Introduction
Intermittent fasting has become increasingly popular in recent years as a way to lose weight and improve overall health. However, it is important to be aware of the potential pitfalls of intermittent fasting, as it can be easy to make mistakes that can have a negative impact on your health. In this article, we will discuss the #1 worst intermittent fasting mistake, according to a dietitian, and what you should be eating instead. We will also provide tips on how to make sure you are getting the most out of your intermittent fasting plan.
The #1 Worst Intermittent Fasting Mistake, Dietitian Says — Eat This Not That
Intermittent fasting has become increasingly popular in recent years, with many people touting its potential health benefits. But according to one dietitian, there is one major mistake that people make when it comes to intermittent fasting — and it could be detrimental to your health.
Registered dietitian nutritionist and certified diabetes educator, Marisa Moore, told Eat This Not That that the biggest mistake people make when it comes to intermittent fasting is not eating enough during their eating window. “People often think that they need to severely restrict their calories during their eating window, but this can be dangerous,” she said. “It’s important to make sure you’re getting enough calories and nutrients during your eating window to support your body’s needs.”
Moore recommends that people focus on eating nutrient-dense foods during their eating window, such as lean proteins, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats. She also suggests that people drink plenty of water throughout the day to stay hydrated. “It’s important to make sure you’re getting enough calories and nutrients during your eating window to support your body’s needs,” she said.
Intermittent fasting can be a great way to support your health, but it’s important to make sure you’re doing it safely. Eating enough during your eating window is key to making sure you’re getting the nutrients your body needs. So make sure you’re eating enough — not too little — during your eating window.
Let’s be honest: Intermittent fasting is not for the faint of heart. It takes strategy, commitment, and a hefty dose of willpower… but now, a registered dietitian is sharing a new way to think about what your body needs, plus four tips to make your intermittent fasting practice healthier, and more successful for weight loss.
Mandy Enright, MS, RDN, RYT is known for the practical advice she shares on her social media to make weight loss and healthy eating less restrictive and more sensible. This week on her LinkedIn profile, Enright proposed: “Let’s talk about the #1 mistake people are making with Intermittent Fasting.” But she didn’t stop there, and shared some other smart I.F. pointers.
Keep reading to learn Enright’s perspective-shifting insights, and check out The Best Oatmeal Combinations for Faster Weight Loss, Says Nutritionist.
Enright kicked it off by calling out what she says is the worst mistake people make with intermittent fasting: Eating within “feasting” windows that are too narrow of a timespan.
She said that the 16-hour “fasting” window combined with the eight-hour “feasting” window may be too strict for some dieters. In fact, she suggested, when your body is telling you that it needs to eat, fighting that feeling “is simply just torturing yourself,” and can be compared to forcing yourself to wait 16 hours to use the restroom.
When you think of it this way, you might agree that it’s important to listen to your body, right? Here was Enright’s solution for going about this more gently—”After all,” she said, “would you only let yourself go to the bathroom between 12-8pm? [sic]”
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“If you’re looking to try Intermittent Fasting,” the dietitian said, “don’t be so restrictive off the bat or you will set yourself up for failure.”
Instead, she shared: “I always recommend starting with a 12-hour window in your day to start, and you can always adjust from there based on hunger, energy levels, and what your schedule looks like that day.”
RELATED: One Surprising Side Effect of Intermittent Fasting, New Study Says
Enright added that another way she sees people not getting the most out of their efforts is to respond to long daily periods of deprivation by doing this: “If you’re only eating 1 or 2 overly large meals per day, how is this helping your weight loss or weight management goals? . . . often I see people eating these big meals super late in the day.”
What’s the problem with this approach? “Not only is this not ideal for your energy and metabolism, but it’s also fast track to a terrible night’s sleep,” Enright said.
RELATED: This Is Why Peanut Butter May Help You Get Better Sleep, Research Suggests
Enright says instead, dieters should follow these three rules:
- Eat earlier
- Eat often
- Eat balanced portions.
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