Intermittent fasting for weight loss became a very important trend through 2019 and it is expected to be central this year as well. As studies continue to examine this eating strategy, additional benefits are being regularly discovered.
Benefits of Intermittent Fasting for Weight Loss
Research examining intermittent fasting for weight loss has shown a spectrum of additional advantages. These have included everything from longevity to anti-aging benefits. Moreover, it also offers certain benefits in overall physical and mental health.
The majority of these benefits occur when you have kept them up over time. It’s not a matter of trying intermittent fasting for weight loss over a weekend. Instead, it is meant to be adopted as a lifestyle over the long term in order to gain the greatest benefits.
What is Intermittent Fasting?
Intermittent fasting for weight loss isn’t a single type of eating strategy. Instead, it’s a category that involves designating specific times during which very few – or no – calories are consumed. The body functions differently when it is fasting. The digestive system eases and the body uses the energy otherwise used for digestion in order to repair and restore its cells.
The body functions differently when it is fasting.
At the same time, new sources of energy are still needed in order to complete various basic functions. For that, the body fuels itself with stored fat. This helps to explain why it can be helpful as a component of an overall weight management effort.
Fasting is a natural function of the body which usually takes place while we sleep. Every night, we spend several hours without eating anything at all. Our bodies use what energy was left from the latest meal and then switch to stored fat to perform all its necessary functions.
Intermittent fasting for weight loss occurs when we take additional hours of waking fasting that the game changes even more.
How to Adopt This Type of Eating Strategy for Weight Loss
Creating a routine around intermittent fasting for weight loss isn’t difficult as it is rarely complex. The most important step is to speak with your doctor before you start. This may seem like a nuisance, but this type of diet is not safe for everyone. There are many physical and mental health issues that can be worsened or even triggered through regular fasting.
Assuming that this eating style is for you, your next step is to choose the type of routine that best suits your lifestyle and preference. Among the most common types of intermittent fasting for weight loss include:
- Restricting eating periods to 6, 8 or 10 hours per day, fasting for the rest of the time.
- Fasting for full 24-hour periods once or twice per week (though still drinking water).
- Using a 5:2 routine in which calories are restricted to about 500 every 2 to 3 days.
