Why I don't love Intermittent Fasting (IF) for women…

Intermittent Fasting is a popular topic in the nutrition world, and there are some compelling arguments for and against it. I personally do not like it for women. Here is why: women have a stronger cortisol response in the morning than men – which is directly tied to hunger hormones. When women skip breakfast or delay their first meal til noon, their hormones are wonky. All. Day. Long…meaning more sugar cravings, late afternoon energy crashes, and overeating at night. Certainly not the goal for IF!

However, if women "break their fast" at 8AM, and still finish eating by 6PM they will achieve all the benefits of IF, without dysregulating their hormones. I am not a fan of IF for that reason. Men and women respond very differently to being in a fasted state. I also don't like IF for morning exercisers who delay their first meal several hours after working out. Your body needs protein and calories within a couple hours of exercise. Period. For men and women.

But I do love an earlier dinner and a solid 12-14 hour fast between dinner and breakfast — when it works! Please don’t cancel your 8PM dinner rez tonight with friends — this is a guideline, not a rule! You’ve gotta live your life.