tldr: watch the video below.

Those of you who have been following me for a while know that I am big on functional medicine. Actually, I am big on anything that optimises the brain and body. In a past article, I talked about how I lowered my natural insulin levels and the impact it has had on me. Following that I ventured into intermittent fasting this year. Having achieved my lower insulin level, my functional medicine doctor thought it was time for Markus (my husband) and I to take our health to the next level. And for us, that was intermittent fasting.

I was not a fan of fasting. I am now. When my doctor mentioned the word, I had an immediate reaction. Most people who know me know that I had an aversion to fasting. Intermittent fasting is not new. Many have been practicing it for years. So, when my doctor mentioned it this year I thought ‘why not?’.

Markus and I typically had a gap of at least 13 hours between dinner and breakfast and I thought stretching it to 16 hours or more (definition of intermittent fasting) would be easy. Wrong. It takes a little planning to bridge this ‘easily’. My doctor also mentioned that we should increase the hours gradually until we got to 16 hours comfortably.

My instinct was to go for 16 hours immediately and that did not work. I was getting so hungry and a couple of times I felt dizzy and knew I had stretched it. So, gradually over a few weeks, I got to 16 hours comfortably.

We are on a low carbohydrate diet too and dinner is typically no carbohydrate. To bridge the 16-hour gap I had to increase the protein content of our dinner to tide us over. However, now that I am several months into it, I have noticed that my body and brain have adjusted to fasting and I don’t need a bigger protein load for dinner. I typically feel hungry as I go to sleep but can fall asleep and by the morning that urge disappears. Making fasting easier. It almost feels like overnight the body finds other sources of calories. Which in my case has been fat around my organs.  

Note – I did not venture into intermittent fasting to lose weight. That is a by-product and one that seems like it is long-lasting. I have been measuring myself (on my doctor’s machine) since I started and have been progressively losing visceral fat. Bonus. Quite intriguing really.

My motivation was to experiment with intermittent fasting. To make it a lifestyle rather than a project. And I was not sure what to expect. There are many advantages of intermittent fasting as published in various journals and articles, but each body is unique, so I went in with an open mind.

But my motivation to incorporate it into my daily routine gave me a dopamine high. I know this because I really did not have a goal that I wanted to achieve such as weight loss. I was driven by exploring or seeking its benefits for me. I fast even when I am travelling. It has become a lifestyle.

Hence, I was pleasantly surprised when I recently stumbled upon Dr. Andrew Huberman. His theory and supporting data shows that the brain releases dopamine in the pursuit of seeking. The brain does this by focusing on the EFFORT of pursuing the goal and not the goal itself! This releases dopamine which is longer lasting and reduces the dip in dopamine after achieving our goal. Huberman considers dopamine the most important biological currency. One that sustains our motivation and increases our alert yet calm state. This is what I am striving for.

One thing I have noticed since starting intermittent fasting is my level of alertness. I am more aware and alert.

The video below has the details. It’s relatively short. It’s worth a watch.

What I also like about Huberman’s work is that he uses the body to get to the brain. He believes in intermittent fasting because ketones, a by-product of burning fat, are a better (alternative) source of energy for the brain than glucose. Bonus all around.

So, have I motivated you to try intermittent fasting? Focus on the effort not the end goal and access your sustainable dopamine.

As always, you can reach me at yoga@yoganesadurai.com

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