Planning to get on a weight loss journey in itself is a task, especially when you don't know where and how to begin. This is why it's said that following a dieting programme can encourage rapid weight loss.
Studies have it that intermittent fasting can help with weight loss, protects against diseases and also improves metabolic health. All of which can help a slimmer love longer.
Now, what exactly is intermittent fasting?
It is a pattern of eating where you cycle between periods of eating and fasting.
The reason why this particular method has become so famous is because intermittent fasting doesn't limit a slimmer to be selective with what food to eat but rather when to eat.
Most people already fast everyday when they sleep. Intermittent fasting can also be as simple as extending this particular fast for a longer time. A slimmer can do this by eating the first meal of the day directly at noon and the last meal latest by or before 8pm.
This way, a slimmer would be fasting for 16 hours each day as well as restricting the eating window to eight hours of the day. This is called the 16/8 method.
Although, what do the weight-loss experts think about this intermittent fasting?
“Intermittent fasting, which refers to the practice of eating significantly fewer calories for at least two days a week and then eating a balanced diet for the remaining days, was popularised by Dr Michael Mosley’s 5:2 diet back in 2012. But it’s come a long way since then, with research showing that intermittent fasting in many different ways not only results in weight loss but also has other significant health benefits,” said a LighterLife consultant.
The consultant also recommends you to choose specific days when you can fast and days when you don't. “Choose the days you fast and the days you don’t. On fasting days, swap some or all of your ordinary food for tasty and nutritious [options]. On all other days you eat normally. It’s deliciously simple,” says the consultant.
You can even swap the typical food choices with something that is healthier on the fasting days.
It is Dr Kelly Johnston who explains, “Almost a fifth of us lack the motivation to stick to a diet, so having a flexible approach for some people can make all the difference when you have excess weight to shift. By having four meals, pots, soups, bars, smoothies or shakes on your fasting days you’ll get all the quality protein, fibre, essential fats, vitamins and minerals you need without having to worry about cooking or Calorie counting.”
She even said, “Research shows that intermittent fasters were unable to compensate for the energy deficit incurred during the fasting. This means that, despite eating what they want, intermittent fasters generally don’t eat enough to make up for the number of calories they don’t consume during their fasting days.”