Intermittent Fasting For Dummies - Anna’s Archive (2024)

FAQs

What is the trick to intermittent fasting? ›

The easiest way to do the 12-hour fast is to include the period of sleep in the fasting window. For example, a person could choose to fast between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. They would need to finish their dinner before 7 p.m. and wait until 7 a.m. to eat breakfast but would be asleep for much of the time in between.

If you consistently stay active while following intermittent fasting, you can lose as much as 6-8 pounds per month. This estimation is shockingly high when you consider that all you have to do is not eat for select hours throughout the day.

A good option for beginners, then, is to fast for a set number of hours each day. This option allows you to start with fasting for around 12 hours a day, most of which you will be asleep. After you get more comfortable with 12-hour fasts, you can slowly lengthen the time of the fast.

Adding a small amount of lemon to water is unlikely to break a fast, as it contains minimal calories. However, it's important to use lemon sparingly to avoid consuming too many calories that could potentially disrupt the fasting state.

Weinandy says that results are usually apparent around the 10-week mark, adding that she sees an average weight loss of seven to 10 pounds over that period through any of the three approaches to intermittent fasting mentioned previously. It might take longer than that since everyone's metabolism works differently.

A 2023 review of research found that the 16/8 method and 16/8 combined with restricting calories were effective strategies for weight control in adults with overweight or obesity. An eating window starting before noon led to greater weight loss than one that began after noon.

Start your fast correctly: The best way is to have a low-carb meal, with healthy fats and high-quality protein. This allows your body to activate satiety hormones that have long-term effects and mean you won't experience hunger for a long time.

What is the first meal of the day for intermittent fasting? ›

You can start intermittent fasting by skipping breakfast, having your first meal in the afternoon (about 12 p.m.), and eating your last meal before 8 p.m. Intermittent fasting is a popular type of eating plan that involves fasting for a period of time between eating periods.

It's best to limit ultra-processed foods like packaged snacks, deep-fried items, sugary drinks, and most frozen meals. These negate the positive effects of 16/8 intermittent fasting. To begin 16/8 intermittent fasting, choose an 8-hour window and limit your food intake to that time span.

It's not a diet, so unless you have individual dietary restrictions, you can eat whatever you want within the eight-hour time frame. But the plan will work best for weight loss if you are already making smart, nutrient-rich choices, said NBC News health and nutrition editor Madelyn Fernstrom, Ph.

If you've tried intermittent fasting but aren't losing weight, possible reasons why include overeating during your eating window and poor food choices. To help, you can try eating fewer calories, work on balancing your meals, or create a smaller or larger eating window.

The 16/8 method is popular because most people already fast while they sleep, so it is convenient to extend the overnight fast by simply skipping breakfast and having an early lunch. You have your first meal at 11 a.m. and your last meal at 7 p.m. (or 12 p.m. and 8 p.m., respectively).

The idea behind intermittent fasting is that by restricting food, our bodies will more quickly and efficiently tap our fat stores for energy. While glucose from carbohydrates is our most direct fuel source, we burn fat for energy when glucose isn't available. This happens even more during times of food deprivation.

That study's results showed that reducing the number of large meals or eating more small meals may be associated with minimizing weight gain or even with weight loss over time. Another intermittent fasting plan, known as the 5:2 approach, involves eating regularly five days a week.