Intermittent fasting is about giving your gastrointestinal tract (GI) a break by exploring only eating/consuming foods during a certain restricted window of the day. We are currently living in a food landscape\* which allows us to almost always have access to food. This may sometimes cause an inability to contend with times of “fasting” (roughly three hours since you last consumed ‘energy’). By constantly living in a ‘fed state’ we aren’t allowing our digestive hormones, stomach, small intestine, pancreas, etc. to take a break. Conversely the hormones that help to regulate our blood sugar and energy level during fasting times become de-trained and less effective which can lead to headaches, mood-swings, lethargy, huge list here.

There are a LOT of reasons why people try an intermittent fasting diet. This is NOT something that stems from a weight management standpoint. If you find yourself unhappy with energy level, sensitivity around mealtimes, lethargy, difficulty with sleep patterns... All of these health reasons could lead you to a discussion with your physician about trying this approach.

Do: Choose the time frame in your day in which you want to consume your entire caloric target. Stay disciplined to keep the same window of time each day. Start small and attainable.

Don’t: Google this and start with what appears to be the most extreme version. It’s going to take time to get used to it too. Try to avoid doing multiple things at once. For example: don’t simultaneously begin an elimination diet. Just start with limiting the window of time in which you consume your food.

\*CPC is sensitive to the fact that many individuals do not live in an environment of food abundance. In fact, greater than 10% of the US population has food insecurities. For ways to help your local community and abroad please find more information with