While this blog is on Middle Eastern food, I am also a fitness trainer, and am very passionate about health and fitness. Many people in the middle east live long healthy lives because they regularly fast. How many times have you heard “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day” or “You have to eat every 3 hours or else your metabolism slows down” or “Don’t eat after 8 PM or else you will pile on weight” or “Never work out without eating something first” What if I told you that every single statement here is wrong? I learned that myself while I tried intermittent fasting for two months. Intermittent fasting is a lifestyle where you fast between the last meal you eat and the first meal that you eat the next day. So if you fast after 6 p.m, then don’t eat a single thing until 10:00 am the next morning, that is considered a 16 hour fast. Some people fast 16 hours, some fast 20 hours, some for 24 or more hours. And guess what? That is the most effective way to burn fat stores, because the body is pumping human growth hormone (the fat burning hormone) instead of insulin (the fat storing hormone). So long as you are eating, you are pumping out insulin, so that the body uses the food you just ate for energy. The only way to allow the body to use your fat stores is to fast. Once you are fasted for at least 12 hours, the body will start to burn fat for energy. If you exercise while fasted you even burn that much more fat! So you see, losing weight does not involve spending money, but saving money on food, diet supplements etc! I have lost 7 pounds in 2 months after 8 years with no progress after having my second child. Intermittent fasting works! Intrigued? Check out my latest video on the subject:
Interested in trying it our or have any questions? Leave them in the comments below. In my next blog I will talk about the strategic way I break my fast for optimal nutrition!
