When it comes to dieting, there are hundreds upon thousands of weight loss programs available. But what about the Fast Diet? How do you know if this particular fat banishing option is the one for you?
What It Is
The Fast Diet involves eating normally (which means healthfully, of course) most of the time, but also fasting your body two days a week to achieve weight loss. Fasting, for purposes of the Fast Diet, means consuming approximately 500 calories per day if you are a woman and 600 if you are a man (this only applies to the two fast days). The fast days can either be consecutive or spaced out; whichever is easier for you.
The Benefits
In addition to achieving weight loss on the Fast Diet, proponents also claim other health benefits as well. For instance, they point to studies that have found that reducing caloric intake for a short period of time has been found to improve your body’s ability to regulate insulin, lower cholesterol levels, and even reduce your blood pressure.
Additionally, by eating “normally” the other five days of the week, you don’t feel so deprived. Therefore, you’re more willing to stick out the two fasting days because you know that you will return to your regular eating patterns soon enough.
Who Should Not Follow the Fast Diet
Because the Fast Diet does affect your insulin levels, this particular program is not advised for diabetics unless your doctor approves of it. It is also not recommended for people who take Warfarin or other prescriptions drugs that affect your blood. Children and adolescents should avoid any fasting diet as well, as their bodies need a higher amount of vitamins and minerals in order to grow which cannot necessarily be achieved on days of severe caloric intake.
So, Is It For You?
If you are a person who wants the structure of dieting with a little bit of leeway, the Fast Diet may be just what you’re looking for. However, if you’re likely to overeat on your “normal” days because you fasted the two other days, then you’re not going to do very good on this diet and are better off choosing something that is consistent all the way through.
Still not sure? Try it and see. That is the only way you’ll know without question whether the Fast Diet is right for you.
