Health, Wellness: Making Intermittent Fasting Work

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Category: Health, Wellness

Published on Monday, 14 December 2020 12:41

Written by Luca Yates

Intermittent fasting, or IF, is an eating pattern that has grown in popularity over the last few years. Intermittent fasting isn’t a diet as such; in theory, followers can eat whatever they desire, and during the eating windows.

One doesn’t need to count or regulate calories, however, it’s important to be sensible - spend six hours binging on chocolate and obviously it will be impossible to feel the benefits.

Instead, IF is a pattern of eating. There are different types of intermittent fasting, but the basis of each is the choice to engaging in a fast for a certain amount of time, and only eat in a specific window each day. Many people practice IF without realising, simply by regularly skipping breakfast or eating a very early dinner.

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As well as being a powerful weight loss tool, there are many other health benefits to eating in these patterns and extending fasts. These include increased muscle gain, controlled blood sugar and insulin levels, improved cellular repair and protection from disease. Getting started with fasting can seem difficult, but there are plenty of ways to make it work.

Choose a Fast That Suits Your Lifestyle

The 5:2 diet is exceptionally popular. This is when you eat normally for five days, and fast on the remaining two days, only consuming around 600 calories a day. 16:8 and 18:6 are also common. During these shorter, daily fasts, followers have an eating window of 8 or 6 hours.

To make IF work, it’s important that the practice works into your lifestyle. Finding an eating plan and pattern that works is key to success. If mornings are hectic, then it might not be optimal to skip breakfast. If a normal work week is hectic, possibly fasting on weekends, might prove a better choice.

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Get Some Help

Decide to practice the 5:2 diet, one may find it hard to manage the fast days. Using products from companies like Shake That Weight can make it much easier to stick to a calorie allowance, while keeping energy levels up, enjoying tasty products and getting all the nutrients your body needs. Take the time to learn more about the 5:2 diet and how Shake That Weight can help before getting started.

Drinking lots of water can also help one to feel full and stay hydrated, and many people find that a cup of coffee helps reduce hunger pangs.

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Schedule Your Workouts

You can exercise on a fast, but not everyone finds it comfortable or enjoyable. Eating just before aids the effort to bond to an exercise routine, so try to schedule workouts just after calorie consumption.

Be Flexible

Say you are practising 18:6 eating, and typically only eat between 1:00pm and 7:00pm, and added a big workout one morning because it is a challenge to maintain the workout while fasting. No worries. There is nothing wrong with having a day off, switching plans, or moving the eating window.

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Getting the best results from intermittent fasting require dedication, but there are still benefits by incorporating a flexi-plan and change things when needed.

Whether you are looking to lose weight, improve your health, or take greater control over your body, intermittent fasting can help. The best news is, after becoming accustomed to the change, eating and fasting windows can become a normal part of anyone’s routine.