Okay, so now you know what it is. BUT is it right for you? I can’t make that decision for you. As with any large lifestyle change, I would recommend checking with your doctor, if necessary.
Here is a GREAT ARTICLE from MARK’s DAILY APPLE with some great thoughts on who this is and is not right for. Check that out too.
If you are “apparently healthy” with no serious digestive or metabolic conditions, then the next step is to ask yourself how much sugar/starch/grain is in your diet. Small amounts here and there, while not optimal, is not going to train wreck you, but if those things are daily staples, you will find intermittent fasting will mess you up.
When I say mess you up, we’re talking baaaAAaad blood sugar spikes and crashes. The symptoms are very similar to when people quit caffeine after years of addiction. Headaches, dizziness, irritability, sluggishness, fuzzy-headed thinking, poor reflexes, etc. Essentially, you will be creating phases of hypoglycemic reactions for yourself. Not good.
So, first step is to start eating clean for at least a few solid weeks before trying your first fast. The PALEO DIET is one good model that we talk a lot about, but it’s not the only one. Mark’s Daily Apple, mentioned above calls his the Primal Blueprint, and it’s very similar. Use this as a guideline, and you’re good:
DO EAT
greens and veggies
lean meats
nuts and seeds
a little fruit
even less starch
EAT LITTLE TO NO
grains
legumes
potatoes
dairy
sugar
This is nothing new. We’ve discussed these things in class before, so you must already be eating that way, right? Right! So, now you’re ready to get started with I.F. Tomorrow we will discuss how to actually implement your fasting into your weekly routine.