Intermittent Fasting can be a useful part of an overall strategy for fat loss and health. But it can be hard work. So I want to share with you some of the tricks I’ve latched onto on my journey as I’ve used fasting as a tactic for weight loss and a tool in my approach to wellness.
In my opinion, the ideal method for Intermittent Fasting is the 24 hour Intermittent Fast recommended in Brad Pilon’s book, Eat-Stop-Eat. This approach renders the most flexibility of all the various methodologies. Other programs require fasting every day and eating only within certain daily periods (ex. intermittent fast for 16 hours and eat during six hours).
Brad has you begin your fast after one of your meals and simply not eating again until the same meal on the following day. This is an interesting variation on the theme of not eating for an entire day, which winds up being closer to a thirty-four hour fast.
The research revealed in Eat-Stop-Eat indicates an ideal window of 18 to 24 hours in which the bulk of the weight loss and wellness benefits are most impressive. So this plan seems to me to be the most effectiveof the lot.
If you take the time to read the book, you’ll know exactly what you need to do. But as I said at the outset, Intermittent Fasting can still be a challenge, especially when starting out. Hopefully these tips will help you acheive the IF success you are looking for.
Plan Ahead
Project into the future and envision how you’ll feel at when you break your fast. You will have shed fat and augmented your health. You’ll feel invigorated. And the best thing is, you will have accomplished something. Use that to strengthen your resolve while fasting. It gets easier as you do it more often, but in at the outset this trick can be a big help. Brad Pilon himself proffers some useful perspective on this point in an exclusive interview you can get as part of a wellness oriented package offered by the Better Is Better blog.
Don’t Be Obsessive About Fasting
If you are planning a fast and life gets in the way, or if you are totally famished and just can’t fathom going through with it, just put it off for another day. That is part of the advantage of the twenty-four hour Intermittent Fasting method. Also, even though you are shooting for 24 hour fasts, don’t get too hung up on it. At 18 hours, chances are you have already begun harvesting considerable benefits, so if you can only manage 20-22 hour fasts comfortably right now, then go with that.
Keep Moving
Sitting around doing nothing is about the best strategy possible if you’re looking to really feel your hunger and bring on some cravings! When you keep busy with work, projects and spending time with friends and family, your fast will fly by.
Don’t Finish Your Intermittent Fast At A Party
This is often tempting! You may reckon that you’ll “save up” your calories for the party, but it will blow up in your face and you’ll end up gorging yourself on everything in sight (especially if the food is buffet style). There’s nothing wrong with using Intermittent Fasting when you know you’ll be feasting later, but break your fast with a huge salad before you head to the party!
Throughout history, humans have naturally undergone periods of plenty and periods of fasting. The problem with our modern society is that the periods of reduced calories part of the puzzle has been taken away, and only the feasting remains. By being chronically in the fed state, we are going in opposition to our nature and encourageing both weight gain and a whole host of health consequences. Intermittent Fasting can be a great resource in attaining all of our health and fitness goals by rebalancing the cycles of feast and fast.