If you are someone who has always been on the bulky side, trying to lose weight is nothing new for you. Being in a constant struggle to shed some weight and become a healthier version of ourselves, we jump out to try every new diet plan we encounter.
However, fasting for 20 hours is nothing new and falls into the category of intermittent fasting. The benefits of fasting 20 hours are clearly visible if you committedly follow the 20:4 fasting window.
What changes can occur in our body and how beneficial it can be for us to fast for 20 hours? Let’s find the details and decide whether it is something you want to try for yourself or not.
Before we head to the details of the benefits of fasting 20 hours, it is crucial to learn more about intermittent fasting. As the name suggests, intermittent fasting is a type of fasting plan that requires followers to commit to a certain period of time for fasting.
Intermittent fasting basically divides the 24 hours of a day into specific eating and fasting windows. The basic regimens intermittent fasting follows are:
The most common plan followed by most people is 16:8 which allows the person to gradually lose weight while keeping their strength. However, if anyone is looking for a more vigorous mode of fasting and wants to shed extra pounds quickly, they can follow the 20:4 fasting plan.
Fasting is a popular way to keep ourselves healthy and maintain optimal body weight and has been around for thousands of years. However, with everything modernizing, fasting has also evolved in many ways.
20-hour fasting is a more intensive approach to fasting which is why it is also known as ‘The Warrior Diet.’ the idea of this diet was first presented by Ori Hofmekler which was his own interpretation of the lifestyle of ancient warriors.
Before starting off the fast and sending your body into survival mode, it is crucial that we understand all aspects of this type of fast. While it can be beneficial for weight loss, lack of nutrition and failure to consume some basic calorie count may lead to health issues and malnutrition.
It is important to understand that this fasting method requires you to fast for 20 hours in a time period of 24 hours and eat only in the remaining 4 hours of the day. This fast can also be considered a form of ‘One meal a day diet’ (OMAD diet).
During the fasting window, it is crucial that you avoid all types of drinks and foods for this type of fasting to work properly. However, you can only use water and coffee during the fasting period.
If you choose to follow 20-hour intermittent fasting, it would be ideal for you to adjust your eating window in the daytime. You will also get added benefits by aligning your eating window with your circadian rhythm.
As we have developed a basic understanding of 20 hour fasting, it is now time to learn about the benefits of fasting 20 hours and know how it can positively affect our health.
Here are some things that are directly affected by fasting for 20 hours:
20-hour intermittent fasting is considered the quickest and most painless method for weight loss. Following this simple yet effective plan helps you ‘melt’ away those stubborn layers of fat.
But what actually happens in our body when we fast for 20 hours?
The basic thing that this type of fasting involves is beta-oxidation or fat burning in simpler words. Following this fasting method, the body starts metabolizing its stored energy and fats which results in an increased rate of weight loss. It also regulates the insulin levels in the blood which prevents spike in blood glucose levels.
The benefits of fasting 20 hours also include the triggering of liver function to produce ketones. After the level of ketones is increased in your blood it forms the cycle of ketosis which is another way to lose weight.
If you follow this fasting method on a daily basis, your body will regulate itself in and out of the ketogenic state which will make your body more sensitive to inulin productivity hence increasing the weight loss rate.
Are you confused and cannot decide whether 20-hour intermittent fasting is good for you or not? If you are in doubt, there is no need to rush. You can always try other conventional methods of fasting to lose weight. Some of them are briefly described below:
In this diet calorie intake is monitored closely and is restricted for a few days every week.
Fasting for 20 hours may sound challenging and may come with its own set of hardships. However, if you master the fasting game and thoroughly understand the benefits of fasting 20 hours, then achieving your goal weight is something you can accomplish in no time.
