You’ve probably heard a lot about this dieting and weight-loss technique, but what is it exactly? Is it safe? And does it mean you can’t eat?
Scrolling through meal prep ideas on Instagram, chances are you’ve come across all sorts of meal plans that people follow and swear by— Whole30, keto, paleo, IIFYM. Intermittent fasting (IF) is another eating style making that’s generating a lot of buzzes and, with it, a lot of questions. But what exactly is intermittent fasting? How do you do it? And is it actually healthy?
Intermittent fasting isn’t a diet
IF doesn’t have a meal plan in the sense that it’s a prescribed diet of things you can and cannot eat. Rather, it’s an eating schedule or pattern that dictates when you eat.
“Intermittent fasting is a means of cycling between periods of fasting and eating, following a specific and predetermined pattern,” says Dr. Cara Harbstreet, of Street Smart Nutrition. “People may be drawn to this form of dieting because it does not specify what to eat.” Plus, IF comes in many forms that you can modify depending on your schedule and needs.
“The amount of time that you spend eating and fasting can vary depending on which form of the diet you choose,” says Dr. Karen Ansel, author of Healing Superfoods for Anti-Aging: Stay Younger, Live Longer. “Some may require that you fast for 16 hours out of the day and then eat during the remaining eight hours; others may recommend a 24-hour fast a couple of days a week; and others may simply require that you eat about 500 or 600 calories, two days a week and then eat as much and whatever you want on the others.”
Continue reading your story on the app
Continue reading your story in the magazine
Mind Over Matter
They made it. Pole dancer and chair fitness instructor Jaclyn Choo and Spartan Race ambassador Raj Ahmed, have the readers’ votes and came up top in this year’s SHAPE Fit People roll-out. While they possess all those qualities that make fit people fit, Jaclyn and Raj are also ordinary people with real, everyday struggles and commitments. They tell us how they work towards being the best version of themselves.
Why Am I Always Hungry?
You eat, but then an hour later your stomach is screaming. Here, what’s going on, and how to stay satisfied.
5 Best Natural Extracts For Your Hair
Lately the ingredient list on your shampoo reads like your smoothie order. And that’s a good thing. Coconut, aloe, and other natural extracts are packed with exactly what your hair needs. Here, we break down what each can do for you.
How To Think Yourself Young!
How old you feel has surprisingly strong effects on your physical and mental health, groundbreaking studies show. Here’s how to tap into a mind-set that will keep you energized, healthy, and strong.
Your Skin On Emotions
Feelings are written all over your face: red and inflamed when you’re upset, soft and radiant when you’re happy. Here, new science on the psychology of skin—and how best to navigate it.
Super Nutrients For Sexual Health
These power ingredients ease PMS, boost sex drive, and keep your system strong.
How To Blow Off Sick Season
It’s that time, but it doesn’t mean a cold has to take you down. Same for the flu. These new science-backed strategies will keep you strong and healthy.
Skin And Hair Detox
It’s the season of fresh starts, and your skin, hair, and makeup routines are primed for change. We have your action plan.
What You Need Know About Intermittent Fasting
You’ve probably heard a lot about this dieting and weight-loss technique, but what is it exactly? Is it safe? And does it mean you can’t eat?
8 Tips To Absorb More Nutrients From Your Food
All those greens you’re nomming? You might be missing the benefits if you’re making these mistakes.
