Dr. Langley's Experience With Intermittent Fasting
As many of you know, intermittent fasting is my favorite subject for the last 2 years. I was introduced to it by Dr. Margee Brennan as we were working out at the Y one morning. At the time, I had no idea what a life-changing effect it would have on my overall health. Recently, Intermittent fasting has received a lot of attention in the press due to an article published by the New England Journal of Medicine claiming that eating in only a 6 hour period of each day results in increased stress resistance, increased longevity, and a decreased incidence of diseases, including cancer and obesity. With all of the recent buzz surrounding the topic recently, I have decided to dedicate our Spring Open House program to intermittent fasting, inviting Dr. Brennan to share her expertise and help you decide if this lifestyle is right for you.
I first watched a few videos of Dr. Jason Fung at the suggestion of Dr. Brennan and immediately fell in love with the process. The science was fascinating and so enlightening! I then read two books by Dr. Fung to more thoroughly understand intermittent fasting (IF).
I wanted to shake up my body to reproportion it and decrease my body fat. As one ages and goes through menopause, there is a redistribution of fat. The torso starts to accumulate fat and becomes barrel-shaped. I found I lost my waist and accumulated more fat on my back. This redistribution made me feel as if I weren’t in shape despite the fact that I work out almost every day.
The most wonderful fact about IF is that you can make it your own. We are all used to fasting during the night while sleeping. I extend my fast as I am not a breakfast person. I usually eat my first bite around 3 or 4 pm. I drink lots of black coffee and unflavored sparkling water. I end up fasting 20 or so hours every day.
In the beginning, I was very strict on what I ate and left off breads, pastas, wine, etc. I lost 8 pounds the first month. I continued being diligent for a couple of months and lost around 15 pounds which I have kept off. I have been doing IF for 2 years now.
After a few months of strict eating, I loosened up and ate basically whatever I wanted including bread, pasta, and wine. I have maintained my weight loss. On vacation and on the weekends, I usually enjoy eating lunch with my family, so I may eat lunch and dinner and occasionally breakfast. Eating in this manner is very freeing. One doesn’t have to decide whether to eat a salad or burger and fries…..it’s easy, you are not eating so there is no decision and no temptation. Also, one doesn’t have to pack a healthy lunch. Easy! Simple!!
In a simplistic way, since one is not putting food in the stomach all day long, there is no immediate energy in the form of glucose. The energy is not in the fridge, so the body pulls the energy out of the freezer aka the FAT! In this way you resculpt your body and help to decrease fat.
I originally did the fasting for fat reduction for my body, but real research shows that it helps almost all disease processes. By not eating, there is a marked reduction in inflammatory mediators….inflammation promotes disease!
Intermittent fasting decreases diabetes, coronary artery heart disease and stroke, cancer, and even dementia. It’s a revolution!!!
I hope I have piqued your interest in this life-changing way to take care of your body for a healthier, longer life. It’s been a life-changer for me! Please join me and my dear friend and IF expert, Dr. Margee Brennan, on February 28th, 2020 at my Spring Open House Event for an enlightening and in-depth look at the science and methods of intermittent fasting.
