REVIEW: The Fast-5 Diet and the Fast-5 Lifestyle

The Fast-5 Diet & The Fast-5 Lifestyle
Author: Bert W. Herring, MD

After having surgery 8 years ago, I have to follow a specialized diet that is sometimes incredibly challenging. Very low carb. No sugar. High protein. It's difficult to maintain. I slipped and over the last couple of years started eating foods I knew I wasn't supposed to have. Not only did it make me feel ill, but also caused me to gain weight. It's easy to pretend that pounds aren't creeping on....until seasons change...and trying on clothes that used to fit becomes a lesson in the stark reality that my rear has outgrown my wardrobe. So, I decided that it was time to suck it up and change how I was living my life.....increase my exercise again and find an eating plan that fit what works best for my franken-gut.

I read this book hoping that intermittent fasting would be the answer for me. And, I think it is!

In The Fast-5 Diet and the Fast-5 Lifestyle, Dr. Bert W. Herring outlines what intermittent fasting is (eating only in a set window of time each day) and his instructions for how to transition, solve problems and maintain this way of eating. I love this! The plan is common sense and simple. And it will work with any healthy, mindful eating plan. Modified fasting also alleviates some of the problems that total fasting can cause, especially for someone like me that has decreased absorption of nutrients from foods. I am currently still transitioning to an eating window of 5-10 pm. My breakfast is at 2 pm now, and I eat two meals. Over the next several weeks, I will transition my first meal of the day later and later until I hit that 5 pm mark. I am not starving myself. I eat very wonderful, healthy, nutritious foods with my family when it's within my window to eat. In my fasting hours, I can drink water, coffee, tea.....I'm doing fine. And, I'm feeling better already. My gut is no longer bloated. I have so much more energy. I sleep better. I still have to take a lot of nutritional supplements due to the intestinal modifications I live with....and I start taking those in the morning to get them all in by evening time. So, smooth sailing so far. It's all working wonderfully! I feel better, and I'm seeing a return to better physical health. I feel a little better every day. I am anxious to see how my bloodwork has improved when I go to my next doctor's appointment in September.

As with any major change in diet, it's best to consult your physician before attempting intermittent fasting. This program is not recommended for diabetics or others who have to eat every few hours for medical reasons. My husband is diabetic....so he isn't doing Fast-5 with me, but he is eating the same foods I make for myself, so the program is benefiting him indirectly.

Dr. Herring also has another book related to this introductory book: AC: The Power of Appetite Correction. It's also a wonderful tool that I am reading and learning so much from it. Being surrounded by junk food, greasy fast food options, constant television commercials about food.....it makes overeating, impulse eating and other problems common place these days. I highly recommend both books for anyone looking to transition to a more healthy relationship with food. For me, this is giving me a common sense approach to dealing with my diet restrictions and health concerns.