Intermittent Fasting and Diabetes
I’m having a bit of trouble getting some of the stubborn weight off, so I’m going back take up intermittent fasting again. Studies show that intermittent fasting can help significantly with type 2 diabetes, which is what I have. In fact, the link between intermittent fasting and diabetes control continues to get stronger.
Intermittent fasting (IF), for me, means restricting my eating to an eight-hour time period every day. Some people will fast completely for two days a week and eat normally for the other five days. That’s too hard for me to do consistently, and I’ve had success in the past with the eight-hour period. I was consistent with my IF when I first started dieting after my diabetes diagnosis in February 2018, and it's time to pick it up again, as I feel like my weight has plateaued at about 183-184 pounds. That's too much, and affects my overall health.
Some of the latest research shows that doing fasting earlier in the day may be more beneficial than later, and the earlier you’re done eating, the better for you overall. For this particular regimen, I’ll focus on eating between 9-5. Those are good hours for me, as I tend to be hungrier earlier in the day, as opposed to my wife Kathy, who doesn’t like eating early at all.
I also must, must, MUST, cut out the snacking. I do far too much of that, and it ain’t good. But since I can’t seem to get under 180 pounds, I’m determined to cut out the snacks and just be a bit hungrier during the day. I’d eventually like to be around 170 pounds, or maybe even down to 165. That’s a lofty goal indeed, and may be beyond my reach, but we’ll see.
It’s 9 a.m. as I write this. Time to eat!