As the title suggests, this is probably best for the true beginner. None of the information is terribly revolutionary or in-depth, so people who haven't already researched or tried IF would probably get the most from it. The tips and strategies are laid out clearly, and recipes are included for those who are interested.

Thank you NetGalley for an advance copy of the ebook in exchange for my honest review.

Intermittent Fasting for Beginners
by Amanda Swaine

With all of the fad diets out there that make promises for better gut health, losing weight, and a happier lifestyle, intermittent fasting seems to be one that sticks with people. But my first question was HOW?? How do I begin such a radical change from my regular day-to-day eating habits? Swaine breaks. it. down. She meets people where they are - which for me was clueless! I still try to keep my "window" for eating into an 8 hour chunk each day. Some things are truly basic and seem like they should be common knowledge, but information like this only reiterates and helps guides those that want an intermittent fasting lifestyle reach their nutritional goals and create lifelong results.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Callisto Media/Rockridge Press, for the digital copy to read and review.

I'm a total convert to intermittent fasting. I can't really call it a diet. It's more like a lifestyle change. I plan to do it for the rest of my life.

So even though I am not a beginner, I found this book to be really informative and helpful mostly for discipline and motivation. There's a very helpful guide on the calorie counts of common foods, beverages. While the book is based on scientific facts, I like the light and conversational tone of the book. The book obviously isn't a nice bedtime story but it is an easy read with references.

This is a really helpful primer if you're interested in intermittent fasting (IF). It mainly discusses using it for weight loss reasons, but does talk about other benefits as well. What I really liked was how Swaine emphasized that this is actually a lifestyle change; any weight loss or benefits you experience WILL go away if you revert back to old habits completely. I liked that there wasn't any of this magic bullet BS a lot of other people will try to peddle. She also explained the biology behind how it all works and provided extensive sources.

This is a real nice companion book to have around for those living the IF lifestyle.

People who search for ways to lose weight or maintain their weight will find this book very valuable. The author gives a variety of ways to individualize the intermittent fast, and succeed in making this diet a way of living. Highly recommended!

Intermittent Fasting For Beginners by Amanda Swaine is a great introductory book about intermittent fasting. Like a lot of people, I've been hearing about intermittent fasting for awhile now. Celebrities are digging it, I have several friends who swear by it, I've even read a few short how-to's about it. What I haven't done is actually try intermittent fasting.

Until now.

The book starts with the basics - definition, specific health benefits, myths, contraindications, things to look out for and things to expect. There's enough information to give the reader both a level of understanding and confidence that intermittent fasting is a legitimate way of attaining and maintaining health and wellness, but also doable. For me, that was important. There's a fine balance between too much and not enough information: too much and my eyes glaze over, too little and I expect a snake oil salesman.

Once all the background info is in place, the author leads the reader through a self assessment to determine which intermittent fasting plan will be more beneficial and have the highest chance of success. I loved the simple if:then approach the author used to help choose a plan. For example, in the section about Alternate Day Fasting (ADF), there's a list of factors titled "Choose this Fast if" which includes things like losing significant weight or fat is key, and you have significant levels of insulin resistance to work though. There's also a list of factors titled "Don't Choose this fast if:" which includes things like you are completely new to fasting, and you need a daily structure.

Sample meal plans as well as schedules are included for each of the various fasting schedules, each featuring recipes which appear later in the book. Since I read the Kindle version of Intermittent Fasting For Beginners, I was able to click through to the recipes, which was handy - especially in my first reading which was for content not actually for my personal fasting.

The 25 recipes are divided into three categories - breakfast and beverages, lunch, and dinner, Most recipes include serving size, a short description, suggested side dishes, an ingredients list and a detailed list of instructions, diet variation, and storage tips, as well as per serving nutritional information.

After reading through the entire book, I went back and picked out a recipe from each category. The instructions were clear and easy to follow, and I definitely appreciated the added storage tips since we are just a family of two and many of the recipes were for larger tables. The recipes I chose - Super Spinach Egg Scramble, Chicken and Peanut Lettuce Boats and Classic Eggplant Parmesan - were all delicious, and none made me feel like I was losing out on portion or flavor.

With just 25 recipes included in the book, it's a good guess the reader will go outside the book for additional recipes. However, the book includes clear guidelines on what kinds of foods a fasting body requires and why, and also details a number of diets that make fasting more successful. This additional nutritional information will make it easier to expand the intermittent fasting recipe file as needed.

Overall, as a lifestyle change instructional manual, Intermittent Fasting For Beginners by Amanda Swaine was a winner. It was just informative enough, included all the things I needed to know without overwhelming me with information I didn't need to know in order to be successful. The book is well organized, well-written and provides a fairly complete and stand-alone starting point for entering the world of intermittent fasting.

That said, the jury is still out on how well the intermittent fasting itself will go :)

If you've been curious about intermittent fasting but haven't taken the plunge because it seems too complicated or too scary, Intermittent Fasting For Beginners is a terrific way to get your feet wet. It provides everything you'll need to start intermittent fasting, and provides a solid and understanding as to the hows and whys behind this growing trend.

This review is based on an advance copy reading.

Great introduction to the intermittent fasting lifestyle with an extensive history/health benefits of fasting and the different types and reasons people fast.. This book has great meal plans for transitioning to any kind of fast with recipes if you're looking for meal inspiration.

Thank you netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Interesting book on intermediate fasting and the health benefits of doing it with a well paced diet. The author includes tips on what food to eat that will help you feel more full, goes over the benefits to those suffering from chronic illness like diabetes, and heart disease. Very informative and easy to follow.

It seems like I hear about someone that I know starting intermittent fasting. I had no idea what it was prior to reading this book. Unlike the traditional fasts that seem never-ending and like torture, the plans in this book seem doable. I like that the author spoke of more than one method, as there are several different ones out there. Every person's body is different and the author gives enough information that the reader is able to make an educated decision as to which plan works for them.