I first tried intermittent fasting in 2010, but didn’t stick with it. I lost some weight, but didn’t have the tools and knowledge to build momentum, so I gave up and put the weight back on.
In 2018 I just got engaged and had to lose 30 pounds before my wedding. I had tried so many different diets and workouts but the one thing that finally worked for me was fasting.
Before my marriage, I felt awful in my body. I was gaining a lot of weight gradually through my twenties and it was really showing. I no longer felt like myself and I didn’t want to feel like this on my wedding day.
I dreamed that I was the beautiful bride, feeling gorgeous and happy in my own skin. But I had a long way to go to reach my goal. I had tried calorie counting, the Special K diet, and cardio overload at the gym, but nothing worked.
That was until I discovered fasting. I started on an intermittent fasting program called OMAD, where you eat just one meal a day. I’ve been doing this for a whole month and have already lost ten pounds.
After that, I did a mix of intermittent fasting programs and some longer fasts of 48 hours or more. The fast was difficult but I enjoyed seeing the results. The biggest challenges for me have been hunger and the lack of the social aspect of food. But my body was changing rapidly and I loved it. I had also read about so many health benefits associated with fasting and could really feel them working.
My wedding was in July 2019. By the time my dress fitting came in March 2019, I had already lost 20lbs and was feeling much better. Fast forward to my bachelorette party and I was at my goal weight.
It was an amazing feeling and my wedding was only a week away. Then, on my wedding day, I felt in my body the most amazing way I’ve ever felt. All the hard work had finally paid off.
I can’t stress this enough: I believe fasting has melted away the fat.
Switching to a ketogenic diet was also the perfect pairing for fasting because it adjusted my body fat meaning I felt less hungry, was able to fast longer and was able to maintain my fat levels. insulin consistently low, which supercharged my fat loss.
To help with my weight loss, I also cut out alcohol. Alcohol is very high in calories and all kinds of things that will cause inflammation in your body and it hasn’t been helpful for my wellness journey.
I learned that in order to start burning body fat, your body will first need to burn off all of the alcohol you’ve consumed. So, if you keep drinking, you will significantly slow down your weight loss.
I also cut out all sodas and anything with artificial sweeteners. I believe that all soft drinks are bad, especially those with zero calories. Zero-calorie drinks like Coke Zero all have sweeteners, which will spike your insulin and break your fast. They also trick your body into expecting sugar, which can slow your weight loss.
Instead, I took to healthier eating habits, like eating slowly and having herbal tea before bed. This will help you be more aware of what you’re eating and learn to listen for your body’s true signals of hunger and fullness.
As of December 2021, I had lost 40 pounds due to fasting and a ketogenic diet. On a typical day, I’d do a 16:8 fasting schedule, which means I’d skip breakfast. For lunch, I’d have bacon and eggs with avocado slices. For dinner I sometimes have steak with broccoli and cream and mushroom gravy. And for dessert, I really like the Greek yogurt with cinnamon and coconut flakes.
I achieved all of this without training. A common misconception when embarking on a weight loss journey is that you have to go crazy at the gym or do long, hard workouts to lose weight. This couldn’t be further from the truth!
A typical hour-long gym session will only burn about 300 calories, so it won’t make a huge difference in your weight loss. Keto and fasting will reduce weight. Use the workout for all other benefits like mental and physical health.
It’s really true what they say: “Abs are made in the kitchen.”
Changing my diet and incorporating fasting into my daily schedule has completely changed my life for the better.
I am at my goal weight and have maintained that weight for almost two years. I have more energy and no longer have these sugar spikes and sugar crashes like before. I can easily fast without being too bothered by hunger and feel much stronger and healthier both physically and mentally.
It’s important to remember that weight loss is just one of the many benefits of fasting. Fasting is an extremely powerful health tool that can help reduce inflammation, promote brain health, and reduce the risk of developing obesity and type 2 diabetes.
I now work as a Fasting Coach, helping other people achieve weight loss and health through fasting. I’ve spent years figuring out and perfecting the most effective fasting programs for fat loss and that’s why I’m so passionate about teaching these techniques to others.
Fasting has really changed my life and I will continue to do so for the rest of my days.
Emma Van Carlen is a Fasting Coach with over 10 years of experience. She helps people lose weight and discover food freedom through fasting. Learn more about Emma by visiting her website or check out her TikTok or Instagram.
All opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own.
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