The Beginner’s Guide to Intermittent Fasting
Ever wonder where we learned “breakfast is the most important meal of the day?” It was from the breakfast food manufacturers! This idea was invented in the 18th century and, even though it has been proven to be a myth, the breakfast food manufacturers have spent many billions of dollars reinforcing the message so we will buy their products. For those of us with IBS, intermittent fasting can be a strategy to give our gut more time to rest, and more time to be free of discomfort. Sound intriguing?
Ever feel like eating first thing in the morning is exactly the wrong thing for your gut? You are probably right! Every time we introduce calories to our system (even in the form of a drink) it has to take action. And that means rest and recovery time is over. If we eat meals and snacks all day long, that means the only rest we give our gut is during the night. For most of us, this isn’t enough time to rest and recover from the work of digesting all day.
Once I learned the facts about frequent meals and intermittent fasting, I decided to give it a try myself. It was a game-changer for me. Now, I don’t eat until after noon. Then I eat lunch and dinner. That means my gut gets to rest from when I finish dinner to when I break my fast after noon the next day. This is usually about 16 hours. The longer rest time works wonders for my gut and more than that, my mind is clear and focused from the moment I wake up until the moment I decide it's time to have my first meal of the day. It's a phenomenal experience every day. Once you get used to it, it's easy and oh so freeing.
Before I learned about intermittent fasting, I thought I had to eat very frequently and that I'd get weak, light-headed and grumpy if I didn't. That turns out to be 100% NOT true! The old days of carrying snacks and bringing my own meals are gone. Now, if there’s nothing to eat or nothing to eat that won’t trigger my IBS I can relax knowing my body will take care of me. It’s an incredibly empowering feeling.
A fast is better than a bad meal. ~Irish Proverb
It may not be right for everyone, but if you’re wondering if it might be right for you, give it a try. But first, check out this very practical Beginner's Guide to Intermittent Fasting to learn more. This guide was produced by my sister site, Diabetes Game Changer, and it’s a simple explanation full of very appropriate information for all of us with IBS who are thinking of adding intermittent fasting to our daily routine.
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