Unlock the Benefits of Intermittent Fasting in Trawden
Many have turned to intermittent fasting as a way to manage weight or support healthy insulin and cholesterol levels. However, not everyone sticks with it long enough to see real benefits. But don’t worry, there are more ways than one to succeed at intermittent fasting—and your efforts are definitely worth it. Keep these do’s and don’ts in mind as you incorporate intermittent fasting into your lifestyle right here in Trawden.
What is Intermittent Fasting?
First off, let’s ensure we understand what intermittent fasting is. Put simply, intermittent fasting is an eating pattern that cycles between eating and fasting each day. The idea is to go longer periods 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 support healthy blood sugar levels.
With that in mind, let’s start with tips that will help you get the best results from intermittent fasting in Trawden.
Do:
- Start slow: You wouldn’t jump straight from couch potato to marathon runner. The same principle applies to intermittent fasting. Although for some, going full cold turkey works, it’s often better to start with smaller, more 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 intermittent fasting schedule that works for you: Many find the best results with the 16:8 method, which means fasting for 16 hours between dinner and your first meal the next day. For example, you would eat all your meals between noon and 8 p.m. and then fast until noon the next day. Adjust your fasting start and end times to fit your lifestyle. If you need to eat earlier in the day, try starting your fast at 5 or 6 p.m.
- Drink lots of water: It’s good to give our bodies breaks from food, but not from water. Our bodies work better all-around when we stay hydrated. Plus, drinking plenty of water helps us feel fuller and stave off cravings.
- Eat wholesome meals: Whatever your eating window is, fill it with fruits, vegetables, healthy fats, lean protein, and fiber. Fueling your body with wholesome foods not only helps you get the nutrients you need each day but also makes it easier to go longer periods without food.
- Keep an IF journal: When you’re first getting started, keep track of the foods you eat, the different schedules you’ve tried, and how you feel each day. This will help you determine what works and what doesn’t, so you can build a long-term plan customized to your needs.
Don’ts:
- Binge during your eating window: Just because you fasted for 16 hours doesn’t mean you get a free pass to eat everything in sight during your eating window. Focus on wholesome foods and try to avoid high-calorie options that aren’t filling.
- Don’t eat too little: Intermittent fasting isn’t a diet, but a time-based eating pattern that allows our bodies to tap into stored fat for energy, rather than relying on a near-constant supply of carbohydrates.
- Don’t give up too soon: To start seeing the benefits of intermittent fasting—of which there are many—you’ll need to stick with it for at least 30 days. Once your body is used to its new time-based eating schedule, that’s when you’ll start seeing results.
- Don’t expect perfection: You don’t have to be perfect at intermittent fasting to succeed. Interruptions are a part of life, and your eating habits will be affected from time to time. Aim for consistency rather than perfection.
When Willpower Isn’t Enough
When it comes down to it, willpower alone may not be enough to succeed at intermittent fasting long term. But with a little help, intermittent fasting becomes much more doable.
Two Unicity products—Unimate and Balance—work together to help you extend the time between dinner and your first meal the following day right here in Trawden.
- Unimate: This is a yerba mate drink that 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 and supports mental stamina, focus, and motivation. It also helps you fend off cravings and reenergize between meals.
- Balance: This pre-meal drink consists of a patented fiber matrix that includes bioactive plant compounds, polysaccharides, and micronutrients. The fiber matrix is designed to help ease the impact of excess carbohydrates and cholesterol, and the soluble fibers help 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—without making you work harder for it.