I tried it so you don't have to: Does intermittent fasting work?

Fads and diets are everywhere and easy to come by. In a new occasional series, I'll be finding and trying some of the popular lifestyle trends everyone is talking about and letting you know which ones are worth your time.

First up, intermittent fasting, or IF.

According to healthline.com, intermittent fasting is when you cycle between periods of eating and fasting. IF is supposed to be a key component in the support of weight loss and the prevention of certain types of cancers, Type 2 diabetes, and Alzheimer's disease. IF is also said to be good for your brain and aids in lengthening your lifespan. (Click here for more information)

I wanted to give IF a solid shot for at least a month to see if it was even worth the fuss. I tried intermittent fasting so you don't really have to. (You're welcome!)

I do lead a fairly active and healthy lifestyle, so I was prepared for the “results” to not be mind-blowing. That being said, I decided to give the 16/8 method of IF a shot – which is where you fast (not eat) for 16 hours and eat only 8 hours of the day.

I quickly learned that with IF, timing was everything.

I was used to late night snacking which meant that I couldn't break my fast until later in the day – which was extremely hard for me. Learning to break the habit of not eating past a certain time at night is key when wanting to be successful in IF. I made a rule to not eat past 7 p.m., which meant I could break my fast at 11 a.m. the following day.

As the weeks went on, I got used to the change. I found that coffee in the morning was a lifesaver since it curbed my appetite. (Yes - you can have coffee, tea, water, or any other non-caloric beverage during your fasting period. A diet that includes no coffee in the morning is a diet that I want no part of.)

An advantage to intermittent fasting is the convenience factor - not having to worry about rushing to make a balanced breakfast to start off your day is great. It's also cheaper! Think about it, that's one less meal you not only have to make but also pay for.

After a month of IF, I gained a healthier relationship with food and eating in general.

In my first couple of weeks of trying to get into the swing of things I would try to consume the calories that I had “missed out on” from the morning. After a while, I recognized that that wasn't necessary and just eating a regular-sized meal was sufficient.

I recommend eating your meal then after a while checking in with yourself to see if you are still indeed hungry or just trying to make up for calories missed. Your body grows accustomed to the change and with a little bit of time, the process gets easier day by day.

IF is something that I would recommend you try. The hardest parts were retraining my mind and social events. I knew that if I went out for a late dinner with friends then I would have to plan on not eating breakfast with loved ones in the morning. Having someone on your team that understands and supports you through this process helps.

Again, I would consider myself a fairly healthy and mindful eater, so my diet didn't really change, just the time when I ate. Even still, I lost 2.5 pounds in four weeks! I'd like to continue on with IF to further see how my body changes, but I'd like to start with a nice body cleanse first. Whole 30 here I come! (Stay tuned for that review).

If you have any questions or comments about IF leave them for me in the comments!