Intermittent fasting continues to grow in popularity as more people discover the positive benefits of the program.
I was introduced to the concept through a friend during my time in Orlando. Decided to give it a try after doing my personal research. The concept of fasting does not appeal to most people and I was skeptical how this would improve health and physical wellbeing.
I currently use the 16:8 model—16 hours of fasting with an 8-hour window to eat. I can eat whatever I want during the 8-hour window including desserts. No solid food at all during the 16-hour fasting window. Example: 8-hour window = 11 am – 7 pm, 16-hour window = 7 pm – 11 am. This can be adjusted based on daily activities.
Other popular Intermittent Fasting models are:
- Eat-Stop-Eat—you would fast for 24 hours, once or twice a week
- 5:2 Diet—take in 500-600 calories on two non-consecutive days while eating normally on the other 5 days
I always work out and run on an empty stomach so not eating first thing in the morning was not a tough adjustment for me when I decided to utilize Intermittent Fasting. Your body will adjust to this concept quickly. The initial hunger you feel will subside over time during your ‘fast’ period. You can also suppress hunger by increasing your water intake. Again, you can eat whatever you want during the 8-hour eating window. No calorie counting, no avoiding certain foods during this timeframe. Enjoy your meals, drinks and dessert if you want.
I have not lost a massive amount of weight while following the intermittent fasting program. I have lost inches on my waist and my body composition is more toned than before. I attribute the toning process to my body using fat as energy during my fasting period. I’m sure I can lose more weight if needed by adjusting the foods I eat during the 8-hour period. I have a love affair with cake, so I’ve never eliminated it from my diet.
The best thing about intermittent fasting is you own the process. You can adjust the program to fit your daily lifestyle, weekend plans or travel. It is not so rigid where you feel you are cheating if you break the times on occasion. Just pick back up as soon as you can to continue to reap the benefits of this health program.
Check out intermittent fasting to see if the program would work for you.
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