On the whole, intermittent fasting is considered safe for healthy people.
However, it’s not for everyone and you should seek medical advice on this dieting technique if you are:
- Pregnant or breastfeeding
- Under 18
- Diabetic or have blood sugar problems
- Suffering from an eating disorder
There’s quite a buzz around intermittent fasting, and it can be a great way to shed those extra pounds.
But when you’re trying to lose weight and boost your health, you want to make sure that you’re doing it in a healthy, sustainable way..
With so many different intermittent fasting schedules, it’s hard to know which one will work for you – let alone which is best for weight loss!
Some people say that the 16/8 method is your best bet for losing weight, but is this true?
We’ll take a look at what science says and talk you through why the 16/8 fasting schedule might be best for weight loss.
What is 16/8 intermittent fasting?
The 16/8 schedule is a popular type of intermittent fasting.
It’s based around giving yourself a 16-hour “fasting window”, where you don’t eat anything, and an 8-hour “eating window” where you’re allowed to eat as normal.
You just pick your times, like an eating window of 12 pm – 8 pm, and stick with it.
What does science say about 16/8?
Almost all diets work by reducing the amount of calories you eat, helping your body to burn more energy than it stores, boosting your weight loss progress.
Intermittent fasting is a great way to lose weight, and it can help in other ways too.
Intermittent fasting can boost your health by:
- Lowering your insulin levels.
- Boosting your memory.
- Keeping your heart healthy.
There are a few different ways to fast and you might wonder if any are better than the rest.
According to scientists, all the different intermittent fasting schedules give you the same benefits and can help you lose weight.
Even though the different ways of fasting all work the same on paper, they only work if you stick to them.
The 16/8 is a very easy-to-follow fasting method because:
- You always know when your fasting day is.
- You get to eat a couple of meals every day.
- 16 hours is a great length for your fasting window.
This makes the 16/8 method one of the easiest to adjust to, meaning you stand the best chance of losing weight.
What makes the 16/8 schedule work?
Even though the different intermittent fasting methods can help you lose weight, some are easier to follow than others.
There are a few things about the 16/8 method that makes it stand out as one of the best schedules for weight loss.
Let’s take a look at why the 16/8 method is one of the easiest types of fasting to try out.
This fasting window gets you the best results
Experts say that the best length of time to get the full benefits from fasting is between 14 and 18 hours.
Experts say that a 14-18 hour fast has better results for weight loss than fasting for 12 hours, and it’s also a realistic target for beginners.
A 16-hour fasting window is a great place to start if you’re new at fasting, and it’ll give you the consistency and motivation you need to make it work.
The 16/8 schedule is easy to follow
This method is very easy to follow, as you can build your fasting day into your routine quickly and consistently.
Unlike fasting schedules where you have specific fasting days, with the 16/8 method every day is a fast day, which means that you’ll never forget when you’re meant to be fasting.
If you need a hand remembering when to fast, just set an alarm for when your fasting window starts and ends.
Easy peasy!
You only miss one meal a day
The 16/8 method is easier to adjust to than others.
For most people, it usually means just skipping breakfast or dinner.
If you set your 16 hour fasting window between 8pm at night and 12pm the next day, then you end up sleeping through most of your fast.
And if you work a 9-5 job, this means it’s only a 4 or 5-hour wait in the morning until you can eat.
A lot of people find that they can fit their fasting hours around their own routine, and that can make all the difference when it comes to sticking to it.
Eat every day with the 16/8 method
A key benefit of 16/8 fasting is that you get to eat every day.
This not only makes it easier for you to adjust to this type of fasting, but also means that you’ll be less likely to overeat during your eating window.
Being hungry can make you overeat or reach for unhealthier snacks, and this affects your weight loss progress.
By allowing two meals a day, the 16/8 method helps you avoid feeling hungry while boosting your weight loss process.
16/8 intermittent fasting is less restrictive with your diet
A good thing about intermittent fasting is that it doesn’t tell you what to eat, just when to eat.
This means that you don’t have to cut out any food groups
We recommend sticking to a healthy diet high in lean protein, whole grains & plenty of vegetables to smash those weight loss goals quickly and effectively.
Is the 16/8 schedule the best method of intermittent fasting for weight loss?
Science tells us that all methods of intermittent fasting are pretty much equal for weight loss, but the 16/8 method has a few features that make it easier to follow in the long term.
The 16/8 method is a great type of intermittent fasting for beginners, as well as a very sustainable one too.
Because you get to have a couple of meals a day, you’re less likely to slip up and overeat.
And because the 16/8 method is a daily thing and the hours are flexible, you can fit it around your schedule and never have to worry about which day is your fasting day.
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