#016 - Intermittent Fasting over 40 - Is it right for you?
Intermittent fasting gets a lot of hype.
Some say it’s the magic fix for fat loss. Others treat it like a lifestyle religion.
Here’s the truth?
It can be incredibly helpful — *if it suits your life.*
And if it doesn’t? There are plenty of other ways to get lean, stay healthy and feel energised.
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🥣 DO YOU *NEED* BREAKFAST?
Here’s a simple way to know:
👉 If you wake up ravenous and can’t get to 9am without raiding the fridge?
Intermittent fasting probably isn’t the best place to start.
👉 But if you’re someone who *isn’t that hungry in the morning*, skipping breakfast can feel effortless.
It’s one less decision to make. One less meal to prep.
And most breakfast foods — cereal, toast, pastries — are carb-heavy and not that filling anyway.
So you’re not missing out on much nutritionally — and it can be a clean win for fat loss *and* simplicity.
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🧠 INTERMITTENT FASTING WORKS BEST WHEN IT FITS AROUND YOUR LIFE
Got young kids and eat together before school?
That meal might be more important than any fasting protocol.
Eat with your partner first thing before they go to work?
That shared routine might matter more than skipping breakfast.
Don’t sacrifice **social health** for a few extra hours without food.
This isn’t about being extreme — it’s about finding what works *for you*.
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🔬 THE ONE UNIVERSAL BENEFIT OF FASTING: AUTOPHAGY
Regardless of the “fat loss” claims, one benefit of fasting stands out in the research:
🧬 **Autophagy** — the body’s natural cellular clean-up system
Fasting triggers this process of cellular recycling, and it’s been shown to improve longevity across nearly every animal studied.
The exact *duration* needed for peak autophagy in humans?
Still up for debate. Could be 12 hours. Might need 24+. We don’t know yet.
But the principle stands:
✅ Giving your body a break from constant eating has powerful effects.
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⚖️ SHOULD YOU TRY INTERMITTENT FASTING?
Here's a checklist:
✅ You’re not hungry in the mornings
✅ You want fewer food decisions
✅ You eat a lot of carbs at breakfast
✅ You’re not sacrificing social/family meals to do it
✅ You want a simple entry point to better nutrition
If all that sounds like you — go for it.
Try a **12:12** or **16:8** window. Start with something doable.
But if it doesn’t? That’s fine too.
There’s no medal for skipping breakfast.
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💬 FINAL THOUGHT:
Intermittent fasting isn’t magic.
But it *can* be effective — especially if it simplifies your day and reduces poor food choices.
You don’t have to follow trends.
You just need to find what works for *your* body, *your* lifestyle and *your* goals.
That’s what Future Proof is all about.
Gavin Allinson - Nutrition