Fad diets are a real thing. We’ve all done them, and we’ve all failed miserably.
The truth is, everyone fails when it comes to these diets, because suceeding would involve extreme restriction and making yourself rather miserable in the process. Surely life is too short?
So, what if we were to tell you that there is a way you can lose weight, without restricting yourself to the point of tears?
Intermittent fasting is certainly something you’ll have heard mentioned, and the word ‘fasting’ tends to put a lot of people off. Within the intermitttent fasting umbrella there are several methods, and one is not only extremely sustainable, but actually pretty low impact at the same time. We are talking about the 16/8 Method.
Before we go on, if you’re on any regular medication or you have any specific medical condition or concerns, speak to your doctor before you try any type of intermittent fasting, 16/8 or otherwise.
Warning out of the way, let’s explore this less demanding way to lose weight.
What is 16/8?
The 16/8 Method involves an active eating window of 8 hours per day, with a fasting window of 16 hours. Yes, 16 hours sounds like a long time, but you’re probably going to be sleeping for around 8 of those hours! This method can be as simple as just not eating anything after dinner.
You can choose when your eating window begins, and it continues for 8 hours, before you start for your fasting time. You can skip breakfast and begin your eating window at around 11 or 12pm if you want to, which enables you to eat until around 8pm. This is ideal if you’re someone who doesn’t necessarily like eating as soon as they wake up. Put simply, you have the freedom to choose.
The other piece of good news is that when you’re following the 16/8, you don’t have to restrict yourself to a super low amount of calories. Of course, you can’t eat whatever the hell you want, in any quantity, but provided you keep it generally healthy, you can have a treat or two without any guilt. There isn’t a diet on this planet which will let you eat pizza, chips, and burgers all day and still lose weight, so the ability to have the odd one is a perk you won’t get with many other weight loss methods.
You can also arrange everything within your eating window. For example, if you want to head out with friends for a meal, you can do so within your eating time and then stop to fast, guilt-free.
Does it Work?
The idea behind intermittent fasting is that you’re activating a normal metabolic process called autophagy. This has many wellbeing perks but you also lose weight if you keep your eating generally healthy. Of course, all of this hinges on you being moderately healthy anyway; if you eat too many calories during your eating window, you’re probably going to put weight on whether you fast for 16 hours or not! Instead, keep everything healthy and keep treats within moderation. If you can do that, you’ll certainly notice weight loss, as well as a boost in energy, better skin, and an increase in mental clarity.
If you’re tried several fad diets over the years and you’re frustrated at a lack of results, trying the 16/8 method could prove to be a change which fits into your lifestyle with ease, avoiding resiriction and keeping a smile on your face.
