Intermittent Fasting and Weight Loss

Fasting is a word that typically elicits groans. We get it. But hear us out. Intermittent fasting is short-term and painless. And the 8 hours you’re sleeping count! Plus, intermittent fasting and weight loss make a great team.

Intermittent fasters have gotten creative with the particulars, but here are the 3 most popular ways to conduct an intermittent fast.

1. Skip breakfast and only eat during an 8-hour window, such as 11-7 pm. Try it out every day for a week and see how you feel!
2. Engage in a 24-hour fast 1-2 times a week. So, you can stop eating at 7 pm on Tuesday and fast until 7 pm on Wednesday.
3. Reduce calorie intake to about 600 calories 2 times a week.

The important thing is to not go crazy with the calories during your “eating” hours. Eat healthfully and conscientiously to reap the benefits of intermittent fasting and weight loss.

Here’s What Happens to Your Metabolism During Intermittent Fasting

1. Your insulin levels drop way down, which boosts fat burning.
2. Your human growth hormone (HGH) levels shoot way up, which stimulates muscle building and fat loss.
3. Your nervous system directs norepinephrine to your fat cells to turn body fat into free fatty acids to be used for energy.

Of course, there is also the obvious way intermittent fasting helps with weight loss—you eat fewer calories when you incorporate these short-term fasts into your weight loss regimen!

Let’s see what science says: A 2014 study published in Translational Research showed that intermittent fasting (IF) reduced body weight by as much as 8% and helped slim down waist circumference up to 7%. The researchers concluded that intermittent fasting showed “promise” for “weight loss and type 2 diabetes risk reduction.”

What have you got to lose but inches off your waistline? Give intermittent fasting a try, and let us know how it goes!