A Beginner’s Guide to Intermittent Fasting (2024)

FAQs

How should a beginner start intermittent fasting? ›

Fast for 12 hours a day

According to some researchers, fasting for 10–16 hours can cause the body to turn its fat stores into energy, which releases ketones into the bloodstream. This should encourage weight loss. This type of intermittent fasting plan may be a good option for beginners.

Suggested intermittent fast lasts 14-15 hours. If your last meal is at 7pm, your first meal would be at 9 or 10am. Some intermittent fasts go for 16-17 hours. I personally do the 16-17 hour fast, so my first meal is usually at 11am or 12 noon if my last food eaten was at 7pm the night before.

the amount of weight you can lose in a month with intermittent fasting and jogging depends on a number of factors, including your starting weight, your activity level, and your diet. However, you can expect to lose anywhere from 2 to 6 pounds in a month with this combination of weight loss methods.

According to Rofkahr, the most popular option is the 16/8 method. In this pattern, you fast for 16 hours, then eat within an 8-hour period. Rofkahr tends to advise that people eat between noon and 8 p.m. Once you've done your research and decided on the schedule that works best for you, you're ready to go.

A 2023 review of research found that the 16/8 method and 16/8 combined with restricting calories were effective strategies for weight control in adults with overweight or obesity. An eating window starting before noon led to greater weight loss than one that began after noon.

Intermittent fasting has been shown to improve insulin sensitivity, reduce blood sugar levels, and lower the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. In addition, after one month of intermittent fasting, you may notice improved metabolic health and reduced risk of chronic diseases.

The best method is fasting for 16 hours and eating for 8 hours (16:8). So if you typically eat dinner around 6pm, you would stop eating right after dinner (probably 6:30pm or 7pm). After that you would only drink water. Then you would continue to fast until 16 hours past, which would be around 11am the next day.

Consider a simple form of intermittent fasting.

Limit the hours of the day when you eat, and for best effect, make it earlier in the day (between 7 am to 3 pm, or even 10 am to 6 pm, but definitely not in the evening before bed). Avoid snacking or eating at nighttime, all the time.

Also, note that the key to weight loss with intermittent fasting is not to overeat during your eating windows. Eating fewer calories than you expend remains the basis for losing weight. Shortening the eating window may make it difficult to get the vitamins and minerals you need.

Can you eat whatever you want on intermittent fasting and still lose weight? ›

It's not a diet, so unless you have individual dietary restrictions, you can eat whatever you want within the eight-hour time frame. But the plan will work best for weight loss if you are already making smart, nutrient-rich choices, said NBC News health and nutrition editor Madelyn Fernstrom, Ph. D.

How much, though, depends on what kind of intermittent fasting schedule you're following (more on those schedules, below). People who do some form of full-day fasts usually lose about 10 to 30 pounds over a three-to-six-month period, says Varady.

A good option for beginners, then, is to fast for a set number of hours each day. This option allows you to start with fasting for around 12 hours a day, most of which you will be asleep. After you get more comfortable with 12-hour fasts, you can slowly lengthen the time of the fast.

Depending on your lifestyle and when you can manage to stop eating, the best hours for intermittent fasting include the 16/8 or 14/10 fasting periods. Intermittent fasting is hailed by many as the new mantra of weight loss, disease prevention, and reversal of aging.

Extreme hunger, excessive weight loss, dehydration, low blood pressure, and weakness can be adverse health effects of fasting. If fasting is impacting your emotions, decreasing your energy levels, or causing extreme hunger, it may be time to stop.

To get the benefits of intermittent fasting, you need to fast for at least 12 hours. That's how long it takes your body to switch from using glucose for energy to using fat for energy. Additionally, it will take your body a while to get used to this new eating schedule. So don't expect results right away.

A full 24-hour fast every other day can seem extreme and may be difficult for many people to maintain, so it's usually not recommended for beginners. However, you don't have to go all-in right away, and many intermittent fasting routines start with shorter fasting periods.