Fasting May Require You to Forego Social Eating Situations

Intermittent fasting is not for everyone. Someone with a medical condition that requires food at regular intervals due to metabolic changes triggered by medications is not a good candidate for fasting. To lose weight with an intermittent fasting protocol, the foods you eat should be healthy whole foods that are consumed at consistent intervals. A study published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine concluded that intermittent fasting takes a dedicated person who is willing to forgo most social eating, which is opposite of the Standard American Diet.

• Occasional Prolonged Fasting - Many people struggle with an extended fasting approach. The first part is usually easy but some report ravenous hunger that led to them giving up in the last few hours of abstinence.
• Spontaneous Meal Skipping - When you decide to say no to a meal, you shouldn’t drink anything with high caloric values such as juices or sodas. Instead, you should only be drinking low calorie options such as coffee, tea and water while fasting.
• LeanGains Method - If you choose the 16:8 method of fasting, experts recommend picking an eating window that allows you to finish your daily meals early, because your body is less efficient at managing blood sugar later in the day.
• University of Southern California Fast - Scientifically developed and clinically tested at the USC, the Fast Mimicking Diet requires you to eat healthy natural ingredients for five days in a way that your body does not recognize that you are eating.

There is no shortage of online diet plans, including the latest buzz about intermittent fasting. However, the act of fasting does not specify what to eat like other diets, but focuses on when to eat and why. With a traditional diet, you are following a healthy eating pattern but consuming fewer calories at each meal. With intermittent fasting, you're are roughly consuming the same number of calories, just in a confined time frame. However, the results differ. To combat feelings of low energy or a loss of focus during non-eating windows, try a cup of black coffee as it has no calories and may boost your energy levels.

*NOTE: Due to a difference in hormonal makeup, women have special considerations when fasting. Intermittent fasting is not a good idea for women under 18 years of age, those with a lean body profile, or those with medical conditions, such as hypothyroidism or a history of eating disorders. Ask your physician about an appropriate fasting protocol for you.