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Why I Stopped Intermittent Fasting After Years

Intermittent fasting is the popularized practice of skipping breakfast and eating your meals within a specified window of time to lose weight and other potential health benefits.

I did intermittent fasting for years and stopped.

Keep in mind on my podcast, I’ve interviewed the top leaders of intermittent fasting like David Sinclair and others,who I respect very much and understand why someone would want to fast.

"When you fast, you turn on defenses. It's not that blood flows better or just that insulin sensitivity changes. You are turning on every cell's defenses against DNA damage, toxins, and everything that causes diseases. It seems that these defenses have a way to slow down the negative effects." - David Sinclair

By no means am I denying or disagreeing with the potential benefits of intermittent fasting for some groups facing certain ailments. For any specific medical advice regarding your condition, you should speak to your Doctor.

However, I wrote this article because I did intermittent fasting for years and years and I no longer do it. Why?

Well, my regular day would involve skipping breakfast and having my first meal around 12 or Noon and my last meal would end at 8 pm.

I would say I even felt pretty good.

What’s the Problem with Intermittent Fasting? (IF)

The problem is only eating 2 meals a day and restricting yourself to an 8-hour feeding window means you are more than likely eating significantly fewer calories, nutrients, fats, etc your brain needs to thrive.

Also, almost all of these IF protocols lead someone to rely on Coffee. I’m a fan of the classic drink myself too but coffee doesn’t give your brain energy. Food gives your brain energy. All that Coffee does is block the neurotransmitter in your brain that can tell when you are tired or not.

This is an even bigger problem if you are someone who chooses to consume a healthy whole foods diet. Why? While you are choosing the healthier option, it’s important to understand most healthy foods are naturally low-calorie.

Example: Intermittent Fasting Day

Breakfast: Skipped
Lunch: Salad, with Salmon and some potatoes…

Salmon: Estimated 400 calories. Potatoes: Estimated 100 calories. Olive Oil: Est 100 calories.

Dinner: Roasted Chicken with Rice & Brocolli…

Chicken: 285 calories. Rice: 200 calories. Brocolli w/ Butter: 100 Calories.

In this example, you are consuming maybe 1200 calories a day…

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The USDA recommends at least 2,000 for general maintenance. This is only for calories. Your body needs enough protein, fat, carbs, and micro-nutrients to properly thrive and intermittent fasting reduces those odds.

I’m not saying to never do intermittent fasting or that everyone should follow this advice.

But, you should know the real risks and what’s best for you.

I wrote this article because I speak with many entrepreneurs I work with as clients who follow this advice from bio-hackers and doing IF has led to more anxiety and stress.

The truth is not every piece of advice or protocol you read online is the right advice for you.

Undereating is a Major Trigger for Anxiety

You wake up in the morning. You get a massive pot of coffee going… You look at your to-do list, and email, you start working. All of these mental tasks use your brain’s energy. We have resourceful and reliable biology, however years and years of pushing your brain to move without fuel will lead to wear and tear, and potentially more anxiety.

Additionally, many busy entrepreneurs & professionals have a tendency to skip or undereat lunch as well. Whether that’s eating a small snack for lunch or skipping it entirely because you are too busy with work and don’t have a meal prep system in place.

Healthline Reports: Low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia, can occur during periods of calorie restriction or over periods of fasting. This can lead to irritability, anxiety, and poor concentration. Source.

If you’ve been doing IF for years and it’s what your body is used to and you want to switch back…

My best advice is to start small. You don’t have to eat a huge breakfast right when you wake up. Many people lose their appetite in the morning after doing things for so many years.

Personally for me upon waking up I’ll have a small breakfast like a banana and a couple of eggs, and then later in the day I’ll eat a second breakfast (I’m currently in the middle of bulking up and gaining weight).

I hope this article has helped at least one person shift their perspective who fell into the same trap as me. Start eating breakfast and depending on who you are you might need to eat more!

Conclusion

Please share this article with your network if you found it insightful.

I’m currently in the middle of relaunching my NEW podcast - The Mark Metry Show.

I’m launching it soon but please check it out now on Spotify & Apple.

PS. If you’re interested in learning more about social anxiety and a self-paced individual online course we address many ways on how to do reduce social anxiety over a 45 day span check it out here: www.markmetry.com/program

Mental Health Post 2020 World

27,275 followers

+ Subscribe Like Like Celebrate Support Love Insightful Funny Comment Share 37 Comments Jamie Myerscough, graphic

Jamie Myerscough 3y

Very informative article. The points are so worth the read. Thanks for sharing Mark Metry.

Like Reply 2 Reactions 3 Reactions Tanveer Mostafa, graphic

Tanveer Mostafa 3y

Great article brother, i was doing the same thing and stopped for similar reasons. Now I try to pay attention to how my body feels.

Like Reply 1 Reaction 2 Reactions Manoj Singh, graphic

Manoj Singh 3y

Fasting should be done based on individual body condition. Not recommended if body has health issues. But fasting has lots of benefits too other than health only. My personal experience Like person will be more determinant, it makes capable to follow rules inspite of any situation, internal satisfaction after completing fasting as he could able to resists external environment, not deviating with external factors, ethical and loyal towards your commitment. So fasting teaches lots of other mentally stuff which may not be possible so easy.

Like Reply 1 Reaction 2 Reactions Gwyneth Pinto-D'Mello 😊, graphic

Gwyneth Pinto-D'Mello 😊 3y

Interesting Mark Metry 😊 I have done IF off & on for over a year In fact I did OMAD, 23:1 It worked well for me On Sundays I had a larger eating window Mind you in the 1hr I ate abt 1200 to 1500 calories, so my body got what it needed BUT I am a stress eater and this caused problems. Switching it up every once in a while is good 16:8 18:6 20:4 My max fast was 60 hours But gave up the long fasts as I found once I started eating the weight lost came back Knowing your body and what works for you is key.

Like Reply 1 Reaction 2 Reactions Victoria Gann, graphic

Victoria Gann 3y

The best way to fast or the best way to look at any kind of fasting is getting rid of spiritual wisdom, human thoughts, food, drinks, drugs, material things, that we do not need. So, many will ask how do we know what to get rid of and what to keep? I searched for over 40 odd years for the answer to that question! There is still the One WHO that gives us the truth, way, and life to know our true Creators and ourselves that can teach us what to keep and what to get rid off so all that is left is all He eternal gives. Multitudes have been following a human manufactured religion, or ways to overcome mental illness, stress, all forms of anxiety, worry, insecurities and physical health The truth comes directly from our Heavenly Father, through His Son by way of His Spirit of Truth, which is far above our own thoughts and ways and are hidden deep below our bone and marrow and the ground and ash we were formed from Billions have no clue and that is why I speak, teach, and live the way I do so others will be drawn to Him. That is why I see His miracles, signs and wonders in my life and desire for others to see His miracles, signs and wonders in their own life www.Love4loveministry.info

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What’s the Problem with Intermittent Fasting? (IF)

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