There is a new weight loss trend. It’s all over YouTube. There are volumes of instructionals everywhere. It’s called intermittent fasting.
Here’s how is works: fast for 12 – 16 hours then eat wisely for the remainder of the day. The videos explain how to come out of your daily fast with – a nutrient dense wholesome meal, how to determine whether you want to fast 12 or 16 hours, what to drink while fasting (anything that doesn’t have calories) and when to begin (8pm,10pm?).
It’s not rocket science.
However, people who couldn’t lose weight (read menopausal women) can suddenly lose and keep the weight off.
It struck me as I was watching my umpteenth video/vlog that this was how my mother ate.
Mom would start every morning with a cup of strong tea and continue drinking cup after cup until noonish when she’d have a sandwich or a salad. She used to say she just wasn’t hungry. Funny thing was, all the mothers on our street did the same thing. Oh occasionally one might have a slice of dry toast with their coffee, but for the most part, women didn’t eat in the morning.
Then came the science that said that was bad. Then came the self-righteous daughters that told our mothers that how they ate was wrong. Breakfast was the most important meal of the day. Skipping meals set off a change reaction of malnutrition.
Now, long after mom has gone, she has once again proven to be right.
Breakfast may not be the most important meal. Our bodies may appreciate and even work better by skipping it. Only today we are couching how she ate as fasting not skipping a meal in order to keep our weight down.
Oh Mom, why did I ever doubt you?
As Always,
Beth – this is so interesting. I didn’t know intermittent fasting was a “thing”, but the dietician I am working with just recommended that to me and I’m trying it. We’ll see! My blood sugar is up to borderline pre-diabetic, so I’m working hard to get that under control. And you are right – that’s how our mothers ate – coffee and a cigarette! 🙂
This is a very interesting post Beth. I’ve always been told I need to eat breakfast but most of the time I don’t feel hungry until mid morning. A friend recently told me that she had read that breakfast isn’t necessarily the most important meal of the day which goes against everything we have been told in the past. I think it really is up to what works for the individual. Eating a healthy balanced meal when you feel hungry to me is more sensible than eating just for the sake of it.
Sue from Sizzling Towards 60 & Beyond
Beth, don’t be taken in by the new terminology. All this “intermittent fasting” craze is, is the old “don’t snack in the evening,” isn’t it? If I finish dinner by 6:30 and don’t eat anything until 6:30 in the morning, that’s 12 hours right there. I can’t think of anyone I know with a weight problem who doesn’t snack in the evening.