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The Complete Guide to Intermittent Fasting: What it is, How it works and Why you should do it

Intermittent fasting is not a new diet trend, but a proven practice with ancient roots. This strategy for weight loss and health optimisation has been used by many cultures as part of their normal way of eating. As we know now, that is because it works! Intermittent fasting — more specifically the 5:2 diet — has experienced a resurgence in popularity over recent years. There are now numerous books and blogs dedicated to this subject, but what exactly is intermittent fasting? How do you do it? And why might it be right for you? Let’s take a closer look…

By Raluca PopescuPublished 3 years ago 5 min read

What is intermittent fasting?

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Intermittent fasting is a diet strategy for weight loss and health optimisation that is about when you eat, not what you eat. In other words, you can eat anything you like as long as you create an appropriate eating window for your lifestyle needs. Intermittent fasting is not a diet; it is a lifestyle choice. This is why you may see it referred to as “eating habits”, “meal timing” or “flexible dieting”. IF is a practice with ancient roots, but it has seen a resurgence in popularity as more research has been done and its potential health benefits have been revealed.

How does intermittent fasting work?

Intermittent fasting is a great example of “invisible barrier” diets. It is not a diet that you have to follow in the same way that a low-fat diet or a low-carb diet would require. Instead you can simply try a new way of eating that suits your lifestyle better. As long as you are creating an appropriate eating window for your lifestyle, it is easy to simply slip into this new eating style and it will feel like “normal” eating. If you are trying to lose weight, intermittent fasting will help you achieve a caloric deficit by reducing your daily calorie intake by 15-20% or more. This means that you will be consuming less calories than you burn every day, which will result in weight loss. It will also shift your body’s metabolic state from burning carbohydrates for energy to burning stored fat for energy. This is one of the reasons why intermittent fasting is so effective: it enables your body to access its own fat stores for energy, rather than consuming its limited carbohydrates stores first. In this way, intermittent fasting enables the body to use its own fat stores as a source of energy and it is a very efficient way to lose weight.

Why does intermittent fasting work?

Intermittent fasting is a very effective weight loss tool and a way to enhance your overall health. It is a lifestyle choice that makes it easy for you to reach your health and lifestyle goals. Here are some of the reasons why intermittent fasting works so well: It enables you to eat your favourite foods: As long as you create an appropriate eating window for your lifestyle, you can enjoy your favourite foods daily. You may even find that you enjoy them more since you are not eating them three times a day! You can choose from any healthy and tasty foods that you enjoy. Intermittent fasting is flexible and easy: As long as you create an appropriate eating window for your lifestyle, you can easily adapt this flexible dieting to fit your schedule and other lifestyle activities. It is easy to slip into this new eating style and you will find that it becomes as natural as breathing. Intermittent fasting promotes a healthy relationship with food: Since you are not following a strict diet and you are free to enjoy your favourite foods there is less room for the dieting mentality. You may even find that you feel more in control of your eating habits and therefore your food choices. Intermittent fasting can help you lose weight: By eating your favourite foods and reducing your daily calorie intake by 15-20% or more you can easily achieve a caloric deficit and start losing weight.

Who should not try intermittent fasting?

There is no reason why everyone should not try intermittent fasting. It is an excellent eating strategy for weight loss and health optimisation, but it is not appropriate for everyone. People with diabetes should consult their doctor before trying intermittent fasting since it can lower blood sugar levels. People with eating disorders such as anorexia or bulimia should not try intermittent fasting since it can trigger these disorders. People with eating disorders are better off with an eating strategy where they can control their food intake. If you are worried about your health, have a medical condition, or are pregnant, make sure to consult your doctor before trying any new eating strategy.

How to get started with Intermittent Fasting?

Before you start with intermittent fasting, you should make sure that you know your current health status and your goal for trying intermittent fasting. Are you trying to lose weight? Are you trying to gain muscle or strength? Are you trying to help your body heal from an injury? Are you looking for better mental clarity and focus? Once you know what you want to achieve, you can decide how to design your intermittent fasting eating strategy. If you have not already, you should get your blood work done to make sure that you are in good health. Make sure to use intermittent fasting as a lifestyle enhancement and not a short-term quick fix. You can try different intermittent fasting eating strategies to find the one that fits your lifestyle and schedule. For example, you can try one of the following strategies: The 16/8 strategy: During a 16-hour eating window, you consume your meals and snacks as you would normally. During the remaining 8-hour eating window, you consume no food. The 5/2 strategy: During a 5-hour eating window, you consume your meals and snacks as you would normally. During a 2-hour eating window, you consume no food.

Frequently asked questions about intermittent fasting!

Q: Is intermittent fasting safe? A: Intermittent fasting is a lifestyle choice that is healthy and safe for most people. As with all eating strategies, you should make sure to talk to your doctor if you have any concerns about your health or if you are pregnant. Q: Is intermittent fasting a diet? A: No, intermittent fasting is not a diet. It is a flexible eating strategy that makes it easy to reach your health and lifestyle goals. Q: Does intermittent fasting help you lose weight faster? A: Intermittent fasting can help you lose weight more easily, but it is not a quick fix diet. If you try to overdo it and do not stick to the eating window, you may experience the same struggles as you would when following a low-calorie diet. Q: Is intermittent fasting better than a low-calorie diet? A: Intermittent fasting is a great alternative to a low-calorie diet, but not all people respond the same to these eating strategies. You can give both a try and see which one works best for your lifestyle and goals. Q: How long should you do intermittent fasting for? A: There is no specific time frame for how long you should do intermittent fasting for. Some people do it for a few days every year while others do it as their lifestyle choice. The only thing that matters is that you achieve your health and lifestyle goals with the eating strategy you pick.

Conclusion

Intermittent fasting is a flexible eating strategy that makes it easy to reach your health and lifestyle goals. It is a great alternative to a low-calorie diet and most people can benefit from the health and weight loss benefits associated with intermittent fasting. There are a few ways that you can implement intermittent fasting into your life and once you get used to it, you will likely notice some positive changes in your body. If you want to make positive changes to your health and physique, you need to do more than just eat less. You need to change the way you eat. That’s where intermittent fasting comes in. It’s not a diet. It’s a lifestyle change.

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Raluca Popescu

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