Intermittent fasting worked for one wellness consultant, but not for another – experts explain why eating less often isn’t for everyone, and who should avoid it
- Fasting gives the body a break from digestion, allowing it time to rejuvenate and detoxify – but not everyone should attempt it. Men usually see better results
- Two Beijing-based wellness consultants tried, with mixed results – Christian François lost 9kg in three months; Alessia Chizzoniti quit because of health issues
To lose weight, Christian François started fasting two years ago. Eating two meals a day between noon and 9pm, he lost 9kg (19.8 pounds) in the space of three months.
“I increased my exercise during those three months,” the Beijing, China-based wellness and nutrition consultant recalls. “I was working out for one hour, five times a week, in the first month, and doubling the hours in the second and third month. I was burning myself out.”
The first week was the hardest, he says, as he would wake up at 8am and could not eat until midday. “As I increased my workouts, I was moody and cranky as I was hungry. But the body got used to it quickly.”
Once he reached his goal weight, the 26-year-old switched to a far less restrictive way of fasting. “I attained the discipline of understanding that I don’t always need food. I stopped daily fasting – now, I skip meals throughout the day whenever I go out for dinner at night so that I can enjoy the food more.”