Fasting vs Dieting – Everything You Need to Know

Are you interested in health and wellbeing? Perhaps you want to lose some weight or improve your metabolism? Not sure if a gym membership or a Zumba class is right for you?

As you can see, there are many ways to try and lose weight and stay healthy. Today we’re going to explore the difference between dieting and fasting. We’ll weigh up the pros and cons of each and find out which one, if any, is right for you and the needs of your health!

Fasting

Fasting is the practice of abstaining from all food and drink (except water, of course!), for a sustained amount of time. Some religions and spiritual practices encourage fasting as part of holy times and holidays – or to commune with the spirit world. For the sake of this blog, we’ll be looking at fasting as a method to lose weight, improve health and create wellbeing.

When we fast, we change the way our body burns and uses our stored energy. Especially in this day and age when so much of our food is saturated with fats, sugars and preservatives, fasting can help to re-set the natural order of your body – and burn some weight while you’re at it.

Types of Fasting

There are many types of fasting, the most extreme being consuming only water. There are others where food is only consumed in the morning or the evening, or only liquids such as juice may be drunk. It is worth checking with your doctor before commencing any type of fast – especially if you are diabetic, or have an existing medical condition. Now let’s take a look at dieting!

Dieting

The process of dieting is limiting what, and how often, you eat. Diets have been around for many decades now and there is great debate as to their effectiveness and precisely which one is the best for you.

There are many different types of diets that are popular these days – vegan, Paleo, alkaline, Atkins, Jenny Craig, Lite ‘n’ Easy, and so on! It can actually get a bit overwhelming when trying to lose weight or improve your wellbeing – just what diet should you choose?!

Ideally, the best diet is one that includes lots of fresh fruit, vegetables and lean meats – such as chicken or fish. You really can’t go wrong with this. If weight loss is your goal, don’t underestimate the importance of exercise too! A boot camp class in Newmarket or your closest city might be just the ticket for you.

The Verdict

While a fast can be tempting as a quick and easy way to lose weight and get healthy – nothing really compares to a healthy, balanced diet combined with exercise for weight loss and general wellbeing!

To hit the ground running with your exercise routine or to improve your diet for the better, talk to the personal trainers and nutritionists  at The Olympic Pools & Fitness Centre.