Intermittent fasting has been around for a long time, but it became massively popular in 2020 and 2021. It's 2022 now, and this health trend still going strong! And the truth is that if you're looking to lose weight and feel great, intermittent fasting might actually be the answer for you.
So, what is intermittent fasting? It is an eating pattern (and NOT a diet) that involves periods of fasting and eating which reduce the intake of calories (allowing for a calorie deficit) and boost metabolism. Essentially, it focuses on time — when exactly you eat food and when you don't (in a day). It helps with weight loss, improves mental clarity, and even combats eczema, according to scientific and anecdotal evidence. Sounds fantastic, doesn't it?
Now, we're all about finding healthy but smart ways to become fit, so let's take a look at how intermittent fasting can help you lose weight and feel great.
Intermittent fasting reduces calorie intake
How does intermittent fasting help with weight loss? Well, you're reducing your calorie intake because you're not eating as often. And when you do eat, you're likely to feel fuller for longer because you've given your body time to digest the food properly. When intermittent fasting, you can still eat the same amount of food as you would normally, just in a smaller window of time.
So, for example, if you're used to eating three meals a day, intermittent fasting would involve eating those meals within an 8-hour window and fasting for the remaining 16 hours.
It's important to note that intermittent fasting is not about starving yourself — it's about reducing your calorie intake by changing when you eat. Plus, you still have to eat healthy! Additionally, don't overeat just because you have a smaller window for eating.
Pro Tip: During your fasting hours, you can have water, black coffee, and green tea (without sugar or honey). Try to go for drinks that are rich in antioxidants, because they help reduce inflammation. So, it's a good idea to skip that morning cup of coffee (unfortunately, caffeine isn't that great for you!) and instead have our refreshing and oh-so-popular Tropic Tone Up blend once you're in your eating window.
Intermittent fasting helps you burn fat
When you intermittent fast, you're essentially giving your body a break from digesting food. This allows your body to focus on other things, like burning fat and repairing cells.
Intermittent fasting also helps to boost your metabolism. When you fast, your body is forced to use stored energy (in the form of fat) for fuel, which means you're burning more calories. Research has shown that intermittent fasting can help you burn visceral fat — that's right, you can finally get ready for a flatter tummy!
Pro Tip: Our well-loved 28 Day Teatox can help you on your intermittent fasting journey. Not only does it help boost metabolism and maximize weight loss results, but it also aids in digestion and helps reduce bloating.
Intermittent fasting helps you avoid overeating and constant snacking
If you're always snacking (we get it, that snack belly is a fiend and needs to be busted!), it's hard to lose weight. But intermittent fasting can help you break that cycle by teaching you to control your hunger.
See, when you're hungry, your body is releasing a hormone called ghrelin. Ghrelin tells your brain that it's time to eat and increases your appetite. But when you intermittent fast, you train your body to control ghrelin and resist the urge to snack. In other words, intermittent fasting helps you avoid overeating and constant snacking.
Pro Tip: If you tend to snack a lot, try out our Super Fat Burning Gummies that contain healthy and effective fat burning ingredients which curb your unhealthy cravings and help you reduce your overall calorie intake.
Intermittent fasting can reduce bloating
We all know that feeling when you're bloated AF and nothing seems to fit. Ugh, the worst. But intermittent fasting can actually help reduce bloating!
How? Well, when you intermittent fast, you're giving your digestive system a break. This means that your body isn't working overtime to digest food, and as a result, you're less likely to feel bloated. Plus, in intermittent fasting, you tend to eat quite a few hours before bedtime, so your body has time to digest the food before you hit the hay.
Pro Tip: Have a cup of our Night Cleanse blend a few hours before bedtime to reduce bloating, detox the body, and sleep better!
Types of intermittent fasting
There are many different types of intermittent fasting, but the most popular ones are:
-The 16/8 fast: This is probably the most doable form of intermittent fasting for beginners. It involves fasting for 16 hours and eating only during an 8-hour window. For example, you could eat from noon to 8 pm, and then fast overnight (when you're asleep and for a little while after you wake up). The best part is that you'll spend half your fasting time sleeping!
-The 20/4 fast: This intermittent fasting method is a bit more restrictive, as you're only allowed to eat for 4 hours out of the day (and this is usually at night). The rest of the time (20 hours, or most of the day) is spent fasting. Some people also call this the "warrior diet."
-The 5:2 diet: This intermittent fasting plan involves eating normally for 5 days out of the week, and then eating only 500-600 calories for 2 days out of the week.
We recommend following the 16/8 fast, as it's the most gentle intermittent fasting method. From there, you can experiment with the other methods to see what works best for you.
Make sure you're drinking plenty of water and eating healthy foods when you do eat. Intermittent fasting is not an excuse to eat junk food! Plus, intermittent fasting absolutely does not mean starving yourself.
Do not try or continue intermittent fasting if you don't feel comfortable with it and always ask your doctor before committing to it. This is because fasting is not a good idea for those with certain medical conditions. If intermittent fasting doesn't suit you, don't fret. You can always try something else — such as a keto diet, a detoxing diet, or even just a disciplined diet full of superfoods!
Main Takeaway
Intermittent fasting is a great way to lose weight and feel great. It can help you burn fat, control your tendency to snack constantly, reduce bloating, and more. But babes, please remember that it's actually important to eat healthy food and not starve yourself at all!
There are many different types of intermittent fasting, but the most popular ones are the 16/8 fast, the 20/4 fast, and the 5:2 diet. It's also a good idea to have refreshing detox teas that boost metabolism, curb unhealthy cravings, and encourage fat burning — these will truly maximize the results of your intermittent fasting!