Fasting: What Is It and How Do I Do It?
Are you struggling with your weight, stuck with reproductive problems, gut issues, skin issues, sleep or hormone problems? There’s not a condition on the planet that I wouldn’t be talking about with regards to getting results through this topic–fasting.
Fasting is a buzzword right now. There are many different types. You might be wondering if it’s right for you? How do you do it? Let me break down the best results I’ve seen with my health regimen. Regardless of your fitness or nutritional level, we’ll break down exactly which one would be right for you that will accelerate your weight loss results.
I’ve experienced both weight loss and lean muscle results. There have been changes in my digestive system and other organs, which have been game changers. The best results I’ve seen in my lifetime come from fasting.
3 Types of Fasting With Proven Results
1. SlimFast
Come on, it’s not actually SlimFast, but I wanted to get your attention. They nailed something years ago when they came out with the commercial, “A shake for breakfast, a shake for lunch, and a sensible dinner.” Do you remember this one? I know that SlimFast is still around but it’s filled with a whole bunch of toxic chemicals. It’s not good for you. I would not recommend that you actually have SlimFast. I like their model of having a shake for breakfast, a shake for lunch, and having a sensible dinner. This is a great way to curb your consumption.
This is what I actually did last year to break through to some results. I would do a smoothie for breakfast, a smoothie for lunch, and then I would eat a sensible dinner. Of course, you could change that up. Have a smoothie for breakfast, a smoothie for dinner, and a sensible lunch. Do whatever would work best for your life, your schedule, your busyness.
Make a healthy smoothie, which you can find if you click on our breakfast recipes section, chocked full of nutrients. Too many powdery drinks or boxed smoothies like SlimFast can cause a problem. There’s too much sugar. I use bone broth protein. Our collagen protein will not have as large of an effect on increasing insulin levels because you won’t be pouring a bunch of sugar in.
Protein smoothies and a sensible meal with vegetables, meat and fats will get you on your way. Just cutting down that consumption makes big movements in the hormone, insulin, and weight levels. You’ll get results.
I love practicing this Monday through Friday when I am super busy and on the go. Not eating as much during the week doesn’t bother me as much as it does on the weekends when there’s more time to think and do more emotional eating. It might not be your solution during the weekends, but definitely during the week.
So remember a shake for breakfast and lunch and a sensible dinner.
2. 6-Hour Rule
Only eat during a six-hour period of time. I love this because you’re allowing your body to do nothing else except healing itself. It’s not spending all of this time digesting the meals you keep pounding in 2, 3, 4, 5 or six times a day.
You’re only eating during a six-hour window. For example, noon to 6 p.m. or 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Pick a six-hour window. That’s the only time you eat. You don’t eat until the next day at that same time. This way you’re allowing your body an 18-hour window to completely rest, digest the food you have in your system, deal with inflammation, reset the hormones, and lower your blood sugar levels.
This allows room for health and healing and gives your system a break. We overeat in America. Get your calories down. Get insulin down and allow your body to really heal.
The 6-Hour Rule. I really love that one. It’s an intermittent fasting concept and is why it is becoming very popular because it gets a lot of results.
3. Water Fast
For those of you more ready for an advanced step, try the water fast. A lot of people have been doing this, especially at the turn of a new year. We’ll throw this in—you can do this any time of the year.
You actually build up to the type that I do. I would not recommend just jumping straight into a 5 or 7 or 10-day fast. You’re only having liquids. Some would say that it’s crazy to go more than a couple of hours not eating food, let alone days on end without eating. But your body can actually handle it. Of course, consult a doctor or your overseeing physician to make sure that it’s a healthy and right decision for you. If you’re ready for a more advanced step after you’ve implemented some of the SlimFast and 6-Hour Rules, you’re ready for a water fast.
I actually ramp it up over a period of several weeks. I’ll start cutting down meals and start doing the 6-Hour Rule principles for several days of the week. Then I might skip one day. The next week, I’ll skip two days. Then I work my way to three days…all the way up to a 7-day water fast.
Now during the water fast, you’re able to have water and I still drink organic coffee. Some of you need to cut coffee as well especially if you have an adrenal problem. If you do have an adrenal problem, you should probably reconsider doing water fasting period as it’s very hard on them. I also have collagen protein or bone broth in the form of soup. It allows the whole system to completely reset. This drives down insulin which is a major disrupting hormone due to all the sugar that we intake.
Just recently I did a water fast challenge. I worked my way up. It took me 13 weeks to get a whole 1-week water fast. Right now, I’m in the middle of a 5-day water fast. I’m doing water, coffee and bone broth with no food for five days. I am allowing my system to reset. I lose a lot of weight during this time. My insulin levels are being reset. My sleep is getting better. At the end of it, my energy gets better, and I just feel better about myself.
Wrap Up
Let the system clear out, start with a smoothie, smoothie, meal. This is a great option for a beginner. To really curb your food consumption, the next step up is taking the 6-Hour Rule, only eating during a 6-hour window. Or take the water fast challenge, where you’re doing anywhere from 3 to 7 days of only water. Allow your body to reset, but build up first before you dive right in.
So, is fasting for you? I believe fasting is pretty much for everybody. Maybe a few specific, really harsh health conditions this would not be for. Of course, if you are wondering about that, consult your physician for any precautions.
It’s a great way to allow your body to heal, drive down inflammation, lose weight and see good results. We’re overeating in America and fasting is an amazing solution.
