The complete beginners guide to intermittent fasting

The complete beginners guide to intermittent fehlte nicht vielingThe complete beginners guide to intermittent nahe daran seiningOver the past 4 years, Ive been practicing the ancient method of fasting, andI can now say without a doubt that intermittent fasting is the most effective and natural method forimproving health.Aside from the weight and fat loss benefits (during my first three months of fasting I lost 22 pounds of weight), intermittent fasting has significantly improved my ability to focus and get important things done, my quality of sleep, happiness and much more.In this brief and simple beginners guide, youll learn everything you need to know about intermittent fasting and how to get started, in the easiest way possible.Lets get started.What is intermittent fasting?In laymans terms, intermittent fasting is simply a pattern of eating Its elend a diet plan, its a conscious decision to skip meals on purpose.You would intermittently eat during a short time window of the day an d fast for the rest of the day.For example, I typically eat my first meal around 11 am and freely eat geschiebemergel 7 pm that evening. After 7 pm, I purposely dont eat till 11 am the next day.According to intermittent fasting expert, Dr. Jason Fung, intermittent fasting is an effective way to correct imbalances of hormones responsible for weight gain and obesity.In his book,The Obesity Code(audiobook), Dr. Fung makes a strong case that intermittent fasting is a proven scientific method for weight loss and healthy living.In a nutshell, intermittent fasting is a lifestyle choice of when to eat.How does intermittent fasting work?In order to understand how intermittent fasting works and how it affects the brain and body, its important to learn the differences between the fed state and the fasted state.When we eat food, the body absorbs energy for immediate use and stores excess amounts away in ur liver and fat cells through a storage hormone called insulin.Because insulin rises whilst were in this fed state, the body is unable to burn fat at the saatkorn time.Once we stop eating, the insulin levels start to fall, and the body begins to burn the stored energy for up to 24 hours, after which it will begin to burn fat during a fasted state.In a nutshell, our bodies are either in this fed or fasted state.If we spend more time in the fed state than the fasted state, well gain weight. Conversely, if we spend more time in the fasted state than the fed state, well lose weight and burn fat.Intermittent fasting is simply a fancy term to explain spending more time in the fasted state.The 4 benefits of intermittent fastingAside from the weight loss and long life expectancy benefits of intermittent fasting, here are 4 major benefits of intermittent fasting1. Intermittent fasting saves precious time and moneyOn a normal diet plan, youd spend a lot of time and money, shopping, prepping and cooking up to six meals a day.Intermittent fasting saves you valuable time and money, be cause youd eat less meals each day, and spend much less time thinking about what you should eat.2. Intermittent fasting simplifies your lifeTo piggyback off the previous point, intermittent fasting reduces the number of decisions youd have to make each day, and creates more energy for you to tackle your most important tasks.Whilst most diet plans are complex, expensive and overwhelming, intermittent fasting is free, extremely simple and convenient.3. Intermittent fasting strengthens your willpowerThere will be many periods during intermittent fasting when youd crave to eat food and resist the urge to eat.Each time you do so, youll develop your willpower muscles, and strengthen your ability to resist temptations and distractions in other areas of your life.4. Intermittent fasting improves focus and concentrationStudieshave shown that intermittent fasting doesnt have any negative effects on our memory, focus and concentration abilities. In fact, intermittent fasting may actually impro ve our focus and concentration.Think back to the last time you were hungry. Youd probably recall how mentally alert and sharp you were.Intermittent fasting frees up valuable energy to avoid distractions and stay focused on your most important goals.The 4 cons of intermittent fastingWhilst there are a lot of benefits to intermittent fasting, there are also some potential disadvantages1. Intermittent fasting may cause discomfortDuring the first few weeks of intermittent fasting, you may experience some uncomfortable reactions from your body includingRight-sided shoulder painAbdominal pain and feeling bloatedBurping, BelchingNauseaFortunately, these symptoms should subside over time. The best remedies to manage these symptoms are lemon in water and apple cider vinegar.2. Intermittent fasting may cost a lot of moneyDepending on how much weight you lose during the intermittent fasting protocol, you may have to buy new clothes that fit your new body shape.Although this may seem like a goo d problem to have, it may become problematic if you stop the intermittent fasting routine and regain the weight you had lost.3. Intermittent fasting may interfere with your social lifeThe dilemma is what do you do when your friends, family and work colleagues invite you out for lunch, dinner or drinks?Do you decline the invite, turn up to the event and refuse to eat, or break your fast?This was by far the biggest challenge I struggled with during my first year of intermittent fasting, and it created tension in some of my relationships because people were offended whenever I declined to eat.4. Intermittent fasting is not suitable for people with eating disordersPeople struggling with eating disorders could worsen their condition by intermittent fasting, because it makes it harder to break out of bad eating habits.Types of intermittent fasting schedulesThere are different intermittent fasting plans you could try, however, here are the recommended fasting protocolsDaily fastingThese ar e fasting protocols that dont exceed 24 hours of fasting.1. 16/8 fasting protocolThe 16/8 protocol is an effective fasting method popularized byMartin Berkhan, and its the one Id highly recommend.Its extremely simple for 16 hours youd fast, and afterwards, eat your meals within a specific 8-hour eating window.For example, you may eat all your meals within the time period of 1100 am and 700 pm, and fast till 11am the next day.The 16/8 fasting protocol is extremely flexible and you can choose any 8 hour eating window that suits your lifestyle.The downside of the 16/8 protocol is that it may take a while for your body to adjust to eating larger meals within a shorter time window.For example, if youve been eating three meals a day from 7 am till 7 pm, cutting down to two meals a day from 11 am till 7 pm may be challenging, especially if you want to eat the same number of calories.On a final note, there are other intermittent fasting protocols that are slight variations of the 16/8 metho d.For example, the 20/4 fasting protocol involves fasting for 20 hours and then eating one or two small meals within a 4-hour eating window.2. 24-hour fastThe 24-hour fast is typically the first thing that pops into our minds when we think about fasting.It simply involves fasting from one meal to another in the next day.For example, if you eat lunch at 3 pm today, you wont eat your next meal until 3 pm the next day.You can repeat this process as often as youd like to do so each week.Weekly fastingThese are intermittent fasting protocols that exceed 24 hours of fasting, or dont require fasting on a daily basis.1. The 52 fastThe 52 diet is an intermittent fasting method popularized by physician,Michael Mosley, and it involves 5 days of eating as per usual, followed by two days of eating a maximum of 500 calories each day (usually two meals).For example, if you ate 1,000 calories in a single meal on day one, youd have to give up your meal in day two.2. Alternate day intermittent fastin gAlternate day intermittent fasting involves fasting on alternating days throughout the week.For example, if you eat dinner on Tuesday evening, youd fast for 24-hours and eat your next meal on Wednesday evening the next day.But, on Thursday, youd eat throughout the day as per usual, and then after dinner on Thursday, youd repeat the cycle and fast for 24-hours until Friday evening.Is intermittent fasting good for women?In general intermittent fasting has similar effects on both males and females, however, due to the complex reproductive ordnungsprinzip in a womans body, intermittent fasting could cause problems if not done correctly.These includePotential extreme hunger and reproduction issues as per thisstudy.Extreme swings in hormones and menstruation problems.Worsened eating disorders.Fortunately, these problems can be prevented through a gradual fasting method calledcrescendo intermittent fasting.In a nutshell, youd simply fast for two or three days each week, for up to 16 hours each time and build up slowly.This will ensure you enjoy the benefits of weight loss from intermittent fasting, without any negative effects on your hormones.Heres an inspirationalsuccess storyof a woman who lost 50 pounds in 7.5 months using intermittent fasting.3 common myths about intermittent fastingHere are three common myths and misconceptions about intermittent fasting1. Intermittent fasting causes muscle loss.During a fast, our body burns fat and sugar for energy, but not our muscle tissue.Studiesactually show that intermittent fasting preserves muscle mass, whilst burning fat.2. Intermittent fasting causes malnutrition.Fasting reduces the total amount of calories consumed, but not the nutrients absorbed by your body when you eat.3. Intermittent fasting is unhealthy.For thousands of years, humans have used fasting as a natural method of healing the body and mind, so theres nothing unhealthy about fasting.5 tips to make intermittent fasting easierHere are 5 things that will make it easier for you to get started with intermittent fastingDont tell your friends, family or colleagues youre on intermittent fasting until youve built up the habit.Stay busy and occupied during your fasting periods.If you havent fasted in a long time, build up slowly to your desired fasting protocol.Eat a lot of vegetables in between meals to prevent hunger and binge eating.Avoid chewing gum or biting on anything, as this would make you even hungrier.Common intermittent fasting mistakes1. Rushing into intermittent fastingOften, were quick to rush into our new plans and goals, but down the line, this leads to procrastination, burnout and quitting.The best way to avoid this problem is to gradually integrate intermittent fasting into your lifestyle.Start with three meals a day with no snacks, then build up to two meals a day with no snacks and so on, until youre fasting for at least 16 hours each day.2. Fasting on a high carbohydrate dietAccording toDr. Berg, intermittent fasting on a high carbohydrate diet could put major strains on your brain and nervous system because of a significant drop in blood sugar levels.As a result of this, youll feel grouchy, moody and irritable during your fast.The best way to avoid this problem is to ensure that youre eating a good amount of fats in your meals, and consuming larger quantities of low carbs like vegetables, instead of high carbohydrate foods like rice.3. Binge eatingAfter 16 hours plus of fasting, our natural tendency is to devour anything within sight, especially if were extremely hungry.The problem with binge eating is that you may end up consuming more calories than youve burned that day, and actually end up gaining weight during your intermittent fasting protocol.The best way to avoid binge eating is to prep your meals in advance, so that once its time to break your fast, you know exactly what youll eat and how many calories youd consume.4. Giving up too quicklyMost people who try out the intermittent fasting protocol give up within the first month. Unfortunately, this isnt enough time to see the benefits of fasting.Intermittent fasting wont get rid of your excess weight and fat overnight, its going to take time for your body to adjust.As a rule of thumb, expect to wait at least three months to see significant results of weight and fat loss.Common questions and answers about intermittent fastingIs intermittent fasting safe?Yes, intermittent fasting is safe, however an intermittent fasting protocol may not be suitable for the following peoplePregnant womenExtremely underweight individualsChildrenPeople using strong prescription medicationPeople with type 1 or type 2 diabetesWhats the best way to start and break my fast?What you eat leading up to a fast could make a huge difference on how hungry you are during the fasting window.The best way to ensure that you dont struggle with hunger during your fast, is to eat a high fiber and fat meal prior to starting your fast i.e. broccoli and coco nut oil.Finally, the best way to break your fast is to eat vegetables and meals in small portions.Avoid eating carbohydrates and fats at the same time because this may trigger an insulin spike and affect your results.How long should I fast?Start off with the 16/8 fasting protocol and then increase, or decrease your fasting window depending on how your body responds.In general, the younger you are, the faster your metabolism and the shorter the duration your fast should last.What should or shouldnt I eat or drink whilst intermittent fasting?As a rule of thumb eat lots of vegetables and meals high in fiber and fats. That aside, the same rules that would apply to any healthy diet plan would also apply during an intermittent fasting protocol.In small quantities the following liquids are okay to drink during intermittent fastingTeaCoffeeBone brothApple Cider VinegarMilkAs a rule of thumb, you should avoid the following liquids as much as possibleAlcoholCoconut waterJuicesDiet sodaIs bein g cold in intermittent fasting normal?Yes the core body temperature decreases during fasting because the body is adapting. Its nothing to worry about.When should I exercise during intermittent fasting?You can exercise at any point before, during or after your fasted state.As a general rule of thumb, you will feel weaker towards the latter periods of your fasting window, than in the earlier periods.So, its usually recommended that if you choose to exercise during the fasted state, exercise during the earlier periods- just ensure you wait a few hours after your last meal before exercising.This way you can enjoy the extra benefits of fat loss, whilst maintaining your level of performance with your workouts.I personally prefer to exercise during my fasted state, as Im much more alert and have seen better results that way. Plus, severalstudiesshow that exercising during a fasted state burns significantly more fat than otherwise.What types of exercises should I do during intermittent fast ing?You can use any exercise routine during intermittent fasting, however pay close attention to how your body reacts to the exercises.If your body feels more tired than usual during exercise, simply reduce the volume and intensity of the workout.In my experience,high intensity interval training(HIIT) - any exercise done with short rest periods and high intensity- is the fastest way to burn fat during intermittent fasting.What are some of the best intermittent fasting books?Id recommend these two booksThe Complete Guide to Fasting Heal Your Body Through Intermittent, Alternate-Day, and Extended Fasting (Book/Audiobook)Eat Stop Eat Intermittent Fasting for Health and Weight Loss (Book/Audiobook)What if I cant stick to intermittent fasting on the weekends?Thats fine, you can eat normally during the weekends and leise enjoy the benefits of intermittent fasting.Mayo Oshin writes atMayoOshin.Com, where he shares the best practical ideas based on proven science and the habits of highly su ccessful people for stress-free productivity and improved mental performance. To get these strategies to stop procrastinating, get more things by doing less and improve your focus,join his free weekly newsletter.A version of thisarticleoriginally appeared atmayooshin.comasThe Complete Beginners Guide to Intermittent Fasting.