Hi @iskawrites thank you for your beautiful message.
I tell you, I currently start my fast at 6 pm until 12 noon the next day, which gives me a window of 18 hours, but when I started I was doing it progressively with 14 hours and then I was increasing them. I fast intermittently, for example there are days that I decide to have breakfast earlier depending on my logistics of the day. An important element is the intake of water and tea, they help me to maintain the window I have chosen for the day. I prepare ginger tea, lemongrass, chamomile, and so I alternate them. Didn't you feel hungry? Yes, especially the first few days the mind plays hahaha to the feeling of hunger but something that worked for me was to educate myself about the health benefits of fasting and that allows me to maintain focus, I have observed myself and I have noticed that the feeling of hunger is more mental activated by a need for survival,
How many times did you eat during the day?
At the beginning of the meal window I allow myself to eat several times, in reasonable portions, I just try to take care of the quality of what I eat.
What type of food did you eat?
At the beginning, I was fasting and when I opened the window I was eating full of carbohydrates, sugar, there was no awareness of what I was eating, and I realized that it was not so effective, so I decided to redesign my plan and now I try to have portions of raw salads, proteins and as little as possible of processed carbohydrates, I decreased the intake of processed sugars, and really the gift has been great not only physically but also energetically, I feel much more vitality.
In addition to this, in the mornings I am doing half an hour of cardio plus half an hour of muscular exercises.
I am happy with the results, but keep in mind that the plan, the fasting window, the exercises, the food, must be adapted to the needs and personal requirements of each person. You have to determine your goal and allow yourself the flexibility to reach it, and combine it with elements such as self-motivation, discipline and enjoyment of the process.