Fasting Chronicles: Journey to Wellness

The holidays are a time of joy, family, and, let's be honest, lots of delicious food. While fasting can be a helpful tool for managing your health, it's crucial to remember that it can't undo the effects of a poor diet. In fact, a poor diet can do more harm than good, leading to weight gain and other health issues. The Dangers of Yo-Yo Dieting One common pitfall is yo-yo dieting, where people cycle between periods of fasting and overeating. This pattern can be detrimental to your health and can make it harder to maintain a healthy weight in the long run. Self-awareness and mindful eating are key to avoiding this cycle. Managing Calories Effectively To manage your calories effectively, consider using a calorie counting app. These apps can help you keep track of your daily intake and make healthier choices. Here are a few top-rated apps: MyFitnessPal : Offers a comprehensive food diary and exercise tracking. Lose It! : Provides personalized weight loss plans and meal tracking...

  Hey lovelies! 🌟 We've all heard about the buzz around intermittent fasting (IF), right? Especially the time-restricted eating (TRE) plans where you squeeze all your meals into a short window. But hold up—recent research has thrown some shade on this popular diet trend, and I’m here to spill all the juicy details, thanks to a study presented at the American Heart Association’s 2024 sessions in Chicago. 🍵 So, here’s the deal: This massive study analyzed over 20,000 U.S. adults and found that those who ate within a window of less than 8 hours per day were more likely to die from cardiovascular disease compared to those who spread their meals over 12-16 hours. Yikes! Key Findings: Increased Cardiovascular Risk: People who stuck to an 8-hour eating window had a 91% higher risk of death from cardiovascular disease. Heart Disease and Cancer: The risk of cardiovascular death was also higher in people with existing heart disease or cancer. Eating Window Matters: Even those with heart...

  Dear Aine Liora, Twelve years ago, I found incredible success with intermittent fasting (IF), losing 72 pounds and keeping off about 55 of those pounds until four years ago when I started a new job. I work for a railroad in the U.S. and we are on call 24/7, so I don’t have a set schedule anymore. My days consist of getting a two-hour call at any time, sitting on a train for 12 hours, and then spending the night out of town with only the food I bring or the limited options nearby. I usually stay in a hotel for 12-24 hours before another 12-hour train back home. My work times are highly irregular—one day I might start at 2 AM, then the next trip could be at 8 PM or 1 PM, with varying durations in between. This lack of a regular schedule has made it challenging to stick to IF. Aine, how can I manage to stay on track with IF given my irregular schedule? I often find myself bored in hotel rooms and end up on prolonged fasts, only to gorge when I finally get back home. Thank you, ...

  As Thanksgiving rapidly approaches, it’s tempting to rely on fasting as a quick fix to counteract the indulgent meals ahead. While fasting can offer many health benefits, it’s important to remember that fasting alone isn’t a cure-all for a poor diet. The Importance of a Balanced Diet Fasting can help reset your system, but it’s not an excuse to throw nutrition out the window. Your body thrives on a well-balanced diet rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats. This diverse mix provides essential nutrients that fasting alone can't supply. Think of fasting as a tool to complement your healthy eating habits, not replace them. Maintaining a balanced diet helps regulate your energy levels, supports your immune system, and keeps your metabolism running smoothly. Staying Active Another key to feeling your best this holiday season is to keep moving. Thanksgiving is a time to enjoy family and friends, but it's also a great opportunity to incorporate some...

  Hey lovelies! 🌟 So, you know how intermittent fasting (IF) is all the rage for weight loss? Critics have been throwing shade, worrying it might mess with women's reproductive hormones. But guess what? A fresh study from the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) is here to spill the tea, and it's not all bad news. 🍵 The amazing Krista Varady and her team followed a group of pre- and post-menopausal obese women for eight weeks on the “warrior diet.” Picture this: a four-hour window where you can eat guilt-free, followed by a water fast until the next day. Sounds wild, right? After eight weeks, here’s what they found: Sex-binding globulin hormone: No change. This protein carries reproductive hormones around, and it was steady as a rock. Testosterone and androstenedione: No changes here either. Both are crucial for producing testosterone and estrogen. Now, the biggie: DHEA . This hormone, which fertility clinics adore for improving ovarian function and egg quality, saw a drop ...

  Dear Aine Liora, I'm a woman currently weighing 190 lbs, with a goal weight of around 160 lbs, and I'm 18 months postpartum. I'm considering starting intermittent fasting (IF) for weight loss, but I struggle with anxiety and irritability if I go a few hours without eating during the day. As a stay-at-home mom to two toddlers, I need to be emotionally stable. How do other experienced fasters manage these symptoms? I'm thinking of trying the 16:8 method, with an eating window from 9 AM to 5 PM. Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thank you kindly,   Seeking Stability Dear Seeking Stability, First off, kudos to you for taking steps on your intermittent fasting (IF) journey! 🎉 Now, let's talk about those pesky irritability gremlins that pop up when we go a few hours without munching. Part of the fasting adventure is discovering how food distracts us from what's really going on inside our minds. Yes, you'll likely experience some irritability, and that...

As a passionate advocate for the transformative power of fasting, I was excited to dive into Complete Guide To Fasting: Heal Your Body Through Intermittent, Alternate-Day, and Extended Fasting by Dr. Jason Fung. This comprehensive guide exceeded my expectations and has become an invaluable resource on my wellness journey. A Thorough Exploration of Fasting Dr. Fung expertly explains various fasting methods, including intermittent, alternate-day, and extended fasting. Each chapter is meticulously crafted to provide readers with a deep understanding of fasting's benefits, supported by compelling scientific research and real-life success stories. The book demystifies the fasting process and presents it in an accessible, reader-friendly manner, making it perfect for both beginners and experienced fasters. Empowering and Encouraging What sets this book apart is Dr. Fung's ability to make the reader feel comfortable and confident in embarking on their own fasting journey. He addresse...

Hello, and welcome to Fasting Chronicles: Journey to Wellness !  I'm Aine Liora, and I am   thrilled to embark on this transformative journey with you. This blog is dedicated to exploring the incredible health benefits of water fasting, and I'll be sharing my personal experiences, insights, and seasonal results along the way. The Goal of This Blog The primary goal of this blog is to provide a comprehensive resource for anyone interested in water fasting. Whether you’re a seasoned faster or someone curious about the practice, you'll find valuable information, tips, and motivational stories here. I'll dive deep into the science and benefits of fasting, share my personal progress, and document the challenges and triumphs that come with this journey. What to Expect Here’s what you can look forward to on this blog: Personal Experiences : I'll share detailed accounts of my fasting journeys, including the physical and mental changes I experience. Health Benefits : We'l...