To Fast or Not to Fast, That is the Question?🤷‍♀️

Shared by DeniseM

I have been intermittent fasting for 2-3 years now and I do think it has been very beneficial. It fights inflammation, it can lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels, it helps with fasting blood sugar, it gives the body’s cells a rest, and my number one reason for everything I do in life, it can help with weight loss! So it packs a health punch.

It has a lot of other positives also. It’s easy to follow, it’s free, and can save you money, and it allows the body to feed on stored fat for energy hopefully resulting in weight loss! Hooray!🎉

I follow a 6-hour eating window loosely, most of the time. The most common is an eight-hour window usually 10:30 AM to 6:30 PM or 12 Noon to 8 PM is also popular. I usually stick to Noon to 6 PM and that works well for me because I usually only eat once a day, although I try for two meals sometimes. I think the most important rule of intermittent fasting is no eating or snacking after dinner and nothing for breakfast but black coffee or tea until your eating window starts.

I don’t find my current eating window difficult at all and it has become second nature. I think intermittent fasting was beneficial for a while with weight loss, but as my body so brilliantly can do, it adjusts to whatever I am trying to do to lose weight and stops working! 😡

So what to do now? A Virta friend gave me some great information on this website with these low-carb experts on fasting, including the very famous Dr. Jason Fung, and it’s all these podcasts on fasting, intermittent fasting, weight loss, and other topics. I‘ve listened to quite a few and they do a great job explaining things very thoroughly, and in an easily understandable way. If there is anyone that needs both of those it’s me. I start to go unconscious if things get too sciency!😳

I have been doing IF with the approval and encouragement of my Virta coaches, but I’m thinking, of getting weight loss started again to go from an 18-hour fast to a 24-hour fast. I’m almost there so I don’t think it will be too difficult. But Virta does not advocate anything longer than a 24-hour fast so it is not recommended, especially if you are on Diabetic medications and can risk your blood sugar going too low. So this DEFINITELY is something to talk to your coach about before trying any form of fasting! You might need to gradually work your way up to different time frames. I’ve been doing it for so long, I don’t think a 24-hour fast will be that much of a stretch for me and I’m hoping it will get my weight loss jumpstarted again.

If you’re on a weight loss plateau or for other health reasons you might consider intermittent fasting after discussing it with your coach! 😊

Wishing you good health and happiness!

Denise❤️