About Intermittent Fasting (IF)
Fasting has become popular for weight loss due to its effectiveness, flexibility and lifestyle adaptability.
You will often hear people talk about Intermittent Fasting (IF) which refers to an eating pattern that cycles between periods of fasting and eating.
At the F word we’ve seen incredible results from following a fasting program with our own eyes. There are a number of ways to approach fasting, and they each vary in the amount you can eat.
The different types of fasting
There are a number of choices when it comes to fasting approaches as fasting can mean a restricted time period, a restricted calorie intake or absolutely no food at all.
Restricted eating windows
Some fasting methods limit the times in which you are allowed to eat. For example the 16:8 gives you an 8 hour window to eat eg 11am - 7pm. This can be effective as it cuts out one meal and restricts late night eating and snacking.
Restricted calories
Other fasting methods incorporate restricted calorie ‘fasting’ days (500-600cal) each week. The 5:2 suggests two fasting days and 5 normal eating days, while alternate day fasting suggests fasting days are alternated with usual eating.
Zero calories
Some fasting methods incorporate one or two complete fasting days each week. As zero calories are consumed on these days, fluids are incredibly important for this type of fasting.
Creating a calorie deficit
All of these fasting approaches can help weight loss as long as your overall calorie intake is reduced. Squeezing your usual amount of food into a shorter time period won’t result in loss of body weight!
There’s a few things to consider when it comes to fasting.
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You should eat healthily on non-fasting days. You can lose weight using the fasting approach as long as you don't compensate by over consuming during the non-fasting days.
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Quality counts. It’s not just about eating less on fasting days! It's also about choosing foods that nourish your body, within those calorie limits.
Fasting is not only an extremely effective way to lose weight. There’s other benefits too- you’ll notice your skin is clear, your mind is sharp, and your energy is amazing. Fasting however can be tough when you begin because you get hungry and then hangry and that never ends well.
The F Word drops can help support your hunger so you can breeze through those fasting days and enjoy the success of the fasting approach.