One of the first trending diets to only focus on the behavior around eating, rather than the nutrition content, is Intermittent Fasting. And while it can seem to be a complex food system to follow, it’s pretty simple, and most people just need intermittent fasting 101, the basics for this behavioral diet.
Macro counting, the ketogenic diet, the paleo diet, and a gluten-free diet are all trending diets for weight loss that focus on what or how much you eat. Intermittent fasting and intuitive eating are unique because they focus on behavior coaching. This includes when or why you eat. Some consider them to be better weight loss approaches because their methods are more practical, making them more sustainable for long-term weight management. Further, they’re less complicated. They don’t include math or nutritional science. Therefore, the average person is much more able to follow a diet like intermittent fasting than they are on a keto diet.
If you search Google, you’ll find hundreds of “intermittent fasting 101” articles. It’s become more mainstream as a dietary lifestyle and to control body weight or initiate weight loss. But if you’re new to the practice, you may be wondering how it works or if it’s safe. You also should know if there is a health benefit or how long you need to follow the regimen to see weight loss results.
Our intermittent fasting 101 guide breaks down the science of intermittent fasting and how to do it correctly so you can get the most out of this powerful dietary shift. The more you understand upfront, the more empowered you’ll be to make an informed decision about intermittent fasting as part of your body fat loss or nutrition plan.
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The goal of intermittent fasting is to keep your food intake to a specific period of time, not eating for a certain number of hours—or even days—in succession. For instance, the New England Journal of Medicine suggests that you might start by consuming one meal each day within a 6-hour period, then a fasting period for the remaining 18 hours.
Intermittent fasting teaches you to be mindful of when you eat. The human body functions on a natural circadian rhythm of 24-hour cycles that regulate both the intake and output of stored energy. Consistent intervals of feeding and fasting work with this circadian rhythm to ensure the body metabolizes nutrients in the most optimal time frame, explains the Cell Metabolism Journal.
In other words, intermittent fasting promotes balance and efficiency for your metabolism. When the body is at its peak energy state, a prolonged fast will not only burn off the calories from your last meal but will also convert existing stored fat into burnable energy.
Conversely, eating at numerous, frequent and irregular points in the day with no pattern of consistency can throw off circadian rhythms, suggests Cell Metabolism Journal. If that disruption becomes chronic, you can put yourself at an increased risk for metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, hypertension, inflammation, high cholesterol, or obesity.
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Intermittent fasting provides a wide range of health benefits that may be challenging to experience otherwise. While it’s often used as a way to moderate calories for weight loss, intermittent fasting can also lead to a host of other physical and cognitive benefits too.
According to the same research from the New England Journal of Medicine, this dietary lifestyle can:
The data goes on to reveal that some of these potential health outcomes are also influenced by other factors such as personal genetics. Meaning you may not experience all the benefits listed when you start intermittent fasting, but if done correctly—as is explained below—your health and well-being will significantly improve. Simply put, the research is showing that intermittent fasting can help prevent or reduce your risk of developing chronic disease.
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There are four main styles of intermittent fasting, and it can take some trial and error to determine which intermittent fasting method works best for you, explains Anna Taylor, registered dietitian at The Cleveland Clinic. This is not a “one-size-fits-all approach,” she continues, so experiment with the following techniques until you find what meets your intermittent fasting diet goals or preferences.
Eat your typical amount of food five days a week and switch your calorie intake to just 500 calories per day (fasting day) on the other two days. Make sure each fasting day is non-consecutive, and aim to portion out your 500 calorie allotment into one 200 calorie meal and one 300 calorie meal. Choose nutrient-dense foods during your eating period with fiber and protein, which will satiate you longer, eating fewer calories during the fasting period.
The goal of alternate-day fasting is to alternate between eating one day and fasting the next. Eat stop eat. On fasting days, eat about 25 percent of your regular food intake (not to exceed 500 calories) and resume your regular meals on non-fasting days. For a more rigorous approach, you can also choose not to eat on fasting days—just check with a doctor first to make sure this calorie restriction is a safe option for your health.
Eat within a certain window of time, then fast for the remaining hours left in the day. There are two common frameworks you can use to practice this method:
This method includes a restricted food intake and eating pattern entirely for a full 24 hours once or twice a week. On non-fasting days, eat your regular amount of food at standard intervals. Side-effects on fasting days can be painful or uncomfortable eating fewer meals until the body acclimates, including headaches, fatigue, irritable mood, or lack of energy, so this approach should be used while working with a health professional.
While there are clear benefits to intermittent fasting, this practice is not healthy or safe for everyone. Certain groups of people should not attempt this unless under clinical supervision, explains Christie Williams, a registered dietitian at Johns Hopkins Medicine. She recommends the following individuals refrain from intermittent fasting:
Whether you fall into one of these categories or not, it’s still a smart idea to talk about this with a health professional before starting. The goal is to create a sustainable, effective plan that aligns with your specific wellness needs.
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Intermittent fasting for weight loss may be the missing piece you’ve been looking for to take your healthy journey to the next level. Our intermittent fasting 101 guide is meant to inform and educate, but we ask that you always consult with a health professional before restricting food intake for any period of time. With the right support and tools, an intermittent fasting schedule could be the right lifestyle change for you.
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