Midlife Magic: Intermittent Fasting Could be the Best Trick in Your Health Bag

If you’re anything like me, you've reached the age where you can confirm that the weight of wisdom isn’t just metaphorical. It's literal.

But don’t worry, because I've got something that if used PROPERLY could be one amazing tool in your weight loss and wellness tool bag.

Today, we’re chatting about intermittent fasting (IF)—a health trend that’s taken the world by storm, promising to unclutter your mind, restore your energy, improve cellular health, and knock that dusty metabolism into high gear.

Plus, it’s a plan with no calorie counting. That’s right, I said no calorie counting.

Popular Intermittent Fasting Methods

First, let’s break down intermittent fasting. It's not about starving yourself; it's about eating deliberately over a certain period.

The most popular method is the 16/8 method: Fast for 16 hours, eat for 8.

Other methods include 5:2 method: eat normally 5 days, reduce calorie intake for 2 days.

There is also the spontaneous meal skipping, where there is no specific plan, and you occasionally skip meals more randomly.

We aren’t going to focus as much on the methods today, as we are going to focus on how to get intermittent fasting to work for you, and not against you.

How Intermittent Fasting Works for Women Over 40

Ladies, listen…after 40, the body goes through changes—surprise changes!

Our hormones play havoc and can often be seen misplacing energy levels, weight stability, and mood. Fun times, right?

Here’s a few ways that intermittent fasting works for women over 40:

Weight Management: Intermittent fasting can help reduce that stubborn belly fat. By fasting, your body gets the memo to use stored fat as energy, especially when your metabolism isn’t quite keeping pace in the race anymore. Most women over 40 have stored fat in the belly area. It’s just how it works!

Metabolic Regulation: Fasting can enhance insulin sensitivity and stabilize blood sugar levels. This is great since glucose can be sneakier than your kids when they're telling you they’ve cleaned their room. Balance helps keep those sugar cravings at bay.

Cellular Repair: Intermittent fasting supports autophagy which plays a key role in cellular repair, disease prevention, and anti-aging! Imagine those Scrubbing Bubbles commercials, but for your cells instead of on your bathroom shower walls.

Hormone Balance: Hormones can be as feisty as a toddler hyped up on too much candy. Pay attention to how they react with intermittent fasting. If you feel more tired or moodier, then adjust your timings. I recommend for most women, that you don’t fast for more than 14 hours even though I know the most popular is the 16/8 method. Women’s hormones go through many more fluctuations than men and we can’t handle fasting as long as they can.  Remember more isn’t always better!  In this situation we take the less is more approach.

Nutrient-Focused: With fasting, consider quality—over fluff. Prioritize proteins, calcium, and nutrient-dense foods. No point in fasting if you are going to go straight for fast food and undo all the autophagy that just took place in your body.  Consider consuming fats because this can encourage your body to burn fat for energy.  Ask me about metabolic typing so we can make sure you are eating the perfect macronutrient ratio for your body.

Build Muscle: Keep those biceps from disappearing into the night. Pair your intermittent fasting schedule with resistance training. Keep in mind that high intensity workouts right after intermittent fasting may take more out of that vital reserve bank account and to time it our appropriately.

Important Tips For Intermittent Fasting

You’ll want to find your fit. Meaning, experiment with various fasting protocols.

See which one seamlessly slides into your lifestyle without feeling like you’re forcing it.

Remember…what works for a friend, may not work for you. We are all different on a biochemical level, so you are the only one who knows what is right for you. 

Quiet the noise and listen to your body, it has a way of telling you what works for you.

You’ll also want to drink water. Loads of it, actually.

Drinking water during fasting is very important to have a successful fast. It helps keep you hydrated, supports metabolic processes, helps with detoxifications, and helps curb hunger.

Adding a pinch of Celtic Sea Salt to your water can help maintain your electrolyte balance during fasting. 

Supplementing with minerals and vitamins will help maintain energy and good sleep while fasting.

Always consult your healthcare professional before starting intermittent fasting.

Quick Word of Warning About Intermittent Fasting

Before you jump on the Intermittent fasting bandwagon, please read this first:

Your body is unique. Cherish it, nourish it, pamper it—all while knowing that you need to listen to it, too.  I want you to imagine your body is a bank account and before you jump into intermittent fasting, you need to make sure that you have a full banking account with a nice hefty savings! Intermittent fasting could be seen by your body as a distress if you don’t have a hefty savings I was speaking about, or intermittent fasting could be a eustress if you have a hefty savings with plenty in your vital reserve bank account in your body.

Closing Thoughts

So, there you have it—a little peek into the magical world of intermittent fasting, specifically for women over 40.

Treat intermittent fasting as a tool in your weight loss and wellness toolbox.

If you’re interested in intermittent fasting and you’ve never tried it before, give it a try! Evaluate how it makes you feel along the way.

If you’ve already tried intermittent fasting and it wasn’t all it was cracked up to be, remember that you need to have a certain amount in your vital reserve bank account.

So how much vital reserve do you have, is it negative? 

I recommend the “Test, Don’t Guess” moto that my fellow Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioners (FDN-P) and I follow.

I can help you take a deep dive and see where your vital reserve is and how I can help you get up into the positive instead of the negative  in your vital reserve bank account. We can start making intermittent fasting a “eustress” instead of a “distress” for your body.

If you want to slow down the aging process and regain energy so you can continue to live an active lifestyle at any age, learn more about my personalized wellness services.