I Tried Intermittent Fasting for a Month, Here's What Happened

I Tried Intermittent Fasting for a Month, Here’s What Happened

Last month I shared a post on Intermittent Fasting (IF) and its many health benefits, after hearing so many people, including my husband and my brother, talk about it being a game-changer. I decided I would try it for myself for 4 weeks and report back to you all about my experience, so here goes!

I decided to go with an IF plan of 16/8 where I fasted for 16 hours and ate during an 8-hour period. 11 AM – 7 PM was my “eating window” based on my lifestyle and my family’s schedule.

As I mentioned in the previous post, I did not try Intermittent Fasting in an attempt to lose weight. It is NOT a weight loss plan, and I’m thankfully at peace with my strong, curvy body. I did, however, try it as a form of self-care, in search of more mental clarify and better sleep, which I was happily able to achieve over the past 4 weeks!

My work days became more efficient, without the typical 2 pm mind-funk and I was able to sleep better throughout the night. My energy level was also way up from what it usually was and I even got in a few workouts, which for me is a huge improvement! To stay on top of any and all results, I clocked my weight at the start and end of IF over the past 4 weeks and have lost about 4 pounds.

In addition to the weight loss, my clothes fit a little looser in the hip and thigh areas, which is where my body naturally stores a lot of fat. My waist also seems more defined.

Overall, my experience with IF was relatively positive, but there were definitely some negatives.

Once I get over the initial stalking the clock, counting down to 11 AM mode, I was fine throughout the rest of the day and actually found myself making healthier food choices during my eating window over the last week of my IF trial.

On the negative side though, I’ve found skipping my typical 8 am breakfast difficult, since I’m used to eating granola first thing in the morning. I hoped the mental hunger would wear off after a couple weeks, and it did. By week 3 I had no problem waiting until 11 AM to eat my first meal.

Since my kids are home on weekends though, and I typically take on breakfast duty, doing IF is much more challenging on Saturdays and Sundays. Weekdays were definitely easier, since work keeps my mind busy, so my focus isn’t on watching the clock to break the fast while people around me are eating.

Truthfully, it’s been a positive experience in terms of the way I feel more clarity throughout my work day and am able to get more restful sleep, and my stress level is also much more manageable as well.

That said, I’ve decided to continue IF a while longer and see what happens!

Again, while my experience was relatively positive and I’ve decided to stick with it a while longer, Intermittent Fasting is not for everyone. If you have any health concerns or have struggled with eating disorders, this might not be a healthy option for you since deprivation in any form can often be triggering. Please consult a doctor if you’re thinking about giving IF a try.