Does Fasting Make You Tired?

Instagram influencers, Silicon Valley execs, and celebs say it improves their energy level, focus, and health and maybe also cuts down the weight they've put on.

There's no alternative to intermittent fasting.

Some followers go without food for anywhere from 16 hours to an entire day; some forego a weekend without food; some alternate-day fasting.

There are various approaches.

There have been different studies on different aspects of intermittent fasting.

But intermittent fasting has yet to be advertised as a deep-rooted panacea for everything that affects you, whether that's focus, weight, energy, or something else.

We all know fasting involves skipping meals voluntarily for a long time, often for many days.

Headaches, fatigue, irritability, and constipation are just some of the other negative side effects that intermittent fasting can have on a person.

To lessen the severity of these negative effects, you may wish to try a time-restricted eating plan or periodic fasting instead of alternate-day fasting.

Intermittent fasting involves the same thing but not for days.

Now the point to focus on here is that if intermittent fasting gives you an abundance of energy, more mental clarity, and weight loss, why do you feel so tired?

Here's what you should know before you start.

What Is Intermittent Fasting?

Intentionally skipping meals is called fasting.

It's a common practice for many people, but it's becoming popular to maintain a healthy body weight and prevent disease.

Intermittent fasting supporters believe it is a great way to improve your health to limit your eating to just a portion of the day, allowing your body to go 12 hours or more without eating.

Intermittent fasting includes switching between fasting and eating on a structured schedule.

Intermittent fasting is all about when you eat; you eat for a specific amount of time.

It's not a diet but a way to plan your meals so that your body gets the most nutrients possible.

This method alters the frequency with which your body consumes calories rather than the number of calories consumed daily.

Humans have fasted for hundreds of years.

Think of the Paleolithic ancestors – did they follow the same diet routine as us?

Three square meals per day is an advanced convenience.

Our ancestors fasted out of the need of the hour – there were times when there was insufficient food.

Luckily, you don't have to think about the food shortage in the modern world.

But having an eating regime similar to your ancestors is one of the healthiest ways to take it up.

And limiting your food intake may be the best way to make your body healthier – something you must do if you battle fatigue. (Source)

If you're looking for weight loss, you can choose intermittent fasting.

If done right, it can help reduce inflammation, help you lose weight, lower your insulin, and more.

But IF (intermittent fasting) involves more than just skipping meals.

If you want positive results, it should be done perfectly.

Related: What Is The Success Rate Of Intermittent Fasting

Does Fasting Make You Tired?

Studies show that people practice different intermittent fasting and go through fatigue and low energy levels during this practice.

Low blood sugar because of intermittent fasting can lead to weakness and tiredness.

Also, some people may have trouble sleeping during intermittent fasting, making them tired during the day.

However, some research has shown that intermittent fasting can help weight loss, especially as your body adapts to regular fasting hours.

When you consume food, more calories are taken in than are necessary.

Your body stores left calories for later. These calories are usually stored in our liver as glycogen – but only up to a particular point.

If your body's glycogen storages are complete, your body stores these extra glycogens as fat.

In fasting, the opposite of fat storage happens.

Your blood sugar decreases, notifying the need to activate the supply of sugar for energy.

Your body will use its glycogen stores first of all.

However, because they only last a few hours, your body will use fat for energy. (Source)

Either your body stores energy or uses it.

If you are overweight, your body has spent lots of time storing energy.

You are in the energy mobilization state if you experience famine.

Energy storage is the default state for most of us in the developed world.

Intermittent fasting can help move your body from where it stores energy to where it uses energy.

Doing so can be the best way to increase your energy.

But obviously, it’s not for everybody.

Related: Check out Stages Of Weight Loss

Intermittent Fasting Tiredness

Intermittent fasting is a selective practice of eating and propels people to ignore appetite and fullness cues to rather eat at particular times of the day.

People doing intermittent fasting experience lethargy and tiredness.

During the first few weeks of intermittent fasting, they feel tired and sluggish because their body is not getting the same fuel they used to.

Intermittent Fasting Fatigue

Intermittent fasting involves fasting for particular periods.

One study found that intermittent fasting is linked with a higher prevalence of eating disorders, behavior, fatigue, and psychopathology, especially among young women. (Source)

At the beginning of an intermittent fasting plan, you may feel more tired because your body is getting rid of a lot of water and salt through urine.

This can cause low salt levels and dehydration.

If someone isn't getting enough protein, intermittent fasting can make them lose muscle and increase their risk of hypoglycemia.

For some people and groups, like older adults and young children, fasting could be harmful and should be avoided.

Also, there are still many things to learn about the possible risks of intermittent fasting. For this study, researchers looked at how eating disorders and intermittent fasting affect young adults and teenagers.

This study collected data from the Canadian survey of adolescent health behaviors.

It included 2,762 young adults and adolescents in their analysis, including men, women, and transgender.

It found that any involvement in intermittent fasting in the last few months was linked to more unusual eating disorder behaviors and tiredness among all groups.

Can I Break My Fast If I Feel Weak?

Intermittent fasting can cause your blood sugar to drop, making you feel weak and tired.

Also, intermittent fasting can make some people have trouble sleeping, making them tired during the day.

Before getting into intermittent fasting, everybody should have a detailed conversation with their physician.

This is especially true if you are over 65 and/or have a medical condition, as you are at a higher risk for health complications.

Before your dosing schedules, you must talk to your doctor because those schedules are built around your daily meal times.

If your job involves dealing with heavy equipment or other tasks that might jeopardize you and others if you experience lethargy, low blood sugar, or lightheadedness, consult your doctor.

Skipping food around when you don't eat doesn't give you full authority to indulge in eating whenever you want.

The effect of intermittent fasting can be speedily undone if you choose to break the cycle or add the wrong kinds of foods. (Source)

If you feel weak or hungry, like you need food, you must pay attention to it.

Listen to your body.

You can address your hunger, and there is no need to feel guilty if you eat outside your window.

Refusing your hunger hints may lead to an unhealthy connection with food.

Allow yourself to break your fast if you are feeling weak. Starvation is not the point of intermittent fasting.

So, if you encounter any adverse symptoms, make sure to nourish yourself.

There are various variations of intermittent fasting, so choosing the one that works with your schedule is vital.

Some include fasting daily for a particular number of hours.

In the meantime, others include restricting calories on specific days of the week.

If you have a challenging job with many meetings, and you're not eating until 12 p.m., that might affect your career.

Choose an intermittent fasting plan according to your lifestyle.

Does Fasting Make You Tired? Closing Thoughts

Researchers have found that intermittent fasting has many health benefits, such as weight loss, a lower risk of heart disease, better control of blood sugar, and more.

While intermittent fasting is generally believed to be safe, studies say it may result in side effects, including fatigue, tiredness, irritability, constipation, bad breath, headaches, hunger, and irritability.

Additionally, healthcare professionals advise some people never to go for intermittent fasting.

These involve breastfeeding mothers or pregnant women and those with eating disorders.

Follow a nutritious and balanced diet, engage in regular exercise or physical activity, get proper sleep, and manage stress—these practices are crucial to promoting overall health. If you want to try intermittent fasting, you should talk to your doctor to ensure it's right for you and safe.