As our lives move toward getting back to normal again, our mind starts thinking about things like gyms re-opening, and getting back on track with our health and fitness goals … which of course raises the question…
“What is the best Diet for me?”
Now, I have an entire blog dedicated to that very question, so check it out HERE if you have not done so!
Today, I want to dive more in depth on one specific way of dieting ... FASTING.
You also may have heard this called:
Intermittent Fasting
Or
Time Restricted Eating
It’s one of the most popular diets right now, and many people will swear up and down, that Fasting is the ABSOLUTE best way to burn fat, stay healthy, and live your life. But … who really cares what your overweight “Uncle Joey” says about dieting?
That’s why we’re here, to educate you on what is scientifically proven and through YEARS of working with thousands of people looking to get healthier.
So, what exactly does Fasting entail? And is it the “best” way to eat to burn fat? Let’s take a quick look and see.
Fasting, intermittent fasting, and time restricted eating can all basically be defined the same way. You simply go a set period of time without eating any calories. Yep… it is that simple. Not much to it. You will see people do 10-hour fasts, 16-hour fasts, 18 hours, 24 hours and even longer!
Now, can Fasting help you lose weight and body fat? Absolutely, it can ... but so can a lot of other eating patterns and habits. The reason why, is because they have one thing in common.
Any diet that helps you lose weight, works for the very SAME reason. You burned more calories than you took in … PERIOD.
It is not because you fasted, cut out carbs, cut out soda, ate keto… or any other reasons people like to claim are the “best” for dieting. You simply ate less, exercised more, or a combination of BOTH!
There are many reasons why Fasting is a great option for some people: Maybe it works better for their schedule … Maybe it is the easiest way for them to maintain a CONSISTENT caloric deficit. As long as you know that Fasting isn’t magic, there is no harm in giving it a shot!
… Just remember that you can still gain plenty of weight if you go however many hours without food within a day. If you fast for 16 hours then you eat an entire bucket of ice cream and a whole pizza, chances are you will still put on fat.
Now, keep one thing in mind … If your goal is to BUILD MUSCLE and LOSE FAT… this type of eating pattern will not be ideal. There are MANY current studies showing that smaller, protein-based meals starting within the 1st hour of waking up (equating to 4-6 small meals within the day) will be IDEAL for building lean muscle and burning fat at the same time.
Moral of the story, find a diet that fits YOUR goals, works with YOUR lifestyle, and that YOU can adhere too. Also, remember nothing is magic. Diets work because you found a sustainable way to maintain a deficit of calories. PERIOD.
If you need help finding which diet, workout program, and supplement regimen works best for YOU and YOUR GOALS. Simply drop in to see one of our Sports Nutrition Specialists! We will help put together the perfect plan for YOU.
*This post was written by Andrew Lynn, who has a Bachelor's in Science Nutrition and Dietetics. He is also a NASM Certified Personal Trainer and NASM Certified Fitness Nutrition Specialist.
CORONA VIRUS UPDATE - We Are Open To Help You
All of our locations are operating regular hours, and are exceeding CDC safety guidelines.
For our customer's and staff's safety, we have started offering the following services:
-Curbside Pick-Up
-FREE Delivery
-FREE Local Shipping
-FREE one on one Zoom Calls
We are all in this together ... and we are here to serve you.
