Last year, I embarked on a journey to learn and practice intermittent fasting. I started strong, being fairly consistent for about a month and then, life got busy and I couldn’t sustain it. There is a part of me that is filled with shame and regret because I wasn’t consistent. But another part of me recognized that it was the reality of life. That I had too many things to juggle and it wasn’t working.

So this month, I am reentering this journey again because one, I know that it works. Two, it has been scientifically proven to work. 

“You are not starting from scratch, you are starting from experience.”

A Wiseman Once Said

If you are interested in joining this challenge and or restarting this journey, here is how.

Know Your Why.

What do you hope to achieve? There will be times when you will be mentally and physically challenged. Your mind will try to talk you out of it.  Ignore it. There will be times when you physically feel and hear the hunger pangs radiating from your stomach, especially if you are near a kitchen. Walk away. Remind yourself of WHY you are doing this in the first place. Here is why I started. 

Start.

Next, pick a day or time to start. It could be tomorrow, the start of next week or next month. Before you start though, make sure you are ready.  This means being mentally prepared for this challenge. Ask yourself this. Are you ready to shed off the excess weight, get healthier and live your best life? If you are, then what are you waiting for?

Find your Fasting Start Line.

What is the best time for you to start fasting? What meal of the day could you skip? Is it Breakfast or Dinner? Choose one and experiment. 

Choose A Plan.

Next, find a plan that works for your schedule. You could fast daily, choosing 16hrs to fast with 8hr window to eat. If you are new to the fasting world, start with 12 hours and increase. There is also a  5:2 approach, where you eat normally for five days and for the other two days, restrict your calories to one 500-600 meals. There is no right or wrong plan or approach. Find one that works for you and your schedule. 

Be Flexible.

Life happens. Some days you will get 16 hours, other days maybe 12. Some days you might not be able to fit it in, especially if something big or tragic happens in your life. It is okay to stop when you need to. But don’t stop permanently. It matters that you pick yourself up and continue to move forward. 

Set Up Yourself for Success.

How could you design your environment to set up yourself for success? Could you prepare your food in advance? Do you have a tool or an app such as simply fasting to help track your fasting? Perhaps you could find a friend or join a Facebook Group to find a community of people going through the same journey. 

Reward yourself. 

If you skipped dinner, reward yourself with breakfast. Give your body the food it deserves. Wholesome and healthy. Got in a 7 day fast streak? Celebrate! 

Don’t Give Up on Yourself.

There will be moments when it feels really hard and you just want to give up. These are the times you really need to dig your heels in deep and remember your why and what you hope to achieve.  

Final Words.

Finally, if it doesn’t challenge you, it won’t change you. Embrace the challenge and see it as an opportunity for personal growth. If I can do it, you can too.

Drop a comment or a like if you are on this journey too.

To find more tips,  check out my post on Tips on Overcoming Intermittent Fasting.