I got an email from our health insurance provider claiming to sort out hype versus fact in popular nutritional trends. I saw intermittent fasting in the title and knew I had to take a look… though the mention of “hype” and “trends” suggested to me that I might not like what I was going to read.
First of all, let’s be clear that I am a big fan of intermittent fasting. In conjunction with reducing processed sugars, I used it last year to lose 30 pounds. Happily, I have stayed at my new lean weight all year while enjoying a new, disciplined eating schedule. In fact, I credit the weight-loss with helping me achieve stellar performances in two half marathons this year, both in the spring and two weekends ago (Note: I do not credit the running with the weight-loss, as I ran for years before shedding the weight. It was only with adopting intermittent fasting that I made progress in that area).
So, when I saw the headline about intermittent fasting, I was curious (er, pre-emptively incensed? ready to bring out the dukes?) to see what it had to say. In fact, there wasn’t much there, though the article claimed that there’s no conclusive proof that intermittent fasting works to lose weight. Then it gave the rather boiler-plate advice that people should consult their doctor before trying a trendy diet.
Ok. Not bad advice… I guess. But it didn’t stop me from getting pretty indignant about it. “You’re telling me that the fact that I lost 30 pounds constitutes no real proof? It’s real proof to me! Am I supposed to believe you and reject my own experience?”
Of course, they aren’t thinking that (or are they?). They don’t know me. Yet this spurred a lot of passion in me. It forces me to own my convictions, to validate my experience even when it flies in the face of someone else’s professional opinion…. in this case, that someone else representing the established, status quo of Western health providers.
It’s not always an easy thing to do, standing by your own convictions. Like pretty much everyone, I was trained to defer to authorities. I was trained to think that they know best. Sometimes they really do.
Yet when it comes to trusting my own experience, my own wisdom, and my own inner guidance, it’s really no contest. Sorry, well-meaning health care providers, in this case I need to go with what I know.
So I’ll just stick with my own experience, as inconclusive and ill-informed as it is.
Sincerely Yours,
Incensed and Indignant Chris 🙁