Intermittent dieting, also known as intermittent fasting, is a term that many have heard of in the world of bodybuilding. With dieting, anyone will know that there is always a goal that the person has in mind to achieve.
The same applies to intermittent fasting. Before taking it on, it is best to figure out what your goals are. Every dieting method will have a different result. That is something that all health conscious people know, which is why not every diet is going to be a one-size-fits all solution for everyone. In this short guide, we will go over different aspects of intermittent fasting, so you can make a more informed decision on whether or not it is the answer to your health needs.
What is it? Intermittent fasting has a number of methods, but the main thing that these different methods all have in common, in order to be placed in the category of this specific type of diet, is eating only a limited amount of meals and fasting for a certain period of time until the next meal. A good example of this specific fasting method is skipping breakfast and eating only two meals a day, one around noon or 1:00 pm, and the next meal around 8:00 pm or 9:00 pm. Then, waiting a specific amount of time for the next meal (16 hours, as demonstration) is an example of this.
How it works. The idea behind intermittent dieting is to lose weight in a very controlled manner. It is not your typical dieting plan. Instead, it is better described as a fasting method since it is more of a pattern that someone eats with, rather than the type of specific diet you might see talked about online. Diets usually imply that the individual who is on the diet must eat specific types of foods and use portion control. That isn’t the case with intermittent fasting. It works by limiting the amount of food you intake to specific windows of time and by allowing your body a long “rest and cycling” period, in order to digest the food and make the most of its nutrients by stretching out the time between meals.
Effects on the body. Bodily effects include physical changes to the outside of your body, as well as changes to the way your body cycles. Once you get used to this intermittent fasting process, your body adjusts to the method and is no longer “starving” itself. Scientists have reason to believe that restricting calorie intake can extend the length of your life, from a dietary standpoint. It may not be enjoyable initially to feel as if you are starving, but eventually your body adjusts to it. As for the benefits on your body in a weight loss sense, plenty of people who live healthy lifestyles and workout often are familiar with this method and use it to their advantage. With intermittent fasting, you are fostering a more lean body type with a concentration on natural muscle growth. Fasting with this method also improves heart health, reduces blood sugar levels for those with Type 2 Diabetes, and can certain benefits for the human brain.
Targeted fasting. When your body is fasting, it is taking its time to digest foods and absorbing its valuable nutrients. Basically, your body has a harder time digesting foods when you are in a “fed” state due to higher levels of hormones during this period of time. Being in this state continually messes with your metabolic rate. A fed state lasts from the time you initially consume food and up to five hours later. This fasting method allows you to have plenty of time after eating for your body to really digest and cycle everything through, benefiting your body in the process.
Weight loss effects. The weight loss effects with intermittent fasting are certainly there. Those who fast intermittently will see improvement in their lean muscle building goals and fat will be decreased, even in trouble areas like the stomach. Fasting has proven to increase your metabolic rate and decreases some damaging hormone levels significantly. High metabolic rates in the body means food digests faster and more efficiently.