What is Intermittent Fasting and How can it Help you Lose Weight?

Losing weight has always been a difficult process for a lot of people. Most of the time it's because the restrictions are too much to bear. When you compile all the foods you cannot eat, there really isn't much room for anything good and savory. Over time this process gets old, which can take a toll on your motivation level. It's one of the main reasons why people are switching to intermittent fasting.

People have been fasting for years, but not for weight loss. There was never a healthy way of doing it, until now. Instead of cutting out a bunch of carbs, fats, and sugars; all you have to do is cut out calories once a week. When sticking with traditional diets, there is a tendency to "fall off the wagon" and binge eat at some point. All this does is bring the weight back, and sometimes more of it.

The One Day a Week Diet Plan

When you use intermittent fasting you are utilizing a new system. It is not the same as a traditional diet, yet it can offer the same or even better benefits. In fact, it is considered one of the most effective weight loss programs out there. So, how does it work? Take a look at the following scenario:

In order to keep your body weight where it's at, you can't consume anymore than 2,000 calories a day. In order to lose a half pound you would be required to cut out 250 calories per day, over a 7 day period. This means you would have to calorie count and make sure you didn't surpass 1,750 calories on any of those days. It's a difficult approach, which usually ends up in failure. When intermittent fasting is involved, you can eat 2,000 calories a day for 6 days, and fast on the 7th day. You still burn those 1,750 calories, but you eliminate the temptation of binge eating.

When you think about the process, it's really easy to do. Would you be willing to work on losing weight one day a week if it provided six days of normal eating? If your answer isn't YES, this weight loss program is not for you.

How Your Body will Burn Fat

Fasting for a 24 hour period is nothing new. People do it every day, especially ones getting ready for surgery or recuperating from the flu. So, before you start thinking it cannot be done, people are already doing it.

The first six days will be full of enjoyable eating habits. The seventh day will be about consuming 0 calories. When this occurs, the body will start searching for calories to turn into energy. When there aren't any present, it will go to plan B and start using your body's stored fat. This is how your new weight loss program will show signs of success in the first week.

What about Energy Levels?

Don't worry about your energy levels being depleted. We know there are a countless number of debates about fasting and low energy levels. However, they do not pertain to intermittent fasting. Your body has plenty of stored fat to burn over a 24-hour period. The debates are more about long term fasting, where the body cannot find anything to use as energy.

The Intermountain Medical Center in Utah recently performed a study about fasting. The results showed that the body releases more cholesterol during fasting that allows it to utilize fat as a source of fuel, instead of glucose. This decreases the number of fat cells in the body. This is important because the fewer fat cells a body has, the less likely it will experience insulin resistance, or diabetes.

In the meantime, figure out whether or not intermittent fasting is right for you. We always recommend discussing this with a doctor first, but you have to provide them with all the necessary information. Take a few moments to learn more about the Eat Stop Eat weight loss program. It's possible you could lose your first 1/2 pound within the next 7 days.

Author Will Kashis is a nutrition writer who freelances for niche publications and recently launched his site at Diets.md.