Chapter 4: How is Fasting Diet Different from Other Weight Loss Solutions?

When you hear about intermittent fasting for the first time, it is possible to assume the fasting

diet to be a gimmick, just like other several weight loss diets and products that promise

numerous results and deliver very little. However, after getting acquainted with intermittent

fasting, you will soon realize that it is quite different from other available weight loss solutions.

So, how is it different? Below is a look at some of these differences.

 Great Weight Loss Results

One of the reasons why intermittent fasting is becoming so popular is the weight loss benefits it

offers. A 16-hours fasting protocol every day can help you lose about 2 – 3 pounds every week.

The weight loss results can even be greater if you fast longer (or using a more intense fasting

protocol), if you eat healthy, weight-loss friendly meals, and if you engage in exercises.

On top of that, intermittent fasting allows you to lose weight with minimal or no risk of muscle

loss – something that is not possible with most weight loss solutions that offer huge weight loss

benefits. Lastly, intermittent fasting protocols can be a long-term solution (as opposed to most

weight loss solutions). Therefore, in addition to weight loss, they also help you to maintain your

desired weight (after achieving your weight goals).

 Ease in Adherence

Staying on track with most weight loss programs, especially diets is not an easy thing. Most of

the diets available have strict restrictions into what types of foods you can eat, as well as
restrictions on the amount of calories you can consume per day – hence requiring calorie

counting. The process of selecting the meals and carefully considering what you eat so as to

maintain the required calorie intake is not an easy one, which can make sticking to the diets

hard. On top of that, with most weight loss diets (especially the ones that require calorie

restriction), there is a high chance of not getting enough sustenance – due to the low calorie

intake - thus leading to problems with following the diet requirements. Lastly, most weight loss

diets are not designed to be a long-term solution, and thus will only be effective in a short time

of period.

Intermittent fasting is, however, different from most of these in that it is easy to follow, even

for an extended period. This is because it has no restrictions into what you can eat and how

much you can eat. The only requirement is that you follow the feasting and feeding periods,

and even these are very flexible (you can even create your own intermittent fasting protocols to

follow). The only minor challenge with the fasting diet is that it can be a bit hard to get started

with the fasting, especially if you have never done it before. However, once you get used to eat

(by starting slowly and progressing), you will be able to successfully complete the fasting

periods with ease. And in the event that it becomes too much, intermittent fasting allows you

to cheat with some low-calorie drinks, snacks, or meals during the fasting periods.

 Money Saving Benefits

As mentioned earlier, most weight loss diets (include liquid diets) require you to follow strict

meal guidelines. Unfortunately, this requires you to abandon your current meal plans and

instead buy new foods, ingredients, and supplements, and other products that are not costly.
To make matters worse, you have to abandon these new foods, ingredients, and products when

switching back to your original diet, which in some cases, can be as short as within a few weeks.

As a result, you might end up spending a lot of money on a weight loss program that will only

last a short time, and in some cases, not even offer the desired results.

Intermittent fasting is, however, very different in that it helps you save money instead of

costing you more. To start with, you do not need to switch to new meals; you can start the

fasting diets with the same meals you take every day. Therefore, there is no extra cost

considerations when getting started. Intermittent fasting also helps you to greatly reduce your

food consumption due to the fasting period, which means that you end up spending much less

on your food budget. And the best part is, the fasting diet is sustainable on a long-term basis,

hence more savings.

 Development of Healthy and Sustainable Eating Habits

One of the major causes of excessive weight gain is eating disorders, including over eating,

binge eating, and stress eating. And while some weight loss programs can help you to lose the

excess weight, many of them don’t solve these underlying problems. The end result, therefore,

is a high risk of regaining the lost weight.

However, with intermittent fasting, you can lose weight, while developing a healthy eating

lifestyle that will help you maintain your weight loss goals for a long time. The fasting diet

manages this by reducing the amount of control food has on your lifestyle. For example, you
don’t have to worry about what to eat and how much you should eat. The removal of these

restrictions allows you to start enjoying food, as opposed to eating just to get your fill.

Intermittent fasting also cultivates discipline in regards to food and eating. The fasting and

eating periods helps your body to adjust to a healthy eating pattern, where you are not

overeating. Once your body becomes accustomed to this, you are able to easily continue with

the healthy eating even after you quit the fasting diet.

 Improved Productivity During Fasting

When on a low-calorie weight loss diet, the low blood sugar can greatly affect your body

energy, leading to reduced productivity. This can make it hard to perform strenuous activities,

not to mention mental tasks (problems with alertness and concentration). However, with

intermittent fasting the situation is different. While the fasting diet is still likely to lead to low

blood sugar, it promotes the burning of fat, which provides your body (and brain) with the

required body energy. In fact, the energy from the stored fat is higher than the energy

produced when burning some of the consumed foods (carbs and proteins). Therefore, you are

even likely to experience a boost in your productivity due to the increased body energy.