My Intermittent Fasting Experiment: The Good, The Bad, and The Hangry

Why I Even Considered Intermittent Fasting

Okay, so, intermittent fasting. I’d heard whispers about it for ages. You know, the kind of thing that floats around fitness circles, promising weight loss and all sorts of other magical benefits. Honestly, I was mostly curious. I wasn’t necessarily trying to drop a ton of weight, but I was feeling a bit sluggish and, well, let’s just say my jeans were feeling a little snugger than usual. So, I started researching. And I mean *really* researching. I ended up staying up until 1 a.m. one night reading articles on Healthline and watching YouTube videos from people who swore by it.

It all sounded… plausible. The idea of restricting your eating to certain windows seemed less restrictive than a full-blown diet. Plus, some of the claims were pretty enticing: improved insulin sensitivity, cellular repair (whatever that really means), and even brain benefits. Who even knows if that’s all true? But hey, I was willing to give it a shot. What did I have to lose, besides maybe a few pounds and a bit of sanity from hunger? I figured if nothing else, it would be an interesting experience.

Choosing My IF Method: The 16/8 Dilemma

So, once I decided to jump in, the next hurdle was figuring out which method to use. There are a bunch of different intermittent fasting protocols, but the 16/8 method seemed the most popular and, frankly, the least intimidating. That’s basically where you fast for 16 hours and eat all your meals within an 8-hour window. It seemed manageable, right? I mean, I already skip breakfast most days anyway.

I decided to start my eating window at noon and end it at 8 p.m. That meant no more late-night snacking (which, let’s be real, was a big problem for me) and forcing myself to hold off on that morning coffee until lunchtime. Ugh, just thinking about it now gives me the shivers. Coffee is my lifeline! But I was determined. I downloaded the “Zero” app to track my fasting hours and mentally prepared myself for the challenge. I told myself it would be easy. I was wrong. So, so wrong.

The Reality Check: Hunger Pangs and Unexpected Side Effects

The first few days were brutal. I was constantly hungry. Like, stomach-growling, head-pounding, can’t-concentrate hungry. I tried to distract myself with work and chugging water, but it was a constant battle. And the mood swings? Oh, the mood swings! I was irritable, snappy, and basically a walking, talking hangry monster. My poor husband bore the brunt of it. He tried to be supportive, bless his heart, but I could tell he was starting to regret encouraging me to try this whole intermittent fasting thing.

One afternoon, I was in a meeting, and my stomach started making these loud, embarrassing noises. I swear, everyone in the room could hear it. I wanted to crawl under the table and disappear. It was mortifying! I remember just praying for noon to arrive. But besides the hunger, I also noticed some unexpected side effects. I had trouble sleeping, and my energy levels were all over the place. One minute I’d feel wired, and the next I’d be crashing hard. It was a rollercoaster, to say the least. Honestly, I started questioning my life choices at that point.

The (Possible) Benefits: A Glimmer of Hope

After about a week, things started to get a little easier. The hunger pangs weren’t quite as intense, and I started to feel like I had a bit more energy during my eating window. I also noticed that I was eating more mindfully. Since I only had 8 hours to get my meals in, I was making more conscious choices about what I was eating. I was opting for healthier, more nutrient-dense foods and skipping the processed junk. So, that was a definite win.

I also did notice a slight dip in the scale, which was encouraging. It wasn’t a huge difference, but it was enough to keep me motivated to stick with it. And, I will admit, there was a certain sense of accomplishment that came with completing a fast. It felt like I was proving to myself that I could stick to something challenging. But was it worth all the hangry moments and sleep deprivation? That was the question.

The Verdict: Intermittent Fasting – Yay or Nay?

So, after a month of intermittent fasting, here’s my honest opinion: it’s not for everyone. While I did experience some potential benefits, like increased mindful eating and a slight weight loss, the side effects were too much for me. The constant hunger, the mood swings, the sleep problems – it just wasn’t sustainable for my lifestyle. I felt like I was constantly battling my body, and that’s not a healthy way to live.

I totally messed up by not preparing myself for the initial shock. I probably should have eased into it instead of going cold turkey. So, would I recommend intermittent fasting? Maybe, if you’re willing to put in the effort and can tolerate the initial discomfort. But be prepared for a bumpy ride. Listen to your body, and don’t be afraid to adjust the protocol to fit your needs. And most importantly, don’t beat yourself up if it doesn’t work for you. There are plenty of other ways to achieve your health goals. And maybe, just maybe, there’s a slightly better approach to managing food cravings… if you’re as curious as I was, you might want to dig into the topic of mindful eating. Good luck!