Have you been planning to try intermittent fasting to help regulate your hunger and shed some pounds but felt concerned about how the fast might interact with your menopause symptoms? Although it may take a bit of extra planning, you can successfully practice intermittent fasting while going through menopause if you understand the purpose of the fast and find the regimen that works best for you. Whether you’ve already stocked up on saline electrolyte solutions and intermittent fasting mints or whether you’re just considering trying out fasting for the first time and want to learn more, these five tips can help you make the most of your fast during menopause.

Work Your Way Up to the Fasting Regimen That Feels Comfortable for You

When you’re already dealing with menopause symptoms, the last thing you need is to give your body a serious shock by jumping head-first into a fasting regimen that’s too extreme for your body. Instead, you should work your way up to whatever feels comfortable for you and your current health situation. You may want to:

  • Try different fasting windows until you find one that’s doable for you
  • Test out your limits and don’t push yourself too much
  • Start with a smaller fasting window and slowly work your way up to your goal

Consult Your Doctor To Set Up a Helpful Nutrition Plan

If you still have questions about handling both intermittent fasting and menopause, you may find it helpful to consult your doctor before starting a new fast. Your doctor can help you set up a nutritional plan to ensure you’re getting the nutrients you need to minimize symptoms of menopause.

Keep Hydrated and Ensure You Regularly Get Adequate Calories

For both fasting and menopause, staying hydrated is the key to feeling your best. Additionally, it’s important to get enough calories overall to avoid constant fatigue. To this end, you could:

  • Get a large water bottle marked with times of the day to help you stay on track and keep sipping throughout the day
  • Add low-calorie flavoring to your water to help entice you to drink more water
  • Keep a journal of what you eat

Join a Club or Support Group To Make Your Transition Easier

In some cases, you could just need some support from others, also trying out fasting for women’s health. You can make your menopause fasting experience easier by joining a local club or support group and linking up with others going through the same experience.

Find Fun Ways To Fill Your Time on Fasting Days

Finally, you can make it through your fasting days and take your mind off of menopause by finding fun ways to fill your time. For example, you could:

  • Visit with family and friends
  • Pick up a new hobby
  • Catch up on your favorite TV show
  • Get some fresh air

Although you may want to plan out your fast carefully before proceeding if you’re currently going through menopause, following these five tips can help make your intermittent fasting experience as successful as possible. Make sure you try these strategies to practice intermittent fasting during menopause in a healthy way.