Wont Intermittent Fasting Burn Muscle
That depends on the person and the duration of the fast. During fasting, the body first breaks down glycogen into glucose for energy. After that, the body increases body fat breakdown to provide energy.
Excess amino acids are also used for energy, but the body does not burn its own muscle for fuel unless it has to.49
Some studies, however, suggest that leaner individuals are at higher risk of lean body mass loss, and even reduced metabolic rate. Yet it appears this is less of a concern with overweight subjects.50
In my experience with over 1,000 patients on various intermittent fasting regimens, I have not yet seen a single case of significant muscle loss.51Learn more
Main Rules Of The Intermittent Fasting 14/10
So, you may, or may have not heard about the 16:8 fasting. It is an eating pattern where you are allowed to eat during an 8-hour period and must only consume water for the rest of 16 hours each day. The intermittent fasting 14/10 is very similar to that type, only here you are allowed to eat whatever you want during a 10-hour window. If you get up early, you can start eating at 7 AM, and then your last meal this day will have to be at 5 PM, followed by a fasting period which will end by 7 AM the next day.
You can also have your first meal at 8 AM or 9 AM, and then your dinner will have to be no later than 6 PM and 7 PM respectively. You can eat your usual meals during the 10-hour window, but you cant consume any calories during a 14-hour fast. However, you are allowed to drink unsweetened tea or coffee and of course, water.
Stage 5 Fasting : Stem Cells And Immune Function
The final stage of fasting begins after a full three days without food.
Before you read about the benefits, note that a 72-hour fast is a serious undertaking. If youre going to try it, make sure you drink plenty of water, get plenty of electrolytes like sodium, magnesium, and potassium, and stop fasting if you feel lightheaded or otherwise unwell.
Also Check: What Is 18 6 Intermittent Fasting
Benefits Of Intermittent Fasting
Intermittent fasting is a process that cycles between brief periods of fasting with no food or any significant calorie reduction, this routine does more than help lose weight alone.
Many things happen to the body during intermittent fasting and below are some of the benefits:
- Intermittent fasting prevents diabetes and obesity
- Possibly increased energy
- It may help reduce blood pressure
- Reduces inflammation levels
- It may reduce cancer risk
- Intermittent fasting reduces tissue damage in surgery and improved results.
Examples Of Healthy Foods
- Avocados are recommended because they have monounsaturated fats that are very satisfying. Taking avocado with your meals can make you full for hours longer than if you did not include it in the meal.
- A large egg contains 6 grams of proteins, which is important for keeping you satisfied and building muscle.
- Beans and legumes have low-calorie and high-fiber carbs.
- Berries have vital nutrients such as vitamin C that boosts immunity.
- Fish is rich in healthy omega-3 fats, protein, and vitamin D.
- Kefir, Kombucha, or Kraut are probiotic-rich foods that can be included in the meals.
- Nuts have good fats. For instance, the polyunsaturated fats in walnuts alter biological markers for satiety and hunger.
- Potatoes can help in weight loss. Just be sure to prepare them healthily. For instance, avoid French fries or potato chips and go for roasted, boiled, or mashed potatoes.
- Vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts contain fiber, preventing constipation, and making you feel full. This will help you feel comfortable without food for 12 hours.
- Whole grains such as sorghum, millet, and bulgur have fiber and protein, therefore making you feel full. They also turn up your metabolic rate.
Recommended Reading: Which Intermittent Fasting Is Best For Me
Is Fasting An Effective Weight
If you are obese or overweight, fasting is an effective weight-loss method, if you stick to it. But it is no more effective than a diet that restricts your daily calories. We know this because there were no additional weight-loss or cardiovascular benefits of fasting two days per week, over an ordinary calorie-restriction diet, in a study of 150 obese adults over the course of 50 weeks.
But you should also consider how difficult the diet will be to stick to. In a study of 100 randomized obese and overweight adults , the dropout rate was higher with those who were fasting, 38 percent, compared with 29 percent for calorie restrictors and 26 percent for those who kept eating as they normally did.
Some people really struggle with having to monitor their intake and constantly record food in an app every day. So the takeaway of the study was if daily calorie restriction doesnt work for you, maybe alternate-day fasting would be a little easier, said Krista Varady, Ph.D., professor of nutrition at the University of Illinois at Chicago and the senior author of the study. Theres nothing magical here. Were tricking people into eating less food, in different ways, she said in 2017.
There is some new evidence that shows different forms of fasting are not equal in part because some are easier than others, but also because some forms of fasting better match our bodys natural circadian rhythm, thus lowering insulin levels, increasing fat-burning hormones and decreasing appetite.
Fasting Is Not Magic Calories In = Calories Out
The thing is, its important to realize fasting is not magic.
You can still gain weight with fasting if you arent eating in a caloric deficit.
Because while fasting can make weight loss easier, you still have to eat less. Fasting doesnt break the fundamental science behind weight loss that is, if you eat fewer calories than your body needs, youll lose weight.
Fasting just makes it much easier, because if you can go 16, 18 or 24 hours without eating, youre going to have much less time to be eating.
And many people might find that their body reacts very positively to an extended break in calories. If losing weight has always been a struggle, intermittent fasting could be worth a try.
How much should you eat? What is too much?
There isnt a set answer to this. Everybodys body burns a different amount of calories depending on a ton of different factors. My best advice is if you have no idea how much you should be eating, use a free calorie calculator to get a baseline idea.
My favorite is this one
You can adjust it based on your lifestyle. The Basal Metabolic Rate will tell you how many calories you burn just existing that is, if you literally did not move your body the entire day.
My current BMR is 1,932.
Thats just the BMR. It increases based on activity level. Even sedentary people burn more calories than their BMR. My sedentary caloric level is around 2,300.
Also Check: How Do I Start Fasting
Should You Do Intermittent Fast Every Day
If you can follow a daily intermittent fasting schedule, your body gets used to the cycle, and you may not feel as hungry as you do when you start. Your body adapts to the change in eating patterns.
Lets face it we are used to eating several times a day. And if you gradually ease into intermittent fasting, you will find it gets easier.
However, suppose you feel that you simply cannot do this. In that case, you can try expanding your eating window to 12 or 14 hours and eating a lot of vegetables and fruits, which are filling and yet not very calorific.
Do you find this very restricting? Then opt for skipping meals occasionally. Whatever method you adopt, know that eating fewer calories and eating healthier will enable you to lose weight and improve your health.
Is 16/8 Intermittent Fasting Right For You
16/8 intermittent fasting can be a sustainable, safe and easy way to improve your health when paired with a nutritious diet and a healthy lifestyle.
However, it shouldnt be viewed as a substitute for a balanced, well-rounded diet rich in whole foods. Not to mention, you can still be healthy even if intermittent fasting doesnt work for you.
Though 16/8 intermittent fasting is generally considered safe for most healthy adults, you should talk to your doctor before giving it a try, especially if you have any underlying health conditions.
This is key if youre taking any medications or have diabetes, low blood pressure or a history of disordered eating.
Intermittent fasting is also not recommended for women who are trying to conceive or those who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
If you have any concerns or experience any adverse side effects while fasting, be sure to consult your doctor.
16/8 intermittent fasting involves eating only during an 8-hour window and fasting for the remaining 16 hours.
It may support weight loss and improve blood sugar, brain function and longevity.
Eat a healthy diet during your eating period and drink calorie-free beverages like water or unsweetened teas and coffee.
Its best to talk to your doctor before trying intermittent fasting, especially if you have any underlying health conditions.
You May Like: Does Fasting Make Your Metabolism Faster
The Benefits Of Fasting Don’t Kick In At The Same Time For Every Person
Experts agree that your personal habits will play a role in when exactly certain health benefits will kick in. “There are very few definites here,” says Vincent Pedre, M.D., an integrative physician and gut health expert who frequently recommends intermittent fasting diets to his patients. “Where you start seeing those benefits depends on what you eat, how healthy your gut health is, what kind of physical activity you’re doing, etc.”
For example, letting calories slip into your fasting window, overeating calorie-dense foods like pizza during your eating window, not prioritizing sleep or physical activity, or making one of these intermittent-fasting mistakes could all delay or counteract the benefits of intermittent fasting.
Even if you’re formulating the rest of your diet and lifestyle perfectly, it’s important to understand that the different health benefits associated with intermittent fasting will likely kick in at different durations of fasting. For example, weight loss may be triggered by a relatively short fasting window, while entering ketosis or triggering autophagythat “self-cleaning” cellular process that boosts brain functioning and maybe even longevitymay take significantly longer.
Meat Eggs And Legumes
Another vital nutrient is protein. Proteins are building blocks of your body. They are also highly effective as a part of a weight-loss diet. Protein can help you melt fat while preserving the muscles. It is one of the main components of an intermittent fasting 14/10 diet, as it can help you stay fuller for longer. Rich natural sources of protein include meat such as pork, chicken, turkey, bison, low-fat meat eggs legumes like beans, lentils, chickpeas, soy and soy products vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, Chinese cabbage, asparagus, Brussels sprouts dairy products like Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, milk quinoa, almonds, pumpkin seeds, and others .
Read More:14 Day Boiled Egg Diet: Will It Yield Any Long-Term Results?
Also Check: How To Do Intermediate Fasting For Weight Loss
How Much Weight Can You Lose On 1: 8 Diet
To lose weight on the 16:8 diet, its important to match the fasting with healthy eating and exercise. If done so correctly, theres a typical weight loss of around seven to 11 pounds over a ten week period. This is according to a review of 40 different studies published in Molecular and Cellular Endocrincology who found that on average, someone weighing just over 90kg would lose 5% of their total body weight in the ten week period.
A 2018 study published in the Journal of Nutrition and Healthy Eating revealed that the 16:8 diet plan can help people lose weight, without having to count calories as the 8-hour fast produces the same kind of calorific restriction and weight loss.
However, whether theres a distinct weight loss advantage achieved on the 16:8 diet compared to other diets remains to be seen. Some studies have demonstrated that theres almost no difference between people who do intermittent fasting compared those who count calories and cut back on unhealthy food.
Frequently Asked Questions Concerns And Complaints
Im a woman. Should I do anything differently?
I havent worked with women on implementing an intermittent fasting schedule, so I cant speak from experience on this one.
That said, I have heard that women may find a wider window of eating to be more favorable when doing daily intermittent fasting. While men will typically fast for 16 hours and then eat for 8 hours, women may find better results by eating for 10 hours and fasting for 14 hours. The best advice I can give anyone, not just women, is to experiment and see what works best for you. Your body will give you signals. Follow what your body responds favorably to.
Also, if youre a female, there is an allfemale page on Facebook that discusses intermittent fasting. Im sure you could find a ton of great answers and support there.
I could never skip breakfast. How do you do it?
I dont. Breakfast foods are my favorite, so I just eat them at 1pm each day.
Also, if you eat a big dinner the night before, I think youll be surprised by how much energy you have in the morning. Most of the worries or concerns that people have about intermittent fasting are due to the fact that they have had it pounded into them by companies that they need to eat breakfast or they need to eat every three hours and so on. The science doesnt support it and neither do my personal experiences.
I thought you were supposed to eat every 3 hours?
Here’s why this was a popular idea for a brief period of time:
Here’s the problem:
Free Bonus:
Read Also: Will Fasting Help Me Lose Belly Fat
Seven Ways To Do Intermittent Fasting
There are many different ways of intermittent fasting. The methods vary in the number of fast days and the calorie allowances.
Intermittent fasting involves entirely or partially abstaining from eating for a set amount of time, before eating regularly again.
Some studies suggest that this way of eating may offer benefits such as fat loss, better health, and increased longevity. Proponents claim that an intermittent fasting program is easier to maintain than traditional, calorie-controlled diets.
Each persons experience of intermittent fasting is individual, and different styles will suit different people.
In this article, we discuss the research behind the most popular types of intermittent fasting and provide tips on how to maintain this type of diet.
There are various methods of intermittent fasting, and people will prefer different styles. Read on to find out about seven different ways to do intermittent fasting.
Healthy Intermittent Fasting 20/4 Recipes
Knowing what to eat on the intermittent fasting 20/4 is good, but being able to combine the recommended ingredients into a delicious and healthy meal is even better. There is no need to trawl through the endless rabbit hole of recipes online because this article has got you covered. Here are the best healthy and tasty recipes for your intermittent fasting 20/4 menu:
Don’t Miss: How Long Does Intermittent Fasting Take To Lose Weight
May Help With Inflammation
Some types of intermittent fasting have been associated with a decrease in chronic inflammation . While this research did not involve the intermittent fasting 20/4 method, you may still reap the same benefits. Excess inflammation can lead to illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes, some cancers, bowel disorders, and more.
How To Break A Fast
We almost forgot about the last and perhaps most important stage of intermittent fasting the refeeding stage! Its important to break your fast with a nutritious, balanced meal that will further improve the function of cells and tissues that went through cleanup while you were fasting. From :
Upon refeeding, ingested carbohydrates* and glucose stimulate release into the blood of the incretin hormone glucagon-like peptide 1 from enteroendocrine cells in the gut. GLP1 enhances clearance of glucose from the blood by stimulating insulin release from the pancreas and increases the insulin sensitivity of cells. GLP1 crosses the bloodbrain barrier and can act directly on neurons to promote synaptic plasticity, enhance cognition and bolster cellular stress resistance.
*Update: This isnt a recommendation to break your fast with lots of carbs and sugars, which may in fact lead to problematic blood sugar spikes. A few carbs can go a long way. Its best to break your fast with a balanced meal including plenty of vegetables, plant fibers and plant fats, with healthy proteins and some whole grains or legumes if you choose. Avoid simple sugars and processed/packaged foods. Learn what works best for your body, and what you feel best eating following your fasts.
Recommended Reading: What Can I Have On Intermittent Fasting
Intermittent Fasting Works But Only If You Fast For This Long
Intermittent fasting , a way of eating that involves going through periods of deliberately not eating interspersed with periods of eating, has become a popular way for people to lose weight, regulate insulin levels, and lower blood sugar. As popular as intermittent fasting has become, there’s no one-size-fits-all plan. There are several ways to do intermittent fasting one of the most popular is the Leangains diet, or 16:8. This is where you fast for 16 hours a day and only eat in an eight-hour window, such as from noon until 8 p.m.
