Intermittent Fasting & Working Out

By: Liz

What is Intermittent Fasting?

Intermittent fasting is a pattern of eating that dictates when you should eat, not what you should eat. Typically, intermittent fasters follow a sixteen/eight rule. This means, you would consume all your food during an eight hour window each day, while fasting during the other sixteen hours.

What are the benefits to Intermittent Fasting?

A primary reason someone may give intermittent fasting a try is to help with weight control. By limiting your caloric intake to ⅓ of the day, it is much easier to find yourself in a calorie deficit, meaning you are burning more calories than you are consuming. Another way intermittent fasting can help people lose weight is by burning fat for energy during the fasting period of the day. The body's preferred source of "fuel" is glucose -- however, once all glucose has been used during a fasting period, it will turn to fat as the next best thing. Some other benefits include a boost in metabolism, and a lowering of cholesterol and blood pressure.

How to Maximize the Weight-Loss Benefits:

As previously mentioned, once glucose stores have been burned for energy, the body will then turn to burning fat. Working out requires more energy than regular everyday movement, thus resulting in a faster depletion of glucose stores. By incorporating exercise during the fasting period, your body will be able to reduce glucose stores and begin burning fat at a faster rate than if you were to avoid exercise during fasting periods. Your body will be forced to burn fat in order to keep up with the increased need for fuel, ultimately expediting weight loss.