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Testimonial - We tested intermittent fasting

Guillaume Trottier

Testimonial - We tested intermittent fasting

Olivier, the Aquatic Sector Coordinator here at the Sporthèque, took on a challenge two months ago. Intermittent fasting. Initially, the challenge turned out to be an experience that lasted only a few months. Today, Olivier seriously considers adopting this way of life for the years to come! I sat down with him to first understand what intermittent fasting is, and then discuss with him the changes he has seen at home, both physically and mentally.
 

Intermittent fasting, what is it?

Intermittent fasting is becoming more and more popular, especially among people who want to lose weight. However, this type of diet is not unanimous among health professionals where opinions are divided on the possible benefits. While some experts believe that this method can actually help people who are overweight to lose weight, others say that intermittent fasting can lead to an unhealthy relationship with food.
 
Basically, a fast is when a person does not eat anything for an extended period. There are, however, different types of intermittent fasting that can be practiced. Some people will not eat for a fixed number of hours a day while others will not eat for one or two days a week. For example, a person will eat normally on Monday then eat nothing at all on Tuesdays and then eat normally again on Wednesdays, so-called "alternative fasting". Another type of fasting is to eat normally 4 to 5 days a week and eat only about 25% of the calories usually eaten in a day for the remaining days of the week.
 
The type of fasting that is of particular interest to us in this article, and the one that Olivier practices, is the one with a diet limited in time. Also called "16: 8". It consists of eating nothing for a period that can go from 16 to 20 hours, then eat normally in the period of time it is allowed. For example, Olivier told me that he has the right to eat only between 12h and 20h. It would also be possible not to eat between 10h and 18h. The principle is simple and this type of fasting is more permissive than the others, one of the reasons why it is so popular.
 

Risks

In some people too much caloric restriction can be harmful to health. It is inadvisable to practice intermittent fasting if:
- You are pregnant
- You must take medication with food
- You are diabetic
 
Some side effects may also arise:
- Frequent hunger rages
- Irritability
- Decrease in basic metabolism
- Bad breath
- Hypoglycemia
 
It is for all these reasons that a close follow-up with a professional in the field of health is recommended.
 
For Olivier, intermittent fasting makes him more confident about his health and he says he feels better. He says he does not do intermittent fasting for weight loss, but because he really feels the benefits. For him, the beauty of all this is the simplicity of the thing. Indeed, it is simply a matter of eating what you eat in a slightly stricter time slot.
 
If you want to try intermittent fasting, choose a time slot that fits well with your lifestyle and schedule. For example, by choosing the "16: 8", it is within an 8 hours a day where you will have the right to eat (ex: 10h to 18h or 12h to 20h). Note that you must eat the same amount of food you normally eat in 24 hours, but in this case, in 8 hours!
 
You may also experience some beneficial effects, such as:
- More energy
- Better sleep
- Weightloss
- Cleaning the body
- Decreased insulin level