Intermittent fasting has become a popular weight loss subject because many people have attested to how effective it as for spot reducing fat. Intermittent fasting can help you lose stubborn belly fat and fat in other parts of the body, but it is not for everyone. It involves not eating any calories for 14 to 20 hours in most cases, but there are a wide range of different intermittent fasting protocols that you'll find, and many different opinions.

During the following 5 to 10 hours you would eat a specific amount calories, usually 1200 to 2000, based on your weight loss goals or your muscle growth goals. Bodybuilders and athletes sometimes use the technique to lose a small amount of fat. Some people try intermitting fasting as an alternative to diets, and although it can't help you lose as much weight as quickly as diets like the HCG diet, it can be effective in some situations but difficult to implement.

Intermittent fasting forces your body to metabolize fat

Like a very low calorie diet, intermittent fasting forces your body to burn more fat because you are not eating anything for a period of time. When you eat regularly, your blood sugar provides you with the energy that you need for your day, along with the glycogen stored in your liver. Unless you go for a period of time without eating, your body won't be burning stored fat for energy, as you fat is an energy reserve.

When you go for a long period of time without eating, your body will use up all the available blood sugar from your past meal and stored glycogen. After most of that energy is used up, your body will start metabolizing stored fat for its metabolic processes. This is how intermitting fasting works as well as diets like the HCG diet which offer a limited number of calories and force your body to burn fat for its remaining energy needs.

Intermittent fasting is not easy for everyone

Intermittent fasting doesn't work for everyone, and although some claim that it's a good alternative to diets there are several disadvantages. Many diets at least allow you to eat a meal for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and while you are intermittent fasting you won't be able to eat breakfast or lunch in the majority of cases. You will have to go through a long period of time, usually about 16 hours at minimum without eating anything at all.

This can be difficult for many, as your energy levels can drop off when you aren't eating anything, and a lot of people don't function very well with low blood sugar. The HCG diet allows you to eat a breakfast, although it is a light breakfast, with a piece of fruit or two, along with two meals with substantial protein and vegetable servings. It's a diet that allows you the same benefits of intermittent fasting while not having to starve yourself, which is why it has proven to be much more effective than other diets

There isn't a standard protocol for intermittent fasting

Another downside of intermittent fasting is fact that there is no established protocol for it. When you research it you'll find that there are dozens of different opinions on it, and no one really agrees what will work the best. You will have to basically come up with your own weight loss protocol when you try it, and it may not even be safe for you. No matter what you do, you should discuss any dietary changes with your medical provider prior to implementing them.

Changing your diet drastically with weight loss methods like intermittent fasting can be bad, especially if you aren't sure how you'll tolerate the changes. It's much better to try an established diet like the HCG diet that has a clinically studied protocol, so that you know exactly what you are getting into.

The HCG diet is proven and can be much more convenient

When you don't have any experience with intermittent fasting, it can be very difficult to try to figure out exactly how to do it and how to implement it into your schedule. You may be used to eating breakfast before work, and when you skip your meals altogether you might find that work is a lot more difficult. It can also be confusing to try to pick the right intermittent fasting option when there are so many different protocols available.

The HCG diet is designed for everyone, even if you have an active job, and at Nu Image Medical you get the benefit of speaking with a medical provider to ask any questions and customize the diet for your unique needs if that is necessary. Most people will follow the same standard protocol, and the diet is very well tolerated in the majority of people.

Most people lose more weight than they ever have with any other diet that they've tried in the past. It can be hard to know exactly how many calories you should eat after intermittent fasting, as one example, and you might end up eating too many or too few calories. With the HCG diet you know exactly how many calories you should eat every day, and the diet at Nu Image Medical also includes many recipes and a list of foods that you should stick to.

Intermittent fasting isn't a bad option when you aren't dieting

When you aren't dieting, there are several ways that you can lose weight or maintain a healthy weight such as simply eating whole foods, exercising, high intensity interval training, and intermittent fasting. Instead of a weight loss method, it can work very well at helping you maintain a healthy weight when you aren't dieting.

When you aren't on the HCG diet and you want to spot reduce fat, or lose a few pounds, you might try some of the intermittent fasting protocols that have been created by licensed nutritionists or medical providers, but always discuss it with your medical provider before making drastic changes like that to your diet. For some people it's quiet simply not safe, and you might not tolerate it well. To ask any questions about intermittent fasting or the HCG diet, click here to speak to a medical professional at Nu Image Medical today.