101 INTERMITTENT FASTING
By Nancymarie B.
Fasting seems to be a trend right now, however, the practice of fasting dates back thousands of years and has been done by vast groups of people and countless institutions to conserve energy, restore balance, and gain enlightenment. Hindus, Yogis, athletes, and even animals practice regular fasting of some sort. Fasting is a natural approach to detox.
WHAT IS INTERMITTENT FASTING?
Fasting is actually a natural process. Living in a world where instant gratification and gluttony are king, it can seem confusing to hear that our bodies were designed to fast. Whether spiritual, physical, mental, emotional, or all the above, all forms of natural detox are done with the purpose of healing. When you withhold food from your body for extended periods of time it is like your body is a soldier going to war to protect and strengthen you.
Intermittent fasting (IF) is designating a certain amount of hours to eating, and the others to not eating. The focus of IF is highly concentrated on the time you eat, as opposed to other forms of fasting that focus more on what you eat.
WHO SHOULD AVOID INTERMITTENT FASTING?
Fasting is generally safe for most people, and there is a lot of debate in this area. However, there are some who are highly recommended to consult with their health provider including:
- Moms-to-be
- Nursing moms
- Diabetics
- Binge eaters
- Adrenal fatigue
- Those with anxiety
- Those with high blood pressure
- Those on certain medications
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF INTERMITTENT FASTING?
Intermittent fasting provides a plethora of benefits to the body, mind, and spirit. It:
- Detoxifies and heals the body
- Brings mental clarity
- Balances hormones
- Lowers and balance insulin levels
- Boosts your immune system
- Decreases inflammation
- Increases tissue healing and repair
- Increases HGH levels (slows aging)
- Increases energy
- Improves the condition of the skin (no more bronzer because your glow will be natural)
- Improves the five senses
HOW DO WE APPROACH OUR FASTING PACKAGES?
We understand that there are many different ways to fast and that for many, fasting can be an intimidating subject to approach. We’ve designed an Eat-Fast-Eat methodology which includes juice, tea and water over a 5 day period with one organic light meal a day. We provide a selection of vitamins to accompany your journey to ensure detoxification and organ health, accompanied by three daily visits with a certified practitioner to help guide you through the process of processing the self to find inner peace.
Our fasting packages can be joined with full detoxification packages to approach a clean gut, focused dietary plan for post fast, which will likely include some level of IF, and a workout plan to improve blood circulation and overall movement. Our team is dedicated to getting you on the right track for better energy and vitality.
Intermittent Fasting can include:
12/12 – a pretty standard eat during a 12 hour period, fast for a 12 hour period. Most people live this way naturally.
7 A.M. – 7 P.M. Eat
7 P.M. – 7 A.M. Fast
16/8 – Instead of eating during half the day and fasting half the day, you will fast for 16 hours and eat within an 8-hour timeframe.
11 A.M. – 7 P.M Eat
7 P.M. – 11 A.M. Fast
This is the most common IF method. Breakfast lovers may struggle at first but many end up preferring it.
Alternate Day Fasting – Fast with 12/12 or 16/8 every other day. This may be a good method for someone who juggles a lot on rotation weekly, where some days are more demanding than others.
The Warrior a.k.a. 20/4 – For those in love with the fasting the 20-hours fast and 4-hours eat window may be the way to live. Practitioners tend to have a very specific diet in this case.
7 P.M. – 3 P.M. Fast
3 P.M. – 7 P.M. Eat
Eat-Stop-Eat – Our method: For this fasting method choose 1 to 3 days out of the week to do a full 24-hour fast with only water, and fresh-squeezed juices if you’d like.
What to Expect When Fasting?
Fasting can be challenging, but if you can push through the temporary discomforts, your body will thank you. There are some who will experience few to no symptoms and others who will suffer from many, but the two key things to remember is your personal “why” and that the discomfort will pass.
Hunger, Cravings, Mood swings, Frustration, Irritability, Low energy, Headaches, Dizziness, Heartburn, Bloating, Constipation, Feeling cold, Overeating, Breakouts
INTERMITTENT FASTING TIPS:
- During the fasting period drink lots of water, fresh juices (especially green), and herbal teas
- Replace your normal eating times, and times you think about food, with meditation, prayer, reading, stretching, exercise, and other activities that bring joy, peace, and balance
- Be kind to yourself. Remember your body is undergoing a holistic change and it is working overtime to heal. If you feel the need to rest, cry, or vent, do it without guilt, fear, or shame. It is apart of your unique healing journey.
When making any change in your life, challenges and discomfort are to be expected as you are training your mind and body to do something different. You’ve already made huge progress in coming out to engage in a fasting package here at Natural Detox Center. Give us a call and don’t let the temporary discomfort keep you from achieving the goals you have set for your health. Our practitioners are here to support and provide encouragement to you when things get tough. Trust in this natural approach. You’ll be glad you did.
