Embracing Intermittent Fasting in Colne: A Comprehensive Guide
Many residents of Colne have tried intermittent fasting as a way to manage their weight and support healthy insulin and cholesterol levels. However, the challenge often lies in sticking to it long enough to reap the real benefits. The good news? There’s more than one way to succeed at intermittent fasting—and the efforts are indeed worth it.
Here are some critical do’s and don’ts to keep in mind as you integrate intermittent fasting into your lifestyle right here in Colne.
Understanding Intermittent Fasting
First off, let’s make sure we understand what intermittent fasting actually is. Put simply, intermittent fasting is an eating pattern that cycles between periods of eating and fasting each day. The idea is to go longer stretches of time—say, 16 hours (a lot of which take place while you’re sleeping)—without eating. This allows your body to tap into stored fat for energy and supports healthy blood sugar levels.
With that basic understanding, let’s dive into some practical tips that will help you achieve the best results from intermittent fasting here in Colne.
Do:
- Start Slow. You wouldn’t leap straight from couch potato to marathon runner, so don’t dive headfirst into long fasting periods. Start with small, achievable goals. For example, try not snacking after dinner or eating breakfast an hour later. Gradually work your way up to longer fasting periods as your body adjusts.
- Pick the Right Schedule. Many people find success with the 16:8 method—fasting for 16 hours and eating during an 8-hour window. You might choose to eat all your meals between noon and 8 p.m., and fast until noon the next day. Tailor the times to fit your lifestyle in Colne. If you need to eat earlier, start your fast at 5 or 6 p.m. If 16 hours seems too lengthy, begin with a 12 or 14-hour fast and adjust as needed.
- Stay Hydrated. Drinking plenty of water is essential. Water not only keeps us hydrated but also helps us feel fuller, serving as a valuable tool to stave off cravings during fasting periods.
- Eat Wholesome Meals. Ensure your eating windows are filled with fruits, vegetables, healthy fats, lean protein, and fiber. Wholesome foods not only provide essential nutrients but also make it easier to go longer between meals. Avoid high-sugar and simple carbohydrate foods; they often leave you hungry soon after eating.
- Keep an IF Journal. As you begin, keep track of the foods you consume, the different schedules you try, and how you feel each day. This will help you identify what works best, enabling you to build a long-term plan tailored to your needs.
Don’t:
- Avoid Binge Eating. Fasting for 16 hours doesn’t give you a free pass to eat everything in sight during your eating window. Focus on eating wholesome foods and avoid high-calorie items that are not filling.
- Don’t Swing to Extremes. Avoid under-eating during your eating window. Intermittent fasting isn’t about restricting calories but about allowing your body to tap into stored fat for energy.
- Don’t Give Up Too Soon. To see the benefits of intermittent fasting, you need to stick with it for at least 30 days. If a 16-hour fast is too hard, start with shorter periods and gradually increase the fasting window.
- Expect Perfection. You don’t have to be perfect at intermittent fasting to succeed. Consistency over perfection is key. A bad day or a late-night dinner with friends won’t derail your progress in the long run.
When Willpower Isn’t Enough
Sometimes, willpower alone may not be sufficient to maintain intermittent fasting long-term. In such cases, a little help can make all the difference.
Two Unicity products—Unimate and Balance—can assist you in extending the time between dinner and your first meal the following day.
Unimate is a yerba mate drink packed with up to 10 times the amount of chlorogenic acid (the feel-good, “get-up-and-go” component) found in a premium cup of coffee. It helps boost mood, supports mental stamina, focus, and motivation, and helps fend off cravings between meals.
Balance is a pre-meal drink featuring a patented fiber matrix with bioactive plant compounds, polysaccharides, and micronutrients. This fiber matrix is designed to mitigate the impact of excess carbohydrates and cholesterol while curbing your appetite.
We call this combination of products and intermittent fasting the Feel Great program because, well, people feel great when they stick to this method. Learn more about Feel Great and discover how it can help you get the most out of intermittent fasting, without requiring extra effort on your part.
So whether you’re walking through Alkincoats Park or enjoying a quiet moment by the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, you now have the strategies to make intermittent fasting work for you here in Colne.