Is Fasting a Fad?
Every year, a new diet program appears promising to make our weight loss dreams a reality. Whether it is the high-fat, protein-packed Atkins diet, or the calorie-restrictive South Beach Diet, there is no shortage of programs to choose from.
Unfortunately, for most of us, diet programs are just too, well… programmatic. Calorie counting, special ingredients, and special measuring devices make it difficult to follow many programs day after day. And if we give into our cravings, jumping back onto our chosen diet plan feels like a punishment.
Fasting Is Not a Diet
Losing weight requires your body to burn more calories than it takes in. Although this is an overly simplistic explanation of how someone loses weight, this premise forms the foundation of almost every diet plan.
Fasting, however, is different. The idea behind fasting is to reduce the number of hours when we eat and allow more time for our bodies to rest, repair, and rejuvenate itself. Consequently, fewer hours of eating will likely result in few calories consumed when not fasting.
When someone fasts, the body intakes less energy (calories), has more time to regulate fat stores, and weight will begin to shed. And, because there are no calories to count, recipes to learn, or special meals to purchase, fasting is an incredibly easy program to stick to. But fasting is not a silver bullet.
Fasting Is Not for Everyone
While theoretically calorie intake should drop along with the pounds, studies are showing the opposite is occurring in many individuals. The culprit – not understanding basic nutrition.
After not eating for 16 hours, or completely fasting for a whole day, it is not uncommon for people to consume more calories than when not fasting. This often occurs as a means to “reward” oneself for completing their fast. Ultimately, the benefits of resting the body are wasted, having now needing to process even more food than before.
Fasting is a Lifestyle Choice
Like any form of diet or exercise, discuss the benefits and risks of fasting with your physician before starting your own regime. Like any weight management program, proper nutrition and exercise are critical. Fasting alone will not help you reach your goals, but as a part of a healthy lifestyle, fasting could increase your overall health and energy.
Featured Blogs
- Aging and Our Body’s Ability to Heal Itself
- What is Credit Health Insurance?
- Keeping Health Insurance After a Layoff
- Waking Up to the Impact of Insomnia
- How Life Insurance Benefits Women
- Electric Car: To Buy or to Lease?
- What experts say about raising the retirement age
- Coverage for healthcare treatment denied? Here’s what you can do.
- How are the proceeds of a life settlement taxed?
- Sharing the Road with Cyclists
- Buying Life Insurance for an Elderly Parent?
- What Every Renter Needs to Know about Renters Insurance
- Medicaid Unwinding: Your Questions Answered
- Does Uber Insurance Cover Passengers?
- Living Your Best Life After 60
- Weird Things Covered by Home Insurance
- Buying Health Insurance: A Millennial’s Guide
- Self-Love Ideas for Valentine’s Day
- Life Without Clutter
- Set Yourself Up for Success with Your Fitness Routine
- When to Upgrade Your Auto Insurance
- Winter Hydration – Do I Need It?
- What Does My Home Insurance Policy Cover?
- I’m 60+; Do I Need Life Insurance?
- Why Do I Keep Breaking My New Year’s Resolutions?
- Closing Out the Year with a Smile!
- How to Enjoy a Long Layover
- Are You Paying Too Much for Auto Insurance?
- 6 Cold Weather Safety Tips
- 10 Tips for Managing Cholesterol Levels
- How Social Security Cost-of-Living Adjustments Affect Your Taxes
- How Much Life Insurance Do You Need Right Now?
- LA County COVID Vaccine Info
- The Case(s) to Buy Life Insurance for Your Child
- SimpliSafe vs. Ring, Which is Right for You?
- What Medical Bills are Tax Deductible for 2019?
- Are You in a Flood Zone? The Answers Might Surprise you!
- The Safest Vehicles to Buy in Model Year 2020
- Freezing Pipes Burst! Am I Covered?
- This is Why You Pay Taxes on Employer-Sponsored Disability Insurance