Intermittent Fasting – the what, why and how

As I’m writing this post, I’m on my 22nd hour without food. The last meal I had was during dinner at 6 pm yesterday and my next meal will be at 6 pm today. So far, I am still alive, moving and my mind is as alert as ever. I’m at work, focus unchanged, if not sharper and I don’t have that after lunch sleepiness where I used to yawn almost every minute.

I even went to the gym and was able to do my usual workout routine.

I’ve been doing intermittent fasting for more than six months now. That is, dinner-dinner fasts twice a week. Fasting means no solid food for 24 hours but all non-caloric drinks like herb teas and water is ok. I drink more than 2 liters of warm fruit flavored tea all throughout the day.

Sounds over the top just to lose fat? I thought so. I was probably the person who had a lot of skepticism when I first heard of intermittent fasting. I thought only loonies do that kind of torture.

What is intermittent fasting?
Intermittent fasting (IF) is a pattern of eating in which one alternates periods of fasting and non-fasting.

What is the purpose of intermittent fasting?
To create  a calorie deficit* to promote fat loss.

* We need to create 3,500 calories deficit (through diet or exercise) to lose a pound of fat

How to do intermittent fasting:

1. Pick a day when you feel you can best accomplish this. (I pick a day of the week when I’m at my busiest at work. )
2. Eat a sensible, filling dinner at night and go to sleep. When you wake up the next day, skip breakfast but drink lots of liquid, then skip lunch again.
3. Drink lots of liquid throughout the day. Now’s the time to experiment on various tea flavors. (I have 5 different boxes of tea flavors I love and use throughout the day.)
4. Plan your post-fast meal. (I eat a banana or a handful of almonds to break my fast.)
5. Eat dinner as if you did not fast the whole day. There is no need to “make-up” for the meals you skipped. (Contrary to what I thought at first, I wasn’t ravenous at all and did not consume a whole horse after 24 hours without food!) 

 The benefits of intermittent fasting for me: 

1. Helped improve my relationship with food i.e.,  identify which ones that really nourish hunger or make me tired and bloated, etc.
2. Weaned me from my sugar addiction and junk food cravings
3. Released me from the chains of consuming 4-6 small meals per day
4. Saves me time in the morning to prepare my food for breakfast and my lunch box
5. IF gives the body a chance for internal cleansing that improves immune function and overall health (it is even linked to longevity).
6. Decrease not just in weight but also in fat in the belly which is the most difficult to burn.

Going 24 hours without food is not as bad as it sounds. After all, there’s not a day that you’re not eating anything, right?

Intermittent fasting might not be for everyone but for me, it is much better than “moderation” – those small kindergarten meals that leave me wanting for more. It is easier when your limit is zero. Eating a small doughnut easily leads to a whole doughnut or two, or three…because it spikes the blood sugar making you crave for more.

Remember the goal of intermittent fasting is not about eating nothing (or as people would say “starving yourself” ) to lose weight. It is about just taking a short break in eating in order to aid natural hormonal and evolutionary genetic responses at the cellular level for better health (and weight loss does happen in the process). You will still eat that day and you are not doing this every day.

Disclaimer: If you have any health issues like hypertension, diabetes ,etc., it is always advised to consult your doctor before deciding to make drastic changes to your diet.

Tagged as: diet, Fitness

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