Getting started, I only wanted to understand what intermittent fasting entailed and how it could improve my health. I might have struggled along the way, but I managed to push for at most three months. My journey started when a nutritionist prescribed intermittent fasting for three months. I had my reservations at the time, but the possibility of rising above the health problems I struggled with was all the motivation I needed. And so I decided to self-experiment and gave it a try. The rest is history, and here is what a month of intermittent fasting has taught me.
Intermittent Fasting is Sustainable
When I learnt that I had to give intermittent fasting a try, the first thought that came to mind was, “this is not going to last a week.” Several factors that made me view intermittent fasting as an unattainable feat. For instance, I had to wait until noon before I could lay my hands on the first meal of the day, especially because this time I would not take my morning coffee.
I had my struggles. But once my body realized that this was the new norm, my cravings for food in the morning subsided. I can now affirm that this has helped me learn the importance of listening to my body and not just food cravings. Some people might take herbal morning tea that are suitable for intermittent fasting. Best teas for intermittent fasting could be green tea, chamomile, ginger lemon, and a few more to promote increased energy level, better sleep pattern, and reduced body fat.
Intermittent Fasting Simplifies Life
Before I started practicing intermittent fasting, I always found myself thinking about which foods to buy. The need to always have ready food often interfered with my workout routines, and my health suffered. Nowadays, after having a single meal, I find it easy thinking about other important things – without obsessing on what to eat. Intermittent fasting has simplified my life. It has also taught me that overeating was only complicating my life, considering that I had to make a lot more decisions than I do today.
Intermittent Fasting Aids in Weight Loss
My early days of fasting saw me lose a few ounces. This trend continued for a while. The moment I incorporated some high-intensity interval training (HIIT), I lost weight even faster, which is undoubtedly encouraging. I started with rapid 2-minute sprints and skipping and continued pushing harder as I got used to the new norm.
Intermittent fasting and exercising create a calorie deficit, which results in weight loss. The fasting plays the role of reducing calorie uptake while working out forces the body to turn to its fat reserves for energy.
Intermittent Fasting Improves Discipline
Fasting meant that I had to stay without food up to 1 pm. Trust me; it was not easy. However, the commitment to making myself healthier has seen me get better on other aspects of my life. For instance, I now find it easy to remain committed to eating healthy foods, sleeping early, and reading more. When I used to take breakfast in the morning, my energy levels declined, leaving me feeling lethargic. Skipping breakfast allows me to work when my energy levels are at their peak.
It Should Fit Your Lifestyle
Well, before completing the thirty days, I never said that I had tried intermittent fasting before without success. I soon came to realize that intermittent fasting did not just suit my life at that time. With different intermittent fasting approaches such a the 16/8 and the Warrior Diet, which have a fasting window of 16 and 20 hours respectively, I soon realized that the warrior diet was not for me. The 16/8 method gave me a lot more flexibility, and I started making it to fit my lifestyle.
