Sports enthusiast Mirte shares her intriguing journey into intermittent fasting—a practice she finds both baffling and promising.
Mirte: "Growing up, breakfast was non-negotiable. It was drilled into us that it's the most important meal of the day. Skipping it made you an outsider, with parents deemed neglectful.
This mindset persists today. We still see public figures like Willem and Maxima munching chocolate sprinkles on sandwiches at primary schools in places like Schubbekutteveen, setting what they call a 'good example' from those tiny chairs.
I always believed breakfast was essential. After eight hours of sleep, your body needs fuel to kickstart metabolism and power through the day. Without my oatmeal, I feel like a sluggish zombie—yes, it's that intense.
What is intermittent fasting?
On the Laska site, I discovered intermittent fasting, a 2020 trend where you fast for at least 12 hours. For instance, finish dinner at 19:00 and eat again at 12:00 the next day— that's 17 hours fasting and a 7-hour 'feeding window.' But why? Check Laska's body for visuals, plus it's linked to numerous health perks.
The benefits of intermittent fasting
Normal eating keeps your body in constant digestion mode. Fasting triggers 'survival mode,' prioritizing cell repair and maintenance.
In 'The Food Hourglass,' author Kris Verburgh explains calorie restriction and fasting:
'Scientifically, only one method significantly slows aging: calorie restriction—eating about 25% less than usual. The book is available here.'
Discovered by Clive McCay at Cornell University, he underfed rats expecting shorter lives. Instead, lifespans extended proportionally; severe restriction boosted from 1000 to 1800 days (human equivalent: 150 years).
We're not rats, but rhesus monkey studies confirm it. For 20 years, they ate 30% less; only 13% died versus 37% in controls. Calorie-restricted monkeys showed less aging: reduced muscle loss, cancer, heart disease, and brain shrinkage.
Humans benefit too—fasting practitioners often appear youthful with better blood pressure, glucose, and insulin levels.
Calorie restriction vs. fasting
They're similar but distinct. Fasting means zero food for periods, entering survival mode. Calorie restriction means ongoing reduced intake. Both mimic 'starvation' for health gains.
'Starving'?
The term sounds unappealing—I love food, healthy or indulgent. Research shows intermittent fasting fits real life: during your window, eat what you want (sensibly—no burger binges). You don't need chia seeds and goat yogurt for benefits.
Try it to know
Skeptical but intrigued, I've trained intensively with great progress—until plateaus hit. Time for change.
I'll trial intermittent fasting. Maybe just a day before raiding the fridge, or perhaps I'll become a convert. Stay tuned.
Text: Mirte Rey
