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Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon are opening up about their favorite dieting tips. The actresses, who joined forces for Apple’s new television series, The Morning Show, just revealed that they are both big believers in the new dieting trend known as intermittent fasting. Based on how they have both managed to say fit over the years, it is pretty clear that the technique is working for them. But experts caution that intermittent fasting is not for everyone.

Aniston Witherspoon intermittent fasting
Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon practice intermittent fasting | Photo by ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images

Aniston and Witherspoon dish on their diet plan

Ahead of the premiere of their new show, Aniston and Witherspoon sat down and talked about how they are able to maintain their trim figure after all these years.

The co-stars revealed that they both practice intermittent fasting in the mornings and that the diet has worked wonders over the years.

For Aniston, she usually stays up late at night and wakes up around nine in the morning. When she gets up, she usually skips breakfast and opts for a small juice instead. She also drinks coffee, but not before feeding her dogs, working out, and doing a little meditation.

“I do intermittent fasting, so there’s no food in the morning,” Jennifer Aniston shared. “Today, I woke up and had a celery juice. Then I started to brew some coffee, but I don’t drink coffee that early.”

According to Insider, Witherspoon added that she usually enjoys a juice and coffee in the morning as well but stays away from solid food. This gives her and Aniston a full 16 hours where they are not eating anything solid.

Her day also starts a lot sooner than Aniston and she is normally out of bed before six in the morning – but mainly because her 7-year-old is also up at that time.

What is intermittent fasting?

For those that do not know, intermittent fasting is the practice of going through cycles of fasting and eating. This includes eating regular meals five days in a row and then cutting your calories by 25 percent over the next two days.

Some people also do 16-hour fasts in which they do not consume any type of solid food. This is the approach Aniston and Witherspoon are using when they skip out on breakfast.

Witherspoon also noted that she usually turns to Aniston for dieting and workout advice, so it is possible that the Friends star introduced her to intermittent fasting in the first place.

While some people may dismiss intermittent fasting as just another dieting trend, there are benefits to fasting on a regular basis.

The health benefits of intermittent fasting

Scientists have done multiple studies on the effects of intermittent fasting and have found that it does offer some benefits.

This includes lowering blood pressure and boosting longevity. Some people also, of course, lose weight while practicing intermittent fasting but usually this is because they are more likely to consume fewer calories.

If you are interested in trying intermittent fasting, then skipping breakfast in the morning is an easy way to start. The only key is to get 16 hours between your last meal of the night and your first meal of the following day.

While intermittent fasting has its benefits, it is not the right choice for everyone looking to shed a few pounds.

Is intermittent fasting for everyone?

There are plenty of nutritionists that argue against intermittent fasting and caution people to follow whatever dieting plan works for them. Everyone’s body is different, and while intermittent fasting is good for Aniston and Witherspoon, it might not work for you.

Depending on your body type, you may operate better if you feed your body throughout the day. Whatever the case, you should always consult a dietitian before trying out a new plan.

“Fasting can be a slippery slope to unhealthy habits and a screwy relationship with food,” registered dietician Jessica Cording shared.

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Cording added that intermittent fasting is not the easiest diet in the world and that some people may find it challenging. And if you are the type of person who loves breakfast, giving it up might not be in the cards.

That said, intermittent fasting does work for some people, so if you are looking for a new way to switch things up it is not a bad thing to try. There are also several ways you can incorporate intermittent fasting into your schedule, so there is some flexibility there.