So you’re thinking about fasting? Intermittent fasting is a trendy weight loss method that involves, you guessed it, fasting during certain periods of time.
The most popular one is the 16:8 method of intermittent fasting, which means you eat during an eight hour window and fast for the remaining 16 hours of the day. We spoke to a registered dietitian who said she does see a benefit to this type of diet if your period of fasting is at night. Late-night snacking is the enemy! So, for example, you could do a 16:8 fast during which you finish dinner around 6 and don’t eat again until 10 a.m.
“I think it’s a great technique to get ppl to stop eating at night. Your metabolism slows down at night,” she said. “You need to give your body a break in order to digest, rejuvenate and heal.”
As we get older, our metabolism, in general, slows down, so unless you know you will be running off those cookies you snuck at 11 p.m., you should probably just put them down.
It’s not for everyone, though. Mike, 41, said he tried intermittent fasting on a 16:8 schedule and found it too restrictive for his lifestyle.
“For me I like to workout first thing in the morning. After I workout I like to eat soon after. Doing this diet prevented me from eating almost four hours after my workout, which left me feeling tired and un-energetic,” he said. “If I really wanted to do this diet I would have had to modify my usual eating times, which would prevent me from enjoying family dinners as I would need to eat my last meal by 4 p.m.”
There are other options. Jimmy Kimmel lost 25 pounds on the 5:2 diet, which is more like intermittent fasting on a weekly schedule versus a daily schedule. He ate whatever he wanted five days a week and then restricted his diet to 500 calories or less two days out of the week (sounds like torture, we know).
Whichever way you slice it, intermittent fasting is not easy. You will be hungry, and you will want to cheat. But if you’re really serious about losing those extra pounds, we’ve compiled a fasting playlist to get you through it! We based our song selection on a 16:8 diet, so adjust accordingly if you you are Jimmy Kimmel.
I’m Too Sexy - Right Said Freddy
“I'm too sexy for my shirt
Too sexy for my shirt
So sexy it hurts”
That’s right. You’re too sexy to eat (inside of your designated fasting times). You're going to be at the beach this summer and you’re going to be shirtless. Because you’re too sexy for your shirt.
I Won’t Back Down - Tom Petty
“Well, I won't back down
No, I won't back down
You can stand me up at the gates of hell
But I won't back down”
Still going strong. Fasting isn’t so hard!
Eye of the Tiger - Survivor
“It's the eye of the tiger, it's the thrill of the fight
Risin' up to the challenge of our rival
And the last known survivor stalks his prey in the night
And he's watchin' us all with the eye of the tiger”
The fight is on. You’re stomach is rumbling a little, that pizza commercial made you salivate a little, but half the fun of fasting is in the challenge.
Survivor - Destiny’s Child
“Now that you're outta my life, I'm so much better
You thought that I'd be weak without ya, but I'm stronger”
You tell that after-dinner snack. You are so much better without it. And don’t worry, we won’t tell anyone you’re listening to Destiny’s child.
In the Days of the Caveman - Crashtest Dummies
“In the days of the caveman and mammoths and glaciers
Bugs and trees were your food then; no pajamas or doctors”
You don’t even have it that bad. Early men were essentially always on an intermittent fast. This is a piece of cake….wait, don’t think about cake.
What’s My Age again - Blink 182
“What's my age again, what's my age again?”
Remember when you were 23? Maybe no one liked you, but you looked great. If you want to look like that again, you’re going to have to work for it!
Still Standing - Elton John
“Don't you know I'm still standing better than I ever did
Looking like a true survivor, feeling like a little kid
I'm still standing after all this time
Picking up the pieces of my life without you on my mind”
You’re almost there, it’s almost time for bed and you haven't had anything to eat. But now dog food commercials are starting to look appetizing. But you’re still standing!
Don’t Stop Thinking About Tomorrow - Fleetwood Mac
“Don't stop thinking about tomorrow
Don't stop, it'll soon be here
It'll be, better than before
Yesterday's gone, yesterday's gone”
Tomorrow is almost here and that means breakfast!
Banana Pancakes - Jack Johsnon
“Maybe we could sleep in
Make you banana pancakes
Pretend like it’s the weekend now”
Maybe you’ll make banana pancakes for breakfast...
Everybody Hurts - R.E.M
“When your day is long
And the night
The night is yours alone
When you're sure you've had enough
Of this life
Well hang on
Don't let yourself go
'Cause everybody cries
And everybody hurts sometimes”
We know, it’s tough. But just let the rumbling sounds of your empty belly lull you to sleep…