Weight loss can become a priority when people start gaining more body fat than they like. Generally, they may try to adopt a series of methods to help them lose or restrict fat gain. These measures may include exercise and dieting.
In other instances, people may go for counter-calorie solutions such as intermittent fasting and starvation, which this article will discuss.
Fasting and starvation are methods of losing weight by restricting food amounts. However, both are very different solutions, and using the wrong option will not lead to any sustainable weight loss.
The Idea Behind Fasting And Starvation
Weight loss happens when daily calorie loss is more than the calorie intake. Fasting and starvation ensure that calorie expended is relatively higher than calorie consumed. However, when comparing fasting vs starving, both use different methods, which bear severe consequences for weight loss in the short and long term.
What Is Intermittent Fasting?
Intermittent fasting is a weight loss strategy that helps a person follow a program in which they deny themselves food within a specific period of a day. They get to eat every day and may even eat up to three times if they wish. However, they must not eat any solid when they are in their restricted window.
One of the more common forms of intermittent fasting is the 16:8 window. This window defines when a person should and should not eat in a day (24 hours).
The first 16 before the punctuation means that a person would not eat anything during a 16-hour set time but could have their meals within the 8-hour window. Hence the eight is the other side of the punctuation.
The common types of the 16:8 fasting window are:
- 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.
- 2 p.m. to 10 p.m.
The first window, for example, means that a person must eat their three or two-time meal within 7 to 3 p.m. Outside the time frame, they must not consume anything.
The easiest 16:8 window t go for is the 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. window. It is easier to implement because most people can easily brunch by 12 p.m and have a good dinner by 8 p.m.
The Effectiveness Of Intermittent Fasting
It is essential to note that intermittent fasting is only as effective as a person’s diet and eating pattern during the meal window. The results of a fast will only make sense and lead to sustainable weight. People control what and how they eat during their free window.
Going for whole and highly nutritious food with average servings will help them feel full and nourished without bloating themselves with too many calories.
Also, they should only eat at most three light meals during their meal window to keep their metabolism firing. People can use an app for intermittent fasting to help them watch what they eat and ensure they do not break their dedication to not eat outside the 8-hour window.
An intermittent fast is a steady way to burn fat, and the results are usually stable and can be maintained for a long period because the process is easy to implement. This pattern helps a person to burn weight faster than just dieting.
Starvation
Starvation is an attempt to cut off calorie intake by denying the body food. This is simply the end goal; deny the body as much food as possible to lose weight.
Starvation is a wrong way to lose weight and cannot be sustained as the body gets to fight against it. Most people try to complete starvation with heavy water drinking (water fasting) to trick the body with food. However, the result is still no different as the body will eventually adapt and reduce how much fuel it has to be born.
Starvation over a long period usually forces the body to go for only the essentials that allow daily functionality and ignore other priorities such as a strong immune system, rich hair, finger growth, and skin nourishment.
The worst part about starvation is that all weight lost will be regained once you start eating. This is because your body will hold on to every food you eat and build body fat. Hence, the process is in no way effective.
Conclusion
The most effective way to burn weight with reduced calorie intake is through intermittent fasting as opposed to starvation. However, when comparing fasting vs starving, the latter will leave the body deficient in nutrients and eventually leave an unhealthy feel.
On the other hand, Intermittent fasting allows the body to perform its normal function while steadily losing excess fat.
A well-implemented intermittent fasting plan will leave a person feeling healthier and lighter. The good thing about it is that it is and can be maintained for a very long time because of its natural pattern.
The same cannot be said about starvation which is highly restrictive and detrimental to health. That’s it for fasting vs starving.
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