Just black coffee and plain water?! Yup. That's all I have during my fasting window. And yet, my fasting window is my favorite part of the day! So let me share with you why intermittent fasting is one of my favorite things.
I started "clean" intermittent fasting on Ash Wednesday this year, officially. Now, I've tried IF in the past, at least three other times, but if memory serves, this is the only times I've 1. been committed to it as a lifestyle and 2. fasted clean.
As it is Lent, fasting is just a natural way of life. In the more rigorous days of the Church, fasting was daily, with no animal products throughout the 40 days (tech 36 before they brought it out to Ash Wednesday as Sundays are not fasting days). They all adhered to one meal a day and one Pope lamented that if Catholics ever fasted less than the Muslims, all was lost ... As the Church stands today, we only have two required fasting days (Ash Wednesday and Good Friday) and many concessions have been made over the years to allow more and more food and drink. All that said, there's such an abundance of grace during Lent, I figured this was the time to start!
The key to fasting 18-20+ hours is to fast "clean." Now, anything other than a clean fast isn't actually fasting but since so many voices out there allow all sorts of concessions (herbal tea, gum, 50 cal or less, bullet coffee) Gin Stephens, based on the many scientific studies she reviewed, coined the term "clean" to explain her protocol. And honestly, fasting clean makes the fast so much easier!
You can read about the clean fast here.
My Personal Why
I just turned 40 this past October and while I am a smaller-framed person, I noticed the weight start to creep up without any major changes. And four pounds on a small frame is a big percentage! I also was feeling lethargic and wondering if I was starting into the dreaded perimenopause land.
As I have researched IF, I have gained so much hope for this next decade. I want my 40s to be my healthiest, most clear-headed, energetic decade yet, with rock climbing and paddle boarding and long walks as a norm. I want to heal any hormonal balance and heal my relationship with food.
I truly believe God placed IF in my life as a permanent solution to many of the struggles I've faced lately. Our body is a temple. And fasting is such a respectful way of addressing the charge of St. Paul. Plus, we can offer up our daily fasts for others and that's such a beautiful practice.
What are some benefits of fasting?
1. Give your digestion a rest. God designed our bodies so perfectly. We're meant to fast, feast, and repeat.
2. Get into fat burning when you make the metabolic switch. This comes with time. You need to use up your glycogen stores in your liver first, but once those run out, you'll burn fat during your fast each day.
3. Autophagy. When you get into ketosis (yes, you can without being on a "keto" diet!) your cells start to repair. (You can read more about the discovery of autophagy here.) There are so many stories of scars disappearing, pain disappearing, type 2 diabetes being healed, and so much more! 4. Body recomposition.
5. Weight loss.
Gin always says that fasting is "a health plan with a side of weight loss," and "You come for the weight loss. You stay for the health benefits."
It takes about 28 days to adjust (some take longer) but once you start getting that intense hunger and then that "keto breath" you'll realize your body is doing some pretty amazing things. Gin always says people would never be long-term IFers if it didn't get easy. Having support while you work your way through the early days is helpful.
I'm using Gin's book to work my way through the first 28 days. I suggest everyone start here!
And to keep your motivation up, listen to IF Stories, a podcast where an IFer is interviewed each day. If you are concerned ....
I got frightened away from fasting as a woman by Dr Mindy. Perhaps you did too. So let me give you three podcast episodes by OB-GYN/function fitness doctors that will dispel those fears.
IF Podcast: Cecily Ganheart
The Fasting Method Podcast: Cynthia Thurlow
If you fast, please share below your "why" and I encourage anyone who is not happy with their bodies, either how you feel or how you look, I encourage you to work through Gin's 28 day book and see how you feel at the end. You can always go back to your old way of eating.
Pax Christi,
Laura
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