Slimming World vs Intermittent Fasting
Ask people worldwide about the number one thing they’d change about themselves, and I’ll bet that most would wish to lose weight. It’s often a challenge, battling against a lack of willpower or cravings for fatty, calorie-laden foods. So, Slimming World vs Intermittent fasting, which is best?
Despite Slimming World being one of the leading names in weight loss within the UK, intermittent fasting is much discussed, too.
Rather than attending a class or signing up for a plan, fasting is something that you do alone; having said that, there are many online forums and groups to join where you can find and give support, advice and ideas.
Slimming World
If you know nothing about Slimming World at all, then I’m guessing this is your first visit to my website as I talk about it a lot.
For me, it offers a considerable amount of flexibility and a variety of foods without having to worry too much about weight.
Slimming World offers a holistic approach to your lifestyle, focusing on diet as well as water intake and activity levels.
With Slimming World, you can attend classes in person (subject to pandemic rules) or go alone and follow the plan online.
Whichever option you choose, you will have access to the app that can help significantly.
Most people are allocated around 15 syns to use each day on this diet (exemptions here).
Some save the syns for an indulgent dessert or alcoholic drinks on an evening, whereas others choose to incorporate them into meals, using olive oil, for example.
Slimming World offers a large number of ‘free’ foods to choose from, including fruit, vegetables, lean meat and fish.
There is also an expectation of having ‘healthy extras’, ensuring you get enough fibre (from whole grain bread or cereals, for example) and calcium (such as milk, yoghurt and cheese) in your diet.
Intermittent Fasting
Intermittent fasting takes many forms, but all with the same basic principle: you will have moments where you eat a precise number of calories and other times where your intake will be very low.
It is a practice that has gone on throughout history, with some unable to hunt or gather enough for a meal, for example.
Fasting is also a key feature in some of the major world religions, so it is certainly not a new phenomenon.
It can be challenging to stick to fasting. These days, temptation is all around us, so having strong willpower is imperative for success on this kind of lifestyle change.
These are the two main types that you are likely to come across.
5:2 Diet
The 5:2 diet is likely the one you will have heard most about. For two consecutive days of the week, you must restrict your calorie intake to between 500 and 600.
For the other five days, you should eat normally.
However, if you stuff your face with all the food you can get your hands on, it is unlikely that this method will help.
Having said that, some research has shown that the same calorie intake for fasters and non-fasters has resulted in quicker weight loss for the former group.
16:8 Method
The 16:8 method is a diet that many people find easy to stick to. It involves fasting for 16 hours and eating regularly the other eight hours of the day. So, if you wake at 8am, you may start eating at midday and then stop again by 8pm, fasting until the following morning.
Likewise, if your calorie intake exceeds the amount that you use, you will likely find yourself not losing weight, so try to make sensible choices during those eight hours.
Regardless of which method you choose in your attempts to lose weight, I hope that your endeavours are a success. And even if you opt for something other than Slimming World, you’ll find a wealth of recipes here on my website to try. I’d love to know how you’re getting on and which diet you’ve found the best for you and your circumstances. Slimming World vs Intermittent fasting, which do you prefer?
