5 foolproof ways to ace intermittent fasting

Intermittent fasting is an eating pattern, mostly followed to manage or reduce weight. This fasting process cycles between intervals of fasting and eating. One can fast for 16 hours or 24 hours or even for 8 hours as well. Depending on the endurance one can opt for an intermittent fasting schedule.

Intermittent fasting is being widely used these days to reduce and manage weight.

"According to metabolic expert Dr. Deborah Wexler, Director of the Massachusetts General Hospital Diabetes Center and associate professor at Harvard Medical School there is evidence to suggest that the circadian rhythm fasting approach, where meals are restricted to an eight to 10-hour period of the daytime, is effective. But still she recommends that people "use an eating approach that works for them and is sustainable to them," Harvard Health reported.

Experts suggest starting intermittent fasting at a slow pace with an easy to follow routine. Instead of throwing oneself to a new health practice one should gradually adapt to the process in due course of time.

Intermittent fasting should be coupled with lifestyle habits in order to get better results. Health experts suggest exercising during fasting can expedite weight loss. People who have adopted intermittent fasting in the past have also talked about how exercising during the fasting had helped them immensely.

The nature of exercise one can do in intermittent fasting differs from what can be done on other days. One can not do intense workouts during this time. Instead one can take brisk walks, slow jogging to burn calories.

Do not forget to drink water. Experts say one should drink atleast 2 cups of water during the meals. Water is really your best friend when you are doing intermittent fasting. Keeping the body hydrated keeps one fuller and the urge to eat is also reduced.

Many people who have practiced intermittent fasting and have got benefits say that having black coffee during the morning actually helped them a lot. Black coffee is known to suppress appetite and what can be better during weight loss than something that diverts one's mind from mindless eating.

No plan ever goes wasted when it is properly planned. Before starting intermittent fasting one should prepare a schedule and stick to it. Keep a window for eating and another for fasting. One should always try to stick to the routine no matter what.

One should keep a note of the progress during intermittent fasting. This will keep the individual informed about the progress of the fasting and will also give a reference to check if the progress is steady or not. The best advantage of keeping notes is that it will guide you to change your strategy in case it is not working as desired.