Intermittent Fasting and Keto
Intermittent fasting is such an important topic…especially for women.
And more especially, for women who have gone through menopause or are experiencing any kind of hormonal imbalance.
Speaking from a very personal perspective – I completely relate to what Cynthia Thurlow says in this video about the weight-loss challenge for ladies after they reach their late 40’s and beyond.
As many of you may know, I have really been struggling to lose weight the past few years. I mean…my weight has always been a challenge. But if I was diligent and stuck to a particular plan, my body would respond favorably and I could lose the extra pounds.
That started to change when my hormones began to fluctuate…I guess right about when I turned 45 or so.
Even then…when I adopted a raw vegan diet…I lost weight.
But I also experienced a lot of negative side effects. So, I chose to go back to eating animal products again.
And the side effects went away.
But I really packed on the pounds, as a result.
I’ve tried almost every kind of diet or protocol out there.
Low-carb/high-fat/keto, high-carb/low-fat/whole-foods plant-based. I tried special body-wraps that were supposed to melt off the excess weight, bought whole nutritional “programs” that included consuming specially-formulated protein powders combined with vitamin supplements. Hell, I even tried a stick-on appetite suppressant/stimulant “patch” you wear 24-hours a day. I tried eating only starches, and then eating only meat and eggs.
Seriously…I’ve tried it all.
I even went on a 7-day Water-Only fast.
You read that right. 7 days with Literally. No. Food. At. All.
Zero. Zilch. Nada.
I ate nothing.
Sure…I lost some weight.
8-pounds in 7 days.
But guess what happened as soon as I started eating again?
You got it.
The weight all came back.
However…the one thing that I have found to work…CONSISTENTLY…is Intermittent Fasting.
Yes, daily, on-going fasts.
But, unlike Water-Only fasting…with Intermittent Fasting…you still get to eat, DAILY.
And that makes all the difference in the world!
In fact…I really don’t know why I gave up the practice for a couple of years…
When I was first introduced to the idea of Intermittent Fasting (before the water fasting experience) I really, REALLY resisted the idea!
I’m not sure why…but I think it must have something to do with my Mormon upbringing. Beginning in childhood, members are required to fast for 2 meals a day on the first Sunday of each month. It’s a compulsory ritual for all members over the age of 8…
And I hated the practice!
It was deprivation, pure and simple.
As an adult, I really bristled at the idea of fasting.
B-u-t…when I finally did decide to give OMAD (One Meal A Day)…a specific type of Intermittent Fasting…a try, I was astonished by how effective it was!
In fact…over a period of three months or so I successfully lost 30 pounds.
And despite the fact that I haven’t been practicing IF for the last two or three years…I have still kept that weight off.
Long story short…I’ve re-incorporated Intermittent Fasting into my weight-loss regimen.
And once again…I’m seeing results!
In addition to Intermittent Fasting, according to Cynthia Thurlow in this video, the practice can be especially powerful when combined with a low-carb, ketogenic dietary approach! She specifies all of her reasons why in the video, so I’ll defer to her expertise on the subject!
But if you are experiencing a persistent weight-loss plateau and the pounds just won’t budge…I recommend you give intermittent fasting a try to see if it works for you, too! Combine it with a keto eating plan and odds are, you’ll bust right through that plateau and begin seeing success, just like I have!
Until next time…
I bid you good health!
~Tracy
