#like sure there's plenty of logical reasons but also bad vibes is so much easier to explain

[volixia669]

(shakes far too many people)

I DON'T KNOW HOW TO EXPLAIN TO YOU THAT FOR MANY PEOPLE, SPACES INCLUDING DEAD BODIES SHOULD BE TREATED WITH CARE AND RESPECT. EVEN IF YOU THINK THE HUMAN BODY IS A SHELL AND NOTHING HAPPENS WHEN WE DIE MAYBE UNDERSTAND THAT'S NOT THE CASE FOR A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE.

[all-of-the-imagines-for-eve]

Not Sorry ~ Embry Call (part 2)

A/n: Here we are, a finish as promised. Enjoy!

Word Count: 5500+

MASTERLIST

I was genuinely stunned. "Um... excuse me, what?"

He winced. "That was weird. I just- I promise I'm usually better than this, I'm so sorry. Please, if you'd just give me a chance I swear-"

Before I could even begin to hide the smile that was rising on my face or make sense of the nagging part of my brain that wanted me to say yes, Jake was intervening. He was eyeing Embry up and down, making him uncomfortable and setting me on edge. I couldn't exactly explain why Jacob making Embry nervous irritated me so much, but I knew that there was something I was missing and I didn't like any of it. "Did you imprint on her?" My ex demanded.

Embry shrugged awkwardly. "Imprint?" I asked. Both both looked at me, Jake's expression a little startled as if he'd forgotten I was there... and then as if realizing that he'd forgotten my presence was even more stunned. "What's that?"

"I think you're cute," Embry cut in. He was suddenly so casual, but it was natural and believable. Was he really just that good of a liar or was it the charm and charisma that made it so easy to believe him? "Sorry to cut in, I know you two have history and if I'm cutting in-"

Jake went to say something but I cut him off. "Jacob and I dated over a year and a half ago," I dismissed with ease. Jake's mouth snapped shut abruptly, his eyes a little hurt. I focused on Embry. "He made it pretty clear it was plenty over, and it's been plenty over for quite some time, as I said before. To call it interrupting would be ridiculous. Jacob and I aren't even friends anymore." I looked at Jake finally. "Right, Black?"

Jacob looked angry. Movement caught my eye and I saw his hands shaking at my side. Noticing my head drop, Embry followed my gaze to take the same notice I had. Immediately he shot into action like a bomb was going to go off, choosing to move me back rather than touch Jake and move him. At first I was startled, but he was even more natural and careful about that, slipping his arms around my shoulder and pulling me away from Jacob, walking away and turning my back to the other boy instead of actually grabbing me and moving me. I wondered briefly if Jake had adopted anger issues in the last year and a half. Maybe he was a little too physical nowadays... Whatever it was, Embry's reaction was instinctual and immediate. It wasn't planned or badly meant. I didn't hesitate to follow his lead, closing my door before falling into step next to him. That seemed to ease him, and he got even more relaxed the further we got from Jake. "So now that that's sorted, I think I was pretty forward with my feelings. How about you? Maybe I could take you to dinner? Or lunch? At least get your number?" He wiggled his eyebrows and despite myself, I laughed.

"Maybe you could," I mused, touching my chin as if I was actually thinking about it. His smile let me know he wasn't at all fooled. "It really depends... what are you doing right now?"

He looked back to some other boys, further down the beach in the direction he had come from. I assumed they were his other friends. They were all tall and muscular, but when Embry raised a thumb in the air, the one who stood in the middle of the mass of boys - the biggest and tallest - nodded at him, smiling. It was the boy I thought was Sam. By the way he nodded at Embry, he seemed to be in charge, so that theory tracked.

When he turned back to me, my gaze subconsciously drew to him as well, our eyes meeting and my stomach filling with warmth that slowly spread into the rest of my body, banishing the lack of total warmth in the air today. "I'm free."

Emotions zipped through me, all opposing each other and each pulling me in a different direction. It was overwhelming, shutting down logic and slowing my ability to make sense of anything. So, instead, I simply let my mouth move and what cane out was, "Know any fun things to do around here?"

-

The very first thing I did was drag Quil along. The idea of being alone with Embry made me nervous and uncomfortable. He was tall and strong- much bigger than me - and I didn't know him. Everything I did know about him screamed at me to hightail it. But, I wasn't doing that, so I took other precautions. Plus, any reason to hang out with Quil was a good reason.

We ended up at Quil's, with me on his back as Embry asked me question after question, getting to know me and letting me go off about things I cared about. How annoying the Cullens and Bella were. How boring and stupid school is. How fun fixing things up was...

"You have quite the little business going." He said it with a smile, his eyebrow quirked. His tone was almost a joking one except that his eyes were so light up with admiration that I knew he wasn't mocking as much as he was in awe.

I shrugged, playing it cool. Quil chuckled underneath me- we had fallen back in step without even a falter, as if no time had passed at all. There had never been bad blood between us. I hadn't even been mad about him leaving- we had talked about him wanting to join Sam's gang only because it would mean being back with Embry. They'd never officially gotten together but he did miss his friendship with the other boy, if nothing else. Embry had meant a lot more to Quil than I did. Why would he turn down the chance to be with him again? So now, it was fine and easy and fun and light, just like it used to be.

The easy going vibe between me and Quil carried to Embry, who's eyes never left me.

It was strange. Every time Embry had come to mind before this, a part of me hated him. Hated how he had hurt Quil. And another, bigger part of me thought that if it was possible, I'd want them to get together. I'd want them to be happy and end differently than Jacob and I did. Prove that there were happy endings.

Yet here they were now. The way Embry looked at me was not lowkey, and it was even more obvious that Quil picked up the odd chemistry between us, because he kept smirking and chuckling and shaking his head and giving Embry and I pointed looks- teasing silently, but teasing nonetheless. They had been reunited, back in each other's lives, and they hadn't gotten together? Had I somehow misconstrued the relationship between them? I mean Quil never SAID there was... anything romantic. But I had assumed. I mean Quil had insinuated...

It was even stranger that I was relieved, if I was being honest. The same magnetism that seemed to keep Embry's eyes on me also seemed to pull me closer to him. Made my hands itch to touch him. Made it easier to smile and forget the rest of the world as I lost myself in the sound of his laughter and breathing and how his words formed, his lips moving in a way that was almost mesmerizing. I wanted to know everything about him and I wanted to know it now.

Quil's mom was very happy to see me. Our greeting and reunion cut into the spell that seemed to be on me. "Oh I'm so glad you're back!" she gushed, grinning. As always her energy and warmth were contagious and I felt at ease and happy. When Quil and I hung out before, she had begun to accommodate for having me around all the time. We had sleepovers whenever we could. When she found out what my home life was like, she was only too eager to make this place mine as well. Making home a place I could go to again. "Our table has been empty without you."

I sheepishly rubbed the back of my neck. Quil's house was so different from Bella's- even though it was also quite similar too. It was just Quil and his mom, the same way it was just Charlie and Bella. However, Mrs. Ateara was a lot more homey and motherly and warm than Charlie was. She was compassionate and picked up on everything, asserting herself and fixing problems in a way that awkward, unsure Charlie just wouldn't. It didn't make me miss him any less, though.

"You'll have to come over for dinner more often then," Quil piped up.

My smile fell. I was struggling again. I missed Quil so much. But we weren't friends anymore. This wasn't my home anymore. It hadn't been for a long time. This wasn't my life anymore.

Looking at Embry, I suddenly felt sick to my stomach. What was I doing?!

"Quil can I talk to you? Privately?" The words tumbled out of my mouth a little too fast, making Embry frown and Quil shuffle awkwardly.

"Yeah sure." We moved outside, where they shouldn't have been able to hear us. "What's up?"

"Whats up?" I asked, a little irritated. He shrugged. "What's going on, Quil? Why are we pretending like nothing happened? Why are you pretending like I'm going to be coming over every Friday night like I used to? Why do you guys seem so... tired and worn down?" It was so hard. There was a part of me that was fighting to just go back to the way everything was. That part of me had taken control on the way over here. That part of me had fallen back with Quil far too easily. That part of me yearned for a boy that shouldn't have been on my mind. "What happened between you and Embry?"

Quil sighed. "I know it's really confusing... Let's just take it slow, okay? All you need to know for now is that I'm glad we're hanging out again, if you want to do that. And Embry has taken a liking to you."

"And you and Embry?" I pushed.

He paused, seeming to be struggling to find the words to explain to me. "Embry and I are just friends, and we're both happy with it being that way."

I stared at him for a long time. "Okay," I said slowly. "Okay," I repeated. I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding.

"Wanna go back inside now?" After a second I nodded and he reopened the door, both of us going back inside.

Embry grinned upon seeing me. "We were thinking about playing a game. Monopoly or Uno?"

"Uno," Quil and I said at the same time." We looked at each other and despite myself, I laughed.

This was weird... but not bad. Maybe weird could be okay for a while.

-

It was odd enough, being thrown head first back into a life that had been abruptly taken from you without a single warning. A life you had just barely come to terms with never having again. A life you desperately missed. Fridays were spent at Quil's again. Tuesdays were at the Swan's. Yeah. As Quil, Embry and I hung out more, I eventually ran into Bella again. She was stoked to see me and had that same habit the others did of pretending nothing had changed. I was too relieved to be hanging out with Charlie to care. Between my own happiness and Charlie's obvious enthusiasm to having me return, that was a button I didn't push.

It was odd enough.

They just HAD to make it worse, didn't they?

First of all, Jake was being super emo and possessive of me which made not a lick of sense. He had broken up with me. He had burnt that bridge. And a while ago too! Why was he getting upset over the way Embry was flirting with me? Also: Why was Embry flirting with me? I'd finally come to terms that in my absence, things with Quil and Embry had kind of fallen apart on the romantic side. It made sense to me- things were the same with me and Jake. Except, how were they both so completely okay with it? Why were things so hard for me and Jake? Why was it so complicated and confusing? What was with the was Sam lead the group of boys like he had some kind of blackmail on them, in the way they couldn't say no? Why did they cut their hair and what was with that tattoo? Why did I see them so often with their shirts off or pieces of clothing tied around their ankles? Were they afraid their pants would blow off in the wind?

Okay so a lot of questions, obviously. Every time I brought it up though, everyone absolutely refused to give me any real answers. They were either really vague or snapped at me, or they were vague until I pushed too far and then they snapped at me. I was getting nowhere. It was like they just wanted me to hang out with Embry and fall in love with him or some shit without being clued in on any level to the shit happening behind the scenes. Shit that, apparently, even Bella was full aware of.

Which made no sense, since it seemed the Cullens and Sam's boys had a weird rivalry, even though as far as I knew they'd never met long enough in person or in any other way to have started beef with each other. With Bella dating Edward, it made no sense for her to be here all the time- even if she was best friends with Jacob.

It seemed the only sane person in this whole group was Leah.

She was broody and sarcastic and sassy and bitter and I absolutely loved her. She wasn't as quick to obey Sam as the other guys, and seem unwanted in the group. There was something awkward about her, Sam, and Sam's girlfriend, Emily. Who apparently was Leah's cousin. There was an even weirder vibe about how the other boys handled it- especially Sam. The worst part everyone kind of rolled their eyes at her and pushed her away, so naturally, I made friends with her as soon as she'd let me.

Let me tell you: she was really stuck on not letting me.

She warmed up to me when I started bitching about howe absolutely idiotic men were.

After that, my Thursdays were spent at the Clearwater's, goofing around with Seth and rolling my eyes with Leah. Seth and I had even gotten a smile out of her a few times. It was exciting. She had a beautiful smile. I wished she could be happy enough to smile all the time.

I found myself slowly but surely getting more and more involved with the boys and all their friends. 

Paul and I developed more of a physical, passive relationship. Most often, we tended to be simply friends of friends, unless one of us was bored. Then there was wrestling and shoving and ruffling of hair and all kinds of stuff. He often won, but by the way Embry hovered and Sam kept him back, easing him actively every second of my interactions with Paul, there seemed to be something dangerous about it. Even when I won, it didn't seem to be a real victory. It made me wonder if Paul was holding back. What was he really capable of?

Jared and I were pretty similar, instead taking a more humorous approach to the brief and far in between interactions. We usually cracked jokes, light heartedly teasing the others and each other. It was usually when everyone else was busy or someone was being coupley and Jared and I happened to do the whole loud, annoying 'awwwwww' thing like we were ten years old. He was fun and I rather enjoyed it, but when he would wink at me, insinuating a dirty joke of some sort, Embry would tense and get all jealous and Jared would look away and the whole mood would be ruined.

Even my hang outs with Quil started to be invaded by Embry whenever he got the chance to. My rant sessions with Leah started to be all about him and how much he was irritating me, and that seemed to amuse Leah while also disappointing her. I wondered a few times if she was telling him what I was saying. Why else did she get that sad look in her eye when I told her I was relieved I had her to talk to- someone I could trust. Someone who wouldn't let it slip to Embry until I was ready to share. When I'd start to push it, she'd bring up Sam and we'd be off ranting again, switching off to give her time to let some things off of her chest. Seth had even started to lay off. Our relationship was quite similar to mine and Paul's except lighter and with far other kinds of interactions. We could goof and joke and often made people laugh. It was innocent and light and fun. Every time Seth got too physical with me though, Embry was immediately next to us, separating us for some reason or another.

Yeah I was getting real close to the boys.

And even closer to decking Embry right in his stupid pretty face.

For a guy who was trying to woe me, he was succeeding only in confusing and irritating me. He set off all my red flags. He kept secrets and was possessive and over protective. He flirted with me and asked me out on dates, but then sometimes flaked because "Sam needs me" but wouldn't go into further detail.

I'd had enough. Despite common sense, I actually did have a small crush on him. By ourselves he was funny and sweet and considerate. His actions above all else made me feel like he was two people in one body. Or that there was something huge going on that they weren't cluing me into.

Which of course meant I had to immediately do some digging.

Since I was getting nothing from my friends, I decided to head straight for the Cullens. One night I knew they would be Bella-free, I made cookies and drove over to deliver them. It was secluded and mostly glass. It made me self conscious. How did they change in those rooms? They must have done a lot of fighting for the bathroom. Or maybe it was just like a "there's no one around". Or they had nothing to be ashamed of. They didn't have to hide their bodies from possibly prying eyes. That wouldn't surprise me. They were the most perfect human beings I'd ever seen in my life, if a little cold and distant from everyone else.

Emmet answered the door. He smiled. "Hey."

"Hi," I greeted brightly. I hoped that they'd be more inclined to let me in and hear me out and give me some answers if I was friendly. If I had a peace offering, even. I held out the cookies. "I just thought I'd drop by. Uh, we live weirdly close to each other for people who have never interacted and I was wondering..." I put on my best faux innocent smile. "If someone here was good at chemistry? I'm struggling."

Emmet actually smiled, seeming amused by my words. I hoped he was buying the act. I'd practiced for so long. "All of us are pretty good at school actually." Of course they were. "Why didn't you ask Bella though? Isn't she also good at chemistry?"

"She's good at biology," I corrected softly, trying to stay on his good side. "They're a little different but just enough. Plus, she's got her own work load and I bug her for help and am over there so often... plus, it might be nice to have some more acquaintances at school, if you guys absolutely refuse to be friends." I rose an eyebrow and Emmett laughed.

He sobered up a little, seeming about ready to tell me no. I sagged. The door opened wider and a small girl slithered around him and in front of him, beaming at me. "Oh my gosh, Y/n!" It was Alice and I had absolutely no idea why she was so excited to see me but like okay I guess. She took the cookies from me, backing up. Emmet moved out of her way, as confused as I was. "Come inside, I have so much to tell you. About everything." 

My eyes widened. Could she... know? That was impossible.

She guided me inside, passed Edward who was sitting at the table with a book he was currently ignoring to confusedly stare between me and Alice, and Dr. Carlisle, who was leaning against the kitchen island as if waiting for me. "Welcome to our home, Y/n. What can we do for you today?" I got the weird feeling that I was at a doctor's office. Or maybe a mental hospital. His smile was so kind it seemed weird. No one had ever smiled at me with such warm softness before. Was that even humanly possible?

Edward shifted positions from the corner of my eyes. A second after, so did Carlisle. Alice switched the hand that was on her hip and Emmet shuffled before shrugging and then going upstairs. Was it just me or did those movements seem super planned? They happened as if timed, each person triggering the other person to fidget. It was odd.

"I'm gonna talk to her for a bit. Catch up. The such. Is that okay?" Her eyes bore into his and I got the sense that she was asking a different question than the one she'd specifically proposed. Is that okay?

Edward sighed and Carlisle paused before finally nodding hesitantly. "If you girls need anything, let me know." Then he very casually walked upstairs. Is that where everyone went when they exited the room? Weren't there other places to go aside from up or out?

Standing, Edward walked over to us, closing his book. His smile was pleasant. "Mind if I join?" Alice looked at me and I shrugged. This was their house, and I might actually be getting answers. If not then having someone else t bounce off of to keep the conversation going for whatever Alice wanted to talk about might be helpful.

"So what did you want to tell me?" I asked Alice.

She smiled. "What do you want to know?" I thought a second before she placed her hand on top of my arm. I gasped softly, tensing slightly. It was ice cold. "Just be blunt. No reason to overthink."

Honestly she was a god send. "What's up with you and Sam's gang?" I hated calling it that but it was better than Sam's Cult, of which most of my friends were apart of. Edward smiled like something amusing had been said. 

Alice tilted her head, thinking. "They're self determined duty is to keep those like us in check. Behaving. We made a promise we would so we're kind of in this truce, but they still don't trust us. It's... tense."

"People like you?" I pressed, eager to soak up every bit of knowledge she'd give me.

Edward's jaw worked. "Normally we wouldn't tell you this. It's sort of illegal." He gave Alice a side eye, giving me the vibe that whatever he was about to say was actually super illegal. What law would prevent him from simply telling me something? Was he about to confess to some crime? He spoke, cutting my thoughts off. "But they're involving you in their lives without telling you the consequences. I played that game with Bella, and Jake tried to as well. It's not fair. You deserve to know."

I rose an eyebrow, leaning away nervously. "Know...?" I prompted.

Alice jumped up. "Come on, I'll show you something." She took me upstairs, to Edward's bedroom. There was a door that opened up into nothing, and it made absolutely no sense to me... until she simply stepped off, plummeting two stories or so.

"ALICE!" I ran to the edge, only to look down to my utter shock and see her on the ground, completely unharmed and even unfazed, smiling up at me. If that made my head spin, next she crouched down, her eyes leveling to the empty spot next to me. I tripped over myself to get backwards, but not before I saw her very clearly jump up to the second story of the house like she was hopping up on a curb, landing lightly and without problem.

"What the... hell?" I whispered, drawing each other out in confusion. I looked at Edward, demanding answer.

He shook his head. "Excuse me." Then  he moved to that same door, crouching like Alice had before launching himself a ridiculous height and difference, before he landed on a tree. Very far up a tree. And then stuck to the bark like some kind of tree frog. As I thought the comparison, I heard him laugh. I was distracted by a hand pressing to my shoulder. It was Alice. She smiled reassuringly. Edward was suddenly next to me again, making me jump as he spoke. "Any questions?"

There wasn't a bed to sit on, as I just noticed, so I put my hands on my hips and just thought.

I'd heard the legends of the Cold Ones of course. I'd heard them all my childhood and even recently from Billy at a few campfires. The ones who never aged. Who's skin was as cold as ice. Like Alice's. Who's strength and speed was inhuman. I looked at Edward but before I could even ask, he pointed. As I looked to see what he had pointed at, there was a slight push of wind against my shoulder and a blur in my peripheral and suddenly my eyes landed on Edward, in the tree again and much further than last time. This time he went a little slower - even though "slow" still wasn't the word for it - coming back, so I could see him a little better as he did so. It was insane.

Alice and Edward were soon joined by the other Cullens and I stepped back, swallowing hard. "So like are you guys going to eat me now?" I tried not to joke but my brain really wasn't processing this on any level so I coped by cracking one anyway.

Esme actually coughed, trying to cover up a laugh. Her smile was that same soft warm, welcoming grin that Carlisle had been wearing before. They seemed so kind and loving it was impossible to ever imagine them sinking far too sharp teeth into the neck of some poor human being. Covered in blood and everything. My eyes landed on Edward, seeing him wearing a knowing smile.

"We... eat animals," Edward told me slowly.

My eyes widened. "Oh." Forget a bed or chair. I sat down right there, on the floor.

"Let's give the human a little room," Rosalie said lazily. I let out a strong breath that made her smile. Everyone shot her a look but I smiled in return, genuinely appreciating that she understood somehow why I had made a joke before. I appreciated her humor. Despite their distaste in her approach, the Cullens did give me a wide birth, though none of them left. That reassured part of me... and in a way made me even more anxious.

I felt odd. Like my mind was suddenly not apart of me anymore. I felt like I had been shoved in a movie or a book. Or that this was a dream. Vampires were REAL? What YA novel was I apart of?

While my body floated in this sort of fantasy world, my brain refused to acknowledge it as MY world. Like I was a character in a tv show, but I knew that I was a character and that this was a tv show. It felt unsettling. Like the world around me wasn't real. Is this how Deadpool lived his life? How did one manage that? How could anyone tolerate this feeling? How could you stay sane in a world you knew was just the scrambling creation of some author who was creating a world and characters to satiate what they found unsatisfying about their own world and themself?

"Y/n." A hand on my shoulder. I looked up and met the almost yellow eyes of Edward Cullen. His lips were pursed. "I'm sorry if this is a little startling." He seemed to struggle for words. "It was a bit much for us too, when we first found out." His lips twitched, almost into a smile. "We had a few centuries to figure it out."

I broke into hysterical laughter. I felt a little insane, my body shaking just slightly. The others were quiet as I calmed from Edward's joke that wasn't that funny. "I'm sorry," I gasped, hiccuping. "I feel a little..."

"I understand," Edward offered when I couldn't explain what I was feeling. "You're disassociating. It's okay, it happens." His smile rose a little more to the surface. "I think I've gotten too used to Bella sort of just... handling these things. It's been a long time since I've had to help someone come to terms with this whole thing like a normal person."

After a second, I took a deep breath and shook my head to clear it. Real. This was real. I was real. "You eat animals?" My brain filled with the books I'd read as a kid, and movies I'd seen much more recently. An image with Edward, teeth sharp and mouth covered in blood. I opened my eyes. Edward wasn't smiling anymore. "I'm sorry," I whispered.

He shook his head, silently forgiving me. "This is honestly reassuring. At least some humans are still sane." He paused. "We call ourselves vegetarians. It's not as filling, but it allows us to not eat, uh, people, so I guess-" He shrugged, flinching at his words.

Chuckling again, shaking my head in wonder, I took yet another breath in. My chest felt tight. It was like I had to remind myself to circulate air through my system. My brain was short circuiting. "Okay," I said finally. "Why- why did you tell me this? You said it was illegal."

Carlisle kneeled in front of me. Edward was looking at him before he even moved. I was just grateful that he didn't super speed it. I might have passed out. "Just like you, we have a sort of government. They have rules, just as you have laws. The consequence for breaking those laws is death."

I was pretty sure I paled. "Why would you risk yourselves like that?" As much as I wasn't familiar with these people, I had gone to school with them for four years. I saw them talk and love and learn. I'd had lunches and classes with them. Emmet had been my partner for geometry and we'd spent the whole class losing our minds laughing. Alice had asked me for directions on her first day here. Even Rosalie had stood up for me once, when a guy had been a little too pushy about taking me to a dance after I'd been the only one left without a date and his date had dipped and he didn't want to seem lame by showing up alone. The thought of them dying to tell me something I didn't need to know... it made me sick.

Edward's expression was soft, and I realized that he could read my mind. I didn't know how I knew, but with all the weird reactions only he seemed to have, as if in response to what I was thinking rather than what I was saying or doing, it was just plainly obvious. I rose an eyebrow and a new expression crossed his face. Perhaps if he was human he would have blushed. As if to change the subject, he met my eye. "Y/n, there's more you need to know. Think you've got room for another information dump?"

I swallowed. The expressions of the Cullens was grim. Regretful. They wouldn't have dragged me into this hell scape if they didn't have to. I appreciated Edward's sentiment, but I was much too used to not having a choice to let it fool me. "Lay it on me."

I would never regret four strung together words more in my life.

"It's about Sam's gang," Alice said gently. My face went slack.

As if to confirm my fears, Edward added, "More specifically, it's about Embry."

....Fuck.

-

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[24hourchampagnediet-blog1]

Is Intermittent Fasting Bad For You? Pros And Cons To Consider

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Is Intermittent Fasting Bad For You? Pros And Cons To Consider

Let’s be honest: The word “fasting” doesn’t exactly bring up delicious thoughts and positive vibes. For plenty of people, it probably conjures up images of starvation and deprivation and makes their stomach start growling.

Yet, intermittent fasting has so many folks going wild right now, raving about how the strict-and-scheduled eating plans helped them lose weight and improve their health. So there must be *some* good in the health and weight-loss fad, right?

Charlie Seltzer, MD, weight-loss physician and certified personal trainer, points out that what most people are doing nowadays isn’t “true” fasting (in other words, eating only one meal per day or nothing at all in a day’s period). Instead, they’re intermittent fasting (duh), meaning they’re taking an approach to eating that involves restricting calorie consumption to a certain window of time each day, like only from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. (so you fast for 16 hours, a.k.a. a 16:8 diet).

The logic behind periodic fasting as a weight-loss approach: “Since you need to have a calorie deficit to lose weight, eating within a window makes it easier to eat less and hit your designated calories,” Dr. Seltzer explains.

Intermittent fasting has some pros beyond weight loss, too, says Dr. Seltzer. It works with a lot of people’s lifestyles, allowing them to skip meals during the day when they’re busy or not super hungry and might otherwise just eat out of obligation. What’s more, following a 5:2 fasting schedule may even improve your heart health; fasting can lower blood pressure and bad cholesterol, according to Cleveland HeartLab.

“True fasting has a large variety of health benefits beyond those that occur with calorie restriction,” Dr. Seltzer adds. “It can cause something called cellular autophagy, where our cells eat themselves [to destroy damaged cells and make way for new, healthy ones].”

That said, intermittent fasting shouldn’t be attempted without some thought as to whether it’s really a good idea for your personality and lifestyle—and not just because it could be challenging to stick to, but because it could be downright bad for some groups of people.

Registered dietitian Barbie Boules of Barbie Boules Longevity Nutrition says the people who should not consider intermittent fasting are:

Folks with diabetes or other metabolic disorders

People taking medications that require food

Anyone with a history of disordered eating

Women who are pregnant or trying to conceive

Children and teenagers

But honestly, anyone who requires a consistent, healthy input of calories throughout the day to be healthy (physically *and* emotionally!) isn’t the ideal candidate to try intermittent fasting. If you’re unsure where you stand, it’s always wise to speak with a medical professional first.

Here are eight potential disadvantages, side effects, and straight-up warnings about intermittent fasting to keep in mind if you’re a healthy adult and thinking about trying it yourself.

1. You might feel way hungrier.

Surprise, surprise: Not eating for 16 hours a day could make you ravenously hungry, at least while you’re in an adjustment period.

In theory, says Dr. Seltzer, intense hunger shouldn’t happen while intermittent fasting using a plan such as the 16:8 method; if you’re fasting correctly by filling up on protein at the end of the day, you shouldn’t be hungry first thing in the morning. (Your appetite wouldn’t kick in until later on the following day.)

In reality, though, this might take some getting used to. “The main worry is setting off binge-eating behavior, because you are so hungry you’re eating 5,000 calories [and going way over your daily amount],” Dr. Seltzer explains.

In other words, only eating within a short window is not a free pass to set up camp at the all-you-can-eat buffet for eight hours, which would defeat the purpose of fasting. And this can be a huge challenge for many people who are used to eating much more regularly and who may not be totally in tune with their body’s hunger cues.

2. It might make you feel sick or fatigued in the morning, especially if you work out first thing.

Committed to your 6 a.m. workout? Intermittent fasting might not be a great choice. “I think it’s a terrible idea to exercise on an empty stomach,” says Boules. “We benefit from a little glucose before and some protein after.”

If you’re interested in experimenting with fasting periods and workout a ton, consider talking to a sports nutritionist or MD to assess your workout schedule and level of rigor. You might be okay fasting for a specific amount of time on days you don’t exercise, for instance. But if you’re, say, training for an endurance event, fueling your body around the clock and getting substantial calories is going to be much more important than trying to force fasting into your routine when your body is already being taxed by your training.

And even if you’re not a morning exerciser, not eating until, say, noon when you’re used to waking up and having breakfast at 8 a.m. may leave your stomach churning. In turn, you may feel off, a little lightheaded, or nauseous as you get used to the new schedule.

3. Fasting diets are rigid and rule-based.

Both Dr. Seltzer and Boules describe intermittent fasting as very individualized, meaning it could work well for some people and turn into a total disaster for others depending on a number of lifestyle factors.

Boules says that people who “like rules” might respond to the diet’s restrictive calorie window. But for others—like people who travel five days a week, changing time zones or schedules frequently—the diet will bring more stress than weight loss or other potential health perks. If the idea of watching the clock for permission to eat sounds unappealing to you, sit this one out.

4. It doesn’t always play nice with other diets.

Boules says intermittent fasting is often combined with other restrictive diets, like keto, which can cause double-trouble if either of those approaches—or heaven forbid both—aren’t right for you.

Adopting a diet plan that means you can only eat lean protein and vegetables between the hours of 1 and 9 p.m. every day doesn’t exactly set you up for winning any popularity contests with your friends and family (not to mention the mental fatigue that comes with jumping through meal-planning hoops on the regular), Boules points out.

But hey, your diet choices are your own, and if you are up for the challenge of navigating an intense and strict food routine and your personal life, that’s entirely your decision.

5. You may deal with low blood sugar.

This is why people with diabetes should steer clear of fasting. Low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia is a side effect of diabetes and insulin medication, but it can happen to non-diabetics, too (if you have thyroid disease, for example).

Not eating enough and skipping meals are common triggers for hypoglycemia. So, “people prone to hypoglycemia might feel dizzy or have nausea or shaking,” warns Dr. Seltzer.

Other symptoms of mild to moderate hypoglycemia include headache, blurred vision, sweating, fatigue, and paleness, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.

6. The research is minimal.

Look, we all know the internet is full of so-called health claims made by “experts” about the best diets. And while the field of research on intermittent fasting isn’t empty, Boules is hesitant to jump on the bandwagon based on what she’s seen so far.

“Despite a deluge of articles citing studies, solid evidence in support of intermittent fasting as a superior approach to eating just isn’t there yet,” she says.

What studies is Boules referring to? Well, most of the more compelling ones were actually performed on rodents. Human studies have not shown the same scope of evidence.

A few examples: A 2018 study published in Nutrition and Healthy Aging showed weight-loss results after 12 weeks of 16:8 intermittent fasting—but the sample size was only 23 people. A 2017 study in JAMA Internal Medicine showed that a fasting group of 100 participants lost more weight over a 12-month period than a non-dieting group, but not more than a group that cut calories overall.

There also remains debate about whether the actual fasting is responsible for the health benefits, or if it’s simply the reduction in calories.

This isn’t to say that better, more conclusive research won’t ever become available, but as Boules said, we’ve got a ways to go before we understand everything about intermittent fasting.

7. It doesn’t help you create mindful eating habits.

While Boules admits that intermittent fasting can be a great strategy for curbing mindless late-night snacking, it can totally work against mindful eating, too. Rather than thinking about whether or not you’re truly hungry, you’re simply eating by the clock.

“I encourage my clients to [evaluate their hunger] on a daily basis and act accordingly,” she says. “Every day is different for sleep, exercise, stress, hormones, and schedule, which all affects appetite. It’s one of many reasons I don’t believe it’s healthy to apply ‘rules’ to your food philosophy.”

8. You can take it too far.

Even in dieting, moderation is key; no diet is sustainable if you’re unable to adapt it to your lifestyle as needed. For example, Dr. Seltzer reiterates that many athletes need a morning meal and see better results when they eat before training. Sticking to a strict intermittent fasting schedule in that example precludes that.

Boules agrees: “I [have seen] people not consuming anything but water prior to a challenging morning workout and for several hours after—this is simply not a good idea.”

Ultimately, if you’re just not sure how to feel about intermittent fasting, don’t hesitate to hash it out with a pro, like an RD or doc you trust.

At the end of the day, if you’re a healthy adult, intermittent fasting probably won’t do damage (even if it turns out to not be a good fit for you personally). Dr. Seltzer and Boules both acknowledge the control it teaches, though they remain on the fence about whether the potential side effects outweigh the benefits.

“Please understand this will not work for everyone and is not required for good health,” Boules says. “While I’m watching the research and will own it if I’m proven wrong, I think it’s yet another example of a fad approach to wellness.”

Sarah Bradley Sarah Bradley is a freelancer writer from Connecticut, where she lives with her husband and three sons.

Source link Keto Diet and Exercise

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Is Intermittent Fasting Bad For You? Pros And Cons To Consider

New Post has been published on https://bestrawfoodrecipes.com/is-intermittent-fasting-bad-for-you-pros-and-cons-to-consider/

Is Intermittent Fasting Bad For You? Pros And Cons To Consider

Let’s be honest: The word “fasting” doesn’t exactly bring up delicious thoughts and positive vibes. For plenty of people, it probably conjures up images of starvation and deprivation and makes their stomach start growling.

Yet, intermittent fasting has so many folks going wild right now, raving about how the strict-and-scheduled eating plans helped them lose weight and improve their health. So there must be *some* good in the health and weight-loss fad, right?

Charlie Seltzer, MD, weight-loss physician and certified personal trainer, points out that what most people are doing nowadays isn’t “true” fasting (in other words, eating only one meal per day or nothing at all in a day’s period). Instead, they’re intermittent fasting (duh), meaning they’re taking an approach to eating that involves restricting calorie consumption to a certain window of time each day, like only from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. (so you fast for 16 hours, a.k.a. a 16:8 diet).

The logic behind periodic fasting as a weight-loss approach: “Since you need to have a calorie deficit to lose weight, eating within a window makes it easier to eat less and hit your designated calories,” Dr. Seltzer explains.

Intermittent fasting has some pros beyond weight loss, too, says Dr. Seltzer. It works with a lot of people’s lifestyles, allowing them to skip meals during the day when they’re busy or not super hungry and might otherwise just eat out of obligation. What’s more, following a 5:2 fasting schedule may even improve your heart health; fasting can lower blood pressure and bad cholesterol, according to Cleveland HeartLab.

“True fasting has a large variety of health benefits beyond those that occur with calorie restriction,” Dr. Seltzer adds. “It can cause something called cellular autophagy, where our cells eat themselves [to destroy damaged cells and make way for new, healthy ones].”

That said, intermittent fasting shouldn’t be attempted without some thought as to whether it’s really a good idea for your personality and lifestyle—and not just because it could be challenging to stick to, but because it could be downright bad for some groups of people.

Registered dietitian Barbie Boules of Barbie Boules Longevity Nutrition says the people who should not consider intermittent fasting are:

Folks with diabetes or other metabolic disorders

People taking medications that require food

Anyone with a history of disordered eating

Women who are pregnant or trying to conceive

Children and teenagers

But honestly, anyone who requires a consistent, healthy input of calories throughout the day to be healthy (physically *and* emotionally!) isn’t the ideal candidate to try intermittent fasting. If you’re unsure where you stand, it’s always wise to speak with a medical professional first.

Here are eight potential disadvantages, side effects, and straight-up warnings about intermittent fasting to keep in mind if you’re a healthy adult and thinking about trying it yourself.

1. You might feel way hungrier.

Surprise, surprise: Not eating for 16 hours a day could make you ravenously hungry, at least while you’re in an adjustment period.

In theory, says Dr. Seltzer, intense hunger shouldn’t happen while intermittent fasting using a plan such as the 16:8 method; if you’re fasting correctly by filling up on protein at the end of the day, you shouldn’t be hungry first thing in the morning. (Your appetite wouldn’t kick in until later on the following day.)

In reality, though, this might take some getting used to. “The main worry is setting off binge-eating behavior, because you are so hungry you’re eating 5,000 calories [and going way over your daily amount],” Dr. Seltzer explains.

In other words, only eating within a short window is not a free pass to set up camp at the all-you-can-eat buffet for eight hours, which would defeat the purpose of fasting. And this can be a huge challenge for many people who are used to eating much more regularly and who may not be totally in tune with their body’s hunger cues.

2. It might make you feel sick or fatigued in the morning, especially if you work out first thing.

Committed to your 6 a.m. workout? Intermittent fasting might not be a great choice. “I think it’s a terrible idea to exercise on an empty stomach,” says Boules. “We benefit from a little glucose before and some protein after.”

If you’re interested in experimenting with fasting periods and workout a ton, consider talking to a sports nutritionist or MD to assess your workout schedule and level of rigor. You might be okay fasting for a specific amount of time on days you don’t exercise, for instance. But if you’re, say, training for an endurance event, fueling your body around the clock and getting substantial calories is going to be much more important than trying to force fasting into your routine when your body is already being taxed by your training.

And even if you’re not a morning exerciser, not eating until, say, noon when you’re used to waking up and having breakfast at 8 a.m. may leave your stomach churning. In turn, you may feel off, a little lightheaded, or nauseous as you get used to the new schedule.

3. Fasting diets are rigid and rule-based.

Both Dr. Seltzer and Boules describe intermittent fasting as very individualized, meaning it could work well for some people and turn into a total disaster for others depending on a number of lifestyle factors.

Boules says that people who “like rules” might respond to the diet’s restrictive calorie window. But for others—like people who travel five days a week, changing time zones or schedules frequently—the diet will bring more stress than weight loss or other potential health perks. If the idea of watching the clock for permission to eat sounds unappealing to you, sit this one out.

4. It doesn’t always play nice with other diets.

Boules says intermittent fasting is often combined with other restrictive diets, like keto, which can cause double-trouble if either of those approaches—or heaven forbid both—aren’t right for you.

Adopting a diet plan that means you can only eat lean protein and vegetables between the hours of 1 and 9 p.m. every day doesn’t exactly set you up for winning any popularity contests with your friends and family (not to mention the mental fatigue that comes with jumping through meal-planning hoops on the regular), Boules points out.

But hey, your diet choices are your own, and if you are up for the challenge of navigating an intense and strict food routine and your personal life, that’s entirely your decision.

5. You may deal with low blood sugar.

This is why people with diabetes should steer clear of fasting. Low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia is a side effect of diabetes and insulin medication, but it can happen to non-diabetics, too (if you have thyroid disease, for example).

Not eating enough and skipping meals are common triggers for hypoglycemia. So, “people prone to hypoglycemia might feel dizzy or have nausea or shaking,” warns Dr. Seltzer.

Other symptoms of mild to moderate hypoglycemia include headache, blurred vision, sweating, fatigue, and paleness, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.

6. The research is minimal.

Look, we all know the internet is full of so-called health claims made by “experts” about the best diets. And while the field of research on intermittent fasting isn’t empty, Boules is hesitant to jump on the bandwagon based on what she’s seen so far.

“Despite a deluge of articles citing studies, solid evidence in support of intermittent fasting as a superior approach to eating just isn’t there yet,” she says.

What studies is Boules referring to? Well, most of the more compelling ones were actually performed on rodents. Human studies have not shown the same scope of evidence.

A few examples: A 2018 study published in Nutrition and Healthy Aging showed weight-loss results after 12 weeks of 16:8 intermittent fasting—but the sample size was only 23 people. A 2017 study in JAMA Internal Medicine showed that a fasting group of 100 participants lost more weight over a 12-month period than a non-dieting group, but not more than a group that cut calories overall.

There also remains debate about whether the actual fasting is responsible for the health benefits, or if it’s simply the reduction in calories.

This isn’t to say that better, more conclusive research won’t ever become available, but as Boules said, we’ve got a ways to go before we understand everything about intermittent fasting.

7. It doesn’t help you create mindful eating habits.

While Boules admits that intermittent fasting can be a great strategy for curbing mindless late-night snacking, it can totally work against mindful eating, too. Rather than thinking about whether or not you’re truly hungry, you’re simply eating by the clock.

“I encourage my clients to [evaluate their hunger] on a daily basis and act accordingly,” she says. “Every day is different for sleep, exercise, stress, hormones, and schedule, which all affects appetite. It’s one of many reasons I don’t believe it’s healthy to apply ‘rules’ to your food philosophy.”

8. You can take it too far.

Even in dieting, moderation is key; no diet is sustainable if you’re unable to adapt it to your lifestyle as needed. For example, Dr. Seltzer reiterates that many athletes need a morning meal and see better results when they eat before training. Sticking to a strict intermittent fasting schedule in that example precludes that.

Boules agrees: “I [have seen] people not consuming anything but water prior to a challenging morning workout and for several hours after—this is simply not a good idea.”

Ultimately, if you’re just not sure how to feel about intermittent fasting, don’t hesitate to hash it out with a pro, like an RD or doc you trust.

At the end of the day, if you’re a healthy adult, intermittent fasting probably won’t do damage (even if it turns out to not be a good fit for you personally). Dr. Seltzer and Boules both acknowledge the control it teaches, though they remain on the fence about whether the potential side effects outweigh the benefits.

“Please understand this will not work for everyone and is not required for good health,” Boules says. “While I’m watching the research and will own it if I’m proven wrong, I think it’s yet another example of a fad approach to wellness.”

Sarah Bradley Sarah Bradley is a freelancer writer from Connecticut, where she lives with her husband and three sons.

Source link Keto Diet and Exercise