Just over a year ago, I have come across some fitness trainer on YouTube that was talking about the benefits of Intermittent Fasting (IF).

I have never heard of IF before and it seemed like a very difficult diet to follow.

So I have done my research and found out more about it from many different people that have implemented this in their lives. And I must say that I have fallen for it and decided to give it a go.

Just so you know- I am a big opponent of diets and I don’t believe in them.

I believe these to be the shortcuts to quick results with a big JoJo effect. I have seen few people going through strict diets only to go back to them normal selves as soon as they’ve stopped with the diet.

I also believe in healthy living and keeping fit as a lifestyle more than short term fixes. However, the IF is not a diet as such but more of an eating pattern and not what but when you eat matters.

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Just in case you have never heard of IF, please read this extensive guide to IF.

There are three main ways of doing the IF

• 16/8 everyday pattern
• 24hrs fast twice a week with the only 500kcal allowed a day
• eat/stop/eat whereas once or twice a week no food is allowed at all over the 24hrs period

I have chosen the less dramatic one- meaning I would eat for 9 hours and fast for the rest of the 24 hour day I.e. 15 hrs.

Being a woman I have consciously reduced the amount of typical 8/16 ratio to 9/15 as I was scared of the effect of the diet on my Thyroid function and hormones.

Women -especially during the reproductive age, should be careful and consult a doctor before going ahead with any diet as it might affect your reproductive system.

If you think of it, it’s not as hard as it first seems, I sleep typically 7-8 hours, and at least 3 hours before bed, I don’t eat anything. This is already 10,11 hours out of 15 required.

So I decided to have my meal latest 6:30 pm, which means that until the time I wake up at 7 am I have already been fasting for 12 hours. The leftover 3 hours is where I just skip my breakfast and have a coffee instead.
In the beginning, this was a very difficult task as I was brought up believing that breakfast is a base of our day and no matter what we should never miss breakfast.

However, according to IF it’s not true, and we don’t have to eat throughout the day.

Why did I start IF?

I think it’s also important that I mention the reasons why I decided to do IF. After my third baby (at the age of 32) I did struggle to shed the weigh, and although I did slowly getting back in shape, following my exercise routine, I was still not fully satisfied with my weight.

At this point (November 2018- 1,5 years after giving birth), my weight was 70kg (around 11 stones). With my height 173cm (5 feet 8inches) is not too bad, but I used to weigh 62kg (9,7stones) before my last pregnancy. That’s why I knew I could do better.

My personal experience with IF

The first few days I was struggling not having any breakfast was not something my system was agreeing with and I have suffered a few days of headache.

As IF allows you for a drink up to 50kcal I did always have small coffee with a dash of milk.

My first meal would be a bowl of porridge at work at 10 am. This habit remained until today and I still have a coffee in the morning before leaving the house and porridge at work at 10 am.

 

 

I would then follow up with lunch at 1 pm, a little snack around 4 pm and dinner at home around 6 pm.

This way I have 3 meals plus a snack in a day, automatically cutting down the amount of food I consume during the day.

I try to eat clean but occasionally I would have a cheat day where I let myself have a little treat like a piece of cake of little chocolate.

On the weekends, however, when I’m at home with kids, I am more likely to eat something little earlier as every Saturday I take my kids to a tennis club that starts at 9:40 am so I do eat just before leaving the house.

Also on Sunday I often cook them pancakes for breakfast and I too have some myself. So I am not very strict with the routine but I have noticed the difference few weeks into the diet as my weight indeed started to drop.

The most important part- the results!

I have lost a further 6kg (about a stone) over the last 11 months. I did in between go for a two weeks holiday to India (in April 2019), where I eat whenever and whatever there was as the food was so delicious.

Also, we’ve had a buffet with chefs cooking in front of our eyes and tables full of desserts of any sorts and I let myself (over)indulge. But returning from holidays I realised I have gained over 2kg (5 pounds).

During that period I felt sluggish and tired and constantly bloated. So I was so glad to be back on my IF routine.

As to my general health, I must say I feel pretty good. I went to Poland in August and I have done full blood test with hormones, minerals, and other important indicators of general health and all came back just fine including my thyroids functions and cholesterol (other than my PLT level which I have been keeping an eye on since my first pregnancy 11 years ago).

I am positive that as long as my general health permits I will continue with the IF as I can see massive benefits of it and believe my system agrees with it, and even when I don’t stay strict with my exercise routine and let myself have too many cheat days I do not gain weight.

This only confirms the theory of keeping the weight off– 70% is the way you eat and 30% is the exercise.

Can anyone do IF?

I believe so, yes. Whatever your day looks like, you can easily fit fewer meals into your day as opposed to adding on.

The good starting point is the sleeping pattern and figuring out when can you prolong the fasting period- is it easier before or after sleep? Or maybe a bit of both (which I find works best for me).

If you are fanatic of working out this is a piece of important information: Do you work out at the very start of your day, while you still fasting to achieve the best results. I do not follow with this rule as I just don’t wake up early enough to fit a work out in the morning so I tend to do it in the evening. This is not a mistake, only if you try to achieve the best results, your body will burn the most calories and you will be able to shape your body the most whilst fasting.

 

Have you tried IF? What are your thoughts and results?

 

Let me know in the comments below.

 

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Bon Appetite!/ Thank  you