Hello guys! I went live on Instagram and talked about my interest in intermittent fasting and asked if you wanted to learn more about it. The results of the poll let me know you guys were very eager to learn more about it. My interest in intermittent fasting came up around June. Krystal Neilson from the Bachelor talked about it in her Instagram story and at first I thought it was a bad idea and no one should do it. Everything I had been taught up to that time told me we should eat continuously throughout the day so our metabolism doesn't crash. However, with intermittent fasting, your metabolism isn't going to crash because your body will be full of calories needing to be burned off! It takes energy to digest the food you are eating so even if you never got up off your couch you would still need calories to make your body work!
What is intermittent fasting:
Intermittent fasting is basically choosing a window to fast and a window to eat during. I am doing the most popular way which is to fast for 16 hours and eat for 8 hours. Now, I am not eating the entire time. Instead, I wake up and have a cup of coffee and my Apple Cider Vinegar elixir (shout out to Coach Krystal again for this tip). The ACV drink really has kept me full and kept hunger off so I usually drink it again around 2 or 3 pm to fight the afternoon fog. I usually start eating my first meal at 11am. You aren't supposed to be cutting calories or limiting your caloric intake, instead you should be eating normal meals. The goal is to eat all of your calories during the 8 hour period. If my 11am lunch is really statisfying I may eat dinner again at 6:30 and then I would be done eating for the day. I have only been doing this for two days, and it has been the weekend, so I imagine next week I will probably eat at 11, then my "lunch" at 3, and then dinner after I work out. It is important that you do not eat anything during the fasting window, but you can drink coffee, tea, or water. You should not be hungry during the fasted state. If you are, you didn't eat enough during your eating window. I don't suggest anyone with a disordered eating history try this
Benefits of intermittent fasting:
Healthline.com, The Cut and Women's Health Magazine has a great article which I am referencing below. Please go read the full article if you are interested in doing this.
1- Your insulin levels will be low. This is good and promotes fat burning. You will also have more energy because insulin spikes are what lead to grogginess
2- Your risk of Type 2 diabetes will decrease
3- Your body was meant to do it. Humans have never had food at our fingertips the way we do now. Our bodies like to use stored fat and glycogen for energy, so this eating pattern allows that to happen
4- Weightloss. You will loose weight doing this diet because your body will used stored energy (calories) during the fasting period and you won't be able to mindlessly eat that midnight snack
My oppinion:
I really like the idea of intermittent fasting if you are someone with a flexible schedule or if you don't like to eat breakfast. On the weekends, it is very easy for me to do and I actually enjoy it and have noticed benefits from it. However, I cannot do it during the week. I have to leave my house before 7am and don't get home until after 7pm. When I tried to do this during the work week I am just too hungry. This isn't something I can do frequently, but it may be something I implement on the weekends or on vacation.
Do you have any questions about intermittent fasting? If you do, or if you try it, let me know in the comment section below!
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