Studies have shown that intermittent fasting can help you lose weight and shed belly fat.
This is because insulin increases when you eat. During the fasting period, insulin levels drop dramatically and lower insulin levels facilitate fat burning.
One study proved that people on an intermittent fast diet had a decrease in abdominal fat within a six week period.
Another study followed 19 adults who fasted for a 16 hour period and results showed significant weight loss including a smaller waist circumference.
Women should hope to lose around one pound a week, while men can shed a little more fat.
It’s important to drink lots of water and herbal teas on fast days, while dieters should try to still include protein and eat lots of vegetables.
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Celebrities who love the 5:2 fasting diet include Philip Schofield and Hollyoaks actress Jennifer Metcalfe, both who lost weight while following it.
The This Morning Presenter Philip lost 9lb in just four weeks when he first started the diet.
However in order for weight loss results to show quickly, dieters must also eat healthy on the non-fast days.
Researchers at the Genesis Breast Cancer Prevention Center at the University Hospital of South Manchester tracked 100 overweight women as they followed the diet.
On their normal days, the women followed a Mediterranean-type diet and then on the other days they fasted. consuming mostly lean protein.
When the study concluded, the women had lost much more weight than a group of women who restricted their calories for an entire week.
Source: Daily Express | Diet
