There is a saying that there is nothing new under the sun.
This includes fasting, also known as going without food for a period of time.
You may or may not be familiar with the concept. Some people know only about
fasting as a religious thing. Many different religions use fasting as a
devotional and a way to get closer to their faith. However recent science and
weight loss research has shown much promise in utilizing fasting techniques in
both losing weight and maintaining a healthy weight.
Fasting to lose weight may seem crazy and even
counter-intuitive at first. All of the conventional messages about dropping
weight are about reducing calories right? But the way you go about it is can
make all the difference in the world. Conventional wisdom is to calorie
restrict through a regimented program of counting calories, tracking them, and
making sure at the end of the day that you had less calories go into your body
than you burned. In other words you want a net loss of calories to lose weight.
Depending on the program you subscribe to, this can mean straight up counting
calories or a convoluted system of points. For a lot of people this is just
setting themselves up for failure. There is too much to remember, too many
details in logging all of your food.
It's challenging to remember to track your daily food let
alone look up the exact calorie count for everything you put in your mouth.
This is especially true if you like to eat a varied diet (which most
nutritionists suggest). Every meal you are forced to figure out the calorie
count which can be especially challenging if you cook your own meals or eat out
somewhere that doesn't have a handy calorie count.
Now imagine instead you pick one or two days per week to
have an intermittent fast. These designated fasting days have a clear start and
stop time. You will be staying fully hydrated, but not eating little to nothing
during this time. This much simpler solution, can drastically cut your calories
for the week in the same if not better manner than a strict daily, calorie
count. You can create the same net negative on calories, which is the key to
weight loss, but in a much easier way. Think of a fast as giving your body a
break from eating and therefore calories.
Now before you start a fast, please do your research and
consult with your health care professional for specific guidance on your weight
loss plan. That being said intermittent fasting can be an attractive option for
weight loss and maintenance based on it results and sheer simplicity.
Rosa Crumpton, is a registered nurse, researcher, and
overall helpful coach. She loves to help people succeed in their healthy life
goals. Want to learn more about women's weight loss? Just download my free
guide, how 10 Best Resources for Women's Weight Loss Report:
http://rosacrumpton.com/ Like what you read? Get more articles at
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