How many of you have bought into the idea of “quarantine pounds”?
The combination of stress, uncertainty, and being more sedentary has surely contributed to an increase in cortisol. Increased cortisol means extra weight gain OR difficulty losing weight. So what’s the solution? I may not have all of the answers, but I can share that I have been a committed fan of intermittent fasting for a couple of years and I am blown away by the results I’ve experienced.
Some people hear “fasting” and they attribute this to starving or being hungry all the time. I can assure you, this is not the case. In actuality, I am so passionate about what intermittent fasting has done for my own health, that I can’t wait to share this with all of you!
Foundationally, human beings are hunters and gatherers.
What this means is that our bodies are designed to go long periods of time between meals. Now, this doesn’t mean we need to go days without food (how scary is that?). Rather it is aligned with the principle that we go several hours without food and then break the fast with a period of eating or nourishing our bodies.
What is intermittent fasting in today’s terms? It’s simply choosing a “fasting period” and an “eating period”. This can look much like 16/8 or 14/10 or even 18/6. 16 hours of fasting with an 8 hour window for nourishment could potentially look like fasting between 7pm and 11am, with meals between 11am and 7pm.
During the fasting window water is essential.
And you can freely drink all the coffee and tea you want to consume. Bone broth is also acceptable to some experts of intermittent fasting. The point here is to allow your digestive system time to rest and heal, but not to become dehydrated. In cases where I may feel very hungry, I will likely reach for a small handful of fatty nuts, like macadamia, cashews, or brazil nuts.
During the eating window, I tend to eat Keto-like, with foods that are high in healthy fats, vegetables and proteins. I avoid white sugar at all costs. I’m sure at some point you’ve heard me say “sugar is the devil!”, and well, I’m not lying. This doesn’t mean never have anything sweet, but try and stick to foods sweetened with stevia, monk fruit or Xylitol.
What does my day look like during intermittent fasting?
I’m an early riser – so I’ll get up and start my day with two big glasses of water. After a while, I will enjoy hot tea or coffee. I like to work out before I break my fast (break-fast), which calls for a lot of water. Even if I don’t get in an official workout, I’ll go for a walk to get my body moving and burn calories. Next, I take my supplements (y’all know how I love my supplements!). Then I’ll follow them with breakfast – which is often a protein shake, Trim, and liquid collagen. The remainder of the day’s meals consist of whole foods, avoiding the white stuff! Sugars, carbohydrates like pastas and breads, and potatoes wreak havoc on our blood sugar. This means no sugary drinks or sodas, cereals, or waffles for breakfast. No pasta lunches, and no high carb dinners!
If you’re Keto like I am, you’ve likely become accustomed to high fat, high protein meals. If you aren’t Keto, this can be an adjustment, but I promise you that your body will thank you for detoxifying it with nutrition and the elimination of carbohydrates and sugars.
Intermittent fasting doesn’t have to be painful, hard to follow, or even complicated.
Like every other routine, it requires preparation to be successful. Once your body has adjusted to this routine, you’ll feel less sluggish and your digestive system will have a rest/work cycle it’s designed to have.
For simplicity sake, I’ve included a video with some fun recipe ideas that I love to use in my own kitchen. You’ll be able to see how EASY intermittent fasting can be, and how much fun you can have with all that extra energy.
Living well doesn’t just include HOW you choose to fuel your body, but it includes WHEN you fuel your body and when it is allowed to rest and recover!
