There would be times when a pre-requisite for weight loss would be to wade through a lot of information available from different sources. Well, it isn’t that bad to have proper information about weight loss, but the reality is a lot of the available information contradicts each other. Some say eat more, some say eat less, some say do cardio for about an hour a day, some say that cardio is not going to help you lose weight, and to make it more confusing – you have the juice diet, banana diet, the grapefruit diet and what not?
It is here that Intermittent Fasting comes in. It’s easy, simple, and flexible. You do not have to count carbs, no more being particular about what to eat and what not, just a few easy and simple rules to follow. Undoubtedly one of the finest ways to lose weight is through Intermittent Fasting.
What is Intermittent Fasting?
In simple words, it is about developing an ‘Eat-Stop-Eat’ cycle. It is all about eating your regular food for the first 16-18 hours, followed by a no food or fasting period for the next 16-18 hours, (drinking water is allowed during the ‘no eating period’) and finally repeating the same cycle.
What will happen if you follow this cycle?
If we look at our hunting ancestors, this was their natural way of eating. They would eat a huge meal after a hunt, followed by a period of ‘no food’ till they have their next catch again. In the ‘no food’ period, their body’s natural defense mechanism would prepare them for starvation, enhancing their metabolism to provide them with the energy and power they need to look for more food.
How is it so simple?
You don’t have to buy any special foods or follow any special regime. You continue cooking and eating the same foods that you have been till now. There are no complicated rules and processes to follow. It’s easy on your pocket as you do not have to buy any extra or special foods for it. It’s enjoyable and above all – you can stay on this type of lifestyle modification for the rest of your life and maintain your weight.
How can Intermittent Fasting help you with weight loss?
Intermittent fasting is much more natural than a simple eating routine that we follow in our everyday lives. Unlike those fad or crash diets that we hear about, Intermittent Fasting does not require you to sacrifice food or eating for days and weeks. It just takes those 16-18 hours window as an opportunity, after you have your last meal, to burn all the calories and make use of the body’s natural process to feed off on the fats stored inside when no food is available.
In conclusion, there are loads of health benefits of Intermittent Fasting, from reducing the risks of diabetes, cancers, and hypertension to detoxifying the body, restoring the natural balance of the body, improving longevity and of course, losing weight.