
In addition, I noticed that the 2 meals I ate became much more enjoyable because I had to wait to get to them and I got to eat a bunch of food at once instead of spread out throughout the day. I think for me it was important to realize that just because you are fasting, it doesn't mean that when you break a fast you skimp on calories. You eat the same amount of food, just condensed into a shorter eating window. Also, I think IF is something that should be included in a lifestyle after everything else is solid. A regimented exercise, eating, and sleep schedule. Especially sleep. If your sleep is off, cortisol rises, and fasting on top of that only worsens the increased stress hormones. I think that IF has given me more energy and makes me appreciate my meals more instead of just grazing throughout the day because I "felt" hungry. Now I eat only when I am hungry and my body tells me when I am full-- not stuffed like before-- but full. If you are someone who overeats, IF is also optimal because it is extremely hard to stuff the same amount of calories you eat throughout the day into two times a day. Personally I just couldn't eat a meal and all the snacks I used to eat into one huge IF meal-- it is too calorically dense.
Overall, if you are looking for a way to lose weight, increase energy, and improve your relationship with food, you should really give IF a try. It made sense to me in an evolutionary perspective as well. Obviously, hunter-gatherers wouldn't have had the opportunity to snack on Nutter-Butters throughout the day as we do. In fact, there were stretches when they went with little food, but then after a successful hunting day were able to feast. IF mimics this type of eating pattern, which is why it jives with our bodies and composition so well. Give it a try and let me know how it works for you!