Intermittent Fasting: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Does it really work? My personal story — and a deep dive into the science.

Thanks to eight weeks of intermittent fasting, hubby and I are fitting easily into the grubby clothes we donned two decades ago when we fell in love in grad school. Here is our firsthand look at the good, bad, and ugly aspects of this hot dietary trend.

For us, it all started with Jimmy Kimmel, a devotee of 5:2 intermittent fasting. When I told my hubby about Kimmel’s weight loss journey, he was immediately drawn to the simplicity and elegance of the 5:2 fasting plan. All you do is dramatically reduce your food intake two days a week. On the other five days, you eat as you please, known as “ad libitum” eating. When hubby announced the next morning that he was jumping in with both feet, and I quickly followed suit. I figured I had nothing to lose, besides a little cushioning. If it worked, I’d fit my vintage jeans. If it failed, I’d have a good story.

Neither of us science geeks normally turns to celebrities for nutritional advice, but Kimmel’s diet offers more than just stardust. It’s backed not only by successful human trials, but also by a solid mechanism — calorie deficit. Even if you (somewhat) loosen your belt on the five ad libitum days, you won’t completely erase the large…