Anybody that knows me, knows I live by intermittent fasting and occasionally will do a longer fast for 24 hours and even 72 hours.

Now, I’m not telling everybody they should go for days without food, far from it. I have been known to suggest some of my clients try it, when it is relevant for them but only if they are keen to try it, and when they do, it’s a game changer.

What is intermittent fasting

The method involves alternating periods of eating and drinking i.e. in 24 hours you would eat normally during 12 hours and then fast during 12 hours. You can drink water throughout the day to stay hydrated.

Everybody is different and will find a fasting period that works best for them. Personally I fast for 16 hours and have a window of eight hours where I consume my food and beverages. I encourage my clients to have a minimum 12 hour fast everyday.  There is lots of science to back up the benefits, most notably, its positive effect on weight loss.

Having eaten this way for years, I have found that limiting the time frame I can eat, really helps to minimise blood sugar spikes and having a set routine for my food intake not only helps to keep me focussed, see better results from my training and helps to manage my ADHD.

Here are my top 3 benefits of intermittent fasting 

Fat Loss

One of the key reasons intermittent fasting is effective for fat loss lies in its impact on metabolism. During the fasting period, the body shifts from using glucose as its primary energy source to using stored fat for energy production. This metabolic switch can enhance fat mobilisation, help to reduce body fat over time.

Hormonal Regulation

Intermittent fasting also exerts a positive influence on various hormones related to fat storage and breakdown. Insulin sensitivity improves, helping the body better regulate blood sugar levels and reducing the likelihood of excess glucose being stored as fat. We also produce hunger and appetite hormones that are always working. The hormone that tells us when to eat is called gherlin and the hormone that tells us when to stop is called leptin. When we fast common sense would tell us that gherlin would go up but it actually goes down steadily as a fast continues because the body readjusts so this often helps with cravings for the wrong sorts of foods. Additionally, growth hormone levels increase, promoting fat metabolism and lean muscle preservation.

Maintaining Lean Muscle Mass

One concern with some weight loss methods is the potential loss of lean muscle mass. Intermittent fasting, however, has been shown to preserve muscle tissue while promoting fat loss. This is crucial for achieving a lean and toned physique, as maintaining muscle mass is key to a healthy metabolism.

As you can tell I am a fan of this method and would love to chat to anyone who is considering implementing this into their lifestyle. You can get in touch here