I still remember my first evening intermittent fasting. It was 4 years ago. At the time, I had no idea that I was about to be reborn. Today, 16/8 fasting is still part of my daily life. Slimming, sleep, digestion, morale… My body says thank you every day.
Concretely, intermittent fasting consists of not eating anything during a defined time slot. There are several forms of fasting, but the best known is 16/8: you have 8 hours per day to eat, and 16 hours to fast. During these 16 hours, no more food, with the exception of water, teas, herbal teas or vegetable juices.
Journalist for a health magazine, I heard about this practice when one of my colleagues wrote an article about it. Prone to digestive disorders For several years, I had decided to test this practice.
What has changed in my body since I started intermittent fasting
I chose to fast in the evening, four times a week on average. Concretely between 4 p.m. and 9 a.m. the next day, no food enters my body (on fasting evenings). The first effects were felt on my digestive system. I felt like all the excesses of the last few years had disappeared from my system. No more pain, no bloating, no heaviness after a meal.
My nights have never been more peaceful and my sleep deeper than since I started practicing intermittent fasting. My rhythm is much more balanced: I go to bed at the same time almost every evening, and in the morning I no longer need my alarm to go to work.
The biggest transformation concerned my weight: in 1 year, I lost more than 15 kilos. Four years later, I have stabilized: today I weigh almost 50 kilos and stand 1.65 m tall.
I chose to fast in the evening. Be careful if you want to imitate me. If you choose to fast in the evening, make sure you have eaten well at lunchtime and breakfast, in order to prevent deficiencies and above all not to break down! This may seem contradictory, but to succeed in intermittent fasting, you have to…eat! To help you, I have concocted a program with a typical day of meals adapted to intermittent fasting.
Good to know: you can easily just practice intermittent fasting 3 to 4 evenings a week to see a benefit. You don’t need to fast every night. It is important to maintain a social life.
The one-day food program
Obviously, this is just an example. Obviously I don’t eat the same thing every day. Remember to keep a balanced diet, rich in fruits, vegetables, good proteins and omega-3s, if you want your intermittent fasting to be a success.
Breakfast : squeezed lemon juice or tea + skyr combined with red fruits or kiwi. I also allow myself two or three squares of chocolate from time to time.
Lunch : quinoa salad with feta, peppers, zucchini and poached egg
After the meal (or as an afternoon snack) : a slice of wholemeal bread + a portion of cheese.
Dinner: fennel herbal tea to take care of my digestive system. Even if it means fasting, you might as well boost the benefits!
The quinoa salad recipe to stock up on protein and fiber
This recipe is ideal for those who want to rest their digestive system after a few excesses. It allows you to take a break from animal proteins. It is also very filling thanks to the fiber contained in vegetables and quinoa.
Ingredients for two people: 400 g of quinoa, 1 zucchini, 1 pepper, 2 eggs, 100 g of feta, basil, parsley.
Preparation time 20 minutes.
Cook all the quinoa after boiling water in a saucepan. Follow the cooking time indicated on the package.
Meanwhile, cut a zucchini and a pepper into small pieces and brown them in a pan into which you have poured the equivalent of a teaspoon of olive oil. Add some spices and herbs to your liking. Sprinkle basil and parsley over your vegetables.
Once the vegetables are sufficiently roasted, pour them into a salad bowl with the quinoa. Then add the feta: 100 g should be enough.
Add a little basil and parsley. Finish with the poached egg. Boil water in a saucepan. When the water is boiling, turn off the heat, break the egg and carefully place it in the water, without the shell. Allow three minutes for a very runny egg yolk. Then remove it using a slotted spoon and add it to your salad. The meal is now ready to be enjoyed.
