Hey all!
I’ve been consistently doing 16:8 for the past 2 weeks, and I’m already feeling much better with my overall health, I’m just wondering, besides the obvious weight loss, what’re some of the main benefits y’all have noticed during IF?
I follow IF daily (at least 16/8, but usually 18/6 or 20/4) which allows me to maintain my weight without thinking about it. I don’t get hungry outside my window and when I do eat I crave real food, not junk. I’ve done this for 3.5 years and it’s just how I live now.
In addition to IF, I find periodic longer fasts helpful for me as a reset (and almost a retreat?) They help me get back on board after the holidays. After all the excellent feasting of the holiday period, I definitely start to feel my old state creeping back - lower energy, snackier and a bit foggy and blue - and then I really look forward to fasting again, which feels like spring cleaning, on a pretty deep level.
Once I start tightening up my schedule and doing longer fasts (right now doing a week of OMAD now in prep for a few 45-75 hour fasts), I pretty quickly notice more energy, a brighter outlook, better skin - as well as fitting my clothes better! It really does blow the cobwebs out and help me get my head on straight.
It’s like a reset, and I’m so grateful that I’ve figured this out (finally - I’m 50 now - wish I had known this when I was 20!)
Good luck to you all.
Clear, smooth skin, less bloating, way more energy (I joined the gym and I go pretty much every day), better sleep, and a rise in my mood (I am getting treatment for depression).
High cholesterol runs in my family, and before, even despite a good diet, I was borderline high. When I did IF before and got blood work not too soon after, I was right in the middle normal :)
Better bowel movements, better understanding of how certain foods impact my body (usually I stuff my face when I wake up and snack, etc. but paying attention to what I eat within the 8 hours has helped me learn more about my body), feeling calmer (not force feeding and messing up insulin), drinking coffee only once a day, more alert, happier.