Doctor explains 36 hour method to shift belly fat 'fast'

A doctor who specialises in nutrition and functional health has shared a method she says can help get rid of stubborn belly fat.

Dr Mindy Pelz discussed what people can do if they struggle with stubborn fat in an episode of the Diary Of A CEO podcast last summer. She told host Steven Bartlett her method is an intense form of dieting.

As previously reported, it involves fasting for 36 hours before eating again for 12 hours.

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Dr Pelz said: "So the fat burner fast is probably my favourite for those people who want to lose weight. At 36 hours what happens is that's enough time where the blood sugars come down.

"And all of a sudden the body goes 'okay, blood sugar isn't coming, we've been in this fasted state, we've trigger autophagy, we've brought inflammation down, we've made you ketones, we're trying to go find you food, but this extra weight is not serving you'.

"So it drops the weight and it's the most beautiful way to get a person to unstick any kind of weight loss resistance."

She added: "I should probably should have called it the 'belly fat burning'... That's what [the research] showed, that actually a 36 hour fast started to unstick weight loss and it started with weight around the belly."

Going into more detail about the study behind the method in a separate video on her own YouTube channel, the health expert explained that what researchers found at the end - after participants fasted for 36 hours followed by 12 hours of eating on and off for a 30 day period - was that the prime location people lost weight from was the belly.

Dr Pelz also said she's seen people do it once a month and once a year, adding that it's up to you how aggressive with it you want to be. She added that people should "always be safe."

As well as "unsticking weight loss resistance", the expert claims the method may offer other benefits, including:

• enhanced longevity

• better heart health

• more mindfulness

However the nutrition guru says if you fit into any of the following groups, you’re best to opt for something less aggressive:

• people who have very active jobs

• people who are underweight or thin

• people with pre-existing thyroid disorders

• people who have (or have had) eating disorders

• women who are pregnant, nursing, or hoping to become pregnant soon

During a fasting period, people can drink water, as well as coffee and tea (without milk or sugar). You should seek the guidance of your doctor before beginning a fast, or any other diet programme.

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