Over the last couple years the buzz surrounding intermittent fasting seems to only get louder. Intermittent Fasting is seriously becoming one of the world’s most popular fitness and health routines, and just in case you were wondering exactly what it entails, here’s an in-depth guide to IT.
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What is Intermittent Fasting?
Simply put, intermittent fasting is an eating pattern which revolves around eating and fasting. It cares less about what you eat but more on when you eat it. There are different ways to go about intermittent fasting, the most common ways include fasting for sixteen (16) hours daily or fasting for twenty four (24) hours two times a week.
Fasting is basically a part of human existence; from lack of food to religious reasons. Regardless of the reasons for fasting, our body has the tendency to adapt and harness the benefits of fasting.
Methods of Intermittent Fasting
Different methods have been used over the years to try and achieve the best possible result, and they all include splitting the day or week into eating periods and fasting periods.
Here are the three most prominent types:
1. The 16/8 method: this involves fasting for sixteen (16) hours and having an eating period of eight (8) hours. This could be achieved by skipping breakfast and eating from 12pm to 8pm daily.
2. The 5/2 method: this is done by eating between 500-600 calories on two non successive days of the week. Remember for the other five (5) days of the week you eat normally. Do this on Tuesdays and Thursdays eating small portions two to three times on these days, and eating normally the rest of the week.
3. Eat stop Eat: this is the process of fasting for twenty four hours one to two times a week. For example after dinner on Sunday night you don’t eat again until dinner Monday night.
Looking at the above methods each one makes you eat lesser calories, thereby making you lose weight as long as you don’t over eat during the eating periods.
If you ask me, I’d suggest the 16/8 method, as this is easier to keep up with, and less stressful.
Benefits of Intermittent Fasting
– Weight loss
– Increases growth hormones
– Lowers insulin levels
– Prevents heart diseases
– Reduces the risk of cancer
– Slows down the aging process
In every sense of it, intermittent fasting is a good and healthy way to lose weight and lead a healthy lifestyle, but hunger is a major side effect so if you have certain medical conditions, please consult your doctor before trying Intermittent Fasting.
Remember, intermittent fasting makes healthy eating easier and simpler with quick results as long as you stick to the plan.
