You Want me to WHAT???
I remember the first time I tried intermittent fasting. I was SCARED! So I relate to your initial reaction to fasting: "Sara, I can't do that! I can't skip breakfast!!! I'll be hungry, I'll waste away, I'll be weak and I'll faint!"
Fear of the Unknown
I know you probably think you can't hack intermittent fasting (i.e. skipping breakfast) because you are accustomed to eating from the moment you wake up until you go to bed. Naturally, you assume skipping breakfast would make you hungry.
The problem with eating every 2 to 3 hours is that it trains your body to be hungry every 2 to 3 hours! Plus it prevents you from burning your own body fat for fuel. Let me explain:
The steady stream of carbs you are stuffing into your face is suppressing your body's endogenous glucose production. In other words, your body never needs to tap into your stored glycogen or fat for energy because you are constantly stuffing energy (i.e. food) directly into your mouth. Now you've trained your body to rely on burning the food you shovel into your mouth for energy. This explains why eating carbs every few hours makes you hungry for more carbs every few hours.
If you have been eating every 2 to 3 hours for years and years, then you will likely struggle to fast for even just a few hours (i.e. you will be hungry and will need to eat). This is a sign that you are inflexible to burning your body fat for fuel. You can improve your metabolic flexibility by fasting. If you are new to fasting, I recommend you slowly increase the duration of your fasting window over time. For example, start with a 12 hour fast and gradually work your way up to 16 hours over the course of the next few weeks. Note that 8 hours of your fast happens during your sleep (so it's not as bad as you think).
Key Points:
- When you eat all day, you are in fat storing mode.
- When you fast, you are in fat burning mode.
- You want to be metabolically flexible. You want to be able to burn your own body fat for fuel.
- Minimize hunger during your fast by keeping your belly filled with water, tea or coffee during your fast.
- Eating all day will make you hungry for more food every 2 to 3 hours, especially since the meals are tiny portions that merely tease your appetite.
- Fasting, on the other hand, has a suppressive effect on hunger. And when you finally do break your fast, you get to eat large portions that promote satiety (appetite satisfaction).
Still Skeptical about Skipping Breakfast?
If you are still skeptical about skipping breakfast, I recommend you read my blog, "Can't Stop Eating After Breakfast" to learn why eating breakfast in the morning makes you hungrier.
Learn the How's & Why's of Intermittent Fasting
Want to know when to eat your first meal? Want to know why you're not going to faint if you don't eat breakfast in the morning? Want to know why you don't need to eat breakfast in the morning for energy? Want to know why skipping breakfast allows you to burn fat? Then get started today: Click to sign up for my free intermittent fasting tutorials directly to your inbox.
People who desire a long-term fat loss solution that doesn't require strict dieting also take a look at my Fat Loss Fast System. This is going to change your life! Are you in??
