I’ve had a lifetime interest in health, nutrition and tend to be attracted to the shiny objects that come out frequently claiming to be the solution to weight loss, health, etc. so I was looking forward to reading The Intermittent Fasting Cookbook by Nicole Poirier, and when I received a copy from Quarto Publishing/Fair Winds Press and NetGalley in return for an honest review, I jumped right in. 

The publisher’s blurb said, “Research shows that intermittent fasting can be effective not just for weight loss but ameliorating diabetes, high cholesterol, inflammation, and more, all while improving body composition.” Pretty lofty claim, and while I appreciate the information, I’m not planning to dive in anytime soon. As I told my husband, I understand the 16:8 plan (you eat during a 16-hour stretch of time, then fast for 8 hours — easy, right?). I also get the 5:2 plan, which is either eat normally during the week then blaze away on the weekend OR fast for 2 days, eat for 5. But there are lots of different plans. I really don’t think either the eat-only-one-meal-a-day plan or the 20:4 plan (where you fast for 20 hours a day then eat your whole day’s food during a 4-hour window) sound like a good idea for me. I’d likely have one big binge a day…been there, done that, not optimal nutritionally! I also have tried (admittedly somewhat half-heartedly) the alternate day plan where you eat only 500 calories a day (600 for men) on alternate days. Like most “diet” plans, it was not sustainable — for me. 

And that’s the thing. Whatever a person does with their eating, it has to work FOR THEM. Personally, I had a successful 40-lb weight loss and kept the weight off right up until cancer treatment last year (who knew there were some anti-cancer treatment medications that had weight GAIN as a side effect?!) In any case, this book is great for someone interested in the topic of intermittent fasting, and it has some yummy-sounding recipes as well.  It isn’t all that special, and I suspect the info is readily available, I just hadn’t been interested enough to search for it. It’s the type of book I might pick up in a bookstore…oh, wait, we don’t really have the luxury of going to a bookstore these days…three stars.