Push The Button
Turbo charging comes in a variety of methods and is a way to boost your SFD into overdrive. For it to work, you have to already be on the fast track and you can only do a turbo charge once in a while; the reason it works is because it is a surprise for your system, so doing it too regularly negates the effects.
A turbo charge is a great way to shake up your routine and give you the extra evidence you need that your hard work is paying off; a quick drop in kilos can be very motivating to keep going!
Why Does It Work?
Your body’s storage unit of carbohydrates (scientifically called glycogen) holds up to about 12-16 hours of ‘carb fuel’. Once you pass that window of time, your glycogen runs out and your body must find its fuel elsewhere. At this point, you enter ketosis; the state in which your body begins burning fat because your carb storage has become depleted. Ketosis is a normal metabolic process for your body (even though it sounds like you’re about to morph into a moth or something!) that will allow you to burn fat at a turbo charged pace.
Teach Me Turbo
There are five different ways to press the turbo button. You can experiment with all of these, but don’t try to double up – these are some powerful methods!
- Back to back: doing two 500-calorie days in a row, instead of breaking them up with non-fast days
- 800 calorie boost: consuming only 800 calories for three days instead of 1,000 for three days
- Water-only day: the 24-hour water-only fast. Swap a 500 calorie day for a day when you only consume water – no food. This can be done once a month, it doesn’t need to be every week, or even every two weeks. Just incorporating one can have a big impact on your results.
- 500 x 3: adding an extra 500-calorie day to a 2 Day regimen.
- 20:4: A 20-hour fast with a four-hour eating window per 24 hours. This allows your body more time in fat-burning mode – anywhere from six to eight hours.
If you decide to turbo charge your fast, it’s essential that you drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration. Clear soups and teas will also give you a little extra energy to make it through. While a turbo charge might seem a bit scary at first, it’s a great way to challenge yourself and realise what you’re capable of. A little extra boost to your motivation will help propel you along and reinforce that you really CAN do anything you put your mind to!