What the heck is intermittent fasting and why is it so darn good for you?
Well, to start, intermittent fasting is where you choose a specific window of time where you refrain from consuming food. You begin to alternate between periods of eating and periods of fasting. This time restricted fasting can last as long as a few days.
Believe it or not you are actually fasting already between dinner and breakfast (unless you are like my husband who has midnight snacks). So thumbs up you are already being healthy!
Popular fasts include the 16:8 and the 5:2. The 16:8 fasting is where you fast for 16 hours, eat for 8, then repeat. For example, you allow yourself to eat anywhere from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (8 hours) then fast from 6 p.m. to 10 a.m (16 hours) the next day.
The 5:2 fasting, also known as The Fast Diet, is where you eat normal for five days of the week and reduce your calorie intake for the other 2 days. For example you reduce your calories on Monday and Thursday, while eating normal the rest of the week.
So why is it so good for you? Well, an easy way to think about it is that since you are not filling your body full of food constantly, in order to maintain energy, your body starts to tap into its reserves, resulting in excess fat burning.
*The key to intermittent fasting is that when you do allow yourself to eat, you are concentrating on consuming a balanced diet, staying away from sugars, but focusing on meats, veggies, grains, and fruits.
Other possible benefits from Fasting include:
- Lowered blood insulin
- Lowered blood sugar levels
- Improved metal clarity
- Disease prevention
- Improve cellular repair
- And much more
My experience:
I have been trying the 16:8 method for a few months and have really enjoyed the results. I have lost weight, have a clearer mind, and just feel better throughout the day. I don’t feel weighed down by the food I eat, rather fueled by it.
I focus on eating between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. focusing on continuing to eat healthy no matter how hungry I may be. During my fasting period, I drink lots of water and in the morning I do drink tea or coffee. This helps to keep my hunger at bay until I can eat lunch.
Tips to intermittent Fasting
- Drink lots of water – Remembering to hydrate while fasting is extremely helpful to have energy and keep your hunger low key while fasting.
- Drink coffee or tea – Drinking tea or coffee can help to diminish your hunger during the fast.
- Stay busy – Staying busing while fasting helps to take your mind off your hunger.
- Don’t binge after breaking the fast – As I mentioned before, your diet while you eat is extremely important in order to receive the great benefits of fasting. Same with binge-eating. Try not to overload on food once you break your fast, be slow and gentle about reintroducing food into your system.
Resources
- TED Talk – Intermittent Fasting: Transformational Technique | Cynthia Thurlow (**This is a great one to watch – highly recommend!)
- Podcast – Details Therapy (Intermittent Fasting)
- Apps – try using apps like Zero, Fastient, and Body Fast to help you keep track of your fasting.
So is intermittent fasting something you should do? As always, you should look at your situation and do what works for your body. Always consult a doctor for more information.
I hope this provided you with some great information to become the best version of you!
