You might have seen and heard the daunting looking words, ‘intermittent fasting’ floating around your news feeds and at your weekly coffee dates recently. But never fear, SuperFastDiet is here to tell you they are absolutely not scary. In fact if you didn’t know by now – we love them. Those words changed our lives forever, and they can for you too!
Intermittent fasting are the two words that helped us create this fabulous and fun way of life that is SuperFastDiet a few years ago, allowing us to inspire and help thousands of women (and men) lose hundreds of kilos and get their lives back! Check out our incredible before and afters for some inspiring proof in the pudding. Speaking of pudding – one of our fave things about intermittent fasting is that you can actually eat pudding… I know! What?! We’ll explain later.
Here is a guide on our top tips to get started intermittent fasting, or as we like to call it – part-time dieting. Check them out!
What does ‘intermittent fasting’ mean and involve?
Intermittent fasting is our saving grace when it comes to losing weight and feeling great. The scientifically backed weight loss strategy involves assigning a certain number of calories to a certain period of time, or abstaining from eating for a certain period of time in your day. You can read about the science and the health benefits, by clicking the links!
Here at SuperFastDiet, we offer three equally successful methods allowing you to pick and choose for what suits you the best. Each method has provided so many of our beautiful members with unreal results!
The three methods we have are the 2-day method, 3-day method or part-day method:
- The 2-day method involves fasting for two days on restricted calories;
- 3-day involves fasting for three days a week on restricted calories (but not AS restricted as the 2-day); and
- part-day involves eating for only a certain part of day. Don’t worry – your hours of precious beauty sleep can absolutely be counted as fasting hours. So, often skipping breakfast and starting to eat at midday is a very popular way to do it!
And you want to know our favourite part of intermittent fasting? You can still be the social butterfly that you are! Yep – wine and cheese night with the girls is ABSOLUTELY still possible… in fact we encourage it. So, remember that pudding we talked about… you can definitely fit that in too! Not having to be deprived is essential to keeping the intermittent fasting lifestyle alive and well. You can eat what you want within the calorie bracket. Tempting right?
Who Should Be Cautious or Avoid Intermittent Fasting?
Intermittent Fasting (IF) might not be suitable for everyone, and it’s crucial to approach it with care if it relates to your health profile.
Individuals with a Low Body Weight
If you are underweight, fasting could potentially lower your calorie intake further, which might be harmful. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting IF.
Those with a History of Eating Disorders
It’s important to avoid fasting if you have a history of eating disorders, as it might trigger unhealthy eating patterns or worsen existing conditions.
People with Medical Conditions
Individuals with chronic health conditions or who are on specific medications should avoid fasting unless advised by a healthcare provider.
General Guidelines for Safe Practice
- Consult Professionals: Speak with a doctor or dietitian to evaluate if IF aligns with your health needs.
- Easing into IF: Gradually adopt fasting and monitor for adverse effects.
- Listen to Your Body: Stop fasting if you encounter issues, such as missed periods or feeling excessively fatigued.
In summary, while IF can be a useful tool for some, understanding your unique health situation and consulting with a healthcare professional is key to determining if fasting is a safe choice for you.
How Does Intermittent Fasting Affect Your Cells and Hormones?
Intermittent fasting triggers a series of beneficial changes within your body, particularly impacting your cells and hormones.
Hormonal Shift: HGH and Insulin
During periods of fasting, your body ramps up the production of human growth hormone (HGH). This surge can facilitate both fat reduction and muscle development. At the same time, insulin levels drop, which enhances insulin sensitivity. Lower insulin levels mean that your body can more easily access stored fat for energy.
Cellular Revitalization: Repair and Autophagy
Fasting initiates essential repair mechanisms at the cellular level. One key process is autophagy, where cells break down and remove old, dysfunctional proteins. This cleansing process helps maintain cellular health and efficiency.
Genetic Relay: Longevity and Disease Resistance
Fasting can also influence gene expression, particularly those linked to longevity and the prevention of illnesses. The alterations in gene activity might provide a protective effect against various diseases and contribute to a longer, healthier life.
Intermittent fasting, therefore, presents a natural way to optimize your body’s biological functions on a cellular and hormonal level.
So, how do I get started with Intermittent Fasting?
Join Us!
Of course anyone can do intermittent fasting… but not just anyone can access our incredible support from our thousands of beautiful SuperFasters and SFD team via our Facebook group community with virtually 24/7 support, something that our members often say is one of there favourite parts of the program!
And not everyone can have amazing access to a plethora (YES a plethora – over 800) of recipes in our members portal, as well as super-motivating twice-weekly coaching videos from our celebrity & world-leading experts + a mindset series from Dr Happy and an exercise series from Shannon Ponton. Basically, all the advice you need is a click away!
Do some basic research!
Once you’ve joined, try our Intermittent Fasting Quiz to see which of the three fasting method suite you and which is best suited to your lifestyle. Don’t worry if you try one and you just can’t seem to crack it. Trial and error is always great, so don’t feel disheartened! That is why there is three… restart, and just try another one. That is the beauty of options right? Many people try 2-day and find it that little bit too restricting, and then jump to 3-day to allow for a few more calories! Too easy!!
Clean out!
Do a cupboard clean out! This is a great way to realise that you have just too many choccy biscuit options in the cupboard, ready to pounce at you when that temptation is really not needed whilst your fasting! Donate your goodies to local food banks the goodies. Then, go for a good food shop for all the gorgeous yummy and nutritious foods perfect for your fast. You can find out our amazing suggestions for fast-day foods within our program! Pro tip though – never go grocery shopping on an empty stomach, as you might find a few foods in your trolley that were definitely not on your list! How did that cake get in there?
Plan & Prep!
Plan and prepare! Don’t be scared off by having to plan and prep the food for your fasting days. This will save you time and brain power on the day when you might suddenly jump to ‘oh I’ll just get Uber eats’ or ‘I’ll just have the kids leftovers’. Have ready a few go-to fast day meals and snacks in a list. Knowing the types of foods you can have and having them ready to go is such a great tool to ensuring you stick to your goals! On a Sunday, roast up a bunch of scrumptious, colourful veg for the week’s lunches or prep some turkey mince for dinner each night! It is as easy as that. Trust us… you’ll love us for it and so will your weeknight self too!
Just give it a go!
You really have nothing to lose. Actually, you may surprise yourself with how much easier intermittent fasting is then it sounds! We have had so many of our most successful SuperFasters say these words, with so many like the amazing Trish losing 44kg. She said about SuperFastDiet, “it has completely changed my life… I’m so happy”. The calorie allowance is generally much more food than you think.
So what are you waiting for!? Give it a go! Join us now to see why we love intermittent fasting and why we want to share it with you.
