Last Updated on December 6, 2023
Starting intermittent fasting doesn’t need to take up much of your time or effort – all you need is some basic knowledge, which we provide here. Take control of your destiny by reading on to learn everything you need to know about beginning a healthy life through intermittent fasting today!
If you considering starting, our intermittent fasting app will guide and help you along the way. Plus, you can directly take the quiz to create your personalized intermittent fasting plan.
Intermittent fasting is a diet that switches between fasting and regular eating. In this concept, you can fast for a few hours, or can even do a 24-hour fast. The intermittent fasting method may involve just skipping breakfast or eating only one meal per day – whenever you want.
This may sound challenging. But the human body can function properly even if it doesn’t get food for many hours, and even several days.
However, it isn’t suitable for everyone. Let’s find out how to start fasting and if you are recommended to fast.
How to start intermittent fasting
If you are thinking of starting intermittent fasting, here’s your guide to getting started.
Identify your “why”
To ensure consistency and success, it will help if you identify your motives.
- Why do you want to do intermittent fasting?
- What are the benefits of doing this in your life?
People do things for a reason, and that reason keeps them engaged and motivated to reach their ultimate goals. So you should determine your “why” in advance and help prepare your mind for intermittent fasting.
Get yourself ready for intermittent fasting
If you are new to this type of diet, you need to know how to prepare your body and your mind for it. Here’s the best way to start fasting:
- Understand the concept: First of all, you need to know what intermittent fasting means. You should also research the advantages and disadvantages of this diet. Kompanion — the best intermittent fasting app you can find out there — offers you detailed information about intermittent fasting and guides you on the road.
- Consult a health professional: After doing your research and deciding to apply it to your life, consult your doctor or a health expert to see if it’s sustainable for you.
- Choose your way: Once you’re sure it’s OK for you to do intermittent fasting, you can decide which fasting schedule you will follow. For a detailed explanation, see “Find your way” below.
- Prepare yourself for bodily changes: Fasting is completely different from regular eating, so your body will certainly undergo changes. Prepare your mind for changes.
- Reduce addiction and unhealthy foods: Before you start fasting, reduce the intake of all addictive substances. And make sure you reduce your consumption of unhealthy foods. This way you can easily adapt your body to fasting.
- Change your regular eating habits: To ease the transition to fasting, limit your eating for several days before starting your new diet.
- Drink the right fluids: Don’t forget to drink water while fasting. You can also consume other drinks, such as tea or coffee, but make sure you don’t consume too much.
- Exercise regularly: Diet alone is not enough to maintain a healthy body. So you should add some exercise to your daily routine along with fasting. This will help keep you energetic and focused.
- Proper sleep: Exercise and fasting will consume your energy, so you should always ensure you have enough rest throughout the day. Make sure you get enough sleep, and at the appropriate time, such as at night or during a midday siesta.
After you apply all these items to your life, you can start your intermittent fasting journey with a prepared body and mind.
Find your way to intermittent fasting
There are multiple intermittent fasting types. You can find your unique way by experimenting with different fasting patterns. For instance,
- Eating during several hours a day: see 14/10, 16/8, and 18/6, and 20/4 intermittent fasting plans
- Eating only one meal a day (OMAD)
To understand which one suits you best, you can try different intermittent fasting schedules. Listen to your body’s response to those options and start applying the most effective one to your life in the long term.
Educate yourself thoroughly before starting
These articles we have shared previously may help you learn more for a better journey:
- What to Eat to Break a Fast
- All You Need to Know About Supplements, Detox & Multivitamins While Fasting
- Intermittent Fasting and Heart Diseases
- How Does Fasting Boost Weight Loss?
Prepare your body and your mind, and see what the right option is for your health. After you add it to your life, you will see how powerful intermittent fasting results can be!
Who should not try intermittent fasting?
People who should not try intermittent fasting include:
- Children under 18
- Pregnant or breastfeeding women
- People who have a history of eating disorders
- People with type 1 diabetes
You may also like reading about intermittent fasting for seniors.
To sum up
Starting intermittent fasting is not rocket science. Having a basic knowledge of fasting’s logic and having healthy meals during your eating windows are all it takes to do. If you fall into the category of people who can practice intermittent fasting, you can give it a try whether to lose weight or to boost your overall health.
