I’ve been doing intermittent fasting for a while now. While I am a big fan of the weight loss and healthy weight maintenance effects of intermittent fasting, I also do it for the health benefits. Sign me up for better sleep, lower risk of cardiovascular disease, and stabilized blood sugar. PLUS, body detoxification, boosted brain function and clarity, lower cholesterol levels, and reduced inflammation in the body.
Personally, when I am following an intermittent fasting plan, I feel better overall. I have more energy and am less sluggish. I definitely sleep better at night, I do not have any shortness of breath which I tend to experience when I am always full. I feel more clarity in my thinking processes, and honestly, it fits my schedule perfectly.
So, what is intermittent fasting?
Intermittent fasting is an eating pattern that distinguishes between WHEN you’re eating and when you’re not eating rather than WHAT you’re eating. The most common version of intermittent fasting involved 16 hours of fasting (usually including sleep) and 8 hours of eating. Fasting is supposed to help your body burn fat more quickly. Many people see the benefit of weight loss, higher energy levels, and a heightened immune system. You can read more about the health benefits here.
Intermittent fasting looks different for everyone. You can take a free quiz here to receive a breakdown of what might be a good protocol for your lifestyle.
Why it works for me.
As a preschool mom who also works at home, intermittent fasting is a perfect complement to my day. The morning time in our house is extremely busy. I usually work out in the morning and get an hour of work done before my son wakes up. When he wakes up it always feels like a mad dash for breakfast, brushing teeth, getting ready for school, drop off. Then I’m back home to work for a couple of hours before having to pick him up again at noon.
I am so much more productive in the morning and I do not even think about food. I don’t have to stop what I’m doing to cook or eat.
What does my eating schedule look like?
I usually do 8 hours of eating and 16 hours of fasting. Now, I am not perfect at this. But when I follow this plan regularly, I truly feel my best. In my everyday life, I often modify my eating times over the weekend. But I stick to the 8:16 during the week.
I usually start eating for the day at around 12:00 p.m. or 1:00 p.m. I usually will have a small scoop of pre-workout (user 50 calories) in the morning. I usually work out between 5:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m.
So when I start my eating window at 12:00 p.m. that means I try to get my meals in throughout the day and finish eating by about 8:00 p.m. or so. Here’s a breakdown of what I generally eat in a day.
For me, I enjoy having a little something to eat after I put my son to bed. It’s more of a relaxing ritual for me. It might be a light snack or an after-dinner healthier treat. [ Scroll to the bottom of this post for the recipes of my favorite chocolate peanut butter protein balls ]. But for me, there is just something about sitting on the couch at the end of the day and enjoying a little something before I go to bed.
This is another reason why I like to wait until 12:00 p.m. or 1:00 p.m. to start eating. Because my son does not go to bed until 7:30 p.m. or 8:00 p.m. It’s really about finding what works best for you and your lifestyle!
The benefits I’ve experienced
When I am intermittent fasting, I am also following my simple macro plan that I use in my fit camps [ you can learn more about those by filling out this form ]. And when I do this, I easily lose any extra weight that I put on from splurging over the holidays. I do not feel bloated, I never feel uncomfortable, I feel satisfied after my meals, and I have way fewer cravings for things that are not on my plan.
Again, the weight benefits are great, but that is not the only reason I stick to this plan. It is a very natural way of eating for me. And I really love all the additional health benefits that come with it.
Let me know if you have any questions in the comments below! I would be happy to share more about my experience.
