Does intermittent fasting really work?

Intermittent fasting has been talk of the town lately. It is thus important to understand that it DOES NOT work out for everyone. Intermittent fasting (IF) means having set times when you eat and times when you don’t. Such eating habits naturally reduce calories and give your digestive system a pause.

It tends to help if you’re someone who:

• Snacks late at night and can’t resist the fridge
• Prefers bigger meals over tiny, constant ones
• Can hit your protein targets even with fewer meals

A simple, sustainable way to try IF is 14:10 which means 14 hours of fasting and 10 hours for food. Keep meals rich in complex carbs & protein, moderate in fiber and stay hydrated.

IF can also backfire some people. If you’re somone who

• skips breakfast only to devour dinner like it’s a cheat day,
• feels irritated, cranky, weak or low on energy,
• uses your eating window as a “reward” to binge on high calorie foods,

…then IF is probably not for you.

If you have thyroid issues, PCOS, pre-diabetes or a history of binge eating, fasting needs to be personalized.

Thus, IF can be effective but only if it works with your lifestyle and leaves you drained. Done right, it’s a great tool to cut off excess calories off the body.