August 1, 2020 I started my journey on the intermittent fasting lifestyle. That is exactly what intermittent fasting is, a change in lifestyle and way of thinking. It is not a diet. There are a numerous amount of benefits from intermittent fasting. I did my research before I decided to try this new way of eating. One of the best books to explain what IF is and how it works is Fast, Feast, Repeat: The Comprehensive Guide to Delay , Don't Deny Intermittent Fasting by Gin Stephens. She is a teacher that got her masters in science and she has lived the IF lifestyle for several years now. She knows how to explain the science behind IF and how it helps your body. I liked that she wrote about her own experience. She wasn't a doctor that wrote about the science but never had to deal with weight loss or changing their eating habits. It was a little scary at first, but once I got through the first 4 weeks, it has become second nature to me.
As I reflected back on the past year, I noticed changes that my body was going through. The first month was the toughest as you build up to doing a 20/4 fast which is fasting for 20 hours and eating within a 4 hour window. The first month I lost 6.6 lbs. and 7 1/4 inches off of my body. I kept a journal and did body measurements about once a month or every other month. I measured my waist, chest, hips, each thigh and each bicep (batwing). Once you get into the IF way of eating, you will find a way that works for you. I usually do a 16/8 day, which is 16 hours of fasting and an 8 hour eating window. Occasionally I will do a 20/4 day, or a one meal a day as they call it. Other days I may do 18/6. Once in a while I will just have a day where I do not mark my time to eat at all. By the next day I am ready to get back on task because I can feel it in my body. I just feel better when I am on a fasting day.
After a year of following IF, I have lost only a total of 14 pounds, on a good day. The scales are not always my friend. As of today, I have lost only 9 pounds, which is not very much for a year. However, I have lost a total of 12 inches over my body, which includes 2 1/2 inches off of my waist and 1 inch around my chest. I am down one jeans size and 1 bra size. I also no longer have to take blood pressure medicine. I count these as bigger wins than the pounds on the scales.
Starting in July, I have been trying to get back into walking again. Thanks to my sis, my walking accountability buddy, I walked my first 5K in over 7 years last Sunday morning. I try to walk every day, even if it is just down to my cul-de-sac and back. I am trying to do yoga two mornings a week at the public library and I just started doing a few upper body hand weight exercises here at the house. I feel like getting active will improve my body composition even more. I also plan on working on healthier food choices in my eating windows. If I lost this much just eating semi-healthy imagine what I can do if I really work on healthy choices.
Whatever your goals are for eating healthy and getting your body healthy, I wish you much luck and stamina in finding what works for you. The same techniques do not work for every body type.
Thanks for stopping by and reading. May you be happy and healthy!
August 2, 2021
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