Discover How the Habit of Intermittent Fasting Accelerates Weight Loss
There’s a common misconception that intermittent fasting automatically leads to rapid weight loss. If you’ve heard of intermittent fasting (IF), you’d know that it’s a practice where you have a fasting window and an eating window.
The eating window can be anywhere from 4 to 8 hours long. During this period, you’ll consume your calories for the day. Once your eating window is over, you’ll NOT consume any food until your eating window starts the next day.
That’s IF in a nutshell. While the times and durations may vary, ultimately the concept is the same. You eat for a while, stop… and begin eating for a while the next day.
However, it’s crucial to remember that even with intermittent fasting, you MUST be at a daily caloric deficit to see weight loss. Gorging on whatever you feel like eating while on IF will still lead to weight gain if you’re at a caloric surplus.
So, bear this fundamental principle in mind. IF is not a crutch to support mindless eating. That said, there are a few wonderful benefits that come with intermittent fasting.
* Improves your relationship with food
It may take you anywhere from 2 to 3 weeks to get fully used to IF. Once you are accustomed to it, you’ll discover that you no longer constantly think about eating. You also won’t eat out of boredom.
Since you’re restrained by the eating and fasting window, you’ll be more mindful of when and what you eat. Very often, people have a poor relationship with food and treat is as therapy instead of fuel.
This leads to weight gain and the constant need to eat just to stay occupied or feel good. Intermittent fasting will correct this problem.
* Curbs constant hunger
You’ll also notice that after your body adapts, it will only start feeling hungry as you get close to your eating window. If your eating window is 6 hours long, that means for most of the day, you’ll not be hungry until it’s time for you to eat.
This is far better than those who eat 3 meals spaced out over 12 hours. They’ll often feel hungry or lethargic (after meals) because of their fluctuating blood glucose levels. Intermittent fasting eliminates this problem.
* Prevents cravings
Your sugar cravings will slowly disappear because your blood sugar levels will stabilize. Your insulin sensitivity will increase too. This will mean that you have fewer cravings and over time, you’ll not consume as much sugar.
This will lead to increased weight loss… and you’ll also not have the mental and emotional battle that arises from fighting your strong cravings for sweet foods.
* Sustainable in the long run
Intermittent fasting is a safe practice that can be done for life. Unlike fad diets such as the Atkins diet, etc. there’s no restriction with IF. You still consume your calorie requirements for the day… but you’ll just be doing it in a shorter eating window.
So, you’ll not be starving or have nutrient deficiencies. You’re just eating in a more efficient way.
* Helps keep you in a caloric deficit
Once you practice intermittent fasting, you’ll discover that your appetite is curbed and you’ll naturally consume less food. This will help you stay in a calorie deficit more often and once you do this, it’s inevitable for your weight to drop.
These benefits are too good to ignore if you’re trying to lose weight. Practice intermittent fasting and reap the benefits. It may take you a couple of weeks to get used to it, but it will be well worth the effort. Get started today.
