Intermittent Fasting The Best For Weight Loss
Ive been a personal trainer and nutrition coach since the mid-2000s and intermittent fasting is without a doubt the most effective diet for weight loss and slowing aging . Its also very simple to follow since youll just be restricting the times youre allowed to eat.
With intermittent fasting your body doesnt have any calories coming in. This allows your body to feed off your fat stores as an energy source . Since youre restricting your feeding hours youll instantly be cutting down on how many calories youre eating . Lowering your caloric intake does play a significant role in how much weight youre able to lose .
Finally, your body will release fat-burning hormones such as human growth hormone . This helps to preserve lean muscle mass which is needed to get a toned and slim physique . But dont worry about getting big bulky muscle mass from fasting.
But a lot of the weight youll lose with intermittent fasting depends on how much you have to lose in the first place. If you only have 10 pounds or so to lose then the results will be lesser if only doing it for a short time. But if you have more than 30 pounds to lose then your results will be much more.
You can expect to lose the most weight in the beginning few months and then itll start to slow down from there. And if youre trying to break through a weight-loss plateau then fasting for longer hours can get you there too .
Intermittent Fasting And Keto: Should You Combine The Two
The keto diet and intermittent fasting are two of the hottest current health trends.
Many health-conscious people use these methods to drop weight and control certain health conditions.
While both have solid research backing their purported benefits, many people wonder if its safe and effective to combine the two.
This article defines intermittent fasting and the keto diet and explains whether combining the two is a good idea.
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There are many different types of intermittent fasting routines, including the 5:2 method, the Warrior Diet and alternate-day fasting.
Perhaps the most popular kind of intermittent fasting is the 16/8 method, which involves eating during an eight-hour timeframe before fasting for 16.
Intermittent fasting is mainly used as a weight loss technique.
However, studies found that it may benefit health in many other ways.
For example, intermittent fasting has been shown to reduce inflammation and improve brain function and blood sugar control .
Summary
Intermittent fasting is an eating pattern that involves rotating between periods of fasting and normal eating. Popular methods include the 5:2 and 16/8 methods.
How Can I Suppress Hunger During Intermittent Fasting
- Eat high-fiber foods, such as nuts, beans, fruits and vegetables and high-protein foods, including meat, fish, tofu or nuts, during your eating window, Varady advised. Chewing high-fiber gummies can also help.
- Drink lots of water. People tend to think they’re hungry, when they are really just thirsty, she said.
- Go for black coffee or tea, or cinnamon or licorice herbal teas. These beverages may have appetite-suppressing effects, Varady noted.
- Watch less TV. I know this sounds strange, but while you are watching TV, you are bombarded with dozens of ads for food. This can make you feel hungry, when in actuality, you are not hungry at all, she said.
Remember, being “a little hungry” is the best thing that can happen to you, wrote Madelyn Fernstrom, health and nutrition editor at NBC News, calling it a “true mind-body connection” that helps you recognize fullness.
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How Many Days Should You Do I/f
There are no set days as to the number of days you should do intermittent fasting.
As far as I know, a zero diet cant be prolonged for more than 40 days. But intermittent fasting can last longer because there will be few days in the week where you will be eating.
So, that is totally dependent on you and to what extent are you seeing results and how well are you feeling about it.
Related Post ==> How I Lost 22Lbs In 7 Days With Water Fasting.
The Benefits Of Intermittent Fasting
Intermittent fasting offers a range of health benefits that can help you lose weight and maintain muscle.
Increased growth hormone: IF has been linked to increased production of human growth hormone , which plays a key role in muscle protein synthesis. Increased HGH helps to maintain muscle mass when you’re in a calorie deficit.
Cortisol reduction: Intermittent fasting provides stress management as it , often referred to as the “stress hormone” as well as the “belly fat hormone.” Elevated cortisol promotes overeating and weight gain by stimulating your appetite for sweet, high-fat, and salty foods.
Insulin sensitivity: IF increases the body’s insulin sensitivity. While insulin is an important anabolic hormone that contributes to muscle growth, an overabundance of insulin prevents fat from being broken down for energy and diverts the fat and sugar you consume into your fat cells. Reducing elevated insulin, while also increasing your body’s sensitivity to it, retains muscle while instructing your body to burn fat for energy.
Enhanced cardiovascular function: Studies have shown that intermittent fasting can improve several risk factors for coronary artery disease and stroke, including a reduction in blood pressure, improvement of cardiovascular stress adaptation, and reduced oxidative damage.
Also Check: Alternate Day Fasting Results 1 Month Female
You Are Not Eating Enough Protein
If you find that your meals cannot carry you across your fasting period to your next eating window, then you might need to adjust your diet.
Consider including more lean protein in your diet. It does not matter the type of protein, vegan or animal protein, all are fine.
Proteins can help keep you full till your next meal. Furthermore, if you are exercising during this period, proteins are important for building your muscles and protecting your bone health.
Your meals should have healthy fats, carbs, leafy greens, and proteins.
Are There Health Benefits From Intermittent Fasting
Intermittent fasting can teach us some important lessons when it comes to crafting intentional eating patterns and building healthy eating habits like:
- Reducing your consumption of sugars and refined grains
- Eliminating mindless snacking during the day and before bed
- Avoiding making unwanted food choices and planning a healthy diet
Along with building healthy habits, some studies suggest that adopting this practice may help with weight loss, improve memory and mental performance, cardiovascular health, type 2 diabetes, and the effectiveness of cancer treatments .
Is it Safe?
Fasting may not be appropriate for individuals with type 1 diabetes, pregnant and breastfeeding women, elderly individuals with eating disorders, and those who need regular food intake to take medications .
If you have a medical condition, talk to your doctor to make sure itâs safe to try intermittent fasting as long periods of fasting can lower your blood sugar levels and leave you feeling lightheaded, dizzy, with headaches and/or nausea.
Also Check: Is Fasting Good For Health
Diet Plan: What Can You Eat And What Are The Benefits
You may have heard wonders about the 5:2 diet, but have you heard of the 16:8 diet yet?
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The 16:8 diet plan is one of the most popular ways to get into intermittent fasting, with big names like Jennifer Aniston and Hugh Jackman swearing by it.
Similar to the 5:2 diet plan – but not as restrictive – the 16:8 has been praised as a diet that works fast . Weve spoken to the experts to find out how it works and how you can use the diet in a healthy way, without risking extreme weight loss .
Clinical nutritionist Suzie Sawyer says this style of eating is very different to most of the other diets out there, and that’s why it works. “Intermittent fasting works by increasing the period when your body has burned through the calories eaten during your last meal and begins burning fat,” she explains. “If you are someone who eats three meals a day, plus snacks, and you don’t exercise much, then every time you eat, you are running on those calories and not burning your fat stores.”
Intermittent Fasting Is A Good Long
As mentioned, with intermittent fasting, you donât have to count calories. This means that you may be happier and less stressed on this diet and may find this diet easier to adhere to long-term. The reason why many diets fail is because people are so miserable while theyâre on them that they can only stick to them for a short while. This may not be the case for everyone, but many people say that intermittent fasting is simply easier, and this allows them to have greater success on this diet.
Read Also: Fasting Blood Glucose Levels For Type 2 Diabetes
Is Fasting Good For You
Science suggests that intermittent fasting can have a number of potential health benefits besides weight loss. In one study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition , fasting was shown to reduce the risk of diabetes. In another study from the journal Cell Metabolism , researchers found intermittent fasting was linked to improved cardiovascular health, including lowered resting heart rate and reduced blood pressure. The researchers also found that no adverse effects occurred even up to six months of regular intermittent fasting.
Fasting has also been shown to help reduce inflammation, with one study finding that just one month of daily 12-hour fasts helped lower levels of inflammatory markers in the body.
A recent study also found that 14 hours or more of daily fasting for 30 days resulted in changes to gene expression that could promote DNA repair and other health markers for longevity. Studies also show fasting can help keep your brain sharp. In one study involving a small group of fasting women, intermittent fasting increased the happy hormone serotonin and other brain-boosting factors.
However intermittent fasting may not be beneficial for certain groups of people. According to one study , intermittent fasting should not be used by children or pregnant women, and another study found that womens periods could be adversely affected if calorie intake is consistently too low.
Is Intermittent Fasting Right For You
Intermittent fasting is safe for many people, but it’s not for everyone. Skipping meals is not recommended for people under 18, those with a history of disordered eating, or those who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Athletes may find it difficult to fuel and refuel appropriately for an active lifestyle. If you have diabetes or other medical issues, talk with your health care team before starting intermittent fasting.
Also, note that the key to weight loss with intermittent fasting is not to overeat during your eating windows. Eating fewer calories than you expend remains the basis for losing weight.
Shortening the eating window may make it difficult to get the vitamins and minerals you need. While on this diet, it is important to eat meals made from quality, healthy ingredients, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy and lean protein.
Intermittent fasting can be dangerous if taken too far. A technique called dry fasting restricts food and fluid intake, resulting in severe dehydration and posing serious health concerns. Malnutrition can occur if the caloric restriction is too severe, such as averaging fewer than 1,200 calories a day long term.
Romi Londre is a dietitian in Nutrition in La Crosse, Wisconsin.
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What Results Can I Expect From My Intermittent Fasting Diet
You can expect to lose weight ranging anything from 2lbs to 5lbs per week.
How much weight you lose depends on your current body weight, fat %, lifestyle, diet and general activity. Ensuring that you keep to the fasting phases and then healthy eating is key.
Anything more than this amount of weight loss is not good for the body but do expect to lose more in the initial weeks if you are starting at a higher weight.
What Can You Eat On The 1: 8 Diet
- Whole grains: Rice, oats, barley, wholegrain pasta and quinoa.
- Protein: Meat, poultry, fish, eggs, nuts and seeds.
- Fruit: Apples, bananas, berries, oranges and pears.
- Vegetables: Broccoli, spinach and other leafy greens.
- Healthy fats: Olive oil, coconut oil, avocados.
The great thing about the 16:8 diet is that you can eat anything you want, within reason, but it’s important to choose whole foods and those high in vitamins during the eating period.
“Many people fail the 16:8 diet by packing in too many calories into the 8-hour period, often trying to get some in before the 8 hours ends, says Jenane. You should still be following a strict diet with a complete nutritional breakdown, to ensure you are consuming a targeted number of calories, not to mention macro nutrients and ensuring youre not consuming too much sugar.
Read Also: What Is Normal Fasting Blood Sugar Level For Adults
Youre Not Fasting Long Enough
If you decide on a time-restricted feeding approach and you only shorten your eating window by an hour or so a day, you likely wont see much, if any, weight loss, says Martin. You’re just not changing enough from your normal eating routine, tbh.
How to fix it: Most women find success with about a 10-hour eating window, meaning a 14-hour fast,” says Martin. “You can always start with a longer eating window and work your way down if your usual eating window is much longer than this, she suggests.
What Is A Whole Food Diet
In other words, it involves a lot of cooking because whole foods do not involve anything processed. That means no premade sauces, dips, or convenience foods like chocolate bars, sweets, or ready-meals. It also includes things like tinned vegetables and white bread.
Why? Processed and convenience foods are often high in salt, saturated fat, and additives in comparison to anything homemade. Because of this, their toll on your overall health is higher.
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Why You May Not See Results
Although there is research supporting the effectiveness of intermittent fasting, there are many reasons you may not see results. It may sound counter-intuitive, but you may not be eating enough calories during your fasting window. If you severely restrict calories, it can backfire. Sudden under-consumption can lead to metabolic adaptation, a process where your body becomes more efficient at using energy and storing fat which means youll burn less calories. The goal is not to count calories and cut them, its to eat minimally processed, nutritious foods during your eating window until you are full.
If you eat ultra-processed, energy-dense foods during your meals, that could be another reason why youre not getting the results you desire. Fasting can help you burn fat, but it doesnt mean that its magic! Remember to fill your plate with lean proteins, complex carbs, and healthy fats.
Finally, make sure you drink plenty of water during your fasting window. Hydration helps you feel full and satiated, and its easy to mistake thirst for hunger. If youre not hydrated when you approach your eating window, you may be prone to choose and eat ultra-processed foods.
How To Lose Weight By Fasting: The 1: 8 Diet
The 16:8 diet is one of the most popular ways of intermittent fasting. Its extremely simple: for 16 hours you fast, avoiding food and any calorie-containing beverages, and then once those 16 hours are up, you eat your meals within a specific eight-hour eating window.
The great thing about this method is that you can choose any eight-hour window that suits your lifestyle. Plus, your 16 hours of non-eating can incorporate sleep time. For example, you could stop eating at 8pm and wait until noon the next day to open your eating window again. Or if you prefer an earlier breakfast you could opt for a 9am to 5pm eating schedule.
A downside of the 16:8 diet is that it may take your body some time to adjust to eating more meals within a shorter time frame. One workaround is to limit your eating to two meals a day, but initially, you may wish to start with three meals spread out over the course of the eight hours.
Research from the journal Nutrients suggests that intermittent fasting methods like the 16:8 diet can help lower high blood pressure, reduce the amount of food consumed and ultimately lead to weight loss. And for those worried about losing muscle, the 16:8 diet can help maintain muscle mass and prevent muscle loss when combined with resistance training, according to studies in the Journal of Translational Medicine and the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition .
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How Many Calories Should I Eat
Your weight loss journey with fasting needs to be balanced with the right number of calories consumed. You need to have fewer calories in a 24 hour window then you expend. This will then enable your body to burn fat as the calories you eat in the eating window will be less.
The fasting window allows your body to tap into its fat stores and thats what begins burning fat. The goal is always to promote fat burning but also ensuring that you are following a balanced diet.
As a guide, you should aim to eat between 5oo and 7oo calories below your BMR. To find out your BMR please click her
