Intermittent Fasting: My Honest, Maybe Too Honest, Take

The Intermittent Fasting Temptation: Why I Even Tried It

Okay, so, intermittent fasting. It’s been *everywhere*, right? All over Instagram, whispered about at yoga class (while everyone’s sipping their green juice, ironically), and even my usually skeptical brother-in-law was raving about it. Honestly, I’m usually pretty good at ignoring diet trends. I mean, I tried the whole keto thing for like, a week, and that was a disaster involving a lot of bacon and a serious lack of energy. But intermittent fasting… it sounded… manageable? Plus, I’d been feeling kind of sluggish, and the promise of weight loss and increased energy levels was definitely tempting. I wasn’t necessarily trying to lose a ton of weight, but just feeling a little lighter, a little more energized – that sounded pretty good. Who wouldn’t want that? So, I caved.

It’s funny, I remember thinking, “This is going to be easy!” Famous last words, you know? The idea of simply restricting my eating window seemed so much simpler than calorie counting or cutting out entire food groups. I envisioned myself effortlessly gliding through my mornings, fueled by sheer willpower and the promise of a delicious, guilt-free lunch. The reality, as you can probably guess, was… somewhat different.

My First Few Days: Hunger, Headaches, and Regret

Ugh, the first few days were rough. Really rough. I decided to start with the 16/8 method (16 hours of fasting, 8 hours of eating), which seemed like a good starting point. But waking up and not being able to have my usual toast and coffee was torture. Absolute torture. My stomach was growling so loud I’m pretty sure my cat was giving me judgmental looks. And the headaches? Don’t even get me started. I spent most of the morning feeling like I was walking through a fog.

Around day three, I was seriously questioning my sanity. Was this supposed to make me *feel* better? Because all it was doing was making me feel hungry and irritable. I even snapped at my poor husband for eating a banana in front of me. Like, seriously? A banana? But in my fasted state, it felt like the most offensive thing anyone could do. I regretted everything. I considered quitting right then and there, going to the bakery, and getting myself a giant croissant.

Finding My Groove (Kind Of): Adapting to the Fast

Okay, so I didn’t quit. I’m nothing if not stubborn. And, honestly, by the end of the first week, things started to… improve. A little. The headaches lessened. My stomach stopped growling quite so dramatically. I even started to notice a slight increase in energy in the afternoons, which was a welcome change from my usual post-lunch slump.

I think a big part of it was figuring out what worked for me. I started drinking a lot more water during my fasting window. Black coffee actually helped curb the hunger pangs, and I experimented with different eating windows to find one that fit my schedule. Funny thing is, I thought I *needed* breakfast, but after a while, I started to enjoy the feeling of an empty stomach in the morning. It felt… lighter.

The “Benefits” (and the BS): What Actually Happened

Did I lose weight? Yes, I did. Probably about five pounds over the course of a month. Which, honestly, could have also been due to just paying more attention to what I was eating during my eating window. I mean, when you only have eight hours to eat, you tend to be a little more mindful of what you’re putting into your body.

The energy boost was real, though. I felt more alert and focused, especially in the mornings. But was it all sunshine and rainbows? Absolutely not. I still had days where I was ravenously hungry and wanted to devour everything in sight. And social situations were tricky. Explaining why I wasn’t eating at brunch with friends got old real fast. Was I the only one who felt this way?

The One Time I Messed It All Up (and Learned a Lesson)

I remember one Saturday. Ugh. What a mess! A friend was having a birthday brunch, and I decided to “treat” myself and have a mimosa (or two… or three). Then came the pancakes, the bacon, the pastries… you get the picture. I completely blew my eating window. And I felt *terrible* afterward. Not just physically, but mentally. I felt like I had failed.

But you know what? That was a really valuable lesson. It taught me that intermittent fasting, or any diet, really, shouldn’t be about perfection. It should be about finding something that works for you, something that you can sustain long-term. If you’re as curious as I was, you might want to dig into mindful eating to approach your meals differently.

So, Is Intermittent Fasting Worth It? My Final Verdict

Honestly? It depends. It’s not a miracle cure, and it’s definitely not for everyone. If you have a history of disordered eating, or if you’re constantly stressed about food, it might not be the best choice. But if you’re looking for a way to potentially lose a little weight, boost your energy, and become more mindful of your eating habits, it might be worth a try. Just be prepared for some initial discomfort and don’t beat yourself up if you slip up. It’s all about finding what works for you. And maybe, just maybe, having a croissant every now and then isn’t the end of the world. Who even knows what’s next for me, maybe I will try the Mediterranean diet!