Intermittent Fasting: What You Should Know
Intermittent fasting has become a pretty popular health and fitness trend over the last couple of years. People are using it as a means of achieving or maintaining a healthy weight, simplifying their healthy lifestyle or to improve their overall health and wellness. But what is intermittent fasting and is it something your Los Angeles personal trainer would approve of? Find out if intermittent fasting is something you should consider.
What Is It?
Intermittent fasting is a way of eating that cycles between periods of eating and fasting. It’s not a guide to what kind of foods you should eat, but about the timing with which you eat. “It’s really not a traditional diet,” says Los Angeles personal trainer Lalo Fuentes, “it’s more accurate to call it an outline to follow that lets you know when to eat.”
There are several methods people use for their fasting, such as 16-hour daily fasts or 24-hour fasts a couple of times a week. How you choose to do it is really up to you, but if you decide that you may want to try it, explore the topic with your personal trainer to make sure you really know what you’re doing.
Different Methods
There are a few methods of fasting that people use, all of which involve splitting the day or week up into fasting and eating periods. During the eating periods, you eat as you normally would, but during the fasting periods you eat either nothing or very little at all.
The most popular fasting methods include:
Eat-Stop-Eat – In this method, you fast for 24 hours one or two days a week.
The 16/8 Method – This method requires you to skip breakfast and then restrict your eating period during the day to eight hours, then fast for the remaining 16.
The 5:2 Diet – This method requires you to choose two non-consecutive days in the week to only eat 500 to 600 calories per day, then eat normally the rest of the week.
The only caveat to intermittent fasting is that you should make sure to eat regularly during your non-fasting periods. If you attempt to compensate for the missed calories during eating periods, then you probably won’t get the results you want.
Does It Work?
Some people have a lot of success when using intermittent fasting as a tool for weight loss, but you must be sure to use it as a tool in a healthy way, supplying your body with the nutrients it needs the rest of the time. That’s why it’s always best to have an expert on your side, such as your Los Angeles personal trainer, to help you accomplish your goals in the healthiest way possible.
The truth of the matter is that intermittent fasting has become very popular for one reason: It works for a many people. It’s a way to simplify healthy eating that is easy for many people to understand and pull off. Plus, it’s fewer meals you have to prepare and cook over the course of the week – which is always a plus when you have a hectic schedule. Just note that it’s not a good option for everyone due to certain health conditions, so always consult an expert that knows your personal health history, like your personal trainer.
If you have questions about intermittent fasting, make sure to talk to your personal trainer, Lalo Fuentes, CSCS, for expert advice and guidance!