11 Ways Intermittent Fasting Made My Life Easier During Menopause

When I first considered trying the 20-hour intermittent fasting habit (IF) to help with my menopause symptoms, I was fearful. Could I really go a full 20 hours without eating? Would I pass out or get the shakes? Would it be painful? Would I be so hungry that I couldn't enjoy life? Would I have to decline special dinners or lunch dates with friends and family? Would I become a complete social outcast? Since I knew very little about IF, I was skeptical that this was a feasible solution. While it was a simple solution, I was unsure of my ability to actually do it. I had to admit that I was terrified of being without food. At the same time, I had been in misery from my menopause symptoms for several years. When I compared these two emotional states– fear of going long periods without food and the mental and physical pain of menopause– my decision became easier. I had nothing to lose by trying IF. If it became too difficult, I could just stop and eat at any time. After all, no matter where we go, there will always be a corner store, buffet, vending machine, etc. nearby. So, I proceeded with IF, thinking of this as “just an experiment”, not a pass/fail exam, and that attitude helped to quell my fear surrounding food (or lack thereof). I still had concerns that this new way of interacting with food would make my life difficult, but after a few days, I found the opposite to be true! My daily life became simpler and easier. Here are 11 ways IF made my life easier during menopause:

No More Rushing Through Breakfast in the Morning

 This time is now spent going through my morning routine and getting ready for work. 

 No More Packing and Transporting Lunch Before Work

I used to get very stressed out about finding items to pack, and then I felt rushed in the morning. I’m a high school teacher whose first class begins at 7:15am. If I am even ONE minute late, the entire department will know about it. The stress of possibly being late for work resulted in headaches and heart palpitations.  

Less Time and Money Spent Shopping for Groceries

 Before trying IF, I was going to the grocery store several times a week. Now I only shop once, and my bill is significantly lower.

Less Meal Planning

This freed up so much time for me. I plan for seven meals and seven snacks per week, instead of three meals with constant snacks daily.

 Less Time Preparing, Eating, and Cleaning Up 

Now I have more time for hobbies, goals, or family fun time! Before IF, the only time I usually ate with my family was dinner, since I worked very early in the morning. IF has given me an extra one to two hours each day that I previously spent preparing and eating breakfast and lunch. No more cleaning the kitchen. Now I use those extra hours to read and finish chores during the day. At night, I can take a walk with my husband or play games with my daughter instead of using this time to do dishes or scrub surfaces.

Save Time and Money when Traveling

One thing I love about visiting new places is trying fabulous local cuisine, but I only do this once I actually arrive at my destination. While I'm in the car or at the airport, I do not stop to buy anything other than mineral water or black coffee. Often, we are snacking and drinking while we travel because we are BORED or dehydrated, not hungry or thirsty. Plus, most of the choices available are fast food, sugary drinks, or unhealthy snacks, and ALL of these items are incredibly overpriced at a gas station or airport. Instead, I bring a book or catch up on work, or (gasp!) talk with my family or traveling companions. I'd rather save the time and money for an upscale dinner or special activities that I can savor and enjoy.

No More Purchasing or Planning Diets 

It seems like almost everyone I know has tried special diets like keto, paleo, carnivore, low carb, sugar free, vegan, etc. IF allows me to enjoy any type of food in my eating window. Before IF, I was hyper aware of the types of food I was eating.While keto and low-carb diets did help me maintain a healthy weight, it often caused me to crave sugar. I found myself reaching for expensive, unhealthy keto and sugar-free processed snacks. I shudder to think of the toxic ingredients contained in these items! To the only precious body and brain I will ever have, I’m very sorry. I’m trying to make it up to you now by eating REAL FOOD.

No More Sitting in the Fast-Food Drive-through Window 

On busy days when I was out running errands, or when I would forget to pack a lunch for work, I would stop to purchase a meal or snack. Almost all of this “food” is full of toxic sludge and seed oils, and all of them are overpriced. There is often zero nutritional value in these. I now save time and money as I drive on down the road… THAT, my friends, is “my pleasure.” 😉

 Improved Health

I now spend much less time being sick or experiencing menopause symptoms. Since IF, I have less overall inflammation and the health problems associated with that. This also means less time and money spent on medical appointments and medications. I recently found out that my daughter does IF at the beginning of her menstrual cycle to manage her PMS symptoms– this isn’t just helping me with menopause, it can help women of all ages. This gives me hope for the future!

Simple Food Finally Tastes Amazing! 

After 20 hours of IF, that first bite of food bursts with flavor. Research indicates that specific neurons in the brain become more sensitive to taste and smells after fasting. The longer the fast, the more sensitive they become. This results in more enjoyment of food when we break the fast. In the past, my steady diet of super salty or sugary snacks and drinks overpowered the subtle flavors of real food, like fruit or eggs. Like most of us who have eaten the SAD diet our entire lives (btw, SAD stands for Standard American Diet, and the irony is not lost on me), I had destroyed my palate. Now, after fasting, even the simplest foods, like blueberries or raw vegetables, taste incredible. 

Improved Cognitive Function

On days I do IF, I feel focused and in control of my moods. No more mood swings or snapping at my husband. I'm able to think better and faster at work with fewer mistakes or memory lapses. While many of my friends and colleagues complain of middle-aged brain fog and memory loss, my cognitive function seems to continually improve. To my dear, sweet, amazing coworker, Kris, I must now apologize for all the times I would forget to do the things that I was assigned to do because of menopause brain fog. I am so sorry. 

Dear Reader, if the time and money you have spent on consuming the SAD diet hasn’t worked for you, I encourage you to think outside the box and take control of your time, money, and health. What’s one thing you can start today? It might be IF. I encourage you to keep reading, researching, asking questions, and trying new things. I can’t wait to hear how your new habits change YOUR life for the better!

With gratitude,

Jennifer Kaye