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Intermittent fasting is a practice I adopted a few months ago. I have experienced some benefits already from just fasting 24 hours. After reading The Complete Guide to Fasting by Dr. Jason Fung and Jimmy Moore I realize there are a number of other benefits that I was not even aware of. (This post contains affiliate links from which I will benefit if you purchase through them.)
The Complete Guide to Fasting is just what it sounds like, a very comprehensive guide that covers all questions relating to the practice of fasting. I was able to read it over a couple of weeks and found it really easy to read and pertinent to the topic.
I was first exposed to the idea of fasting from Dr. Fung’s book The Obesity Code. I was able to glean enough from that book to get started with a 24 hour fast weekly and some 16 hour fasts on some other days. The rest of what I needed to know is in this book.
Weight loss
My biggest benefit is that I have lost weight….easily. Since I added intermittent fasting to an over all low carb, high fat diet I have lost 30 lbs for a total of a 40 lb weight loss in 9 months. As you can imagine, I am thrilled about that. I have found fasting to be simple and easier to implement than complicated diets. I just don’t eat for awhile in the morning, skipping breakfast and sometimes lunch some days in the week. I don’t fast every day of the week, just 2-3 days usually.
Free and simple
It is also free because I don’t have to pay for food for that meal. And since the low carb, high fat diet is more expensive than just a regular whole foods diet we are spending more money on food than we used to. And in addition it is very simple and convenient because I don’t have to figure out what to eat for that meal.
Insulin resistance
My blood sugar has lowered because it is breaking the insulin resistance that has been with me for some years now. With insulin resistance, the cells are no longer sensitive to insulin (which normally works to move glucose into the cells) and so the body produces more and prevents the body from burning fat for energy. Fasting lowers insulin levels and stabilizes metabolism.
I have read many stories of situations where fasting combined with a low carb, high fat diet has resulted in the reversal of type 2 diabetes and often the person getting off medication. I offer a targeted health coaching option that will help you focus on your own life and habits to prevent and reverse diabetes.
Memory improvement
Another significant benefit of fasting is that it can benefit your brain and help your body stay young longer. Memory improves with calorie reduction and lower insulin levels. Our bodies are constantly replacing cells that have reached a certain age. Increased levels of sugar, insulin, and protein can also interfere with the process of this cell replacement. Fasting can help the body to clear out the old and damaged cells and then restore with new replacement cells.
Gut Health
Intermittent fasting gives your gut microbes a break from their hard work, so they can focus on cleaning up their populations and increase their diversity. This will boost your overall health and resist your body’s resistance to the detrimental bacteria.
I encourage you to read this important book and to begin intermittent fasting unless you are in the category of those who should not be fasting. To see who should and who should not fast, go here.
Please share this blog post with those who are struggling with these issues that they may benefit as well.
Join me in my next 10 day Intermittent Fasting Challenge.
Hello,
I find when fasting…when I return to eating the weight returns. Will this eventually even out and the weight stay off?
Thsnk you!
In my limited experience I have to continue to be faithful in fasting at least 1 day/week and I have to eat low carb high fat when I do eat. If I would eat a normal whole foods diet I think I would put the weight back as well>
Do you feel the method that you use is better than doing a 16 hour fast each day (so basically skipping breakfast)? I haven’t read that book just yet.
Fasting everyday a 16 hour or 18 hour fast can also work. I personally think switching things up a bit is good for our bodies as it is harder to get into a rut and settle into a certain metabolism. That said, if fasting every day for 16 hours is what is needed to keep you on track, then go for it.
I also enjoy eating breakfast with my family some days, so this works for my lifestyle.
What I love most about IF, is how flexible it is and how well it works for different people as they apply it to their own lives.