Why I love fasting
I’ve started to love fasting as a way to help me lose weight, & to just feel a bit more on top when I feel bloated and slug-like.
Fasting puts your body into a fat-burning state called Ketosis. This means that the body starts to burn fat as energy. It helps me with weight loss, better focus, decrease in bloating and more - I love it especially after a weekend of eating stuff that's not as good for me! There’s loads of ways to do it, but I tend to eat my tea at around 6pm, and then fast until 10am the next morning.
1. Blood Sugar Rising (0-3hrs)
I'm usually starting my fast at 6pm
Your body is starting to use all the nutrients from what you've recently scranned. But your body needs to absorb the blood sugar for energy or storage, depending on what is needed at the time. If you have been eating more than you need or haven't had much activity your body will start to store any extra energy as fat. I want my body to start to pass this stage so I can start to trick my body.
2. Blood Sugar Dropping (3hrs - 6hrs)
After 9pm (for me)
I'm usually close to bedtime, so have to be careful not to snack. While youi're fasting, your glucose and Insulin will start to decrease. As Insulin tells fat cells to store fat, Insulin levels decreasing means less fat being stored!
3. Blood Sugar Stabilising (6hrs - 12hrs)
2am - 10am (for me)
Cause your body realises there is a lack of glucose your body starts to use more of the stored fat as a source of energy! So it's already breaking down fat at this stage... This is a great spot to stop if you're new to fasting as you're already fat-burning, but you can do a little further in the next stages.
4. Ketosis (12hrs +)
If I push past 10am
This is the stage where you start having a higher rate of the growth hormone GH, which is a very important hormone. This hormone helps you lose fat and gain muscle, and it makes you stronger and supports your overall healthiness!
5. Growth Hormone Rising (13hrs +)
11am onwards
This is the stage where you start having a higher rate of the growth hormone GH, which is a very important hormone. This hormone helps you lose fat and gain muscle, and it makes you stronger and supports your overall healthiness!
6. Autophagy (14 hrs+)
12pm onwards
Autophagy is the final and one of the best phases of fasting. Autophagy is the body’s way of getting rid of damaged cells to regenerate newer, healthier ones. Autophagy might even have an anti-aging effect and improve your overall health… Sounds good to me!
Breaking My Fast
When I break my fast, I tend to go for something high energy and tasty, normally starting with a banana, followed by a protein nut bar. Then for lunch I tend to have something quick such as eggs with bacon, avocado, veg and chopped chillies. For tea I eat whatever I want and a dessert, and then I fast again!
Nothing’s going to get in the way of me having at least some dessert everyday!
I hope this little insight into fasting helps you as much as it helps me.
Love Tanya ❤️