Everything you need to know before trying it!
What is Intermittent Fasting?
In simple terms, Intermittent Fasting is a lifestyle change which includes scheduling “eating hours” and “fasting hours” each day. During the “eating hours” it is believed that one can consume nearly anything at any time they wish. However, for those with the intent to lose weight and eat healthier, the eating hours should be used to fuel the body with healthy meals and snacks. During the “fasting hours” one can only consume water and unsweetened coffee and tea.
How does Intermittent Fasting work?
Intermittent Fasting already occurs for each of us every day during our sleeping hours. It is not technically classified as a diet but rather a lifestyle change. This lifestyle change is meant to improve a person’s health of their body, mind, and soul. Therefore, implementing Intermittent Fasting into your life can be as simple as skipping breakfast or dinner. Thus making the time period between meals further apart and resulting in “fasting”.
Many studies have been conducted that seem to prove this lifestyle change can help people lose some weight, boost their metabolic health as well as protect the body from disease, likely extending one’s life.
The results of Intermittent Fasting can have these various health benefits (improving a person’s body, mind, and soul) as well as many other benefits. One of which includes losing weight. This cannot be accomplished by fasting for 8 hours and going on an eating binge for 16 hours straight. In addition, proper fasting would require a person to go beyond the sleeping hour fasting. In fact, a proper day of intermittent fasting would look similar to the following:
- Skip breakfast all together aside from unsweetened coffee
- Eat a healthy lunch (first meal) around noon
- Have a small, healthy snack around 4 pm
- Eat a healthy dinner (last meal) around 8 pm
With this, you can see that the “eating hours” occurs over an 8 hour period. Therefore, the “fasting hours” would take place from 8 pm the night before until noon the next day (a 16 hour period).
Why should you try intermittent fasting?
Hunger may play a part during the fasting hours in the beginning of this lifestyle change. But, that shouldn’t be a reason not to try it! The hunger from fasting should resolve itself as your body adjusts to the lifestyle change. Also, keeping busy and remaining motivated by the health benefits of fasting will help you get through the “hard times” in the beginning.
The health benefits of intermittent fasting span many areas of the body, mind and soul. In regards to the benefits to the body, intermittent fasting can help reduce blood sugar and insulin levels. It can increase a person’s HGH (human growth hormone), assist in weight loss by restricting calorie intake and burn fat. Intermittent fasting is also believed to assist in reducing the risk of various diseases, cancers, and more illnesses. Thus, likely improving a person’s lifespan.
As far as benefiting a person’s mind and soul with intermittent fasting, some religions and cultures around the world partake in intermittent fasting as a regular practice. Their devotion to their faith or their communities is so strong that they happily include themselves in intermittent fasting. Thus viving the participants a mood boost and a belief in doing right by their faith. Also, when a person feels balanced, and energized, not ill then their mindset is likely improved.
Foods to enjoy during “eating hours”
- Cruciferous vegetables (for nutrition and fiber)
- Fruit salads (for nutrition and sweet diversity)
- Organic oatmeal (for fiber)
- Yogurt with fruit and granola (to introduce many nutritional aspects)
- White meat such as chicken breast (skinless and boneless)
