fasting = higher circulating catecholamines/cortisol so improved performance via that pathway/more mental focus as well as being physically lighter. i remember doing some 36/48h fasting experiments and my appetite completely dropped off after a day without food and it was really hard to sleep not because of hunger but because of being 'wired' without touching a stimulant. also any stims might have a greater effect when fasted? (don't forget caffeine for peaking!) i've been intermittent fasting for a few years now and do the majority of studying fasted, focus is so much better.
in regards to stretching hip flexors before jumping - surely you cannot avoid stretching the rec fem which is a 'quad' and a 'hip flexor' and if static stretching reduces peak power output, is it wise to stretch 'hip flexors' (of which one is a knee extensor) before attempting maximal vj?
perhaps a period of time between stretching and jumping sufficient to still have the greater hip extension from the stretching but not the reduced power output? i have no idea what kind of time this would be.
Interesting about the fasting part. I too feel more mentally alert when food-fasted. If I also don't drink water then I'm not as alert (ramadan). But I used to do intermittent fasting where I would still drink water throughout the day, and it was amazing. Lots of energy to lift, and lots of mental clarity.
However, when I did IF, my eating window was always later in the day. I can skip breakfast and lunch and eat from ~7pm to 12am. I could never do the opposite. If I skipped breakfast and lunch, my appetite wasn't triggered so it was fine. Then I would pig out and go to bed never hungry.
But if my eating window is from 9am to 5pm or some shit... I'm going to die after 5pm lol. I'll starve and I'll get light headed afterward.
As for the hip flexor stretching: I've done it before and I did notice an inch or two gain in my running vert. It's definitely possible to stretch them without stretching the quads much at all. Just have to feel out the right position to do it. I can stretch my hip flexors standing even:
What really intensifies it is squeezing the right glute hard and pushing that hip out. It can be a very intense stretch without even looking like you're stretching at all. I do it at work a lot when I sit for too long.
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