How Intermittent Fasting Changed My Life

My entire life I have been somewhat conscious of my weight. I began doing pageants and dancing at a young age which caused me to be more aware of my appearance.

Angel here and with two parents being 5'4 and 5'5 I didn't exactly win the height lottery. Growing up I knew there was no way I was going to be a supermodel. So I had to instead have the personality to make up for the height LOL. If we are going by personality I am like a mega supermodel HA!

Like most kids and teens I could eat anything I wanted and not gain a pound. I remember hanging with friends on Friday nights gutting an entire pizza, Doritos, bags of candy, you name it we ate it.

When I started my freshman year of high school I started to notice other girls were growing up a whole lot faster than me and I became even more aware of my body. I wanted to make sure I stayed small so I would literally starve myself. My momma ended up taking me to Dr. Danhauer because I weighed 79 pounds soaking wet. Looking back I can't believe I was ever that little. Dr. D took one look at me and said you're gonna start eating or I am going to put you in the hospital and make you eat my way. It sounded a whole lot nicer coming out of his mouth. He was more like family than a doctor and I knew he loved me. So I started a path to eating better and healthier and I maintained my fitness.

I played soccer and danced my whole life so that wasn't hard but now I knew how important it was to fuel my body each day.

Fast forward to college and then becoming a mother with three children within 27 months and see if that doesn't throw your body for a loop. I gained 70 pounds alone with Braden weighing almost 200 pounds when I delivered him. On a 5'2 frame that is a lot.

I tried really hard to get the weight off but it seemed impossible. Not to mention I was stressed, depressed, overworked, and back to starving myself from time to time which was actually a huge detriment to my body.

After a very rocky marriage and body shaming, then my divorce, I lost weight in a super unhealthy way and of course put it right back on. Then three years later I had Tuck got in great shape and another three years after had Charlotte. I was in better shape but I was exhausted. I still wasn't happy with my body.

It was that feeling where I weighed myself daily I mean totally obsessed with it (don't do that by the way) it will only drive you insane. I would go to the gym with Chad every day. Run 3-5 miles a day boot camp daily and instead of losing I was stuck. I was solid as a rock but something wasn't right.

I had been following my friend Brandy Dant on Facebook and watching her journey to better health and fitness. She had health issues and had begun a program which helped to change how her body functioned. She went from hospital stays to a healthier lifestyle. I am an observer so it took me about six months to follow her journey and then one day I messaged her and she talked me through what I was to expect from Fasting.

I was skeptical. I was doubtful. I was also determined.

Intermittent Fasting taught me how to burn fat and live a truly healthy lifestyle through intermittent fasting, carb cycling, macro tracking, whole food nutrition, strategic workouts, and a positive mindset.

I know it sounds complicated and lord if I didn't think how am I gonna do this. Macro track WHAT?! Brandy literally held my hand and took the journey every step of the way.

With my lifestyle, I didn't have time to do an hour of workout daily. My knees were shot from running and years of workout classes.

I actually worked out less and ate more food on the program. Hard to believe I know but it was a real deal thing. I learned how to eat and that carbs aren't the bad guy.

I'm sure you're asking what is this crap and is it real? It is! I PROMISE. Intermittent Fasting works by prolonging the period when your body has burned through the calories consumed during your last meal and begins burning fat.

There are different periods for fasting 16/8 (fast 16 hours eat for 8), 5:2 (500-600 calories 2 days a week) the rest of the week is normal, and of course the 24, 36, 48, and 72-hour fasts. I don't do this very often. Only when I need a reset for my body.

Now I know you're asking well why on earth would I want to wait that long to eat what does it even do. Our whole lives we have been told breakfast is the most important meal of the day...WRONG!

Here's how it works: Your body gets energy from sugar in the food you eat. The body produces insulin and then distributes it throughout the rest of your body. The body uses it when needed. If you haven't eaten your body has to pull energy from other sources and uses stored energy. That is when the magic happens fasting = body munching on store fat sources. This then helps to slim and change your body composition.

For women, it is around our mid-section, arms, hips, and on and on. Fasting is not for everyone and my best suggestion is to talk with your doctor first. I knew I could do it and I jumped. I have continued the journey for almost two years now and I am down 16 pounds. It wasn't about the scale for me or even the weight loss. It was about better health.

You can starve yourself and lose weight. Run yourself to death. Eat salads daily and be miserable or you can take back your body and rewire it to change your metabolism, make you feel more youthful, sleep better, and have tons more energy.

Here's my journey in pics:

How Intermittent Fasting Can Change Your Life!

To be perfectly honest there is no special diet pill, no workout machine, or drink that will change your life. You have to be willing to commit to yourself more than anyone else and set goals and follow through. It's a want from deep down inside. I am absolutely grateful for a supportive husband and the help of Brandy who continues to cheer me on and encourage me.