Humans have been practicing fasting since ancient times. The reason for that is perhaps the limited availability of foods. It was only during the harvest season people get to feast and eat a lot of foods. Today, as long as you have money, you can fill your stomach anywhere and anytime. And there are also many edible products with questionable nutritional values, such as chips, fries, candies, chocolate bars, etc. Consequently, modern humans are vulnerable to obesity.
Therefore, this may be the time for us to go back to practice the eating habit of ancient people. Here are the details on how to fast intermittently for weight loss.
Start with the 8-Hour Cycle
Intermittent fasting is not the same as starving yourself to the point of malnourishment. You don’t want yourself to be anorexic, but to be healthy. Therefore, start with abstaining from any foods for eight hours. You are allowed only to drink water during that cycle. You can eat fruits as long as you can control the craving and not overeat.
You may think that this 8-hour cycle can be practiced during your sleep time. And even though such an idea is acceptable, the fat-burning process won’t be as efficient as if you fast during your active hours. Be careful with sugar, though. It can disrupt the balance of your blood sugar and make you unable to focus well.
Nourish Your Body During the Meal Times
Notice that “Nourish” is the choice of word here? You don’t just feed your body during the meal times, but to nourish it. Pick healthy foods with balanced portions of fibers, protein, vitamins, and minerals. Simple carbohydrate sources like white rice and white bread should be avoided as they can cause your blood sugar to spike and fall quickly.
If you can’t find healthy foods nearby when the meal times come, get a catering service. Many healthy catering companies can accommodate special requests these days. You just need to do quick browsing on the Internet and social media, and you’ll find them.
Don’t Be Sedentary
Intermittent fasting is not a reason for you to sit on the couch all day long. In fact, you must be physically active during the fasting period, or the weight loss process won’t happen at all. Besides, it will be difficult to abstain from eating if you stay indoors for the whole day. If you fast during the weekend, you should take a walk, jog around the neighborhood, cycle to the nearest park, or tend the yard instead of wasting the entire day not doing anything.
Lengthen the Fasting Period Gradually
The 8-hour cycle is for beginners. The next stage will be to add a couple of hours to the sequence so that you can fast for 12 or 18 hours. Some experts even go to the extreme by fasting for 24 hours straight! At that point, the benefit has surpassed the body and goes to the mind. When you can control how and when your body needs to feed itself, you’ve come one step closer to complete self-actualization.
