INTERMITTENT FASTING: My Journey

Way back in 2022 until the middle of 2023, during a community party, we were busy talking with friends, eating food, and drinking juices and soft drinks. Suddenly, I began to feel unwell. To calm myself, I decided to go to a room and watch some videos on my phone, hoping the uneasy feeling would pass. As the hours went by, I felt a sudden and painful sensation at the nape of my neck. The pain was so intense and uncomfortable that I couldn’t even lay my head down. One of my friends noticed that I was constantly massaging my neck and clearly in pain. When I told him what I was feeling, he decided to take me to the hospital for a checkup. This kind of pain had happened to me before, but I always ignored it. At the hospital, the doctor requested laboratory tests to determine what was happening to my health at that time. When the results came out, the doctor told me that my blood pressure was very high and gave me a prescription to help calm my condition. I was also informed that my high blood pressure was related to insulin resistance. At first, I didn’t fully understand what that meant, so I decided to do my own research. Through my research, I discovered that excessive consumption of sugary foods and drinks can lead to serious health problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and even cancer. After several months of learning and searching for a suitable diet, I decided to try LCIF (Low-Carb Intermittent Fasting). I did not strictly follow popular methods; instead, I adjusted the approach to fit my daily activities and lifestyle. During my first and second weeks, I practiced TMAD (Two Meals a Day). My first meal was in the morning before going to work, and my second meal was an early dinner after work. I followed this routine for two weeks until my body began signaling that one meal a day was enough. By the third week, I transitioned to OMAD (One Meal a Day), which meant fasting for 24 hours. Surprisingly, I felt amazing waking up in the morning with an empty stomach. I didn’t feel hungry and even noticed that I had more energy throughout the day. My weight decreased from 69 kilograms to 52 kilograms, my laboratory results returned to normal, and my doctor eventually stopped my medication. From the fourth week up to the present, I now eat a heavy meal in the morning before going to work and have a light snack in the early evening, such as green vegetables, nuts, and sometimes an egg. Throughout the day, I no longer feel hungry and am able to work comfortably and with more energy.