Introduction
The idea of intermittent fasting has been around for centuries, but it’s only recently that it’s become popular. Intermittent fasting is an eating schedule which alternates between fasting and eating. It doesn’t change what you eat, it changes when you eat. There are several different ways but the most popular method involves daily 16 hour fasts
What is Intermittent Fasting?
Intermittent fasting is an eating schedule which alternates between fasting and eating. It doesn’t change what you eat, it changes when you eat.
It’s not a diet, it’s a lifestyle change.
There are several different ways but the most popular method involves daily 16 hour fasts.
Fasting is not a diet, it’s an eating pattern. Some people choose to fast every day, while others do it once or twice per week. If you’re just starting out with intermittent fasting, try doing it for 16 hours each day and see how your body reacts.
You can also increase your fasting period by skipping meals on non-fasting days so that you don’t feel hungry all the time (this may be easier after some practice).
The other 8 hours is your “feeding window.” Some people choose to fast a full 24 hours, 2-3 times per week, and only eat within a 4-6 hour feeding window each day. Others may opt for a more flexible schedule that includes 16 or 18 hour windows with shorter fasting periods separated by larger eating windows.
It’s important to note that while the length of your fast should be determined by your personal preferences and goals (such as weight loss or improved health), there are some general guidelines:
- You should not consume any calories after 11 PM on non-consecutive days in order to stay within ketosis and maximize fat burning.
- Fasting can be done once per day or twice per week—it depends on whether you want to lose weight quickly or slowly; if it’s too hard on your body then consider doing it only once per week instead!
History of Fasting
Fasting has been around for centuries and many cultures still practice it today. Today, it’s being studied to help treat and prevent certain diseases like cancer, diabetes and Alzheimer’s.
Fasting isn’t a new concept, but the science behind its benefits has changed dramatically in recent years. In fact, fasting is one of the most common practices in many religions—and even some mainstream religions are incorporating intermittent fasting into their practices!
In theory, intermittent fasting helps with weight loss because it prevents spikes in insulin which trigger hunger all day long.
Insulin is a hormone that helps to regulate blood sugar levels and helps store fat in the body. When you eat, insulin levels go up; when you fast, they go down—this can help with weight loss by keeping your metabolism high enough to burn through calories without storing too much fat or gaining any lean muscle mass.
Intermittent fasting also boosts metabolism by 3.6-14% (for men) . This causes you to burn more calories than if you just ate three meals a day without fasting.
If you want to lose weight, it’s important to know your basal metabolic rate (BMR). Your BMR is the number of calories your body burns every day just by being alive. To calculate your BMR:
- Multiply your weight in pounds by 767
- This will give you the number of calories (kcal) that are burned by resting muscles during sleep and other activities that don’t require movement.
Next, multiply this number by .8 for men or .6 for women. This will give you an idea of how many calories do not need to be burned because they have been stored as fat reserves in muscle tissue and organs such as heart and liver etcetera.. Finally add up all these numbers together then divide them by 24 hours so that we get our total daily energy needs which we call basal metabolic rate or BMR
When you fast for long periods of time, your body relies on fats for fuel and some studies suggest this process activates “anti-aging” genes that can help protect against cancer, heart disease and Alzheimer’s.
Fasting is not a new concept. The ancient Egyptians fasted for weeks at a time and the Buddha was known to meditate for three days without food or water.
There are many benefits of fasting on the body, including weight loss and boosting metabolism, which helps treat and prevent diseases like cancer, diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease.
Conclusion
Intermittent fasting has a lot of benefits and has been used by many cultures for centuries. It may be time to try it out for yourself. The biggest thing to keep in mind when experimenting with intermittent fasting is that you should always consult your doctor before starting any type of diet or exercise program.
