Exploring Intermittent Fasting in Garstang: Tips for Success
Many people in Garstang have given intermittent fasting a shot as a way to manage their weight or support healthy insulin and cholesterol levels. But let’s face it, most don’t stick with it long enough to see real benefits.
The good news for folks in Garstang is that there’s more than one way to succeed at intermittent fasting—and the efforts are well worth it. So, keep these do’s and don’ts in mind as you incorporate intermittent fasting into your lifestyle here in Garstang.
What is Intermittent Fasting?
First off, let’s make sure we understand what intermittent fasting is. Put simply, intermittent fasting is an eating pattern that cycles between eating and fasting throughout the day. The idea is to go longer periods of time—say, 16 hours, a lot of which happen 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 in mind, let’s start with some tips that will help you get the best results from intermittent fasting.
Do:
- Start Slow: You wouldn’t jump straight from couch potato to marathon runner. The same goes for intermittent fasting. While some may dive right in, we recommend starting with small, achievable goals, like not snacking after dinner or eating breakfast an hour later. Gradually work toward a longer fasting period as your body adjusts.
- Pick the Right Schedule: Find the intermittent fasting schedule that works for you. Many find success with the 16:8 method, which means fasting for 16 hours between dinner and your first meal the next day. For example, you’d eat all your meals between noon and 8 p.m., then fast until noon the next day. Feel free to adjust your fasting start and end times to suit your Garstang lifestyle.
- Drink Lots of Water: While it’s good to give your body breaks from food, always stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water to help you feel fuller and stave off cravings.
- Eat Wholesome Meals: During your eating window, fill it with fruits, vegetables, healthy fats, lean protein, and fiber. Wholesome foods help you get essential nutrients and make it easier to go longer without food. Avoid high-sugar and simple carbohydrate foods that leave you hungry shortly after eating.
- Keep an IF Journal: When you’re starting out, track the foods you eat, the schedules you try, and how you feel each day. This will help you determine what works best for you so you can build a long-term plan tailored to your needs.
Don’ts:
- Don’t Binge: Just because you fasted for 16 hours doesn’t mean you get a free pass to eat everything you want for eight hours. The food you eat still matters. Focus on wholesome foods, and avoid high-calorie foods that aren’t filling.
- Don’t Eat Too Little: Intermittent fasting isn’t about starvation. It’s about allowing your body to tap into stored fat for energy. Ensure you’re eating enough during your eating window.
- Don’t Give Up Too Soon: To start seeing intermittent fasting benefits—and there are many—you’ll need to stick with it for at least 30 days. If 16-hour fasting is too hard, start with 12 or 14 hours and work your way up.
- Don’t Expect Perfection: You don’t have to be perfect at intermittent fasting to succeed. A bad day won’t erase progress. Life happens, and your eating habits will be affected from time to time. Aim for consistency rather than perfection.
When Willpower Isn’t Enough in Garstang
Sometimes, willpower alone isn’t enough to maintain intermittent fasting long-term, even for folks in Garstang. But with a little help, intermittent fasting becomes much more achievable.
Two Unicity products—Unimate and Balance—work together to help you extend the time between dinner and your first meal the following day.
- Unimate: This yerba mate drink contains 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.
- Balance: This pre-meal drink features a patented fiber matrix with bioactive plant compounds, polysaccharides, and micronutrients. The fibers help mitigate the impact of excess carbohydrates and cholesterol and curb your appetite.
We call these two products plus intermittent fasting the Feel Great program because, well, people feel great when they stick to this method. Learn more about Feel Great and see how it can help you get the most out of intermittent fasting, all while fitting seamlessly into life in Garstang.