As a veteran of IF and many other diet experiments, I think the primary value of IF is mental training to tolerate hunger. Secondarily, it’s a structured way to

As a veteran of IF and many other diet experiments, I think the primary value of IF is mental training to tolerate hunger. Secondarily, it’s a structured way to make drastic calorie cuts more mentally tolerable. Thirdly, it opens up a lot of time and attention for other things. I built an elite fitness level on IF, but I was getting very light-headed in training, so I stopped and then I could never train because I was always full or hungry. The best solution seemed to be what so many elites settle on, which is taking nutrition only during training sessions, and then one big meal before bed. It was hard to focus on work though, and I had to admit to myself that they don’t have that problem, but I do. So, in conclusion: yes, do it. Use the ‘one meal a day’ version. Exercise at the end of the fast, which is going to suck at first, but tell yourself that it is mental training, and admit to yourself that this is what you actually need more than the physical diet right now.