Intermittent Fasting for Weight Loss
Intermittent fasting is a timed eating pattern that has been shown to have proven health benefits.
If you are interested in trying intermittent fasting or a cleanse day, week 2 is a perfect time to introduce it, as your body will be less toxic than it was at the beginning, so headaches and cravings will be minimised.
All you need is the willpower to see it through!
PLEASE NOTE: For those who are brand new to this, trial it by cutting out the snacks. Then you can try a 12hr fast, say from 7pm - 7am.
From 13hrs the big thing that happens is growth hormone kicks in and you can lose weight. It can help to burn fat and slow the ageing process down.
If you choose not to practice any intermittent fasting, that is fine also. Listen to your body and what it needs. To keep hormones and blood sugar levels balanced sometimes you need to eat more often. The breakfast and snack recipes are all low calorie and supportive of weight loss and detoxification.
If you're keen to do intermittent fasting a few times this week, or go for a full fast day, read my 9 reasons to practice intermittent fasting, and download my Fast Day Tips for how to go about it to get the best results.
It has been shown to support detoxification by increasing your body's inherent autophagy process, giving your body a chance to "catch up" on the removal of lingering toxins.
If done correctly it can also lower blood pressure, reduce inflammation, boost brain function, aid a better sleep, and enhance your immune system.
There are many ways that you can practice intermittent fasting.
Some people like to incorporate the practice into their everyday meal planning, perhaps by skipping breakfast and fasting for 13 -17 hours in a 24 hour period. This means you only eat within a specific time window, for example between 11am to 7pm.
Others prefer to drastically reduce their calorie intake to between 500 and 600 calories for 2 out of every 7 days - as per the 5:2 diet.
Another increasingly popular method is having fast days, otherwise known as fast days.
For this you would fast for 24 hours once a week, drinking plenty of filtered water and herbal teas, with one or two small healthy snacks to help control blood sugar levels.