Remember your fitness goals?

Don’t scroll down. Yes — I am talking to you. 

There are too many fad diets that pop up out of nowhere and that makes it even more difficult to choose which one to follow. Here’s an ancient secret that might work out (pun intended) for you: intermittent fasting.

How does it work? 

It’s pretty simple: Just skip your breakfast to follow the 16:8 ratio 

This means fasting for 16 hours while allowing yourself an eight-hour period to eat. In essence, you should enjoy your first meal at lunch with your amigas while your last meal should be consumed no later than 8:00 in the evening. If you need an extra 20 minutes every morning to beat the rush hour, then this is your perfect excuse. 

Don’t worry, you can still sip your coffee and tea during the fasting period. 

What makes intermittent fasting different from other kinds of diets is that it does not eliminate what food to eat; rather, it puts emphasis on when you should eat. Feel free to indulge in that second piece of Original Glaze Krispy Kreme donut, and don’t feel guilty for having that carbo-loaded mid-afternoon snack—we get it, some days are worse than others! This, however, should not be confused with overeating unhealthy food. Use your eating window to be mindful of what you put into your body.

What happens to my body?

Every time you eat, the carbohydrates from your food break down into glucose, which in turn serves as the main energy source for your body. A natural hormone called insulin transports the glucose to each of your cells but not everything is utilized. Hence, the excess energy is stored as fat. 

Now, this is the fun part: When your body is on a fasted state, your blood sugar levels go down. This means that your body is forced to use the excess fat to keep your system up and running by converting it back to glucose as energy. 

Losing fat this way is beneficial not just to fitness junkies, but to those who are diabetic as well. Following the analogy aforementioned earlier, there is no need for the body to produce insulin since no food needs to be processed. Furthermore, this also promotes brain health as it prolongs the survival of neurons. 

This can shed off the pounds you gained over the holidays while improving your metabolic health by 14% at the same time, according to this study. The best part is that it’s free – no need to buy anything at all.

Is this for me?

Generally, intermittent fasting is safe for everyone except for children, pregnant or lactating women, and those with other pre-existing medical conditions such as advanced diabetes, eating disorders, or if one is severely underweight. It is still best to consult with your doctor or nutritionist to factor in your medical history and overall well-being.

A journey towards a healthier lifestyle is always a good choice for anyone, and if intermittent fasting sounds like a step in the right direction, then it’s a great place to start. Pair it with a regular exercise routine for the best weight-loss results, stay hydrated, and always keep in mind that the best way to take care of your body is to listen to it.