Intermittent Fasting: Different Schedules to Follow

There are lots of ways to schedule your intermittent fasting. People choose to fast for all kinds of reasons, based on lifestyle, health, fitness goals and more. Some people fast for religious or spiritual reasons, too.

The most popular schedule is fasting for 14-16 hours a day, then eating during the remaining eight to 10 hours a day. 

Here’s a look at different schedules for intermittent fasting:

• 12-hour fasts: The day is split into equal periods of eating and fasting. This plan is often the most beginner-friendly, since most of the fasting period is spent sleeping.
• 16/8: Also called the Leangains protocol, you fast for 16 hours (until midday or later) and eat during an 8-hour period.
• 5:2 diet: For two days a week (non consecutive days), caloric intake is restricted to 500-700 calories. On other days, the person eats their normal diet.
• Eat-stop-eat: Fasting for 24 hours, one or two times per week. The fast starts after dinner and lasts until dinner the next evening.

Always talk to your health-care provider before you make any changes to your diet.