Fasting is not a new concept, and humans have been practicing it for centuries. While many people rely on fasting to lose weight, there are various methods that you can use to go into a state of ketosis more effectively and efficiently. In this blog post, we’ll discuss the various types of fasting that you can use to shed those unwanted pounds.
Short-Term Fast For Vitality
The first and most obvious form of fasting that you can use for weight loss is short-term fasts. You may be familiar with the practice of taking a day off of eating, and that is precisely what short-term fasts entail. In fact, you can take a longer break from eating and still enter ketosis, but many people find that a 24-hour fast provides the best results. Eating even just a portion of food after a certain time during the day can stop you from entering ketosis due to the presence of carbs in your diet. When you do eat, you must do so slowly and ensure that you absorb the nutrients from the food that you consume.
Short-term fasts are ideal for people with high-stress jobs, as they enable them to stay nourished while performing strenuous physical activities. For those who work in offices, it’s also a great way to get a bit of a break from the stressors of the day. Many bosses will appreciate the fact that you’re not snacking throughout the day, and it can even be a nice way to build a bit of a rapport with them.
Intermediate-Term Fast For Energy
If you’re looking to practice fasting for a longer period of time, you can try out intermediate-term fasts. These types of fasts allow you to enter a state of ketosis more quickly, and many people vouch for the fact that they’re a lot more effective than short-term fasts if you’re looking to shed a significant amount of weight. The general rule of thumb is to ensure that you eat no carbs and no protein for at least 16 hours prior to your fast and to avoid eating any kind of sugar, including natural fruit sugars. Consuming lots of calories from carbohydrates, especially those quickly absorbed by the liver, will almost certainly result in you storing more fat than you should, and that is something that you’ll have to deal with in the long term. Even people who have previously been very successful at slimming down report that their previous habits often catch up with them and they gain the weight back.
Although more time-consuming, intermediate-term fasts give you the advantage of being able to track your ketone levels more accurately. With short-term fasts, your levels may be a little bit unpredictable. Some people even find that their levels fluctuate greatly, which can lead to a lot of frustration as you try to determine how effective your fast is. Monitoring your ketone levels can help you identify when you’ve reached the point of diminishing returns and it can enable you to determine how long you should continue to fast. Prolonged fasts above 90% ketone levels are effective for weight loss. Anything above 80% can be considered safe and effective.
Long-Term Fast For Longevity
If you’re looking to shed some pounds and increase your lifespan, you can try out a long-term fast. These types of fasts are not restricted by time and can continue as long as you want them to. Your calorie intake will be drastically reduced during a long-term fast, and many people claim that it is the perfect solution for people who want to live a healthier and longer life. The general recommendations for long-term fasts are the same as for intermediate-term fasts, with the addition of not consuming any alcohol or taking any supplements with vitamin A.
Alcohol is one of the major offenders when it comes to increasing your chances of obesity. It has been found to increase your appetite, making you want to eat more. While some people claim that vodka has similar properties to human growth hormones, the effect is often more potent in heavier drinkers. Vitamin A is an important nutrient that your body needs in order to stay strong and healthy. It is also important for your immune system and vision, so by cutting back on your vitamin A intake, you’re depriving your body of some key nutrients that it needs for proper functioning.
There are various positive effects that come with regularly practicing fasting. Not only do you increase your lifespan, you also regain your mental acuity and become more focused. It has been shown to be an effective therapy for people with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, and it has also been found to reduce stress and anxiety. In cases where addiction and compulsion are a significant issue, you may want to consider seeking professional help rather than relying on self-help measures such as fasting to combat your problems.