There is a saying that
there is nothing new under the sun. This includes fasting, also known as going
without food for a period of time. You may or may not be familiar with the
concept.
Some people know only about fasting as a religious thing. Many
different religions use fasting as a devotional and a way to get closer to
their faith. However recent science and weight loss research has shown much
promise in utilizing fasting techniques in both losing weight and maintaining a
healthy weight.
Fasting to lose weight may
seem crazy and even counter-intuitive at first. All of the conventional
messages about dropping weight are about reducing calories right? But the way
you go about it is can make all the difference in the world. Conventional
wisdom is to calorie restrict through a regimented program of counting
calories, tracking them, and making sure at the end of the day that you had
less calories go into your body than you burned. In other words you want a net
loss of calories to lose weight. Depending on the program you subscribe to,
this can mean straight up counting calories or a convoluted system of points.
For a lot of people this is just setting themselves up for failure. There is
too much to remember, too many details in logging all of your food.
It's challenging to remember
to track your daily food let alone look up the exact calorie count for
everything you put in your mouth. This is especially true if you like to eat a
varied diet (which most nutritionists suggest). Every meal you are forced to
figure out the calorie count which can be especially challenging if you cook
your own meals or eat out somewhere that doesn't have a handy calorie count.
Now imagine instead you
pick one or two days per week to have an intermittent fast. These designated
fasting days have a clear start and stop time. You will be staying fully
hydrated, but not eating little to nothing during this time. This much simpler
solution, can drastically cut your calories for the week in the same if not
better manner than a strict daily, calorie count.
You can create the same net
negative on calories, which is the key to weight loss, but in a much easier
way. Think of a fast as giving your body a break from eating and therefore
calories.
Now before you start a
fast, please do your research and consult with your health care professional
for specific guidance on your weight loss plan. That being said intermittent
fasting can be an attractive option for weight loss and maintenance based on it
results and sheer simplicity.
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