We all know if we want to be in the best shape of our lives that regularly working out is only one ingredient to the recipe. Diets have been ingrained in our culture for over a century! Many of us, however, tend to get the wrong idea about what a diet really is.
A diet, and dieting are actually two separate things. Dieting is assuming a nutritional/eating habit in the hopes to shed a few pounds. Once the goal weight is reached, this specific diet habit is usually retired. This causes those who are dieting to regress and potentially gain back the weight they lost. A diet is how one eats. The natural eating habits of an individual. A diet consists of our influences and habits that are learned over time. Some form healthy diets, others not so much. Luckily, we have the power to change our diets. But, be sure that if you’re making healthy changes to your diet, they stick.
Sticking to a diet is one of the most challenging parts of adopting a healthier lifestyle. There have been many programs and organizations over the years to join which will encourage you to commit to a healthier diet, but ultimately the decision is up to you.
What if there was a way to keep eating the way you do, and lose weight? This concept isn’t so far-fetched. It seems more and more, people are looking to Intermittent Fasting to shed the pounds and maintain their goal weight.
We know what you’re thinking. “Fasting? I don’t want to skip meals, and go hungry!” Don’t let the name fool you. Intermittent fasting is much more gentle than that. Basically, the idea is that if you’re not eating right now, you’re fasting. We tend to break our fasts three times a day. Once in the morning, another time around noon, and of course, dinner time. This is in compliance with health suggestions followed by academic research from the Industrial Revolution of the 1800s. Before that, people in England were only eating two meals a day!
So, what is intermittent fasting? It is an eating habit where you only ingest within a specific window of time during the day. The rest of the time, you are “fasting.” It’s also notable that those who practice intermittent fasting discover more energy, brain power and cellular protection! What’s even more interesting is that there are many ways to practice intermittent fasting, so finding a style that works for you is easy!
Intermittent Fasting for beginners:
If you’re looking to get your feet wet with intermittent fasting, here are some tips!
- Start by skipping breakfast. It can be difficult at first, because we’re so used to the idea that food in the morning gives us energy for the whole day! But once we can wrap our minds around the fact that we can survive without a bagel and cream cheese in the morning, you’ll notice it’s pretty simple!
- Enjoy your first meal at noon. It may be difficult to get there in the beginning, but with lots of water and willpower, trust us, you can do it!
- Skip the snacks and have your next meal at dinner! You can even enjoy a nice dessert!
- Begin fasting at 8pm! This will help you sleep better too!
- Rinse & Repeat.
Keeping your eating rituals within an 8-10 hour window during the day is key when starting intermittent fasting. You’re giving your body a big break from digestion, allowing it to burn fat, remove cellular waste, and in turn lose weight!
Here are some other methods to practice Intermittent Fasting:
The 5:2 Technique:
Follow your regular eating schedule 5 days a week. For 2 days out of the week, limit your calorie intake to 500-600 calories per day.
Alternate Day Fasting:
This method is a bit more challenging. You basically alternate between fasting for an entire day, and eating normally for an entire day. We suggest trying out this method if you’ve been doing intermittent fasting for a while, but want to try something different.
The 16:8 Method:
This is the most popular type of intermittent fasting where you fast for 16 hours and only eat within a 6-8 hour window during the daytime.
OMAD (One Meal a Day):
Another name for this is the Snake Diet. Enjoy one big meal a day, and fast for the rest of it!
The biggest challenges with practicing Intermittent Fasting are dealing with cravings. One of the best ways to deal with these cravings is to down a glass of water. It fills your stomach up, and you’re hydrating, which is so important to do! You can also enjoy black coffee and tea without sugar or milk during your fasting period! Keeping your calorie intake as low as possible during your fasting periods is essential to seeing the results!
We hope this guide gave you some insight into what it means to practice Intermittent Fasting. If you have any questions feel free to reach out! As always, Buzzfit offers the best monthly price in QC for those looking to join a gym! Sign up on our website and get started on your health journey today!
