Incorporating Intermittent Fasting into Your Lifestyle in Ormskirk
Many folks here in Ormskirk have given intermittent fasting a go, aiming to manage their weight or support healthier insulin and cholesterol levels. However, the vast majority don’t stick with it long enough to witness genuine benefits.
The good news? There’s more than one way to nail intermittent fasting—and it’s worth the effort. Keep these do’s and don’ts in mind as you weave intermittent fasting into your lifestyle in our lovely town of Ormskirk.
What is Intermittent Fasting?
First off, let’s clear up what intermittent fasting is all about. Put simply, intermittent fasting is an eating pattern that cycles between periods of eating and fasting each day. The idea is to extend the fasting period (say, 16 hours, most of which happens while you’re sleeping) to allow your body to tap into stored fat for energy and support healthy blood sugar levels.
With that in mind, let’s dive into some tips to help you get the best results from intermittent fasting.
Do:
- Start slow. Just like you wouldn’t go from couch potato to marathon runner overnight, the same principle applies to intermittent fasting. While some folks might opt to go cold turkey, it’s usually better to start with small, achievable goals. For example, try avoiding snacks after dinner or eat breakfast an hour later. Gradually increase your fasting period as your body adjusts.
- Pick the right schedule for you. Many people here in Ormskirk find success with the 16:8 method, which means fasting for 16 hours between dinner and your first meal the next day. For instance, you’d eat between noon and 8 p.m., then fast until noon the next day. Feel free to tweak your fasting and eating times to suit your lifestyle. If a 16-hour fast seems a bit much initially, try fasting for 12 or 14 hours instead. The key is to find a sustainable routine that works for the long haul.
- Drink lots of water. While it’s great to give our bodies a break from food, they still need water. Staying hydrated helps our bodies work better all-around. Plus, drinking plenty of water helps stave off those pesky cravings.
- Eat wholesome meals. During your eating window, fill your diet with fruits, vegetables, healthy fats, lean proteins, and fiber. Wholesome foods not only provide essential nutrients but also help you go longer without feeling hungry. Steer clear of high-sugar and simple carbohydrate foods, which can leave you ravenous shortly after.
- Keep an IF journal. When you’re starting out, keep track of the foods you eat, the schedules you try, and how you feel each day. This info will help you fine-tune your approach to build a long-term plan tailored to your needs.
Don’t:
- Binge during your eating window. Just because you’ve fasted for 16 hours doesn’t give you carte blanche to eat everything in sight for the next eight hours. What you eat still matters. Focus on wholesome foods and avoid high-calorie items that don’t fill you up.
- Don’t undereat. Intermittent fasting isn’t about undereating but rather optimizing your eating times so your body uses stored fat for energy. Make sure you’re getting enough nutrients during your eating window.
- Don’t give up too soon. To really see the benefits of intermittent fasting—and trust me, there are plenty—you’ll need to stick with it for at least 30 days. As your body gets used to the new routine, you’ll start seeing real results. If it feels too hard, try shorter fasting periods until you find what suits you best. Once you’ve acclimated, you might even stretch it to 16 hours with ease.
- Don’t expect perfection. You don’t need to be perfect at intermittent fasting to be successful. Life happens—late-night dinners, special occasions—these interruptions are normal. Aim for consistency rather than perfection, and you’ll do just fine.
When Willpower Isn’t Enough
Let’s be honest, sometimes willpower alone isn’t enough to keep you going with intermittent fasting in Ormskirk. But with a little help, it’s much more manageable.
Two Unicity products—Unimate and Balance—can support your intermittent fasting efforts.
- Unimate is a yerba mate drink rich in chlorogenic acid, the component that gives you that “get-up-and-go” feeling. It boosts mood, supports mental stamina, focus, and motivation, helping you fend off cravings and re-energize between meals.
- Balance is a pre-meal drink featuring a patented fiber matrix with bioactive plant compounds, polysaccharides, and micronutrients. It helps mitigate the effects of excess carbohydrates and cholesterol and curbs your appetite with its soluble fibers.
We call this combination—the Feel Great program—because that’s exactly how people feel when they stick to it. Discover more about the Feel Great program and see how it can make intermittent fasting in Ormskirk less of a chore and more of a lifestyle change for the better.
Ready to give intermittent fasting another try? Armed with these tips and products, you’re all set to make the most of it right here in Ormskirk.