Intermittent Fasting: My Brutally Honest (and Slightly Embarrassing) Take

Why I Decided to Try Intermittent Fasting

Okay, so, intermittent fasting. It’s been *everywhere*, right? All over Instagram, my friends at the gym were raving about it. I mean, even my *mom* was asking me about it! I’m constantly bombarded with information about the next best thing, and honestly, most of the time I just roll my eyes. But the intermittent fasting buzz just wouldn’t quit. I was feeling sluggish, my jeans were a little tighter than usual (okay, maybe a *lot* tighter), and I needed something to kickstart, well, *something*. That something turned out to be trying to stick to an eating schedule.

So, I figured, what the heck? What did I have to lose, other than maybe a few pounds and some sanity? I decided to jump on the bandwagon. I did a bunch of research – mostly Googling while watching Netflix, if I’m being honest. There were so many different methods: 16/8, 5:2, eat-stop-eat… it was honestly overwhelming. Who even knows where to start? Eventually, I settled on the 16/8 method, because it seemed the most manageable. Eight hours to eat, sixteen hours to, well, not eat. Seemed simple enough. Famous last words, right?

I did read all the benefits, you know, weight loss, improved insulin sensitivity, better brain health… the whole shebang. It all sounded amazing. But somewhere deep down, I had a feeling it wasn’t going to be as easy as the influencers made it look. I mean, they’re probably not stuffing their faces with pizza at 2 a.m. like I sometimes do. Don’t judge me, everyone has guilty pleasures!

My Initial Struggles (and a Minor Meltdown)

The first few days? Ugh, what a mess! I’m not a morning person to begin with, and skipping breakfast? Basically torture. I usually grab a coffee and a bagel on my way to work, but suddenly, that was a no-go. My stomach was rumbling by 10 a.m., and I was basically hangry all the time. I was snapping at my coworkers, getting headaches, and generally being a miserable human being. Not my finest moment, to be sure. I tried chugging water, drinking black coffee (bleh), and even chewing gum to try and distract myself, but nothing seemed to work.

The worst part was the social aspect. Happy hour with friends? Suddenly a minefield. Birthday lunch for a coworker? Awkwardly explaining why I couldn’t partake. I felt like I was constantly making excuses, and honestly, it was exhausting. And let’s not even talk about date night with my boyfriend. Trying to explain why I couldn’t eat until 7 p.m. while he was happily munching on appetizers? Talk about a mood killer.

Then came the meltdown. Day four, I think. I was staring into the fridge at 11:59 a.m., willing the clock to strike noon so I could finally eat something. I was so hungry and so frustrated, I literally burst into tears. My boyfriend walked in and looked at me like I’d lost my mind. Which, let’s be honest, I probably had, at least temporarily. Who cries over an empty stomach? Apparently, I do.

The Turning Point (Maybe?)

So, after my dramatic meltdown, I decided to re-evaluate my approach. Maybe I was being too strict. Maybe I needed to cut myself some slack. I mean, it’s not like I’m training for the Olympics or anything. I decided to loosen the reins a little. Instead of completely skipping breakfast, I started having a small handful of nuts or a couple of hard-boiled eggs to tide me over until my eating window opened. It wasn’t perfect, but it was better than nothing. And it definitely kept the hangry monster at bay.

I also started adjusting my eating window to better fit my lifestyle. Instead of 12 p.m. to 8 p.m., I shifted it to 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. This meant I could still enjoy dinner with my boyfriend and socialize with friends without feeling like I was constantly depriving myself. It made a world of difference. I also found some great low-calorie, high-protein snacks to keep me going between meals. Greek yogurt with berries became my new best friend. Seriously, that stuff is a lifesaver.

Funny thing is, I also started paying more attention to *what* I was eating, not just *when*. Because when you’re restricting your eating window, you really want to make those meals count. I started focusing on whole, unprocessed foods, lean protein, and plenty of fruits and vegetables. I even started meal prepping (sort of)! I mean, I wouldn’t call it “prepping” so much as “throwing a bunch of healthy ingredients into a container and hoping for the best,” but hey, it’s progress.

My (Honest) Results and Lasting Thoughts on Intermittent Fasting

Okay, so, did intermittent fasting magically transform me into a supermodel? No. Did I lose a ton of weight and suddenly have boundless energy? Nope. But did I notice some positive changes? Actually, yeah, I did. I lost a few pounds (maybe five?), which was a nice bonus. But more importantly, I felt more in control of my eating habits. I wasn’t constantly snacking out of boredom or emotional eating. I was actually making conscious decisions about what I was putting into my body. That was a big win for me.

I also noticed an improvement in my energy levels. Not like a massive surge, but a more consistent, sustainable energy throughout the day. I wasn’t experiencing those mid-afternoon crashes that used to plague me. And, dare I say it, I even felt a little bit more focused at work. Maybe it was the lack of sugar crashes, or maybe it was just a placebo effect, but whatever it was, I’ll take it.

Now, will I stick with intermittent fasting forever? Honestly, I’m not sure. It’s definitely not a magic bullet, and it requires some serious commitment and flexibility. But it’s taught me a lot about my eating habits and helped me develop a healthier relationship with food. And that, I think, is worth the occasional meltdown.

If you’re as curious as I was, you might want to dig into what mindful eating is all about. It sounds kind of woo-woo, but honestly, it helped me change the way I saw food as well.

So, if you’re thinking about trying intermittent fasting, my advice is to do your research, be patient with yourself, and don’t be afraid to adjust the method to fit your lifestyle. And maybe, just maybe, keep a box of tissues handy, just in case. You never know when a hangry meltdown might strike. Was I the only one confused by all of this at first? Probably not.