Practicing the keto diet together with intermittent fasting (IF) is compatible. IF doesn’t specify which foods you should eat but emphasize when you should eat them. However, if both keto and IF are new to you, it can become too challenging and overwhelming to start two regimens at once.
Not only is keto very restrictive in terms of what products are allowed, but it also switches your body from burning glucose for fuel to burning fat instead. The ketogenic way of eating can be a shock to your body on its own, so it is recommended to get a good handle on keto before adding an IF regime.
There are many different ways to do IF, and there is no single IF schedule that works better for losing weight and improving health compared with another. The most suitable IF method for you is the one that works best with your daily schedule and social life. By reducing your calorie intake, all IF methods should cause weight loss as long as you don’t compensate by eating much more during the eating periods.
In any case, be sure to start gradually. For example, it is better to start with a daily regimen of 14:10 that is considered the easiest to follow, rather than jumping straight into fasting for 24 hours. After you feel confident doing 14:10, you can level up to the 16:8 method.
If you are new to IF, it is worth noting that it may cause short-term side effects such as hunger, cravings, weakness, and fatigue. This may only be temporary and doesn‘t necessarily mean there is something wrong with you doing IF. Normally, it can take some time for your body to adapt to the new meal schedule.