Food

Are you considering adopting intermittent fasting (IF) as a lifestyle? What are some things you should keep in mind when beginning your transition to the IF feeding schedule? Transitioning to intermittent fasting (IF) is a big step, especially if you’re used to following the standard three-meal feeding approach. According to Gin Stephens, the author of Fast. Feast. Repeat., the key to successfully transitioning to the IF lifestyle is to adapt your body to the IF feeding over a four-week period. Keep reading to learn how to start fasting by committing to a four-week adaptation period.

How does fasting induce fat loss? What are the benefits of intermittent fasting apart from weight loss? In the fasted state, your body converts your fat stores into ketones, a fat-based energy source. Put another way, you burn your fat as fuel (a state called ketosis). In addition to fat loss, intermittent fasting has other health benefits. Keep reading to learn about the health benefits of intermittent fasting.

What is the best intermittent fasting schedule? How should you time your fasts for maximum effectiveness? There are many things to factor in when deciding on which fasting schedule suits you best: your lifestyle, work schedule, how long you can go without food, etc. As a starting point, you may want to begin with time-restricted eating (TRE) and move to a more advanced alternate-day fasting (ADF) schedule once your body has acclimated to extended periods of not eating. Here’s how to time your fasting cycles using the TRE and the ADF approaches.

Do any diets actually work? Why does food- or calorie-restrictive dieting not work in the long term? According to Gin Stephens, the author of Fast. Feast. Repeat., dieting for weight loss doesn’t work in the long term. However, decades of contradictory advice about how and what to eat for weight loss has created immense confusion, a tangle that she calls “diet brain”: When you no longer have any clue how to eat “properly.”  Here’s why dieting doesn’t work in the long term, according to Stephens.

What is time-restricted eating (TRE)? How does TRE compare to normal eating in terms of weight loss? Time-restricted eating is a way of dieting where you fast for most of the day (and night) and feast for a few hours. Scientists are on the fence with regards to whether time-restricted eating benefits weight loss. Some studies found that TRE has a significant effect on weight loss, while others found that it doesn’t make much difference compared to normal meal taking. All in all, it seems to depend on how long you spend in the fasted state. Keep reading to learn

Do you experience extreme hunger pangs when fasting? How long does it take for hunger to dissipate? It’s normal to experience constant hunger during fasting, especially in the beginning stages. As your body gets used to going without food for extended periods, you’ll begin to tune back in with your natural appetite signals. However, getting there will take time—in most people, these signals have been messed up by constant feeding. While your body is adjusting, learning to eat intuitively will help keep hunger at bay. Here are some tips on how to control hunger during fasting.

What are the benefits of alternate-day fasting? How often should you alternate between fasting and eating normally? Alternate-day fasting (ADF) has been shown to promote weight loss and improve overall health. There are several alternate-day fasting schedules, including 5:2, 4:3, and “True ADF,” which means alternating up-and-down nonstop. Keep reading to learn about the benefits of alternate-day fasting and how to time your ADF for maximum effectiveness.