I followed intermittent fasting as my weight loss strategy, adopted the 16/8 method and kept my eating window from 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., so my meals are as follows:
My breakfast: At around 10:30 I break my fast. My breakfast is mostly porridge made from millets, lentils [Sathumaavu kanji]yeast kuzhu [porridge] Along with a bowl of boiled sundal or any seasonal fruit.
My Lunch: Between 1-1:30 PM is my lunch time. I fill my lunch plate with more colors and less white. I add a bowl of rice or bajra and sambar/dal/sora whatever I make for others, add a cup of raita with sundal, poriyal/vegetables and essentially onion, tomato, carrot, cucumber or capsicum. In this template of the plate I fill and make sure there are no gaps and I don’t refill my plate. Sit back and take everything slowly and enjoy my meal.
My Dinner: I finish my last meal of the day at around 6:30. For my dinner, it will be basic South Indian tiffin items like Idli, Dosa, Upma, Pongal and sometimes I will make a Buddha bowl and a cup of soup. Between 6:30 pm and 10:30 am the next morning, I take nothing but water.
Pre-workout meal: It’s just lukewarm water and nothing else
Post-workout meal: Since I workout during my fasting hours, nothing but water.
I indulge in (what you eat on your cheat days): I don’t believe in cheat days after adopting this intermittent fasting and healthy eating pattern. I don’t binge to satisfy my soul, I make sure I limit myself within the calorie limit for the day and enjoy fried rice, pizza and dessert if I want. [especially only within my eating window].
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