Intermittent Fasting is EVERYWHERE these days. When I first heard about it a couple of years ago, I had zero interest in trying it because not eating for long periods of time set off my anxiety. BUT, curiosity caught the cat and here we are. I have been practicing intermittent fasting for 6 months and I fucking love it.
This is my experience. Please consult with your doctor and look into the topic more if you are interested in giving it a try.
If you’re new to intermittent fasting, here is the definition {source}:
Intermittent fasting (IF) is an eating pattern that cycles between periods of fasting and eating.
It doesn’t specify which foods you should eat but rather when you should eat them.
In this respect, it’s not a diet in the conventional sense but more accurately described as an eating pattern.
Common intermittent fasting methods involve daily 16-hour fasts or fasting for 24 hours, twice per week.
Fasting has been a practice throughout human evolution. Ancient hunter-gatherers didn’t have supermarkets, refrigerators or food available year-round. Sometimes they couldn’t find anything to eat.
As a result, humans evolved to be able to function without food for extended periods of time.
In fact, fasting from time to time is more natural than always eating 3–4 (or more) meals per day.
The method that I choose is the 16 hour fast, 5-7 days per week. We already “fast” while we sleep, so that 8 hours of sleep accounts for half of this time. My usual routine is to eat my first meal at 12 pm and my last meal by 8 pm.
HOWEVER. I can’t quit coffee, so I do have a cup of coffee right when I wake up, and I do add a little Califa Farms unsweetened almond milk.
I thought for sure I would feel shaky, uncomfortable, and anxious not eating for 16 whole hours, but I have been so surprised by how easy and calming it is. One of the most amazing parts is that I had always wanted to do consistent fasted workouts, but was too scared of passing out to try it. I’ve felt faint before while working out later in the day because I hadn’t eaten enough, but this is different. As long as I work out first thing in the morning, I am golden.
The benefits I have experienced:
♡ Increased energy: I have noticed that I have so much more energy during my morning workouts – and I burn more calories than if I work out after eating.
♡ No cramping during workouts: Before, even if I had eaten a handful of hours before working out, I would still get cramps while running. Not with IF.
♡ Increased productivity: I feel WAY more productive, especially in the mornings. I don’t have to worry about food until lunch time, and I have experienced the elimination of brain fog.
Here are some more benefits of intermittent fasting:
• Promotes longevity and reduces aging. {source}
• Increases autophaghy. Autophagy is the process that your body uses to recycle cells. It’s linked to many health benefits including reduced risk of diabetes, cancer, and heart disease. {source}
• Can increase human growth hormone. Human growth hormone helps increase energy, increase bone density, and increase/retain muscle. {source}
• Reduces inflammation {source}
• Improves gut health {source}
• Improves cognitive function {source}
• Some people have better skin when fasting (maybe due to autophagy).
• Helps with weight loss. {source}
There are so many different options if you’re wondering what’s right for you when it comes to timing. Try different time intervals out if you’re not sure what will be most comfortable to you. And never starve yourself. There is a huge difference between fasting and starvation. I want to note here that while I was researching intermittent fasting, it is advised that those with eating disorders proceed with caution as IF can disrupt progress you’ve made.
I have loved IF and plan to continue until I feel that it is not working for me — I will always listen to my body. And I want you to do the same.
Have you tried intermittent fasting? If so, what has your experience been like?
xo, Lynn
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