Intermittent Fasting: The Perfect Solution For Losing Weight Without Technically Dieting
Intermittent fasting is quickly gaining popularity because not only does it help you lose weight, but you can do so without technically dieting in the process. With intermittent fasting, you are still able to eat the foods you like, but just have less of a chance to eat them. And it is flexible enough so it can manage to work for even the busiest of lifestyles. So if you've ever had an interest in intermittent fasting (known as IF), keep reading to see if it's the right choice for you!
How Intermittent Fasting Works
Intermittent fasting really is a simple way to lose weight. Unlike many complicated diets out there, you do not have to count calories or take out your calculator to figure out fat and carb percentages. There's no fancy apps, or scanning nutrition facts to make sure you don't go over your daily limit.
Here is how it works for most people. They choose to stop eating right after dinner. As an example, let’s say you finished dinner at 7pm. For the next 12 hours, you can only have basically water to drink. The period where you don't consume food is know as your "window", and that window can be as long as you'd like. If you need something other than water, black coffee is an option since it usually contains only a few calories and will provide a pick-me-up with the boost of caffeine. No sugar or other additives are allowed in this window though.
During these 12 hours, you are no longer able to snack. Many people choose this time period to do intermittent fasting because they can sleep through most of the time. For instance, if you get eight hours of sleep at night, then you are really only keeping yourself from food for four waking hours. That is not too difficult to do at all!
The Rest of the Day
As for the rest of the day, you are able to eat the foods you normally have. You can stick to what you've been eating, and naturally you'll consume less calories since you have 4 less hours of eating during the day. However, be careful not to eat more of these foods as a way to "cram in" more calories before fasting begins again. This would be defeating the purpose and you wouldn't see results.
Once you start mastering the 12 hours of intermittent fasting, you can slowly start to add another hour here and there. Rather than going from 7pm to 7am, you might be able to extend it out even further and go from 7pm to 10am. Continue to do this until you feel you have a reasonable window. Many of the intermittent fasting pros end up using the 14-18 hour range. But use whatever window works best for your lifestyle!
Intermittent Fasting Results
As you start restricting the amount of time you can eat every day, you will start to lose weight. You will be consuming less calories and your body will start to use that excess fat on your frame for energy.
Furthermore, as you hold yourself off from eating, blood pressure and bad cholesterol will generally lower naturally. Insulin and sugars are leveled out as well with fewer spikes and valleys than if you were constantly snacking. Also, cellular regeneration happens as the damaged cells in your body are replaced with newer and, in turn, healthier ones. This process can actually lead to a decrease in many types of diseases, including cancer.
Fight Obesity the Simplest Way Possible
More than 40 percent of adults in the United States are clinically obese. The world is basically eating itself to death as heart disease is the number one killer around the globe, and this is brought on more than likely through a sedentary lifestyle and a poor diet. With intermittent fasting, you are taking the first step in becoming healthy and fit once again. Try out intermittent fasting and see if it's right for you!