By It’s time to put an end to the annoying grumbling
It’s perfectly normal for your stomach to growl during the fasting period. The longer you fast, the more inclined your stomach will make some persistent music. When you fast for regular periods, this will become easier to ignore. Stomach growling is your body telling you that it would like you to eat (I just thought I’d remind you).
You can ignore this, and there are no health implications if you do not succumb to the request of your stomach. It builds a lot of self-discipline that filters through other parts of your life. As my intermittent fasting journey has progressed, I’ve armed myself with many strategies to keep the noisy distraction from bothering me and deal with the brewing hunger.
The trick is to stop eating until you reach your target fasting hour. But, of course, that’s always the goal, and during the first initial stages, this might be very challenging. But don’t worry, as your body gets used to it; you will now be the boss over hunger. Keep your health and longevity goals ahead of any grumbling you might feel.
Five ways to stop your stomach growling within your fasting window
One: Drink black coffee, herbal teas and green tea
Caffeine helps to curb hunger straight away. It’s also great for increasing your energy levels and providing you with that productivity boost you might need during certain parts of the day. Herbal teas are also great because they are caffeine-free and provide a relaxing phase to your strategy. Teas are great when you feel like unwinding in the afternoons or evenings. You don’t want to drink coffee a few hours before bed, as it may prevent you from sleeping well. If you find that caffeine doesn’t upset your sleep, go ahead and drink it as you wish. You can opt for peppermint, chamomile or a detox tea. It helps to cleanse the liver and settle the rumbling stomach.
Two: Drink a lot of water during the day
Sipping water is a great way to begin hydrating your body again. I like to place a wedge of lemon or lime in my water with some ice. That’s very refreshing on a summer’s day. Opt for a slice of ginger, lime, or lemon in tea during winter. I recommend drinking a couple of glasses of hot water with lemon and ginger on an empty stomach. It helps with digestion and constipation symptoms that you might get when fasting. Either way, you are spicing your water up with some flavour that won’t break your fast. This is great for detoxifying the liver. Aim to drink one glass of water per hour. You may be taking several trips to the bathroom, but it’s completely worth it!
Three: If you find food tempting, stay away from it when in the fasting period
It’s essential to keep yourself occupied during the fasting period. The more inclined you are around food, the more tempting it will be. Why allow yourself to be led into the doorway of food temptation? I still like to make my family dinner, as I get the experience of making a meal and preparing mine for when I break my fast the next day. It satisfies my need to cook something wholesome for myself & the people I love. If you keep yourself occupied well, you will not think about eating or become tempted. Remember that this is entirely normal during the first few fasts. It will become a lot easier as you keep practising the art of self-control.
Four: Get to sleep early
Sometimes, sleeping it off can give us an easy way out of the grumbling. In the early days of my fasting, I was pretty tired, and this was because of alterations happening within my body. We are transitioning from burning sugar to ketones. It can leave us feeling lethargic, down and exhausted. I found that going to bed a bit earlier helped me a lot. I allowed this to happen for as long as I needed it. Before long, my energy levels increased, and I did more during my fasting time frame. It’s incredible how our bodies run so well when we allow them to heal and regenerate. If you have trouble sleeping, why not try a magnesium supplement? This always guarantees I will fall asleep in no time.
Five: Eating enough calories when in the feeding window.
It’s essential to eat wholesome food when you eat any meal. That means getting enough protein, vegetables and a small number of carbs. Your intake will depend on your activity levels, but you must get enough calories throughout the day. It will help transition those energy sources well into your fasting period, delaying the onset of hunger. Again, I find this tactic works well.
Key take away
I have fasted for several years now. My body has become accustomed to the never-ending waves of fasting.
Sometimes I do not fast, but I have found that my digestion becomes very inflamed. You might find the same is true for you.
You don’t feel at your best when you eat something during fasting. I urge you to try a few things for yourself and see how your body and mind feel. These will all impact your quality of life; therefore, you will find it much easier if you use fasting to help you get through them.
Good luck on your journey. It’s worth those minor hunger pains for all the massive gains you will receive from fasting.
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