Intermittent Fasting...Fact or Fiction

In studying for my Nutrition Certification, we are on the topic of Intermittent Fasting.  This seemed a but controversial to me as I have always been trained to "Eat More in order to Burn More".  I have done my fair share of cleanses and recently the Beachbody RESET and did see some improvement and felt great but there was still food involved.  While I continue my studies on this topic, I wanted to introduce you to 5 different Fasting Methods:

36 HR Fast/12 HR Feed

• This is fine as long as you are NOT working out
• This would be the option for your really obese clients who have yet to start a workout regiment
• You basically are eating every other day allowing the body to feed off stored body fat

EAT STOP EAT

• Full day fast (one day on/one day off)
• Then continuing to eat 1-2 times a day
• Those feeding times are centered around your workout schedule

WARRIOR DIET

• 20 hour fast, 4 hour feed
• You would do this everyday
• You basically do not eat anything until dinner
• Yes I know, you are not supposed to eat and then go to bed but this is designed for people that work out at night

LEANGAINS

• 16 hour Fast, 8 hour Feed
• This is also done everyday
• You basically fast until lunch everyday meaning you would skip breakfast
• Yes, I have heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day but your body still has fuel from the night before (dinner)

MEAL SKIPPING

• You are skipping either breakfast or dinner (randomly)
• Most people do this anyway but are not making the correct food choices for the meals they are having
• You would do this Fast everyday as well

I do plan to try each and everyone of these in order to be able to better educate people on what to expect from each of these options.  I encourage you to do your research prior to trying any of these methods and continue to get your exercise done...one without the other is not a lifestyle.