If you are trying to lose weight, you may have considered intermittent fasting (IF) as a possible strategy for shedding excess pounds. While not strictly a diet, intermittent fasting in Tucson is an effective weight loss tool that can have a wealth of other benefits as well. For example, many people have successfully utilized IF to reduce insulin resistance and curb their risk for type 2 diabetes. However, you may be wondering how exactly intermittent fasting will help you see results on the scale. After all, the program has no set restrictions on what you eat, just when.
Caloric Reduction
There are a few different strategies for intermittent fasting, but the most popular is the 16/8 method. With this plan, you will eat during an 8-hour period of the day and fast for the other 16. Therefore, you’re likely to only eat two meals per day—or several much smaller meals. That means that you will be taking in fewer calories, which is an essential step for weight loss. However, if you binge on snacks and unhealthy foods during your eating hours, you aren’t likely to reduce your caloric intake each day. Thus, you will want to combine your IF efforts with sensible meal planning and healthier snacking.
Hormonal Changes
Along with an adjustment in your caloric intake, intermittent fasting has a dramatic effect on how your body functions. Specifically, IF changes hormone levels in the body. When you fast with the 16/8 method, insulin sensitivity goes down while growth hormones are produced in greater quantities. As a result, your metabolic rate will increase. Studies have shown that metabolic rates can increase anywhere from 3.6-14% with intermittent fasting. Therefore, weight loss results are much more dramatic. You might expect to lose up to 8 pounds per month with this program. Additionally, IF has been associated with greater fat loss than other programs. In other words, the weight you lose will be more fatty tissue and less muscle.
If you want to learn if intermittent fasting in Arizona is right for you, call WildBerryMD for a free consultation. We specialize in all things weight loss, so we can help you identify the right program for your goals and lifestyle. Call us at (520) 762-1557 to start discussing your health and wellness.