Intermittent Fasting: Is It For You?
I believe most of us have been eating very well during this Lunar New Year period and now we are worrying (maybe) on how to shed those food that we have been overly enjoying!
Besides, in this day and age, we have an abundance of food, especially in developed countries. We are always constantly bombarded with advertisements, offering us discounts and coupons to attract us into consumerism.
First of all, we need to understand that the advertising industry is there for a reason, they want us to spend and consume mindlessly and their intention may not be the greatest for us. Since the human population has improved as a whole and is more affluent, there is spending power and hence people now have the ability to consume more than ever.
Imagine this. Back in the Stone Age or the Hunter Gatherer Age, people literally needed to hunt for food and they could even go for days without food. Food is of a scarce quantity. Yet our human body is one amazing creation. If people had the capability to survive back then, why then do we need so much food today for our survival?
This brings me to my next point which I would like to bring forth. How much is sufficient? Have you ever heard of this term called Intermittent Fasting? Perhaps you have.
The stages of intermittent fasting...
There are 2 main stages namely the fed state and the ‘fast-ed’ state. The fed state is when we are digesting and absorbing food into our bodies. This lasts about 3 to 5 hours after we begin eating. When we are in this stage, it is difficult for our bodies to burn fat because our insulin levels are high.
After that, we go into a stage called the post absorptive stage, which is when 8 to 12 hours have passed after our last consumed meal. This is when we enter the ‘fast-ed’ state. This is where fat burning is easier on our bodies as the insulin levels are low.
One of the reasons as to why people are attracted to Intermittent Fasting is because they will lose fat without changing what they eat, how much they eat or how often they exercise.
In fact, for those of you who absolutely hate dieting, then you may find relief in this. The question that we ought to ask ourselves is why do we need to eat all the time? Adopting this is like adopting a lifelong habit that will potentially change your life for the better.
Starting intermittent fasting...
One of the simplest ways to get into intermittent fasting is through the 16:8 window period. That means we do not eat for a 16 hour period and only eat during a 8 hour window period. For example, we eat from 12pm to 8pm.
For a first timer and especially for those who absolutely love food to the core, not eating for a period of several hours might sound preposterous. For those who have such a mindset, I would make a suggestion that you give it a try. For perhaps a week.
Let me share with you my experience. It was not easy at all. For starters like myself who love food, you are going to find this difficult. I started my journey by skipping breakfast. Of course, it was no mean feat at the initial phase. As humans, we are highly adaptable creatures. Once our bodies get used to a certain routine, we don’t even need to think twice about doing it.
Once you get the hang of it and it is in the process, then things get easier. For a habit to form, it takes approximately 66 days. Just give yourself the chance to start, afterall, we miss 100% of the shots that we do not take.
Lastly, think about it this way. Our digestive system is just like a machine. If a machine were to be operated on a 24 hours basis daily, would there be a higher probability that the machine will break down eventually than a machine that is operating on shorter hours? Give your stomach a rest before it gives way.
So now, plan your intermittent fasting and make sure you will not clash with your Valentine’s Day dinner! 💖
