Welcome to Day 54 of the Wellbeing 9-a-Day blog! Yesterday, I wrote about how learning how to love cooking can help you to hit your Nourishing goal and enjoy some tasty dishes along the way. In today’s blog, I look at intermittent fasting and the importance of when you eat.
Breaking Your Fast
I had never really considered the meaning of the word breakfast until I was reading the Game of Thrones books by George R.R. Martin.
It was only when I read about Tyrion Lannister breaking his fast that the penny dropped, and I understood the meaning behind the word.
Your morning meal was when you broke your fast from the night before.
It was around this time that I first heard about the idea of intermittent fasting, which focuses more on when you eat rather than what you eat. The basic idea is that you have set periods of time where you do not eat and only consume water.
There are many ways to do intermittent fasting. Popular ways include choosing a set window (i.e., 12-8pm) during which you can eat each day, choosing a regular day of the week or month to fast for 24 hours, or choosing days to reduce your calorie intake and then eating normally on the rest.
I have never done the latter two of these but found great value in eating during a set window.
A Fast Way to Lose Weight
I first tried intermittent fasting because I wanted to lose some excess weight without giving up the foods I like to eat, something that appealed from the outset.
My approach was to eat between midday and 8pm, and then fast until midday the following day. Aiming to do this at least five times a week, I soon began to lose weight and tighten up.
There were certainly times when it was difficult. There were plenty of mornings where my tummy would be rumbling all the way to midday, when I would begin to gorge myself on the first things that came to hand.
At the night time, there were lots of times when I would mistime dinner or succumb to temptation at 11:30pm.
I have a distinct memory of spitting out a spoon of cous cous when the clock struck 8pm.
Intermittent fasting isn’t for everyone, and there are times when it is not practical. The most important thing I learned from it is being conscious of when I eat. The days of me eating late at night are gone, and I rarely eat before 11am.
By combining this approach to when with a healthier diet, I have been able to improve my nutritional intake, maintain my weight, and still be able to enjoy the foods I like.
Call to Action!
Consider trying intermittent fasting. You don’t need to fast for 24 hours or become too rigid in your approach, but you may enjoy some health benefits by becoming more conscious of when you eat.
This blog was written as part of a 90-day blog writing fundraiser for Live Well with Cancer, a volunteer-led charity serving North Tyneside and the surrounding areas. If you enjoyed this blog, please show your appreciation by donating to my JustGiving page. Every penny raised from donations or sales of the journal will help deliver workshops, events and support groups that empower better health and wellbeing for those affected by cancer, including family, friends, carers, and healthcare workers.
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