Intermittent Fasting Challenge

I started this challenge back in November of 2013 and now is part of my lifestyle.

If you don't know what intermittent fasting is, I suggest you go and read point 2 of this website.

It all started with this training guide this guy Martin Berkhan posted on his website.

So basically what you do is to eat for 8 hours and fast for 16 hours, easy.

Motivation 

My motivation was, according to the first link I posted, that it was going to improve my brain performance.
After doing a little bit more research, I found this Ted-ex video that was confirming my willing to do it:

Considerations

- Hour you go to sleep and the hour you wake up.
- Exercise routine schedule
- If you are diabetic or have gastritis, is not recommended.

So in my case I get up at 8:30 a.m. and I go to sleep at 1:30 a.m.(a new challenge).

How I do the challenge

What I do normally is that I don't eat breakfast, technically I do but at 2:00 p.m. That is my first meal of the day. Then I eat some more at 6 p.m. and my dinner is  at 10 - 11:00 p.m.

The first days

Yes, you feel hungry the first hours, because normally I needed to eat every 2-3 hours everyday with the last diet.

When the days go by, I would say after the first week, you don't feel that hunger and the urge to eat until 2:00 p.m. If you are strict, your body will learn the hours to eat and the hours to not eat.

The first month

I felt lighter, my thoughts and mind were clearer than before, the hunger was gone. I could skip a meal hour and don't have that urge. Benefits were revealing themselves.

Now

I keep doing it everyday, now I do it for only 14 hours but I have plans to increase that time to 16. I workout in the evening prior my last meal, which gives me a great combination of hours and workout time.

Benefits

My experience:

- Boosts brain performance:

I saw it using Lumosity that my LPI increased  a lot after I started fasting.

- Mind is clear:

You start to think clearer, faster, like if your brain is in a clean state. Works a lot better if you meditate in the hours of fasting.

- Improves athletic performance:
This one I haven't tested it too much, but I get great results when I workout two hours before my first meal.


Science:


According to the feel good lifestyle research:

The Mind-Blowing Health Benefits of Intermittent Fasting

Here are the scientifically proven benefits of doing regular fasts of 14+ hours for women, and 16+ hours for men:

1. Increased Fatty Acid Oxidation (Body burns more fat as energy, leading to fast weight loss)
2. Increased Cell Resistance (Slowed down ageing process, improved immunity)
3. Increased Insulin Sensitivity (Less fluctuation in blood sugar levels, more constant energy & mood levels)
4. Reduced Cortisol Production (Lower stress levels)
5. Reduced Inflammation (Faster body healing, repair, and recovery)
6. Reduced Cancer Cells Proliferation Rate (Reduced incidence of several types of cancer)
7. Reduced Cognitive Decline for patients with Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease
8. Reduced Incidence of Heart Disease

And last but not least:

Conscience about world hunger: On the first days, I started wondering: "how people get to do stuff with so much hunger?" In other words, made me change my perspective about it.

Take the challenge, the only thing you will feel is hunger. Batman approves.