If losing body fat is your goal, slowing your metabolism is the last thing you want. Yet that very thing tends to happen when we cut calories to lose weight. (We know, sometimes it feels like the human body is quite obnoxious, but this is actually a primal survival response that makes sure we don't conk out in times when food is scarce.) So now you're wondering, does intermittent fasting slow metabolism, too?

When you hear the words dry fasting, what do you think of? Do you wonder if this is a fasting schedule where alcohol is prohibited for 16 hours, and then it's whiskey, gin, and vodka for the next eight? Maybe an image of you on a sandy desert, sweating while you fast under the beating sun pops into your head.

Intermittent fasting is often touted as the magic bullet fix for all sorts of things. Want to lose weight? Try intermittent fasting. Worried about pre-diabetes? Try intermittent fasting.

Going 24–72 hours drinking only water and going completely without food — can that be good for you? This is what's known as water fasting, and while it might sound kind of bonkers, it's a real thing.

Alternate-day fasting works exactly as it sounds. Eat one day. Fast during the next one. Alternate throughout the week. Alternate-day fasting (ADF) is also known as the 4:3 diet because it goes on a 4:3 fast / eat rhythm week by week, like this: Just like other intermittent fasting methods, you can tailor ADF fasting to suit your needs — there's no universal how to do alternate-day fasting playbook.

Eat 500 calories two days; eat normally the rest of the week. You've heard this before. One of your friends tried it once. You saw some fitness influencers talking about it. But you're not entirely sure how it works or if it'd suit you or your goals. No worries. You're in the right place.

If you've considered improving your eating habits, you've likely wondered about intermittent fasting. It's a method that captures our attention because it's so simple: Some of the time, you eat. Some of the time, you fast (i.e., don't consume calorie-containing foods or drinks). There are different ways this can shake out on a day-to-day basis. Today, we'll walk you through intermittent fasting 16:8 — one of the most uncomplicated intermittent fasting methods.