Last week I gave an introduction to intermittent fasting. (See: What they call intermittent fasting) This week I’ll go into more detail. I liked this eating pattern…

As the sun approaches sunset, our metabolism slows down, preparing itself for sleep and rest. If we eat dinner late, our metabolism, stomach, intestines—in short, our entire body—can’t enter the necessary rest period and works rapidly to digest what we ate in the evening. For years, to both rest my body and control my weight, I finish my dinner by 7 PM at the latest. This even leads to my husband and I eating separately, but once we get used to it, our bodies can’t handle late meal times anymore.

I used to wake up very hungry in the mornings. Recently, I realized I wasn’t actually that hungry anymore, so I tried intermittent fasting. Actually, I didn’t deviate much from my normal routine. I just listened to my body. Sometimes we just eat out of habit. Many experts used to say this, but the idea was so far removed from my understanding that I didn’t pay much attention to it. We need to establish a relationship with our bodies and listen to them. They always tell us so beautifully what they need. I did IF (Intermittent Fasting) partly to experience this.

How is intermittent fasting done?

I finish my dinner around 7 PM and start. During this fast, we can drink water, unsweetened coffee and tea, and calorie-free drinks like soda. It’s a different system than religious fasting. It’s absolutely crucial not to dehydrate the body during this process. I go to sleep around 11:30 PM.

Since I don’t have a habit of snacking at night, I don’t find it difficult, but if I crave something, I drink water.

A large part of the fast is spent sleeping.

I wake up around 8 AM. I drink about half a liter of water, then have my unsweetened, milkless coffee and start my day. This was already my routine. In fact, I’m at this stage as I write this.

Later, I take Dino for a walk. Normally, I wouldn’t take him out without having breakfast, but we’re changing habits, right? So I tried it and it worked. While walking, I don’t even think about breakfast, and even if I do, I distract myself.

By checking emails, working a bit, and looking at social media, it’s 10:30 and I’m preparing my breakfast. The 16-hour fasting period is over.

The only difficult part might be the last hour, and even that isn’t much. I spend it drinking water and imagining and planning my breakfast.

Some sources say this period can be 14-15 hours for women. I listen to my body. If I reach a point where I can’t resist, I’ll eat, but that hasn’t happened yet.

I couldn’t do it every day. Especially on weekends, it wasn’t possible. Even doing it 3-4 days a week is beneficial.

This isn’t a diet. You shouldn’t expect to lose 5 kilos by eating like this for 2 weeks. It’s a nutritional system that’s good for the body. Its effects can be seen in the long term. Our priority should always be healthy eating. It’s also certain that your stomach will flatten out in the very first week.

Of course, we continue to make healthy choices during the 8-hour eating period. Fasting for 16 hours and then eating fast food hamburgers during the day goes against the overall plan. I’m continuing with my normal diet. I’m keeping carbohydrates to a minimum. Our goal is always health, health, health.

I’m usually against strict dietary trends. I’m a proponent of consuming the foods nature provides us in their natural, balanced form. Diets that forbid oats, legumes, or fruit, or those high-fat or high-protein diets, don’t suit me at all and stress me out.

However, I didn’t feel so restricted with IF. I thought, “If I have to force myself, I’ll eat.” That relieved me. Everyone’s metabolism is different, like a fingerprint. Therefore, I’m somewhat against these generalizations. What works for me might not work for you, and what works for you might not work for me.

Everyone should create their own diet not by listening to their neighbor, the person at the next table, their friend, or an expert on television, but by observing their own metabolism. You are the one living inside this body, and listen to what it tells you. By listening to your body, and staying away from packaged products, refined sugar, processed foods, and white foods, I’m sure you’ll find the right path that works best for you.

I wish everyone healthy, happy, and sugar-free days.

Note: This article was published on my column at www.hthayat.com on May 5, 2017.