Facts About Weight Loss

Intermittent Fasting (IF)

 

Intermittent Fasting, also called IF for short, is a way of eating that restircts when you eat. It has gotten a lot of attention lately as a way to become fit and lose weight. Some people eat this way every day, but some do it once or twice a week and still get benefits.

Of course this goes against much of what we have been told by the diet industry of the last several years which has preached that people should eat 5 or 6 small meals/snacks spread across the clock. The idea being that if you eat every three hours or so, you will not get hungry and your metabolism stays in high gear. Most research does not seem to back up this claim. For more on this idea read this page on How often to eat each day for weight loss.

 

IF generally means limiting your eating to a certain number of hours each day, for example from noon to 6 pm. There are several variations.

One approach is to fast 1 or 2 days a week. For example, every Wednesday can be a fasting day. Although called fast, it is IF so you are allowed 1 meal on those fasting days. With this approach, you are eating your 1 meal and then fasting for 24 hours until you resume your normal schedule (or continuing this one).

 

The other common approach is to keep a daily schedule of reduced hours as mentioned above. AN example would be to have a meal at noon and a second meal at 6 pm and then having 18 hours of fasting every day.

 

Instead of eating breakfast, you may allow yourself some coffee or coconut oil.

 

Of course you will want to eat healthy foods. If you are only eating twice a day, you don't want it to be junk food. One of the keys to success with this plan, is probably because it eliminates snacking which can be dangerous.

 

For a much more in-depth look at Intermittent Fasting and its benefits read the lIFe 101 by trainer Mike O'Donnell.