[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #71CCD5;”] T[/dropcap]he first time I tried it I thought I was going to die.
I’d just finished a 12 hour night shift supporting the first production run of the White Tim Tam (an iconic Australian chocolate cookie).
I’d eaten enough chocolate biscuits to last a lifetime.
So I figured it was a great time to start experimenting with intermittent fasting.
It was hard.
But I made it.
24 hours without eating anything.
And so began my love affair with fasting.
Why Fasting?
There are so many benefits.
Here are the key ones taken from the book ‘What the Fast’.
1. Effortless weight loss and fat burning.
2. Cellular and immunological health via your natural recycling and repair mechanisms. Which means less wrinkles and less illness.
3. Consistent energy levels – both mental and physical.
4. Reduced cravings.
Plus it frees up so much time from prepping, eating and cleaning up.
How I Fast
These days I fast for about 16 hours every day.
Which just means I have a black coffee with my family for breakfast.
My first meal is lunch.
Then usually on Thursdays and Fridays (my work days) I also skip lunch.
So I have 2 days of about 22 hours fasting.
I love it so much.
No after lunch productivity slump.
No time faffing around with food prep.
Fasting makes it truly effortless to manage my weight.
And keep my blood sugar in the healthy range.
Like to Learn More?
Then I highly recommend reading ‘What the Fast!’ by my nutrition lecturer Dr Caryn Zinn, Professor Grant Schofield and Craig Rodgers.
It’s a brilliant handbook to guide you into the world of fasting.
Recently I caught up with Caryn and asked her why she decided to write ‘What the Fast’ now?
“The reason we wrote What the Fast! was because it seems like the next logical step after our first book ‘What The Fat?’
Eating LCHF (Low Carb Healthy Fat) really lends itself to increased satiety, and missing meals while you still feel good.
At the time, there was also some evidence coming through about the powerful metabolic effects of fasting, so we thought we’d jump on the timing of it all and get the information out to people in the same way as we did with WTF?
i.e. safely and effectively, along with some delicious recipes and a focus on eating whole food.”
– Dr Caryn Zinn
Definitely worth a read.
Or to learn more about Caryn visit her website or FB page.
Oh and their first book ‘What the Fat?’ is also great if you’d like to learn more about the benefits and ‘how to’ of eating low carb.
With love,
Jules x
ps. Would you like my personal help to experience the benefits of fasting?
Then I’d love you to join me in Stonesoup Health Coaching.
Where we can work together 1:1 to help you achieve your health goals and find peace with food.
Click here to discover more.
If one does the long fasts 2 days a week, are they supposed to be back to back days? I was thinking Wednesdays and Fridays, but both the book cover (Mondays/Tuesdays) and your post (Thursdays/Fridays) seem to indicate it’s better to do two consecutive days.
Any fasting is helpful Angela. But there are added benefits of doing the two days consecutively. In the book the ketone levels on the second day of the consecutive fast was significantly higher.
If you can back to back is slightly better. But I’ve also done Monday and Thursdays and had good results with that.
Mixing it up can be a good idea too
Good on you Jules. Is there any new territory you are not exploring? Three cheers for adventure I say!!!
I like this fasting stuff because for years I have been admonished for ‘not eating breakfast’. On top of that, in my ‘natural state’ of indoor (minor) and outdoor (major) activity I often forget ‘to eat lunch’! More warnings from well meaning friends and family. No effort to avoid food has taken place most probably because I declared there to be no difference between work and play consequently I play all day, and, just like a kid, I do not stop for meals when I am having fun.
How lovely for you to show me this is not only okay but also actually good for me.
Thank you as always. I will now extend this pattern just a little more – a few more hours if you like. I expect the best.
Long may you run. (Neil Young)
Oh wonderful Jude! Love the idea of playing all day and not stopping for meals while you’re having fun. I imagine the obesity epedemic would be a thing of the past if the whole world adopted this :)
And you know I’m all about the adventure.
These days I’m heavily into exploring the world of stress reduction to improve my sleep. So fun! And lots more playing so am sure you would approve.
Jx