🔥 I Tried Intermittent Fasting Without Giving Up My Favorite Meals—Here’s What Happened (And How You Can Start Too)
A few months ago, I was standing in front of my mirror, halfway into a pair of jeans that used to fit like a glove, silently wondering… “When did these turn into skinny jeans?”
Now, I’m not a fitness junkie. I love my jollof, I live for late-night snacks, and I’m definitely not waking up at 5 a.m. to jog (been there, failed that). But I’d been feeling sluggish, bloated, and honestly—just off.
So when a friend casually mentioned intermittent fasting during one of our long WhatsApp voice notes, I thought, “Okay, maybe this could be something.” I wasn’t sold right away though. I mean, skipping breakfast on purpose? That’s borderline crazy talk.
But something about the flexibility of it caught my attention. I didn’t need a fancy gym membership, expensive shakes, or complicated macros. Just a clock. And a little bit of patience.
-🕒 What Even Is Intermittent Fasting, Really?
If you’re like I was—scrolling through TikToks at 2am, confused about whether this was a diet or a cult—here’s the gist:
Intermittent fasting (IF) is more about when you eat than what you eat. You cycle between periods of eating and fasting.
Simple, right? No weird powders. No calorie counting (unless you want to). Just structure.
-⏰ Best Intermittent Fasting Schedules (Especially If You’re Just Starting Out)
Here’s what I tried—and what actually felt doable:
1. 16:8 Method
You fast for 16 hours, and eat during an 8-hour window.
What I did: I ate from 12pm to 8pm. So basically… I just skipped breakfast. Not gonna lie, the first few mornings were rough. Coffee saved me. Black coffee, specifically (yes, without milk. I cried a little).
2. 14:10 Method (Beginner-friendly)
Fast for 14 hours, eat within 10.
Honestly, this felt less intense. If you’re used to late dinners or can’t imagine skipping breakfast, this might be your sweet spot.
3. 5:2 Plan
Eat normally 5 days a week. For 2 days, drop down to around 500–600 calories.
This one? Personally not for me. I found it too all-or-nothing. But some folks swear by it.
-🍽️ My Go-To Intermittent Fasting Meal Plan (Nothing Fancy, Promise)
Here’s what a regular IF day looked like for me on the 16:8 plan:
🕛 12:00 PM – Break the Fast
Oats with almond butter, banana, and a little honey
Or some eggs + avocado toast if I was feeling bougie
🍽️ 3:00 PM – Midday Meal
Grilled chicken + salad (with real dressing because I’m not a rabbit)
Or beans + plantain, because balance
🍲 7:30 PM – Last Meal Before Fast
Rice, stew, and veggies
Or soup with bread (no shame in comfort food)
💧Throughout the day:
Lots of water
Herbal tea
Black coffee (again, lifesaver)
-🙋🏽♀️ What Actually Changed for Me?
I started sleeping better. Weird, right? But my body didn’t feel like it was working overtime to digest midnight snacks.
Less bloating. That “stuffed pillow” feeling disappeared.
More energy. Not hyper, just steady. Like my body finally had rhythm.
I lost weight. Slowly. Naturally. And without counting every bite. (Disclaimer: I’m still not a “size 2” and I don’t want to be. I just wanted to feel good again.)
-💬 But Was It Easy?
Nope.
There were days I broke the fast early and had a snack at 10am. Days I sat there during my fasting window, watching food reels like I hated myself.
But honestly? It got easier. And it felt doable.
I wasn’t perfect. Still not. But I stopped thinking of food as the enemy. I just… learned to give my body a break.
-So… Should You Try Intermittent Fasting?
I’m not a doctor. I’m not a nutritionist. Just someone who was tired of being tired and wanted a reset that felt natural.
Intermittent fasting isn’t for everyone. But if you’ve been feeling stuck, drained, or just disconnected from your body—it might be worth a try.
What if… the solution isn’t a magic pill or crash diet, but just giving your body space to breathe between bites?
Take that first step. Or don’t.
But ask yourself: What would it feel like to eat with intention—not obsession?
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