Why fasting might be good for us

Last week’s post introduced the idea that being uncomfortable might be good for us. In it I discussed how experiencing discomfort strengthens our parasympathetic system, and reminds our bodies that we can cope with stress. This week I’m writing about another discomfort that has proved very good for me and that is intermittent fasting.

Last Christmas my husband and I were given a book called The 8-week Blood Sugar Diet. The friend who gave it to us was following this diet as a preventative measure for type 2 diabetes.? She was feeling so good from her new way of eating that she thought she’d share the opportunity with us as well. Great.

To cut a long story short, we decided that 8-weeks was a doable period of time to try a different way of eating. So on January 4th, the day after we returned home from holiday, we started. The Blood Sugar Diet follows a mediterranean way of eating and is focussed on improving blood sugar levels, insulin sensitivity and overall metabolic health.?

One of the options on the diet is to combine the eating plan with intermittent fasting which we decided to try as well. We moved our dinner time to 6:00 pm and then didn’t eat again until at least 10:00 am the following morning. This gave us a 16-hour fasting period.?

During the first week I often felt hungry but I combated this by using declarations which is one of the strategies we learn in my Setting Yourself Up for Success Masterclass. Whenever I felt hungry I’d coach myself with declarations such as:

“It’s only eight weeks”

“I can do this”

“This is good for me.”

When we reached the 8-week mark we were both feeling so good we decided to carry on. In all I have lost 15 kilograms and I am feeling the best I have for years. I can even do full press-ups at the gym again!!!

I’m quite fascinated by the idea of fasting. I have never enjoyed eating first thing in the morning. In the past the only reason I’d eaten breakfast was due to familial pressure. The idea that breakfast was crucial for good health became popular, not through scientific study, but because of marketing campaigns by large breakfast cereal companies. I now know that I should’ve listened to my body!

Cold-water immersion and fasting are both examples of positive deviance. We become a positive deviant when we do something new that is either different to what we would normally do, or is different from what others around us are doing.

The idea of positive deviance comes from the field of positive psychology. We talk about this a lot in my Setting Yourself Up for Success Masterclass. In fact, most sessions start with a round of positive deviant confessions. Participants ‘confess’ to each other acts of positive deviance they have committed since we were last together. It is great fun, but also a way to ensure we keep growing into the good intentions we have set ourselves.

Speaking of good intentions, how are yours going? At the three quarter mark of the year are you meeting the expectations you set for yourself? Or do you need a hand to get there??

My name is Carolyn. I set leaders, teams and organisations up for success by equipping them with powerful tools and strategies. Sign up for my weekly blog (https://eepurl.com/givMTn) or message me if you’d like to know more.