All of us want to be the best version of ourselves. Whether it’s by improving our intellectual capacity and knowledge by studying and learning, having better strength and flexibility by exercising, or experiencing much of the world’s wonders, there are different ways of becoming the version of ourselves that we have envisioned, and intermittent fasting is one of them.
When it comes to improving different aspects of our life, body image is a key factor that plays a crucial role in almost any social event. Fortunately, there are different ways of having a “better” body image, such as exercising. One of the most popular ways of improving body image is by losing weight, especially through fasting, and what better way to do it than intermittent fasting?
But before anything else, what is intermittent fasting? How is it effective? Are there any side effects to it? We’ll be discussing some important questions that can help you get started on intermittent fasting here or whether it’s appropriate for your lifestyle.
What is Intermittent Fasting?
Most of us would relate fasting and dieting to what we take into our body, but intermittent fasting is all about when we take food into our body. This is described as a pattern of eating where you’ll have strictly scheduled meals. You will have time periods that range from hours to 24 hours or more.
Unlike other methods of dieting, this is more focused on weight loss. In fact, this is ranked as one of the best ways of losing weight in terms of popularity. Research has shown that this diet is helpful in losing weight while also being beneficial to your overall health by lowering hypertension and high levels of cholesterol.
There are actually a variety of ways of performing this dieting method, such as:
- 5:2 method
- Time-restricted method
- 24 hours method
- Alternate day method
Side Effects
Although there benefits to intermittent fasting, it’s crucial that we discuss the side effects of it so you’ll be aware of how your body gradually changes. You will feel the following effects on your body:
Hunger – Naturally, when you’re not eating as much as you normally would, you’ll get hungry. This can often lead to mood swings and emotional irritability.
- Orthorexia – This dieting method won’t work if you eat too much when you’re on your “cheat” or non-fasting days. It might not seem like something that most people think about, but orthorexia is a disorder where most people are too fixated on eating healthy food and can affect your mental health.
- Reduced focus and constantly tired – Most individuals who skip breakfast because of this dieting method won’t have enough energy during the morning. When they do wake up, they’ll feel disoriented and sleepy.
- Lower blood sugar – One of the main causes of nausea and bouts of headaches is low blood pressure. This is one of the most prevalent side effects.
- Disturbances in your sleeping cycle – According to research, intermittent fasting can have an influence on your deep sleep (REM). This means that it can affect your ability to comprehend, memorize, and concentrate when you’re awake.
Although you might have some health benefits, in the long run, the side effects of intermittent fasting can increase risk factors.
Still, it’s important to get yourself checked or consult a doctor before you do try out this diet. Fortunately, there are a variety of treatment options for bulimia nervosa, anorexia, and other eating disorders. Although there are treatments for some of these conditions, it doesn’t mean that it won’t have a long-term effect on your health and body.
Risk Factors
But right before you do make any final decisions on whether you should do this diet or not, you’ll need to understand the side effects of doing intermittent fasting. As the name suggests, your body will be going through a variety of radical changes and will need to resort to burning fats for your body’s energy. You’ll need to constantly have the mindset that you will feel dizzy, hungry, and even tired throughout most of the process.
Although you’ll need to watch out for the following health conditions, especially for those that are susceptible to the following:
- All types of diabetes
- Susceptible to low blood pressure
- Pregnant or currently lactating
- Taking medications (consult with a professional medical practitioner)
- The lack of menstruation or amenorrhea
There are various ways of performing intermittent fasting, and they’re all quite effective ways of losing weight. Of course, you’ll need to be aware of the side effects. If you’re in doubt, you can always consult with your physician regarding the matter.
But what’s even more important than body image and how others see you is how you see yourself; when you accept your body image while still striving to improve yourself through exercise and lifestyle changes, you’re setting yourself up for success.