Here's the thing, yes, we are saying skip breakfast, but we are not saying skip the meal. We’re really saying eat breakfast but don’t eat it when you wake up, or even an hour afterwards. Instead, create an eating schedule where you’re consuming fats, carbs and proteins within a certain amount of time during the day and fasting for the remainder of the time. It’s called intermittent fasting and it’s an eating schedule, not a diet, and not cutting calories or skipping meals. The FASTer Way recommends a 16:8 schedule so you’re eating for 8 hours (not constantly, of course! ha!) and fasting for 16, most of that while you sleep. In real life, it looks like this: You get up at 6am, sip water, coffee or tea, then at 11am you eat your first meal of the day. Your window eating is now open. You’ll consume all of your calories for the day until 7pm, when you close your eating window. Enjoy tea or water before bed, then go to sleep! BOOM! You’re asleep and you’re fasting!

Now, let’s talk about the science behind intermittent fasting and why this works to blast fat. 

1. Insulin is the real MVP: When it comes to burning belly fat, it's all about managing your insulin response. By extending your overnight fast into the late morning, you give your body more time to lower insulin levels and tap into those fat stores. Sure, your stomach wants to tell you ‘feed me, feed me,’ but resist the urge and let your body eat up that fat! 

2. Your body is smarter than you think: Contrary to popular belief, skipping breakfast doesn't slow down your metabolism. In fact, it can enhance your body's ability to burn fat for fuel, which is what we want to happen in the FASTer Way because we’re focused on burning fat and building muscle.

3. Timing is everything: Amanda suggests breaking your fast around 11 AM or noon, giving your body a solid 16-hour fasting period. This extended digestive rest can lead to increased energy, improved immune function, and yes – more effective fat burning!

4. Quality over quantity: When you do eat, focus on nutrient-dense whole foods. Your body will thank you with improved energy levels and better overall health. We aren’t calorie cutters at FASTer Way, in fact, many of our clients find they eat more in our program. The difference is that we eat more of the right things; whole food nutrition with the right amount of carbs, fat and protein that fuel your body. You need all three not just for a physical transformation but also for brain health, for energy and for better sleep.

5. It's not one-size-fits-all: While skipping the traditional breakfast time works wonders for many, it's important to listen to your body and find an eating schedule that suits your lifestyle and goals. Most of our clients follow the 16:8 eating method we talked about above, but some do better with a 12:12 where only 12 hours are spent fasting, and there’s a 12-hour eating window. Again, this doesn’t mean you’re eating more, you just have more hours to consume your macronutrients for the day. 

It’s important for intermittent fasting to work for you and not against you that you follow an expert and have a health and fitness coach who can help you understand what your body needs.

So the next time you hear that you should eat breakfast, reconsider the time you eat it, not necessarily the meal itself. Breakfast is really when you break your fast; go ahead and enjoy eggs at noon, who’s stopping you? Or, maybe you’ll just go straight for the tuna salad as your first meal! Who knows? The important thing is to give your body time to tap into fat stores, not the glucose or insulin it craves. 

Here's to new beginnings – minus the breakfast! And if you’re looking for a partner in this journey, check us out at fasterwaytofatloss.com. 

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