I think that this is an important issue as fasting isn't suitable for everyone for a variety of reasons some medical and some psychological that cause a medical issue.
For instance anyone with diabetes and type 1 diabetes their main priority is keeping their blood sugar levels in balance and the same goes for anyone with an eating disorder as we need to be fit both mentally and physically before we put our bodies through any extra stresses. To me this is common sense like getting one self ready too run a marathon rather than gung ho I want to be fitter lose weight etc attitude and to enter a marathon totally unprepared which would be a recipe for disaster, so here's an interesting article about preparing ourselves for fasting and IF.
I have lots of energy and tend to sleep like a baby and can sleep for 9 hours so Intermittent fasting and not eating for 12 hours is easy peasy for me. But I have a very healthy relationship with food and do not over eat and sometimes I have a treat as a dessert and am too full and I know I that I will really enjoy it at a later date.
So please think about these things and maybe the goal of fasting can be used as a tool to help rectify certain issues that make fasting not suitable for you.
Here's a link with some very good and down to earth advice on all aspects of fasting:
IF is difficult if you try to "switch it on" overnight.
The article recommends getting into "fat burning mode" before you start IF, but one of the main benefits of IF is that it (helps) get you into fat-burning mode. You can just gradually decrease the duration of your "eating window" - it worked for me - before I had even heard of "Intermittent Fasting".
I agree that you have to be in a good place mentally and physically, to do IF. I also agree that it's best to ease into it gradually.
I cut out caffeine and reduced my carbs before I started and then began to miss breakfast and see how I felt. I just extended the fasting period then to miss out lunch too. I also reminded myself to drink lots of water.
"Fast" is a four-lettered word that scares people, which is why I invented the acronym "NEAD" for "Not Eating All Day"... and you can start by not snacking all evening in front of the television.
Hi S11m. I think not eating all day is to extreme everyday for most people as intermittent fasting includes when we are asleep and the group is called Fasting and Furious, the furious is how we can feel when we are very very hungry. IF is recognised for exactly what it stands for and there's a charity NEAD.
With saying not eating all day we also have to be careful that we're not sending out the wrong message to anyone vulnerable and with an eating disorder. So I don't think there's anything scary with fast or fasting especially as there's a lot of interest in IF at the moment.
This is my honest opinion and I'm pleased that it works for you and ask what everyone else thinks by all means.
It’s all mind over matter, go to bed knowing your not eating the next day & you’ll be surprised how easy it is, after the first day it gets easier. I’ve even done it while in atrial fibrillation 140bpm but did make me feel worse, so had to kick it into touch till I got cardioverted. I have a friend that’s 20 stone & borderline diabetic that says, can’t see point of fasting! People are obsessed with food, dare I say addicted & are not willing to even try, lots more problems from over eating than fasting but what do I read here, oooooo be careful, we are so spoilt with the amount of food it’s sickening!
IF can help people change their relationship with food, speed up metabolism and autophagy (long levity and cell replacement) as well as other benefits.
Lots of people are obsessed with lots of things not just food so I'd like to remind you that F&F is to encourage members who want to fast and in a safe way that is beneficial to their health.
As for your 20 stone friend I can't understand why people like this delude themselves that they don't need to take action as diabetes and obesity can have a catastrophic effects on our health and well being so I don't see them in a position to give good or positive advice on others health and well being.
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How low should your blood sugar go during a fast?
Diabetics CAN fast