Intermittent fasting is a trendy diet that has become very popular in recent years. It’s used to promote weight loss, improve metabolic health, and improve lifestyles. Some studies show that intermittent fasting can even help you live longer.
There are a few ways to go about intermittent fasting, depending on your lifestyle. If you’re interested in giving it a try, here are a few ways you can go about it:
The 16/8 Method
This method means you fast for between 14-16 hours a day and consume food for 8-10 hours a day. That doesn’t mean you eat nonstop during that time, of course, but just that your meals are limited to that time frame. You can fit 2 or 3 meals in the 8-10 hour time frame. For example, if you finish your dinner at 8 pm, aim not to eat until noon the next day. That would be 16 hours of fasting and 8 hours of eating.
The 5:2 Diet
This diet means you eat regularly for five days of the week, and for two days of the week, you are restricted to 500-600 calories a day. On the days where your calorie intake is more limited, you can choose to eat two smaller meals of 250-300 calories each.
Eat-Fast-Eat
This method of intermittent fasting involves a 24-hour fast for one or two days a week. For example, if the last meal you eat is dinner at 8 pm, you’ll fast the entire next day until 8 pm. If you do opt for this method, it’s important to eat regularly on the days that you do eat and consume enough nutrients.
Which One to Choose?
The most popular way of intermittent fasting is the 16/8 method, but it can also be customized for each person. Depending on your level of hunger and lifestyle choices, you can fast for less or more amount of time. 12 hour fasting periods is also a popular choice, but the amount of time to fast/eat is really up to you! Many find that intermittent fasting leads to a decrease in calorie intake and thus, an increase in weight loss. Some studies have also shown that intermittent fasting has various health benefits, such as insulin resistance, inflammation, and heart health.
The main goal of intermittent fasting is to limit your calorie intake during the time that you eat, so make sure you eat healthy and nutritious foods during your eating windows. It’s also essential to do this safely and ensure you’re getting enough nutrients to sustain yourself during the fasting periods. If you’re looking for a new weight loss method that also has health benefits, give intermittent fasting a try!
