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Intermittent fasting has become hugely popular in the last few years, but the truth is that it has been around for A LONG TIME! After all, thousands of years ago, humans could often go without eating for hours or days at a time.

Not only is intermittent fasting a potentially effective fat loss tool, but it actually disproves the myth that you need to be eating every few hours. Want to find out more? Read on to find out if it’s for you!

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What is Intermittent Fasting?

Fasting means not eating at all, but intermittent fasting involves fasting for a short period of time.

For example, there is the 16-8 Protocol, meaning 16 hours of fasting, followed by 8 hours of eating. During those 8 hours, you consume your entire daily caloric requirements, ensuring you still get the right amount of food – but in a shorter period of time.

Intermittent fasting DOESN’T mean starving yourself, nor does it mean overeating. You still need to consume the proper number of calories, and you definitely need to balance your macros. Your diet should be clean and healthy, filled with all the right foods and free of all the wrong foods.

Intermittent fasting can be used to help you lose weight, but you need to remember to eat around your workouts. That means ensuring that you get A LOT of nutrients after lifting weights and training hard, as your body needs those nutrients to repair itself and grow. You can fast until your workout, but always break your fast IMMEDIATELY after training.

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Benefits of Intermittent Fasting

Here are some of the things that make intermittent fasting such an excellent option:

  • Helps to cleanse your body by flushing out toxins.
  • Extends fat-burning mode when you first wake up – leading to more effective weight loss.
  • Can increase concentration during the fasted state.
  • Training in a fasted state can lead to more FAT burning, rather than burning glucose (great for losing those stubborn pounds of fat).
  • Is very time-efficient – less time spent eating.

The truth is that intermittent fasting can be a great aid in your weight loss, but it can be dangerous if not done right!

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Intermittent Fasting Isn’t for Everyone

There are a few people who may not want to try intermittent fasting:

  • Women – Some studies suggest that intermittent fasting can alter female hormones, reduce glucose tolerance, and have little effect on women’s cholesterol levels. Pregnant and breastfeeding mothers obviously need to stay well away from this diet.
  • People with previous eating disorders – Fasting causes you to dissociate with food, which can cause problems among those who have suffered from eating disorders.
  • Athletes – Because of the high training load of professional athletes, it may not be wise to try intermittent fasting. Athletes need A LOT of calories for recovery and so they have the energy to train longer and more often. Intermittent fasting can cause problems among those who need to perform at high levels consistently.

Intermittent fasting may not be for everyone, but it may help YOU to lose weight and get in shape. Make sure to do more research to find out as much as possible about IF before you try it. It’s not a diet you want to half-ass, but it’s something to do only once you’re certain it’s the right option for your body type, fitness goals, and lifestyle.