By I tried and failed at fasting on my first try — but now I know the secret to success!
I vowed initially never to intermittently fast ever again. I tried it once and hated every minute of it. I would listen to my stomach growl incessantly, and there I was, distracted by all the wonderful food pictures Pinterest could bring to me. Instead of working, I was thinking about food, counting my own until I could eat food, and then stuff myself with as much food as possible. Wow, that was awful — why would I even subject myself to something so horrible? Well, I did, and it ended pretty quickly. As a result, I got fat — not that in a sense that everyone would notice. The most crucial person who saw it was me? I wouldn’t say I liked the way I looked and how my body got out of control. Seven years later, in desperation, my friend suggested I try fasting again. But I tried and failed that before — was I that stupid to try it again?
Some people might say I was, but that was about two years ago — and I’m still going strong.
What did I do this time around differently than I failed to realise before? Here it is:
One: I discovered when I was most likely to be extremely hungry during the day.
The catalyst for your fasting success or failure is when you choose not to eat. The worst time to pick is when you are usually hungry. For me, that’s the morning, as I don’t feel hungry at night. Other people prefer to have dinner — they can’t deal without food at night as they can’t sleep. This is called your circadian rhythm, and it’s essential to stick to it at all times. Make it easy on yourself by paying attention to your internal body clock — and you can’t go wrong.
Three: I ate enough to sustain my fasts — but not too much to stop fat loss
Eating enough is essential. I don’t always get it right, but a good portion of protein is necessary. I swap and change, but it’s usually the same. Don’t skimp on the carbs if you train, either. Carbs are essential for replenishing your muscles. Try eating more oats and sweet potatoes. Four: I stuck with it every day for consistency I never really fail to fast at all — apart from an odd celebratory day. That happens about 1–3 times a year. I’m so used to fasting that I don’t feel hungry for an evening meal as much. Even if I do feel hungry, my body craves no food at all. The evenings are for repair and regeneration. So I stick with the plan every single day. Is that obsessive? No, I just like doing the same thing over, having a great nights sleep and sticking to my goals. These are the three main success factors in fasting. Admittedly, they take a bit of time to figure out — but once you do, you’re on your way to the top.