying to get very lean and cut like a bodybuilder at performance level, I have achieved these results before by cutting my carbs in the evening and only having a protein shake before bed. Since starting the hibernation diet and having a spoonful or two of honey before sleeping these results have eluded me and I cannot seem to drop my body fat to as low a level as I have achieved before without hibernating.
Would you possibly have an explanation as to why I cannot get to the low levels I once could on the same diet and weight training regime whilst hibernating.

Overall though I have felt much better whilst hibernating, But I find it annoying to always have honey within a few minutes of going to sleep as I am not sure how much to take exactly a correct portion size would be nice?
More recently though I have opted to have a banana within 2 hours of setting off to bed is this adequate?

Gluconeogenesis from Reader

Fat burning hormones only work when insulin is at normal levels.
It seems to me taking honey/fructose just before bed will raise insulin and delay the release of these fat burning hormones until things are back to normal.
This I would have thought would be particularly true for someone who already has their blood sugar under control through low carbing.
You may well be talking about people who are on a normal high carb diet whose blood sugars are unstable by the time they go to bed. But during the night when more blood sugar is needed it is the job of the liver to make some more. It does this by a process called gluconeogenesis when most of the fat burning will take place. But this process only kicks off when the body needs to make more blood sugar and there are no carbs or stored glycogen to burn. So feeding a high sugar snack to a body which already has stable blood sugar will only delay this process.
With high carb dieters it may well help but I suspect not with low carbers.
This is one take on recovery biology I would like to see how you would react to this in favour of the hibernation diet?
RegardsOliver

Hi,
This revolutionary diet sounds so good to be true that the moment I read about it, I tried it. I have been taking 2 teaspoonful of manuka honey every night. I have also coupled it with yoga thrice a week, 1 hour each time.
It has been 2 weeks now, and to my horror, there is a noticeable gain in my weight and size, and clothes feel tighter. But I have to say that my complexion has improved quite a lot.
I have to admit there is no change in my diet, however, I am also not eating more than usual. I am still convinced by the argument, but there must be something I am doing wrongly. Can you please tell me where I've gone wrong?

Question from reader...

From Christine Farnill:

Hi There! I have just purchased a copy of your book, and on first glance through, it seems absolutely excellent! I'm really looking forward to reading it from cover to cover...
However, I have just a few initial questions.

Forgive me if these are answered within the book itself!

1) I know this is probably 'bad' for me, but I do love a drink (alcoholic). Have tried to moderate and have succeeded in doing so over the years. Tend to have a couple of glasses of wine a night. What do you suggest I do to maximise the benefits of the Hibernation Diet? Honestly, would it better not to drink at all? I can't imagine life without a nice glass of wine from time to time, or cider (another fave). But I'm aware they're laden with calories!! Advice please!!!! Perhaps just occasionally???

2) I have one coffee a day, in the morning. Is this still ok?

3) I really enjoy cyling, swimming, spin classes at the gym - albeit they are tiring at times, but I love them and don't want to give them up! I'll have no trouble doing the resistance exercise (which I already do). Is it ok to carry on doing the other, or will this affect my blood sugar too much?

Thanks in advance for your help!
Best Regards, Christine

Alcohol

Anonymous said...

Hello, have read the book from cover to cover and thought there was a lot of good sense within. I have read lots of nutrition books and am very interested in the subject. Unlike other books, yours does not say HAVE NO ALCHOHOL, NO COFFEE, ETC. I am wondering what you think is an acceptable amount to drink and still lose weight. How much coffee stresses the liver?There has been much in the press lately saying moderate coffee/red wine/dark chocolate consumption has actual health benefits. What is true? I do feel much better when I have eaten more fruit and veg, but I find the honey keeps me awake. Could be my husbands snoring though!! Does it take awhile for the body to get used to being fed in the night?

From Anonymous - posted as comment on original post.:

I am very keen on nutrition and have read many books including the optimum nutrition bible by Patrick Holford, which I think is a great book from a very knowledgeable man. My question is all these nutritionists understand the concept of your body using liver glycogen while you sleep, why have methods similar to the hibernation diet never been mentioned/reccomended before in book's from professional nutritionists?