Is Fasting Right For You? Here's My Personal Experience

I would be shocked if you haven’t. It is all the rage of the last few years. There has been a huge shift from breakfast being the most important meal of the day to possibly being the least important (or said to be unnecessary all together). A shift from grazing as a way to keep your metabolism firing, back to only having square meals and letting the body digest between meals. 

We have touched on fasting lightly in some of our blogs, but today we are going to delve into it in depth. Being a part of the health and fitness industry for the past 8 years, it is hard to not be intrigued when new material surfaces. Especially when it claims to help your metabolism, mental clarity/focus, and possibly prevent or help with various diseases. After hearing stories from my friends and colleagues who had personally tried fasting, watching many documentaries, YouTube and Instagram testimonials on it, and reading all the material and studies surfacing; I decided to try it for myself . 

Being someone with digestive issues (I am coeliac) I had wondered whether it would help with inflammation and the constant bloating/ discomfort I seemed to feel (despite sticking to a strict gluten-free diet).

Before I get into how I implemented it and more about my thoughts on fasting, let’s get into the science...

It is important to note that research performed to date has monitored participants over a short time period. This produces flaws. Health markers could take longer than the undertaken study period of 1 to a few months to really show substantial improvements or deteriorations. Another downfall is the fact that although the benefits are undeniable, would the general population have the willpower to stay regimented to that style of fasting for a longer span of time than the study? If you enjoy socialising as much as I do, then it can prove to be quite antisocial having to avoid certain meal times or meals all together due to your fasting times. 

I personally first tried intermittent fasting about two years ago and would eat 0 calories for at least 14 hours and sometimes up until 18 hours. I would typically break my fast mid-morning or lunchtime with a bulletproof coffee (a coffee blended with butter or MCT oil). I did this strictly for 6 months. The first week was challenging as I have always been an early riser and practically salivating for my first milky coffee and meal as soon as I woke. But the body adapts fast, and my hunger subsided after a few days of repetition. During this period, I tried to have two substantial meals (lunch and dinner) and a small snack in between. In between my meals I was keeping my liquids high with herbal teas and water (hello toilet breaks!).

With the decrease in calories, most noticeable was the weight loss I experienced pretty quickly, and the lightness I felt. On a mental note, I felt an increase in mental clarity, less food-focused thoughts and was more aware of my satiety signals.

But there were some negatives I experienced too. Firstly, my hormones were affected, and I stopped menstruating. I wasn’t sure whether this was due to the fact that I was fasting, or that I was eating less/had lost weight and this had affected my hormonal balance. I also found that my energy for morning workouts was nonexistent. Which was the opposite of what some of my male friends/colleagues at the time had experienced! I felt like I just couldn't reach the intensity of workouts I could previously.

The hardest part for me though- was that as a bit of an all or nothing person, and also a very social person (who loves a good brunch), if I caved in to enjoy a breakfast out with friends, I felt like I had failed. Once I reached this realisation and saw others around me who had once been regimented about fasting, start to struggle with strict adherence, I applied a more intuitive approach. Because, at the end of the day, we are all uniquely built, and as individuals with varying lifestyles, genetic makeup and preferences, it is important that we find what works best for us.  I now like to eat dinners early during the workweek and have breakfast when I feel hungry (which is usually about a 14-15 hour fast). I don't do this every day, just when it works within my schedule. 

If you are going to try fasting, (after medical clearance) start small with just 12 hours and work your way up to 18 or 20 and see how it feels for your body. But remember, find what makes you feel the best in your daily life. What works for some may not work for others!