Fasting Days For Weight Loss: Are They Needed?

2023 Author: Jessica James | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-08-25 04:20

Personal trainer Polina Shirvel (@polina_shirvel) told whether fast days help to reduce weight and why it is better to refuse them. 10 facts about "detox" - in the material BeautyHack.

Pauline Shirvel

Personal trainer

Fact number 1: there are "right" and "wrong" fasting days

Fasting days, as well as detox diets, are legendary! Not all of them are useful. There are "right" and "wrong" fasting days. The first ones are those that are prescribed by a specialist, taking into account the individual characteristics of the body, as well as the presence / absence of diseases of the digestive system. "Wrong" are imposed on us by opinion leaders and "sellers" of slim figures from pages in social networks. Needless to say, you don't need to react to ads for smoothies and slimming teas?

Fact number 2: fasting days - stress for the body

The main danger of fasting days is stress (how to get rid of stress, read here). When you deprive your body of important macronutrients, it switches to storage mode and stops giving up fat, storing them.

Fact number 3: muscle tissue destruction occurs on fasting days

The body needs energy for the normal functioning of systems and organs. When it is not there, he takes "fuel" for work from another source - protein, starting to destroy it. First of all, muscles "burn" - and this happens very quickly! During fasting days, you lose muscle mass, but you retain adipose tissue.

Fact number 4: when switching to a regular diet, the body still stores fats

After a fasting day, the process of storing fat lasts for several more days - from one to five. Even if you carefully monitor your diet, do not overeat and keep the balance of KBZHU! After severe stress your body will switch from “emergency” to “normal” mode for a long time.

Fact # 5: if you overeat, increase your activity

If, after a trip to your grandmother or the holidays with cakes and all the ensuing you have a desire to unload, give up this thought in favor of physical activity. Don't starve yourself. Cut back on carbohydrates a little without creating a severe deficiency. I would like to draw your attention to the following: if you eat “correctly”, the weight will not grow from one day of “gastronomic bacchanalia”.

Fact number 6: after a fasting day, swelling may appear

The effects of stress are not just fat storage. The body retains everything: water and even decay products. The result is swelling and deterioration in well-being.

Fact number 7: fasting days are a possible cause of insomnia

Are you surprised? Lack of energy negatively affects the central nervous system. Even after one day of fasting, many people experience sleep problems, excessive irritability and increased fatigue.

Fact number 8: fasting days provoke overeating

Strict prohibitions are not the best way to lose weight. The more "taboo", the higher the chances of overeating. In addition, fasting days provoke laziness - there is a high probability of skipping a workout (and even more than one!). Activity is declining - that's a fact.

Fact # 9: on fasting days there is a chance to eat more calories

There are no zero calorie foods! Kefir and apples also have energy value. The calorie content of the first is about 59 kcal, fruit - 52. That is, 1 kg of apples + 1 liter of kefir - about 1,100 kcal. And with such an energy value, you can make an excellent diet!

Find ways to burn calories without sports here.

Fact number 10: "correct" fasting days - a decrease in calories by 10-15%

If you overeat, lower the energy value of the diet by 10-15%! The next day after that, you can return to your normal diet. This will pass without consequences for the body and help to avoid puffiness.