Fasting has been used for centuries in health and religious practices, and intermittent fasting is now back in the headlines with emerging scientific research and celebrity endorsement. So, what exactly is intermittent fasting, and why might it work for you? Intermittent fasting (also known as IF) is the process of regularly allowing your body to go many hours without food. While this may seem like a major change from the three meals (plus snacks!) mentality of our society, research has shown that IF may actually have substantial health and wellness benefits. Aside from anecdotal praise for IF, several research studies have been conducted pointing towards its numerous health benefits. One such study by Valter Longo, the director of University of California’s Longevity Institute, looked extensively at this correlation between fasting and health. Throughout Dr. Longo’s research on the effect of fasting in mice, he discovered that fasting for two to five days each month dramatically reduced the likelihood of developing serious diseases, including cancer. Additional benefits of IF that have been linked to various scientific research studies include:

• Reduced biomarkers for cancer, heart disease, and diabetes
• Weight maintenance
• Increased longevity
• Improved concentration and energy

There’s no question that the science behind IF is intriguing, and there are a few different ways you can go about trying it for yourself.

Time-Restricted Feeding

Consume all of your daily calories within six to eight hours, and then fast for the remaining 16 to 18 hours of the day. So which method is right for you? A good place to start is by following the time-restricted feeding method for a gradual introduction to IF. An example of your daily fasting plan would look something like this:

• 11 AM: Breakfast
• 1 PM: Lunch
• 4 PM: Snack
• 7 PM: Dinner
• 7 PM – 11 AM: Intermittent fasting

The Ancient Warrior Diet 

The Warrior Diet was started by former Israeli Special Forces member Ori Hofmekler, author of The Warrior Diet. It encourages patterns of eating by warriors during ancient Greek and Roman times. This includes eating a very small amount of low-calorie food for 20 hours out of the day and eating most of your calories a four-hour period. During that short window, it is recommended that you eat: salad with oil and vinegar dressing, plant-based proteins such as beans, wheat-free whole grains such as rice or oats, cooked vegetables and small amounts of cheese.

5:2 Diet

Eat without dietary restrictions for five days (yes – that means you can still have pizza!), and then cut back to 500 calories for each of the remaining two days.

Alternate-Day Fasting

Eat 500 calories every other day, while consuming food without restrictions on the opposite days.

There’s no better time than now to take charge of your health! The scientific research supporting IF is constantly growing and evolving. Although there is still much to be learned about the benefits of this method, it remains a well-established way to start getting your body on the track to health.

BURN 20% MORE FAT!

After intermittent fasting, sneak in a short 10-minute HIIT circuit before your first meal. This will burn 20% more fat than if you worked out AFTER a meal. Plus, it improves your body’s response to sugar, which helps prevent diabetes.

Ready to HIIT it? Ty these at-home workouts…

ULTIMATE SCULPT

This workout takes muscle toning and fat burning to the next level. The secret is muscle integration! Ultimate Sculpt includes: 30-Minute interval training,10-Minute core conditioning and 10-Minute replenish. 

1 Workout – $12.99
2 Workouts – $19.99
3 Workouts – $24.99 *BEST VALUE*

FASTFIT

Slim and trim in only 10-minutes a day! FastFit includes five 10-minute workouts that use interval and strength training to blast fat and achieve a toned, knockout body.

1 Workout – $12.99
2 Workouts – $19.99
3 Workouts – $24.99 *BEST VALUE*

TOTAL BODY TURNAROUND

Three 20-min different workout styles to create one killer exercise that targets trouble spots, improves balance, and helps you recharge. Total circuit • Total balance • Total energy!