Hello, beautiful people of Rwanda and beyond! It’s your girl, Isimbi, and today I’m diving deep into the most requested topic my friends want me to write about: that time I tried intermittent fasting. Oh yes! The rumors are true. I ditched my usual tea and bread mornings for an empty belly and high hopes of losing some weight and gaining some abs.
Now, for those wondering, “Isimbi, what’s intermittent fasting?” It’s when you only eat during certain hours of the day and you fast for the rest.
Intermittent fasting, or as some like to call it, “scheduled eating,” is the trendy health hack where you abstain from food long enough to remember all the snacks you promised yourself you wouldn’t touch. It’s like giving your digestive system a staycation—a break from the 24/7 work overload of modern life.
Sounds simple, right? So, I thought, “How hard can this be?” Boy, was I in for a surprise.
Week 1: The beginning
I downloaded a Free app called ‘Better Me’ which would basically tell me when to eat, what type of food to eat, and how much water I should drink. The plan was to basically skip breakfast and eat at 12 p.m. and then have dinner before 8 p.m. I could not eat anything after that time.
I would wake up, drink water, and then go about my day. For lunch, I would have foods good in protein and less carbs and do the same for dinner.
At first, I felt like a superhero. Skipping breakfast? Piece of cake! (Well, technically, there was no cake, but you get what I mean.) I was rolling on energy I didn’t know I had. Maybe I was born for this?
Week 2: Uh-Oh…the hunger strikes!
By the second week, my tummy started playing the drums every morning. Loud. My friends thought I was hiding a small band in there. And oh, the dreams! I dreamt of giant Isombe pots and dancing with oversized brochette. I won’t lie; I almost considered sneaking a midnight snack.
I felt like I could not resist the food. I am not going to lie, some days were difficult, and some others I did not follow through the plan. I could only eat healthy foods cause let’s face it, who’s got the time?
I felt like I was about to give up but then my friends challenged me to make sure I finished a whole month.
Week 3: The zen zone
Something magical happened in week three. I felt light. Like, “floating in the air” kind of light. I got used to the routine, and my body was singing harmonies. This was a rhythm I could groove to.
I did feel like I was getting used to the routine little by little, I did not feel as hungry in the morning as I used to and I was drinking tons of water. Of course, this made me have a lot of bathroom breaks but It was okay.
The challenging thing was to keep going and eat the right food. Some nights were more complicated than others because I would sometimes go out after 8 p.m. and it would ruin the fast but It was not every night.
Week 4: The revelation
Okay, here’s the truth: it wasn’t all rainbows and sunshine. There were days I’d gaze at the clock, wishing it could hurry up so I could eat. But when the month came to an end, I realized something vital: I learned to listen to my body! Instead of just eating because it was “time”, I ate when I felt hungry. And guess what? I had more energy, slept better, and my skin? Let’s just say it was shining brighter than a Rwandan forehead.
Should you try it?
Life is a journey, and so was my month with intermittent fasting. Was it challenging? Heck, yes. Would I do it again? Maybe, with a few tweaks here and there.
Now, the million Franc question: should you jump on the intermittent fasting train? Well, everyone is different. What worked for me might not work for you. If you’re curious, give it a shot! But remember: always, always, ALWAYS listen to your body.
If you try it you could streamline your waist, boost your brainpower, and perhaps discover an energy reserve you never knew you had. Think of it as your body’s natural reset button or a ‘system reboot’ if you will.
You see, fasting isn’t just about playing hard to get with your fridge; it’s about giving your internal systems a well-deserved vacation.
But then you have to remember, if you’re feeling too hungry or weak, it’s okay to make adjustments or stop. Health first, always!
Try it and tell me how it went.
