Intermittent Fasting Guide: A Great Way To Lose Weight

Last Updated on July 26, 2023 by Lori Geurin

This intermittent fasting guide is perfect for anyone new to fasting or wanting to learn more. Plus, you’ll learn about fasting health benefits, clean versus dirty fasting, reactive hypoglycemia, and fasting schedules.

Intermittent fasting (IF) is now one of the most popular health trends in the world. It’s a great way to burn fat and build muscle! You can lose impressive amounts of weight without feeling hungry. Plus, the health benefits are powerful too. In this ultimate guide to intermittent fasting, you’ll learn all the basics you need to get started with this fantastic wellness practice.

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So let’s jump right in…

The Ultimate Guide To Intermittent Fasting

What Is Intermittent Fasting?

Intermittent fasting is an eating pattern – a timing concept. It’s not a diet. It is not about what you choose to eat. But it’s all about when you eat (or don’t eat).

It’s eating or not eating strategically.

Though IF has recently gained a considerable following, it’s been around for ages. People were once hunters and gatherers who would go for days without food…out of necessity.

Our bodies are well-oiled machines designed to withstand feast or famine.

Modern-day eating habits often center around our fast-paced lives. Eating frequent meals and snacks of highly processed and fast food is the norm for many people. But this doesn’t give your body time to rejuvenate and repair the damage these chemicals can do over time.

(Here are 50 things to do instead of eating when you’re intermittent fasting.)

IF is a natural approach to cleaning up your cells by autophagy, which boosts your body’s ability to function more efficiently.

Best of all, almost anyone can do it. It’s especially popular with weightlifters and elite athletes in the fitness industry, most likely because it allows you to maintain and even gain muscle while losing fat.

Here are 100+ fitness motivation quotes to inspire you.

So let’s take a look at how to do IF.

Intermittent Fasting Times and Methods

There are different IF eating schedules you can follow. Below are some of the most popular methods.

You can check out our Intermittent Fasting shirts and apparel in our Wellness Lori shop.

Simply click on the t-shirt below.

1. Time-Restricted Eating

There are various forms of this fasting method. A popular one is known as the Leangains protocol (initially developed for weightlifters) or the 16:8 diet plan because you fast for 16 hours and eat all your food within 8 hours. Or any other time period you choose. (I’m just using 16:8 as an example.)

For example, you could eat from 12 pm until 8 pm daily and fast from 8 pm until 12 pm the following day.

Here are some examples of how you could transition into the 16:8 fasting plan (as opposed to going cold turkey):

16:8 Intermittent Fasting Schedule Examples

Please note in the below schedule that you can drink black coffee, tea, and water as much as you want. I just left that out for simplicity’s sake.

WEEK 1 FASTING SCHEDULE

	Sun	Mon	Tues	Wed	Thurs	Fri	Sat
Breakfast	8 am	8:30 am	9 am	9:30 am	10 am	10:30 am	11 am
Lunch	12:00 pm	12 pm	12 pm	12 pm	12 pm	12 pm	12 pm
Dinner	5:00 pm	5:30 pm	6 pm	6 pm	6 pm	6 pm	6 pm

WEEK 2 FASTING SCHEDULE

	Sun	Mon	Tues	Wed	Thurs	Fri	Sat
Lunch	12 pm	12 pm	12 pm	12 pm	12 pm	12 pm	12 pm
Dinner	6 pm	6 pm	6 pm	6 pm	6 pm	6 pm	6 pm

Another popular form of this restricted eating schedule is the circadian rhythm diet or body clock diet. The idea here is to eat within the daylight hours within a 12-hour window.

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2. Alternate Day Fasting

This is commonly known as the 5:2 Diet and is associated with British journalist Michael Mosley. Here’s one example: You eat normally on Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday while restricting your calories to around 500 per day on Monday and Wednesday.

Another variation is doing the restricted calorie days consecutively, such as Monday and Tuesday or Friday and Saturday. In this case, you would eat normally for the five other consecutive days.

Or some people like to fast every other day – known as alternate-day fasting. The beauty of fasting is that you can design it to fit your lifestyle and preferences.

RELATED: Intermittent Fasting Plateau: 9 Tips To Boost Your Weight Loss

3. One Meal A Day (OMAD)

This fasting approach has quickly gained popularity and a following on social media. It’s very effective for weight loss if done correctly, but it’s not for beginners. So if you’re new to IF, I’d recommend starting with one of the above approaches (like 16:8).

This is a 23:1 fast, so you’re fasting for 23 hours and eating your meal within a 1-hour window. As you might have guessed, if you’re doing OMAD, it’s crucial to have a micronutrient-dense meal because you’re only eating one.

Some people have lost a ton of weight doing OMAD. But, over the long term, I don’t recommend doing OMAD daily. (And my dietician friend who fasts is adamantly opposed to OMAD.) There are a few reasons for this.

First, restricting your calories daily can eventually lower your resting metabolic rate. (Have you read The Biggest Loser study?) Plus, there are valid concerns about vitamin and mineral deficiencies, people who have to take medication with food, and those who want to work out at a high intensity.

The jury is still out on the long-term impact of OMAD. But from everything I’ve read, if you try OMAD, I recommend doing it only once or twice a week, but not every day.

Related: OMAD Health Benefits And Precautions

Intermittent Fasting Rules

You may be wondering what you can eat and drink while fasting. I will give it to you straight and keep this section short and sweet. To be successful with your fasting, it’s important to do what’s referred to as clean fasting.

This means that you can have:

• Water
• Black coffee
• Unsweetened green or black tea

You want to avoid what’s called dirty fasting, which is essentially everything else and includes:

• Coffee creamer
• Milk
• Artificial sweeteners
• Bone broth
• Everything that’s not listed under clean fasting

For more clarity on this, go to What Is Clean Fasting And How Does It Work.

So, here’s a common question…

How Does Intermittent Fasting Work? (The Sciencey Stuff)

And here’s the simplified answer…When you eat a meal, your body spends several hours processing and digesting the food. During this time, the body takes energy from the food you’ve eaten.

Feeding And Fasting

When you’re eating or in a feeding state, insulin production tends to be high. This prevents your body from burning stored fat.

But, when your body is in a fasting state, the blood sugar and insulin levels are reduced dramatically.[*] Plus, there’s a sharp increase in human growth hormone.[*]

These physiological changes turn the body into a fat-burning machine…a benefit we love!

Another cool thing that happens when you’re fasting is autophagy. It’s the body’s natural system for cleaning out old, damaged cells. In essence, it recycles junk from your cells that are aging your body and renews them, making everything work more efficiently.[*]

It’s a beautiful thing!

Now, on to a very popular question…

Will I Be Hungry While I’m Fasting?

It’s common to feel hungry the first few days while adjusting to the new eating pattern.

Like anything else, when your body grows accustomed to doing something for so long, it takes some time to re-calibrate and adjust to the new schedule. Initial hunger may be stronger in some people but less apparent in others.

If you decide to try IF, I urge you to stick with it for at least a month or more before you give up on fasting.

But even longer would be better. It’s one of those things that tends to get better over time.

Once you adjust to the timing schedule, you may wish you’d learned about IF sooner. This has been my experience!

I used to crave carbs and sweets several times a day before I started IF, and now I hardly ever feel hungry.

RELATED: 11 Steps To Lose Weight Easily: Staying Motivated And Maintaining Your Diet

And the intense cravings I used to get many times throughout the day? They’re practically gone! It’s a fantastic improvement compared to before.

And I’m not the only one who thinks so. I get emails, IMs, and messages from readers all the time who are doing IF and experiencing the same amazing benefits!

But don’t take my word for it…

Intermittent Fasting Health Benefits

Here are some of the impressive (and proven) benefits of IF:

• Weight loss [*]
• Fat loss, especially in the belly [*]
• Stronger insulin sensitivity [*]
• Increased human growth hormone (HGH) production [*]
• Increased metabolic rate [*]
• Changes in gene function related to longevity [*]
• Cellular repair [*]
• Reduced inflammation [*]
• Better brain health [*]
• Protection against cancer [*]

not to mention some of the other perks…

Added Benefits of Intermittent Fasting

• It’s less time-consuming because you spend less time preparing food and eating meals
• Fasting is less expensive because you eat less
• IF simplifies your life and gives you more time to do the things you love or need to do

Related: A Beginner’s Guide To Healthy Meal Prep

Intermittent Fasting For Weight Loss

As mentioned earlier, one of the incredible benefits of IF is weight loss. Not only can fasting help you consume fewer calories, but it also optimizes some key weight-loss hormones.

When you’re fasting, your insulin decreases, which tells your body to burn more fat.[*] Plus, short-term fasts boost your human growth hormone (HGH), which causes you to lose more fat and gain muscle.[*]

Pretty cool, right?

Not only that, but some evidence shows that fasting enables you to keep your muscle mass when compared to calorie-cutting diets. And, as we know, having more muscle boosts your metabolism.

Which can help you lose weight.

Not to mention the simplicity of fasting…You wake up. Grab your black coffee, tea (or water), and start your day.

There’s no wondering what you should prep and eat for breakfast because if you’re fasting, you don’t have to worry about it. Instead of having to make three healthy meals and snacks, you can focus instead on 1 or 2 healthy meals.

This frees you up to focus on other things. Simplicity is a beautiful way to live. And if you want to live more simply, the fasting lifestyle fits right in!

I’m not going to say fasting is easy (when you first start), but it is simple.

If you need a little inspiration, get the 42 intermittent fasting quotes.

If you like this guide to intermittent fasting, you’re going to love:

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Printable Intermittent Fasting Tracker

Many people are concerned about weight loss, especially women starting families or focusing on careers. Intermittent fasting can help you lose weight without feeling hungry or restricted. The secret, however, is to use the most effective tools! That’s where an intermittent fasting tracker comes in handy.

Here are six benefits of using an IF tracker:

1. Helps you stick with your plan by providing support during tough times
2. Keeps track of your progress so that you can evaluate what works best for YOU
3. Helps you stay organized
4. It keeps you going when you feel like quitting.

We created an easy-to-use printable intermittent fasting tracker to help you get the most out of your fasting lifestyle. You may see the tracker in our Thrive Berry Etsy shop by clicking through the image below.

Is Intermittent Fasting Right For Me?

Who Should Avoid Intermittent Fasting?

Although it’s generally safe for most, Dr. Eric Berg recommends the following people avoid IF:

• Women who are nursing or pregnant
• Thin people with neurodegenerative conditions
• Babies and small children
• People who have a recent history of eating disorders

For more on this, you can watch Dr. Berg’s video below, 5 Types Of People Who Should Not Do Intermittent Fasting, for more details.

https://youtu.be/tjIePX66TvU

RELATED: 7 Ways to Stay Motivated When Fasting: Tips for Intermittent Fasting Success

Intermittent Fasting and Hypoglycemia

I was diagnosed with reactive hypoglycemia several years ago. I’ve been doing 16:8 regularly for a few years and have worked up to doing intermittent OMAD fasts and a few 36-hour fasts.

I’m thankful to have had the opportunity to participate in the Fasting For Freedom Summit last spring.

When I first began IF, I started slowly to give my body time to adjust to the new schedule. My next goal is to do some 48-hour bone broth and water fasts to help heal my body from untreated Lyme and autoimmune conditions.

It’s been incredibly beneficial for my blood sugar issues and even cured my hypoglycemia. During the fasting periods, I’m cognitively sharper, have more energy, and find it easier to focus.

Related: How Intermittent Fasting Eliminated My Reactive Hypoglycemia Symptoms For Good

If you’re unsure if IF is right for you, talk to your medical professional.

A Note to Weightlifters and Fitness Buffs

Keep in mind that you may be eating fewer calories overall. Make sure you’re consuming plenty of protein, so you don’t risk losing muscle mass.

That said, please note that fasting is not the same as starving yourself, and IF has been proven to maintain muscle mass despite the intake of nutrients. This shows how efficiently our bodies are designed to work in tandem with fasting. (I just wanted to mention this in case you’re concerned.)

Supplements such as caffeine (pre-workout), BCAAs, Glutamine, and creatine are good ones to take (if you’re in your eating window). You might like to try this Healthy Coffee Drink Recipe before your training sessions (also in your eating window).

Keep in mind IF doesn’t take the place of eating a healthy diet of fresh, whole foods, plenty of leafy greens, healthy fats, and high-quality protein to fuel your body.

RELATED: Nutrition For Longevity Review: Farm Fresh Meals

Intermittent Fasting Ebook

I wrote an eBook all about my experience with intermittent fasting. As I mentioned above, this method allowed me to burn fat, lose weight (effortlessly), and be healthy….without feeling hungry – even curing my hypoglycemia. If you’d like to learn how I accomplished these great results, you’ll want to check out my book HERE!

Final Words – Intermittent Fasting Guide

I hope you’ve found this intermittent fasting ultimate quick guide incredibly helpful and refer back to it in the future.

As you know, IF is an eating pattern. It’s not a diet.

Fasting has powerful health benefits, including increased longevity, fat loss, and weight loss, blood sugar regulation, and improved brain health. Clean fasting is the best way to get maximum benefits from your efforts.

Depending on your goals and lifestyle, you can choose from several different fasting schedules. Most people can do fasting and enjoy the excellent benefits. But it’s not for everyone.

You may want to try it yourself and see if you love it as much as I do. It’s always a good idea to talk to your doctor to ensure it’s a good fit for you.

I hope this post has given you a good foundation for starting your intermittent fasting journey! xx Lori

Have you tried intermittent fasting? Share your experience below!

This post has been updated.