What is Intermittent Fasting and how does it helps you improve your health?
Hello everyone, how are you guys doing this holy week? Just a few more days and the Lenten season will soon be over. Today, Holy Wednesday commemorates Judas Iscariot’s bargain to betray Jesus. In other words, this day is the start of the most important days of the Lenten season.
By the way, if you have read my recent article, I am into this fitness routine which I started just recently, about 3 days ago. Yes, I’ve been strolling around my place for almost 3 days now, but yesterday was my first and official log for my fitness documentation in the steem blockchain.
Anyway, I didn’t go for some walk earlier this day in observance with the start of the important days of the holy week, or should I say, the Lenten season. Therefore, I am going to resume that daily routine right after this week is over.
Again if you have read my post yesterday, I revealed that I engaged into this very popular health and fitness trend called, the intermittent fasting. I introduce this eating routine in my blog yesterday however I choose not to discuss it yet there.
So in this blog, I will try to explain and discuss to you what is intermittent fasting and how does it help you lose weight as well as improve your health and simplify your lifestyle,
Intermittent fasting is a term for an eating pattern which cycles between periods of fasting and feasting.
From that above definition, this eating routine involves two major cycles, the fasting cycle and the eating cycle. In other words, your day is split into two main cycles, the eating period and fasting period, and of course the fasting period has the longer duration.
It is also clear that this popular health and fitness trend is not considered as a diet plan but rather just an eating routine.
Why is not regarded as a diet? Because intermittent fasting does not actually restrict or prohibits you to eat certain food or in other words, it does not say something about which foods you should eat! So how does it helps us lose weight if there’s no food restriction involved?
Well according to research, humans have actually been fasting ever since ever since the start of early life. There is no assurance to acquire foods everyday therefore, therefore our ancestors are forced to fast and their body somehow evolved to get used to it.
And according to some research again, when a person is fasting, his/her level of human growth hormone will rise up and his/her insulin level will go down. Important repair in your cells will then start to improve your health.
There are various and common intermittent fasting method and that involves the daily 16-hour fasting and the 24-hour fasting which is done for at least twice a week. And this one is what I believe to be the easiest among all popular methods.
By the way, for more information about this intermittent fasting, I would recommend you to read this whole article. Till next time friends!
References: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/intermittent-fasting-guide#section4
This is your minnow next door,
@asbonclz
I have never been on a diet, or a strict regime when it comes to food, but I have seen "Intermittent Fasting" being mentioned a few times here in steem so there might be a trend with this technique?
Do you think its worth it to give it a try?
Yes, IF is being so popular because there is not food restriction involved in it. The idea is just to fast for 16 hours so that your insulin level decreases. I would really suggest that you try it if you want to improve your health. But before that, please read the whole IF article in the reference, it will help you understand it more :)
It feels so good... but it is also quite challenging. The hardest part for me is the schedule -- sometimes I am spending 2 hours early in the day just cooking and cleaning, all within the first 8 hours of the day.
On the plus side, I have a ton of time in the evening. No food means there is an extra hour or so for other things. It's a good thing sometimes - video games, jam sessions, hanging out with the friends -- but on the other hand, I actually get bored sometimes and WISH I could make a nice meal. cuz cooking and eating is fun at the end of the day.
Overall I love intermittent fasting. It definitely takes a big adjustment is the only thing.
Yes I love IF too, makes big adjustments in my daily routine which I think is very good to me! Like what you said, no foods means extra hour for steemit hehehehe! Thanks for dropping by my blog mate :)
I have tried the Intermittent Fasting process as well. I did good for about two weeks.
It isn't bad after the first week but once I start cheating on the fast days then that was all she wrote.
Not eating for 12 hours is probably the best I can do but just having one meal within that 12 hour period wouldn't seem that bad, would it? I didn't think so.
But one hour leads into another because the body wants and expects to be fed.
Maybe I don't have enough willpower. How do you think you will cope with this diet?
Having one meal in the 12 hour period would negate the whole thing unfortunately. You have to fast for at least 12 hours, and preferably closer to 16. That means nothing but water -- not even coffee or unsweetened tea.
Not for the light-hearted :-P but it does feel great to do.
The primary idea of intermittent fasting is to lower your insulin level by not eating. Therefore if you want results of it then consider what @heymattsokol said, try fasting for at least 12 hours and then gradually increase it to 16 hours :)
How does intermitted fasting affect you if you're trying to remain in ketosis?
I'm sorry I could not answer your question, that's so technical.
I'm an advocate of intermittent fasting too! I tend to be more hungry if I don't fast and then eat SO MUCH throughout the day. Intermittent fasting has helped me maintain a healthy weight as well and I seem more productive and happy. I love Sundays for this, once I get over the initial hunger around lunch I feel very at ease, and it makes cleaning and organizing for the week a nice activity. I wake up Monday feeling both energized and hungry! Fasting is my favorite natural "reset"
Yes I am starting to enjoy fasting rather than struggling :)
I am worried about how our body is supposed to face the demands, put another way as I will spend 12 or 24 hours without eating when I have a demanding job both physically and cognitively most likely to end unattended in the emergency room . Only if you are at home sleeping this could be a good idea
Yes of course, you don't need to fast if you have a physically demanding job :)