A structured diet plan can be a great way to get started when it comes to dropping the pounds. Having a quick search online will bring up lots of different diet plans which promise to help you beat the bulge. Intermittent fasting is a popular plan which restricts the times or days in which a dieter is allowed to eat. However, there is an important rule slimmers must follow to get the best results, an expert explained.
An intermittent fasting plan can be followed in a few different ways, Harry Aitken, Sports Scientist and Master Trainer at Auster Fitness, told Express.co.uk.
He said: “Intermittent fasting is a dietary technique in which all food is consumed within a relatively small window of time.
“Typically it begins with an 18 hour window of fasting. If you eat dinner at 7pm, you will fast until 1pm, whereupon you will eat food until 7pm, and the cycle repeats.
“The ideal is healthy, nutritious food full of nutrients. Lots of vegetables, some good proteins and carbohydrates.”
Although the foods eaten on the plan can vary, slimmers should avoid eating meals high in carbs or unhealthy fats as this could actually make them gain weight.
“Studies have also shown weight gain during fasting. This has been attributed to foods rich in fat, carbohydrates and also a reduction in exercise,” Harry said.
“Just because you are eating food in a small window of time, this does not give you the excuse to eat everything and anything. You should still try to eat as healthily as possible.”
As well as this, there are some important rules slimmers should follow to get the best results.
He told Express.co.uk: “Stick to it, drink lots of water and don’t break the fast!
“Simple things like tea and coffee are fine, a bit of milk won’t make that much difference, but having a large latte probably isn’t the best thing to have.”
When following the plan, it is important for slimmers to watch how many calories they eat so their body can enter a calorie deficit.
“Still keep track of calories, its not an excuse to overindulge, but it is still worth tracking what you’re eating to gauge just how many calories you are actually eating,” Harry explained.
“Most people eat more calories than they think. As with any diet, you must burn more than you consume to lose weight, so intermittent fasting is a great way of reducing your calories by reducing your consumption time and increasing your burning time.”
Another popular plan is a high protein diet which can help slimmers burn fat quickly.
Eating more protein will help dieters feel fuller for longer which means they are less likely to opt for unhealthy snacks.