One of the biggest selling points of intermittent fasting is that it's all about when you eat rather than what you eat. And it's totally flexible and customizable to your body, goals, and preferences. That's right: if you're a cake lover, rejoice.

If you've been thinking about starting a new diet, maybe doing a little research on the best ways to drop a few pounds, chances are you've come across intermittent fasting.

If you're trying out intermittent fasting in the hope that it'll yield a positive result in your body, you may be curious about what's going on under the hood. What happens in your body during the various stages of intermittent fasting?

Intermittent fasting involves a repeated cycle of eating windows (where you consume the calories and nutrients you need for the day) and fasting windows (where you take a break from consuming calories). There are many different ways to fast — from time-restricted approaches like intermittent fasting 16:8 to off / on approaches like the 5:2 diet, alternate day fasting, and eat stop eat — but how does an intermittent fasting timeline actually play out in your body?

Whether you're part of the intermittent fasting for beginners cohort or you've been fasting for years, there's always room to learn more fasting tips and tricks for getting started, maintaining momentum, and steering toward your goals.

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How much weight can you lose with intermittent fasting? Traditional nutrition advice would say — it depends. And it does. But on what? And even with those it depends factors, is it possible to give even a ballpark answer to this question? Why yes, it is! Let's check it out.

Maybe you've found your one true pairing in intermittent fasting 16:8 and are ready to tie the knot. Maybe you're still window-shopping fasting schedules for one that fits your style. Or maybe you overheard someone talking about an eating routine that supposedly can support weight loss, reduce the risk of heart disease, and promote better blood sugar control, and your internet stalking of Does intermittent fasting work? dropped you here.

Whatever your health goal — from losing weight, gaining lean muscle, or improving insulin sensitivity to feeling more energetic, having better mental clarity, or lowering your risk of certain cancers and medical conditions — fat burning is often part of the plan.

You've tried low carb. You've tried intermittent fasting. But what might happen if you tried them … together? Low-carb intermittent fasting. Is it madness? Or is it genius?