A lot of you guys know through Instagram Stories that for the last 5 months I’ve been doing intermittent fasting 5 days a week, Monday to Friday.
We’ve had so many experts come on the podcast & the blog & rave about intermittent fasting, so I decided to take matters into my own hands, try it myself & see how I responded to it.
This is just MY EXPERIENCE. Obviously consult your doctor if you’re thinking of starting intermittent fasting & do your own research. I don’t think intermittent fasting is for everyone. I think you should talk to a doctor before you start it. It can be very triggering for someone who has experienced an eating disorder. It can re-ignite former disorders & kick start new ones in some people so I really mean it when I say this is not blanketed advice for everyone.
A lot of you guys are asking me questions about it, but I didn’t want to talk about it until I actually tried it on myself for at least 4 months. So here we are.
Intermittent fasting was recommended by Dr. Steven Gundry who wrote The Plant Paradox, Vani Hari ( The Food Babe ), Ingrid de la Mare of The Method, & they all raved about the benefits.
Added energy! Better digestion! Weight loss! Improved concentration! Increased fat burning!
If you’re new to intermittent fasting, this is what it is: ( source )
Intermittent fasting is an eating pattern where you cycle between periods of eating and fasting.
It does not say anything about which foods to eat, but rather when you should eat them.
There are several different intermittent fasting methods, all of which split the day or week into eating periods and fasting periods.
Most people already “fast” every day, while they sleep. Intermittent fasting can be as simple as extending that fast a little longer.
You can do this by skipping breakfast, eating your first meal at noon and your last meal at 8 pm.
Then you’re technically fasting for 16 hours every day, and restricting your eating to an 8-hour eating window. This is the most popular form of intermittent fasting, known as the 16/8 method.
Despite what you may think, intermittent fasting is actually fairly easy to do. Many people report feeling better and having more energy during a fast.
There are lots of different ways to do intermittent fasting, but the 3 most popular are:
The 16/8 Method: Fast for 16 hours each day, for example by only eating between noon and 8pm.
Eat-Stop-Eat: Once or twice a week, don’t eat anything from dinner one day, until dinner the next day (a 24 hour fast).
The 5:2 Diet: During 2 days of the week, eat only about 500–600 calories.
I like to do the 16/8 method. This means that I eat for 8 hours, then I fast for 16 hours. I’m a later eater because of my job, so I usually stop eating around 8, 9 or 10:00 ( we don’t want 10:00 but sometimes it happens ). Then, I wait 16 hours to eat again.
This may sound drastic & weird, but it’s actually been calming. You don’t need to wake up & worry about breakfast & I think it’s lowered my cortisol because I don’t need to think about food until lunchtime.
Having all this food all the time wasn’t giving my digestion system a break. I’ve noticed a huge increase in my energy. I have way more clarity when I’m fasting too.
Drinking tons of tea during the fasting hours really helps & I also love coffee with unsweetened almond milk & inulin fiber. It keeps me feeling full & like I’m still enjoying something nice in the morning. I add cinnamon & nutmeg & like to make it a whole thing. Some people like to do a Bulletproof coffee because it has healthy fat in it.
A lot of people say that you shouldn’t have almond milk during your fast but that’s just not something I’m willing to give up. I need almond milk in my coffee. Again, you need to tailor this to what works for you.
I also like doing my workout while I’m fasting – you burn more fat.
I prefer to break the fast around 12:00 or 1:00 with a green smoothie or huge salad or bone broth. I really try to break the fast with something that’s nutritious. Then, I go about eating throughout the day how I want to eat. I don’t deprive myself in that 8-hour window.
Specific benefits:
♡ improved mental clarity
♡ weight & body fat loss
♡ lowered blood insulin
♡ increased energy
♡ increased growth hormone
♡ improved fat burning
♡ lower blood cholesterol
As mentioned above, there are a lot of different options where you can fast for different hours & pick your window. AND It’s important to understand the difference between starvation & fasting…
Starvation is when there’s an involuntary absence of food.
Fasting is volunteering to withhold from food.
I also find I sleep much better when I fast. I notice I’m in bed at 10 & ready to hop out of bed at 7am. This is a big deal because I used to go to bed at like 2am.
Wrapping up: so far, I would recommend intermittent fasting, but you should talk to a professional before going about starting it. Be your own guru, do research, & look around.
I interviewed multiple people, listened to podcasts, read books, scoured the internet & really became my own wellness guru when it came to this. THEN I tried it. It’s hard to give blanketed advice on this, I just wanted to updated you guys on how I feel about it & how it’s affected my life.
For now, I’m going to keep doing it, but I don’t think it’s something I can do forever.
For more info on intermittent fasting, DEFINITELY listen to the podcasts with Dr. Steven Gundry, Ingrid de la Mare, & Dana James.
Would love to hear any of your experiences with intermittent fasting & what you guys think of it.
x, lauryn
+ for more wellness posts check out this section.
I haven’t tried intermittent fasting before but I have wanted to. It was great to hear your experience with it!
http://aneducationindomestication.com
Thank you for the support!
How can I burn 3500 calories a day?
i have been doing 16:8 for a few weeks now (excluding weekends, too!) and agree that giving up a splash of almond milk in my coffee is a super no-go lol. i have to admit that as an avid breakfast eater I am sometimes starving once lunch rolls around. but so far, so good!
Way to go!
I practice 16/8 fasting most days and find it helps keep my hunger cravings at bay and makes me more alert and undistracted. I don’t find it helps me lose weight but it helps me manage my eating afterwards.
Angela at Blush & Pearls
Love to hear it!
I’ve heard that intermittent fasting messes a bit with women’s hormones, causing issues with trying to conceive. I would love if you would ask one or a few of your experts (possibly female experts) if this is true?
I’ll look into it! x
I haven’t tried intermittent fasting, but have been interested in it since a lot has been mentioned on the podcast. It’s great to hear your experience!
Glad you liked it!
I have been doing the 16/8 method as well for the past few months. I started it around the holidays and it was perfect, it was just about when to eat food and not what. I knew there would be a lot of rich & heavier foods around the holidays, so I really felt like it kept things in check. I felt so amazing that I’m still doing it and don’t see myself stopping anytime soon. I feel like it actually gave me some food freedom. I don’t feel as guilty about that mid-week glass of wine, as long as it’s in the window. The BIGGEST thing I noticed was improved digestion, my reflux that I would get daily is gone. I have read so much about how taxing digestion is on our system, and that snacking & grazing puts added stress on the body. It’s also just love how I have less meals and things to worry about… so easy to plan some lunches & dinners and we’re done. Bonus is I’m also spending less money! I do the 16/8 IF method all week, and as much on the weekend as I can, but I don’t worry about it when I have some outlying meals (10am Sunday brunch with friends) because I just do my best when I can.
Couldn’t have said it better myself!
I have tried intermittent fasting a couple times, but I always find that I wind up cranky in the mornings if I do not get some food in my system. I have a tendency to eat a large meal at 4pm, so I think fasting from 4pm to 8am works best for me. Great post!
-Kate Christine/Lifestyle Blog
http://daysofkate.com
Thank you for the support! x
Totally think I can handle the 16/8 method! Might have to try!!
Blondie in the City
Let me know what you think!
Thank you for this post, I too have started intermittent fasting, about the same time you did, (I started it because of Ingrid) I had been researching it for a while as well. I have had the same results as you do, so easy and made it through the holidays without gaining any weight. I eat really clean, but I love a few more sweets during the holidays! There is something about the Lindt truffles and their specialty flavors that I adore!! So the fasting is working for me, same schedule, it’s super easy and I love it!!
Thank you for sharing! I’ve heard a lot about it, but have never really taken the time to understand it.
So glad you posted a link from your Instastory because this blog post is so timely for me since I just started fasting!
I’ve been reading the Dubrow diet after my cousin recommended it and it’s all about Intermittent fasting with scientifically proven evidence.
I love it & am hoping I can keep up with this for a bit to drop some weight for summer 🙂
Hey babe, just a heads up I noticed there’s a repeated paragraph about the almond milk 😉 and thanks for linking this in your stories! Been wanting someone’s review who’s done it for several months and given their op of how it went. Oxo!
Hi Lauren!
Loved this post! As you probably know intermittent fasting is huge on the keto diet/lifestyle. We would love to send you some low carb meal delivery for you to try! If you are interested please send us an email, I’ve included it in the form 🙂 xx!
I tried the intermittent fasting as well. Totally agree w/ u. It’s not for everyone but I found myself w/more energy, focus & digestion is so much better. I have always done them. I like to do it every season for a good cleansing????Thanks for sharing
I started intermittent fasting in April 2019. It’s now mid-July and I absolutely love it! I love not being controlled by food, especially when I’m up late at night. I’ve only lost 5 pounds, but I didn’t start it to lose weight (and I haven’t upped my activity, nor have I counted calories). I want to lower my blood sugar and lower my cholesterol. I am being more active to lose weight now, and cutting out breads and pastas and adding the green, leafy and also cruciferous veggies.
Just started but I’m already noticing that I have more energy and just feel better in general. Thanks for the run down!
For me, the only way intermittent fasting works is when I combine it with the keto diet. When I did them together I lost about 4-5 pounds/month, but it was hard, I felt like I was constantly thinking about food. I’ve found this to be a lot easier http://bit.ly/2mjcqrH Since I started this I’ve lost almost 20 pounds in about 10 weeks. Hope it helps someone else!
I’ve done every kind of IF and love them all. My fav is OMAD one meal a day. I’ve been doing IF for over 5 years and lost 50 pounds and kept it off. Love it so much especially for older people. There are so many great health benefits!
wow!! thank u for sharing <3
Do you think juicing celery in th morning would be ok?
if it falls outside of your fasting window!
how many days do you usually do intermittent fasting in a month?
I’ve tried intermittent fasting on 3 days and I don’t seem to be used to morning hunger.
I usually only eat fruits in the morning and nothing else, and I feel better.
allend
https://authenthings.com/
that is what kenzie burke does as well! check her out on the our podcast 🙂
People who fast intermittently often eat within an eight-hour block leaving 16 hours of fasting in between. During that 16 hours stretch their bodies undergo an important change that sets them apart from non fasters. Here’s how it works. When you eat you store some of that energy in the liver as glycogen. But after 10 to 12 hours of not eating your glycogen reserves will be extremely low. As a result you may feel more irritable than normal a term scientists call hangry. The upside is with little glycogen left fat cells in your body release fats into your bloodstream. The fat cells head straight to your liver where they’re converted to energy for your body and brain. So you are literally burning fat to survive. Blood samples show that people who had fasted for 12 to 24 hours experienced a 60% increase in energy from fat with the biggest change occurring after 18 hours. This is the benefit to intermittent fasting because it puts you in a state called ketosis. And it’s why researchers think intermittent fasting could be the key to a longer healthier life. The process of burning fat releases chemicals called ketones in the brain.
Thank you Lauryn for all that helpful info. I like the idea of fasting 5 days a week and the 16/8. I have had succcess in the past and now I’m going to start again this week. Love your podcast, your family and all your helpful information. Lauren 🙂
<3
I loved it until my hair started falling out. I loved the mental clarity it brought.
oh no!
I also must have some sort of cream with my coffee. If I have 2 tablespoons of half n half or unsweetened almoymilk in my coffee am I technically breaking the fast?
consult a doc or nutritionist!
Hello Stephanie, I read your inspiring story regarding your amazing journey using the Intermittent Fasting method 16/8. I am 72 years old, my daughter introduced me the world of Fasting. I had never heard of it before but I figured why not try it because I’m tired of trying to find the right diet foe me. I did my homework to learn all that I could about tis I/F. At first I was a little skeptical about trying to do it but Stephanie, the day came when I made an attempt that actually changed my life. I was a regular walker for many years but after I started Fasting I limited my walking because I started to lose weight my body started toning without much effort. Surprisingly I didn’t change my food intake much. I am a 16/8 per day Faster times seven days a week. I have been using this method for almost three years. I also stopped eating any meats other than seafood for almost three years. My body feels amazing, I have more energy than ever, I’m always alert and I’ve changed my diet to healthier eating. If I feel uncomfortable with my weight at any time, I adjust my scheduling window wider to get back on track. I love this new way of living because my family and friends take notice of how well I look and maybe I will inspire them the others has inspired me. Good Luck on your journey because you’re in the driver seat.
I have been doing IF for about a year and a half now. It is the best thing I have ever done for myself. I started at 210 pounds and now hover around 165. My goal is 150 as I don’t think my body type would look healthy at any lower of a weight. I love the freedom of not having to count colories and worry about not being able to have what I would like to have. I usually follow an 18/6 plan where I have an open window of eating from about noon to 6pm. However, if I need to open my window earlier or close later I plan accordingly. IF has given me the freedom from food that I have sought for my whole life.
Amazing Lauryn! Way to go! I’m also trying intermittent fasting at the moment to lose a little weight at the moment, since I’m feeling a little uncomfortable at the moment. I’ve been doing the 16:8 routine since a roughly month now, and I already lost around 4 kilos. But I’m also tracking my calories as well, because I need an overview of what I eat on a daily basis (except sunday which is cheat day)! I’ve been trying out a few apps for some more motivation and actually having a guideline to lean onto! And so far I’m loving Yazio – which is really helpful. I can track calories and my IF stage, everything is explained really well at which state your body currently is when fasting. So yeah, I loved it so much I got my mom hooked as well 🙂 Are you using any apps for help or are you having a fasting buddy like me?
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