Intermittent Fasting

Getting Started With Intermittent Fasting

Intermittent fasting (IF) has taken the world by storm as a diet that helps people lose weight and get healthy. But there is so much misinformation about it! So let’s demystify what intermittent fasting really means, answer some FAQs, dispel common myths with science-based facts – all in this article you can trust for authoritative information on IF.

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An Introduction to Intermittent Fasting

Fasting is often associated with the idea of giving up food. This can be a scary prospect, as it conjures thoughts of starvation and lack-of-nutrients on an extreme level. However, fasting in this context does not mean abstaining from all nutrients for long periods at a time.

Intermittent fasting is a way for you to gain more control over your eating habits. You might be wondering how this type of diet works and probably think that you are always hungry or starving. You must realize that all of us do intermittent fasting when you sleep at night.

There are many other times during the day when you do not think about food. IF allows us to establish an organized schedule with specific hours as our planned eating which can then help reduce hunger levels dramatically while promoting weight loss without any restrictions.

You enter into a cycle of eating and not eating. There is an alternating pattern where you eat followed by periods when you do not eat. This will take some getting used to, but after a short time the new routine should feel natural for both your stomach and mind.

Decide The Best Eating Window For Your Lifestyle

Your eating window is a critical component of intermittent fasting. This is the period of time when you can eat. So if you decide to use the 8:16 method (a good option for beginners), each day will be broken down into an eight-hour window to eat and then, followed by a 16-hour fast. Don’t forget that half of your 16 hour window of fasting will be while you are asleep.

Don’t Break Your Fasting Window

In order to reap the benefits of intermittent fasting, it is hugely important that you’re able to follow your fasting rule. If you eat during this time, your metabolism could be negatively affected and may even revert back toward weight gain mode.

You may consume liquids that don’t have any calories such as herbal tea or black coffee. When deciding on your fasting window, decide which part of the day you are busiest so that you are better able to stay on track and eat something. Remember that hunger comes and goes in waves. If you can resist the urge, it will go away for a while.

Another thing you might want to try at first is starting with the fasting times that you are able to sustain. You may have to start with a 12 hour fast to start and work your way up. Even increasing by one hour per week will get you to your goals and not have you giving up because you are just too hungry to go on.

IF Triggers Ketosis

When you do not eat, your body is forced to burn off fat stores for energy. This process of burning fat yields ketones which can be beneficial in various ways like reducing inflammation and boosting the metabolism.

The longer that you fast, the more your body will stay in ketosis and the weight will seem to melt off quickly and effortlessly. A keto diet is a low carbohydrate, high-fat diet program which uses this process to burn fat for energy instead of carbohydrates like other diets do.

Intermittent Fasting Is Safe For The Majority Of People

Intermittent fasting is a safe and healthy way to lose weight for most people. It’s always recommended to consult with your doctor before giving intermittent fasting a try, especially if you are currently expecting or planning on getting pregnant in the near future.

Studies have shown long-term benefits in a wide range of people across various lifestyles and health profiles. If you’ve tried everything and nothing else has helped, consult your doctor and then give it a try. You may be surprised at the results.