What is intermittent fasting? Intermittent Fasting is a way of eating to shed unwanted pounds, particularly as a means to shed pounds quickly and naturally. During these fasts, you may eat anything that you want but can only drink liquids that are water or juice. The intermittent fasting diet has been around for years.
What is intermittent fasting? Intermittent Fasting, sometimes called intermittent energy restriction, is a broad umbrella phrase for different eating schedules which cycle between restrictive and no-restrictive consumption over an extended period of time. Many methods of intermittent fasting fall into this category. Common methods of intermittent fasting often include alternating day fasting, alternating week fasting and/or periodic fasting, and daily time-restricted feeding. These methods often support weight loss by restricting calories, increasing the body's fat-burning ability, and increasing physical activity.
How can you go from a strict food intake plan to an eating plan where you are only eating fruit juice for five days? This process is called "intermittent fasting." Fasting for five days is not uncommon. There have even been people who have been fasting for weeks and only eating vegetables and leafy greens.
What about alternating eating days? Intermittent Fasting, when your eating patterns alternate from one day to another, allows your body to experience the same results as if you were consistently eating your regular meals all week long. However, your intake of calories will be significantly smaller each day. That means that you will burn fewer calories and keep off the extra fat. Also, with alternate-day fasting diets, your metabolism will be raised and it will work better in burning those extra calories that cause weight gain.
Many believe that fasting for only five days is too short a time frame. Some even choose to fast for 24 hours! Many believe that you need a period of at least one week to experience the positive benefits of Intermittent Fasting.
The fact is, many people do lose weight and some people do not lose weight. Fasting for five days or longer may not be effective for everyone. In fact, many experts agree that fasting for longer than a week is not healthy for health. You should always aim to eat healthier and to exercise more. Alternate day fasting schedules can help you do both.
What about the health benefits? There have been many studies on the effects of Intermittent Fasting on health. Most of these conclude that there are some health benefits such as increased muscle mass, improved digestion, enhanced immunity, increased energy levels, and better brain function. Some experts even claim that you may not even feel hungry during your fast.
If you can stick to the diet, what could be better? Even if you don't shed any weight, you will not gain weight. Since you are not eating, you are metabolism stays high, which helps you burn fat. That is one reason why many prefer to do modified fasting days two days per week instead of following a strict eating plan like calorie restriction and eating one meal a day.
What about Intermittent Fasting and time-restricted fasting? If you cannot spare four hours in a day for eating, it is time-restricted fasting. It also results in weight loss because of increased body metabolism. So if you are trying to lose a few pounds, try Intermittent Fasting instead of a time-restricted diet five days a week.
What if I can't spare four hours in a day? Of course, if you do not like to starve yourself, then you will find other alternative-day fasting methods. Some people prefer to do water fasting, where they eat fewer calories by drinking only certain liquids, for example. There are many other methods available, such as alternate-day fasting, soul cleansing, and the master cleanses, which uses pure lemon juice to cleanse the system and eliminate toxins.
When should I start exercising? If you are trying to lose several pounds a week, then it is recommended to start exercising on alternate days. You could either start exercising in the morning or go for a walk in the evening before eating your meal. Another method that some people prefer is the timed exercise, where you eat several small meals and then take short jogs in the afternoon.
How long should I wait until I lose weight after Intermittent Fasting? After finishing intermittent fasting, you may experience rapid body fat loss. However, if you aim to lose more than ten pounds per week, you should continue your fast for one month. During the first two months of your alternate-day fasting diet, keep your body composition constant. As soon as you have lost more than eight pounds after two months, then you can resume regular eating.
