I have been following a keto lifestyle for nearly two years now and I can say I enjoy my food It took some getting used to but on the whole I lost weight I wanted to loose and have kept it off. I do give myself a half stone buffer so I can still enjoy the odd curry and shisha kebab.
But intermittent fasting is new for me. I needed something to focus me again and to add some restraint into my life (I had gotten rather weak willed). After nearly a whole bar of Almond nut chocolate from Aldi and hiding the rest from my husband I decided enough closet eating it’s a slippery slope to self loathing which I was already feeling.
My husband is great for any advice on food and diets what to avoid what to try and generally preparing all my meals, snacks and encouragement everyday (god this makes him sound great…errr he still leaves his pants on the floor!!). He is Mr no rule bending weak will in sight type of guy he says he’s going to do something and his brain can just switch off any cravings or desire for naughty food and he generally finds it ok. Me on the other hand can’t stop thinking and dreaming about the food groups Im missing out on and can be super moody..
So how is it done?
You basically fast (starve) for certain periods of time during the 24 hours. There are many different strategies on how to fast the 5:2 where you eat 500-600 calories twice a week, the warrior diet where you eat very little for 20 hours and nearly all your calories in 4hours (yuk) the eat stop eat where you eat nothing for 24 hours twice a week.
The reasons for doing this is a lifestyle change there are no food groups to avoid but if you do this with healthy choices the results are far quicker.
This was taken from a website here is the full article but this snippet shows you the benefits if you are a healthy individual, there isn’t any reason why you couldn’t try this.
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324882.php
How effective is intermittent fasting
Fasting has several effects on a person’s body. These effects include:
- Reducing levels of insulin, which makes it easier for the body to use stored fat.
- Lowering blood sugars, blood pressure, and inflammation levels.
- Changing the expression of certain genes, which helps the body protect itself from disease as well as promoting longevity.
- Dramatically increases human growth hormone, or HGH, which helps the body utilize body fat and grow muscle.
- The body activates a healing process doctors call autophagy, which essentially means that the body digests or recycles old or damaged cell components.
Fasting dates back to ancient humans who often went hours or days between meals as obtaining food was difficult. The human body adapted to this style of eating, allowing extended periods to pass between food intake times.
Intermittent fasting recreates this forced-fasting. When a person undertakes an intermittent fast for dietary proposes, it can be very effective for weight loss. In fact, according to one study, most people try intermittent fasting to help lose weight.
Other research backs up the claims that fasting can help a person lose weight. For example, a review of studies shows that many people who fast see a higher loss of visceral body fat and a similar to slightly less reduction in body weight compared with people who follow more traditional calorie reduction diets.
Research also shows fasting to be beneficial for the management of metabolic syndrome and diabetes, extending lifespan, protecting neuron function, and shows promise in those with digestive diseases.
Going back and seeing how our bodies would be used to some sort of fasting as food wasn’t always available I think is really interesting.
I think as a way of life this sounds pretty doable and on the days Im eating I will still keep to a keto orientated diet as it has suited me.
I’d be interested to know if anyone has tried this or is doing this or if you fancy joining me on this journey adding comments. Feel free to contact and email me.
info@naturaloutlook.co.uk