The general rule of thumb is that if you stay under 50 calories, then you'll remain in the fasted state.
Strictly speaking, any amount of calories will break a fast. If a person follows a strict fasting schedule, they should avoid any food or drinks containing calories. Those following a modified fasting diet can often eat up to 25% of their daily calorie needs while fasting.
So, how many calories to eat during intermittent fasting 16/8? There is no general guideline for what you should eat or drink on fasting days, with the exception of the fact that your total calorie intake should not exceed 500 calories on these days.
What Breaks a Fast? Strictly speaking: any amount of calories, no matter how small, disrupts the fasting process. If you're following your intermittent fasting plan to the letter, that means no calories, whatsoever, for the entirety of your fasting window.
When you fast for shorter durations, your body doesn't have enough time to go into ketosis. This means it won't burn stored fat, and there won't be significant weight loss. As one study concluded, a fasting window of 18-19 hours is more effective in terms of weight loss than those between 12-17 hours [11].
This is how much weight you can lose with intermittent fasting. In doing the fast correctly and ensuring that it is aligning with your mind, body and soul–you can expect a good weight loss of anywhere between 2 to 6 kgs a month with excellent inch loss and increase in energy levels and brain function.
YOU'RE NOT EATING ENOUGH DURING YOUR WINDOW
You'll be so hungry, you may start eating and not stop. As well, the body stores food to protect itself. Your body will sense the need to stock up on reserves and may store those extra pounds as fat instead of lean muscle.
So, can you have a cheat day while intermittent fasting? Yes, absolutely. An occasional cheat day will not hinder your weight-loss progress if you do it right. In fact, it's scientifically proven that intentional cheat days can even enhance your metabolism [1].
Technically speaking, soft drinks such as Coca Cola Zero do not break the fast because they have no calories, although many experts indicate that if our goal with intermittent fasting is to lose weight, these soft drinks can have a rebound effect.
After the first week of intermittent fasting, you'll probably notice less bloating and a tighter, slimmer look and feel to your midsection. Some people will enjoy some weight loss by week two, but don't be discouraged if your weight scale hasn't budged. Continue for another 4-6 weeks, and you should see changes.
The benefits of a 16-hour fasting schedule are the same as a 12-hour fasting. They include weight loss, aid in the cellular repair process, improved sleep, improved digestion, increased mental health and clarity, and reduced insulin resistance.
Intermittent fasting via a pattern of time restricted eating allows for a consistent period of fasting daily that alleviates the circadian rhythm disruption and subsequently improves metabolic balance.
A systematic review of 40 studies found that intermittent fasting was effective for weight loss, with a typical loss of 7-11 pounds over 10 weeks.
There are various calorie limits for fasting days, with some calling for 0 calories and others allowing up to 600 calories per day, according to a review published in December 2021 in JAMA Network Open.
16:8 Intermittent fasting involves fasting for 16 hours a day and consuming all calories during the remaining 8 hours. Suggested benefits of the 16:8 plan include weight loss and fat loss, as well as the prevention of type 2 diabetes and other obesity-associated conditions.
Additionally, it will take your body a while to get used to this new eating schedule. So don't expect results right away. You may need to wait between 2 and 4 weeks to see or feel any results.
The truth about lemon water and intermittent fasting
Long story short - the answer to the question “Does lemon water break a fast?” is no, lemon water does not break a fast. Lemon water contains almost no calories and zero sugars, it doesn't raise insulin levels, which means it will not break your fast (1).
Is lemon water allowed during intermittent fasting? The short answer is YES, as lemon water is considered a non-caloric (zero calorie) beverage. Lemons are so low in calories that when you add a small amount of lemon juice to water, the calorie content is negligible.
You should aim to lose about 1% of your body weight a week. The amount of weight lost each week will slowly decrease. At 250 lbs you can expect to lose 2.5 – 3 lbs a week. But once you pass the 200-pound mark, the rate will go down to 1.5 – 2 lbs a week.
If you consistently stay active while following intermittent fasting, you can lose as much as 6-8 pounds per month.
Intermittent fasting for beginners using the 16:8 approach is relatively easy: simply pick an eight-hour feeding window, eat one to three nutritious meals during that time frame, then abstain from food the rest of the time.