Have you seen people on social media or even your family partaking in the intermittent fasting lifestyle (IF), but have no idea what it is or how to do it? Well Sister, even though it’s more prominent in your news feed, fasting has been around since the beginning of time. Cavemen fasted because they were forced to, people of the Bible fasted to seek God’s guidance, so all this fuss that you are seeing isn’t some “new fad diet”. Instead, it’s a VERY manageable way to lose or manage your weight without having to go to extremes. Today I’m sharing a part of my journey with you and some of the benefits of intermittent fasting and why it might be a good option for you to consider on your journey to being a happy and healthy mama!

What is Intermittent Fasting?

According to Healthline.com, “Intermittent fasting (IF) is a term for an eating pattern that cycles between periods of fasting and eating. It does not say anything about which foods you should eat, but rather when you should eat them. In this respect, it is not a "diet" in the conventional sense. It is more accurately described as an "eating pattern."

A Beginner’s Guide to Intermittent Fasting

My intermittent fasting journey started five years ago. I had heard about it and wanted to see what all the fuss was about. So I did a little research and found out that it was relatively simple - you choose your “eating window” every day and that is the ONLY time you eat your meals. The other hours of the day, you fast and let your body really break down that food that you’ve consumed.

The most basic formula is this - you fast for 16 hours, followed by an 8 hour eating window.

So I started not eating breakfast and only eating my meals between 12pm and 8pm. After 8pm at night, there was no snacking or eating until lunch at noon the next day. My body quickly adjusted to this schedule and it was an easy way for me to manage my weight without having to count calories, or go by any diet’s standards.

The true test was when we took the kids to Disney for the first time. I wanted to be in the moment with my family, so I didn’t restrict myself to certain types of foods and just enjoyed park food (let’s be honest - we know that Disney is not known for the healthiest foods)! I ate whatever I wanted BUT the one rule was that I stayed in my eating window. I enjoyed the special time with my family and when I got back, I was sure that I had gained about 5lbs from all the park food!. However after getting on the scale, I saw that I didn’t gain a single pound! Not one!

Since that moment, I have decided to stick with intermittent fasting and make it my lifestyle. Once in a while I do enjoy a good breakfast, but I have really been dedicated to IF and love how it has given me that balance of enjoying things that I love without being so restricted.

Why Should you Consider Intermittent Fasting?

I think that intermittent fasting is a great tool for busy mamas to utilize on their health journey because it’s so simple AND There are SO many great benefits to it! Check out these six reasons why IF may be great for you!

1. Intermittent fasting can lead to weight loss.

Instead of your body being fueled by the food you just ate, fasting allows your body to “feed” off of your reserves. Since this is a structured way of life, this can be a sustained weight loss instead of a “crash diet”.

2. Intermittent fasting stabilizes your glucose.

Especially for diabetics, intermittent fasting can be a great way to normalize glucose and is a natural way to increase insulin insensitivity.

3. Intermittent fasting boosts your metabolism.

Restriction of eating, followed by eating regular food helps stimulate your metabolism to work efficiently.

4. Intermittent fasting improves life longevity.

IF can delay the development of disorders that could potentially lead to illness or death. Research shows that people who fast have a longer and healthier life than people who eat 3 regular meals plus snacks a day. “Head of the National Institute on Aging’s neuroscience laboratory, Mark Mattson, says the mild stress that intermittent fasting puts on the body provides a constant threat. This increases the body’s powerful cellular defenses against potential molecular damage. Intermittent fasting also stimulates the body to maintain and repair tissues. It’s anti-aging benefits, keep every organ and cell functioning effectively and efficiently.”

5. Intermittent fasting help train your body to understand hunger.

By listening to your body, you can start to notice true hunger vs emotional cravings.

6. Intermittent fasting establishes a routine for your body.

Having strict eating times followed by periods of fasting can help your body develop a steady routine that can be followed for a longer amount of time.

These six reasons are just scratching the surface of why intermittent fasting is a great option for busy mamas who are looking to manage or lose weight! As a veteran of this lifestyle I’m always available to answer any questions you may have about intermittent fasting.