Everything You Need to Know: Intermittent Fasting
I’m a breakfast person. A BIG breakfast person. So when this intermittent fasting thing came around, I immediately wrote it off. Also, doing something every single day that was just like Lent? Um, no thanks.
BUT. Then my doctor friend started telling me his experience with I.F. + how much he loved it. So then I was intrigued. And then I did some research.
NOW, I’ve been intermittent fasting for two whole months. And I’m just gonna cut to the chase: I LOVE it. I don’t think I’ll ever stop.
Here are my results:
I have a large stomach. My mom used to put me in eating contests with her friends + she’d win the bet each + every time.
Now, my stomach has shrank. Which is a good thing because now I eat less. This may sound unhealthy, but it’s not. I used to eat two plate fulls for dinner. Now, I eat one + I’m full. For lunch I’ll have a salad or half a wrap + be full + need nothing else. This is also more fun because now if I want to eat something naughty, I just do it because I evened everything out with less calorie intake (by not eating as much).
I used to fill my coffee every morning with lots of coconut milk creamer.
Now, because you have to have black coffee in the mornings, I’ve nixed all those extra calories in my coffee. I still use the tiniest of tinies of creamer sometimes, but for the most part, I drink my coffee black.
I used to eat a banana or something small before I worked out in the morning.
Now, since I don’t eat anything until after my workout, I can FEEL my body using my stored fat for these workouts.
I am tired all the time. And I don’t sleep well at night.
Now, I feel more clear during the day + am ready for bed at night. I stay asleep better.
It is very rewarding to accomplish something every single day. I revolve around meals + think about food all the time. So every time I hit my fasting mark, I’m pretty proud of myself. And that feels good.
SO now that I probably have you interested with my results… what IS intermittent fasting? Well, it’s a very simple process with very good results.
WHAT
Intermittent fasting is an eating pattern that cycles between periods of fasting + eating. It doesn’t tell you WHAT to eat, but rather WHEN. Evolution wise, fasting has long been a practice. Ancient hunter-gatherers didn’t have 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 meals per day.
HOW
The most popular form of intermittent fasting, + the one I use, is the 16/8. This means you skip breakfast (but drink coffee, water or tea AS MUCH AS YOU WANT in the morning) + restrict your eating period to only 8 hours. Then, you fast for 16 hours. So if you eat dinner at 6 pm, you eat the next day at 10 am. If you eat dinner at 8 pm, you eat the next day at noon.
If you’d like to try a handy dandy intermittent fasting calculator to make things easy, go here: https://fitnessvolt.com/if-calculator/
There’s 2 other methods you can use for I.F. but I’m not going to go over them because I think they’re too much for your body. I haven’t tried them either, so I don’t want to condone them.
WHY
When you fast, human growth hormone levels go up + insulin levels go down. Your cells also repair more efficiently.
When you fast, you eat fewer meals + burn more calories. You’re changing both sides of the calorie equation.
BENFITS
Weight loss, specifically around the belly
Reduces insulin resistance + risk of Type 2 Diabetes
Decreases inflammation
Increases heart health
Helps protect against cancer
Promotes brain health by upping the brain hormone, BDNF
May even aid in living longer
Now, I am NOT a doctor. If you’re prone to eating disorders or are pregnant or breastfeeding, you should NOT intermittent fast. But if you’re interested, ease into it. I’ve seen great results. I’ve always wondered how to shrink my stomach + how much food I consume. And this is the only thing that’s worked for me. It also ensures that you’re REALLY hungry when you eat, not just munching for shits + giggles (I am known to eat my feelings). Every person I know that is intermittent fasting has seen or felt really great results.
The other thing you should know is, I am NOT to the Tee on this. Sometimes I eat sooner in the morning, depending on my schedule. Sometimes I put creamer in my coffee. I think it’s the general gist of Intermittent Fasting that is important. It’s a lifestyle for your body + brain, which establishes new, healthier ways of producing hormones, ingesting calories + reducing insulin levels.
As always, if there’s any other topics you’d like me to cover, LMK!! I’m only interested in writing about things YOU‘RE interested in. And I hope this helps you Babes who have told me you’re curious about I.F.
Let me know if you’re going to try Intermittent Fasting + DEF let me know if you see or feel any results!! And if you have any questions, ask below. See you next week X
