My Intermittent Fasting Experiment: Did It Actually Work?

The Allure of Intermittent Fasting: What Got Me Started

Okay, so, intermittent fasting. I’d been hearing about it for ages. All these supposed benefits – weight loss, improved energy, better focus… it sounded almost too good to be true. And honestly? I was skeptical. I’m the kind of person who gets hangry if I miss a meal, so the idea of willingly going without food for extended periods seemed like some kind of medieval torture.

But…I was also intrigued. My energy levels had been in the toilet for months. I’d been struggling to focus at work, and let’s be real, my jeans were feeling a little snug. So, after weeks of reading articles and watching YouTube videos (so much information!), I decided to give it a shot. What did I have to lose, besides maybe my sanity and the contents of my fridge? I mean, people were raving about it. Could it really be the magic bullet? I downloaded an app called Zero (seemed popular enough) and tentatively set my first fasting window: 16 hours.

My First Few Weeks: Hunger Pangs and Headaches (Oh My!)

The first week was…rough. Like, really rough. I went for the 16:8 method – 16 hours of fasting, 8 hours of eating. My eating window was from noon to 8 pm. The mornings were the worst. My stomach would rumble incessantly, and I had these killer headaches. I was drinking so much water and black coffee I thought I’d float away. My productivity at work plummeted. I was basically just counting down the minutes until noon.

I remember one particularly bad morning. It was a Tuesday, I think. I had a huge presentation to give, and all I could think about was food. My stomach was growling so loudly I was sure everyone could hear it. I was so distracted and shaky that I almost forgot my entire intro! Ugh, what a mess! That was the point where I almost gave up. I was like, “This is insane! Why am I doing this to myself?”

But, I’m stubborn. And I’d already told everyone I was trying intermittent fasting. So, I decided to stick it out for at least a month. Maybe it just takes time to adjust, right? Plus, all those articles promised that the hunger would eventually subside.

Finding My Groove: Adapting to the IF Lifestyle

Funny thing is, after about two weeks, things started to get…easier. The headaches lessened, and the hunger pangs weren’t quite as intense. I still thought about food a lot, especially in the mornings, but it wasn’t the all-consuming obsession it had been in the beginning. I started to find ways to distract myself. I’d go for a walk, listen to a podcast, or dive into a work project. Anything to keep my mind off food.

I also started experimenting with my eating window. I realized that noon to 8 pm wasn’t necessarily the best fit for my lifestyle. Sometimes, I’d push it back a bit, eating from 1 pm to 9 pm. Other times, I’d shorten it to 6 hours if I had a big social event coming up. The flexibility was actually kind of nice. It wasn’t as rigid as I initially thought it would be. I started feeling more in control of my eating habits, not the other way around. I also found that pre-planning meals for my eating window helped a lot, I wasn’t just grabbing the first thing I saw when the clock struck twelve!

Did Intermittent Fasting Actually Work For Me? The Results Are In

So, the big question: did it work? Well, yes and no. I did lose some weight. Maybe around 5 pounds in the first couple of months. But honestly, I think a lot of that was because I was being more mindful about what I was eating during my eating window. I was less likely to mindlessly snack on junk food when I knew I only had a limited time to eat. My energy levels did improve somewhat, but it wasn’t a dramatic transformation. I still had days where I felt sluggish and tired. Was I the only one feeling this way?

The biggest benefit, for me, was the mental clarity. I found that I was more focused and productive during my fasting periods. Maybe it was just the lack of food distracting me, but I felt sharper and more alert. Who even knows what’s next? Overall, I’d say intermittent fasting was a mixed bag for me. It wasn’t the miracle cure I was hoping for, but it did have some positive effects. I think it’s definitely something that can work for some people, but it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution.

Would I Recommend Intermittent Fasting? Proceed with Caution

Honestly, I’m still on the fence about whether I’d recommend intermittent fasting to everyone. If you’re considering trying it, I would say do your research and talk to your doctor first. It’s not for everyone. People with certain medical conditions, like diabetes or eating disorders, should definitely avoid it. And if you’re someone who gets easily stressed or hangry, it might not be the best fit for you.

If you do decide to try it, start slow and be patient with yourself. Don’t expect to see results overnight. It takes time to adjust, and it’s important to listen to your body. And don’t be afraid to experiment with different fasting methods to find what works best for you. Maybe 16:8 isn’t right for you. Maybe you’d prefer 14:10 or even just skipping breakfast a few days a week. The key is to find something that’s sustainable and that fits into your lifestyle. If you’re as curious as I was, you might want to dig into this other topic of mindful eating which also helped me during the process.

Ultimately, intermittent fasting is just one tool in the toolbox when it comes to health and wellness. It’s not a magic bullet, and it’s not a replacement for a healthy diet and regular exercise. But if you’re looking for a way to improve your energy levels, lose some weight, or boost your mental clarity, it might be worth a try. Just go into it with realistic expectations and a willingness to experiment. And maybe keep a snack handy, just in case.