IF does not necessarily have to be restrictive in calories. There are plenty of benefits of doing an 18-20 fast then still eating your normal calories during the feeding window.

One of the main benefits is autophagy, or the catabolism of degraded or dead cells. Most of the stuff I've seen is anecdotal, but from personal experience, I can buy it.

Another way to look at it is that even if your consumption of calories is lower, i.e., 1600 vs. 2500/day need, your body makes up the difference in needs by drawing on your bodyfat stores (which is what most of us want!) This works particularly well if you are fat adapted. So although you are consuming less calories, your body still gets all its energy needs through the combination of dietary intake and stored energy (bodyfat). That's exactly the way nature designed it, but the key is to eat a Paleo diet, so your body isn't crashing because you aren't shoving Ho-Hos in your face every three hours.

Just my take. I IF everyday and eat about 1600 calories, 60-65% from fat, and have lost about 30 lbs in 3 1/2 months.

http://www.jbprimal.com

If you IF once a week or every other week etc... For less than 24 hours. Then there is usually a calorie deficit. You would want to taper off your fast with a normal or even lighter meal.

If you are doing a lean gaines protocol where you are fasting every day then there is no calorie restriction.

I fast pretty much everyday. I don't seem to be as hungry if i wait to eat bf until 11am. I xfit at noon then have a small "lunch" after. Normal dinner maybe 2 super small snacks after lunch, dinner. Stop eatting by 8pm

I fast pretty much everyday. I don't seem to be as hungry if i wait to eat bf until 11am. I xfit at noon then have a small "lunch" after. Normal dinner maybe 2 super small snacks after lunch, dinner. Stop eatting by 8pm

IF does not need to be calorie restricted. It tends to be if the eating window is short because it can be hard for some people to eat enough in a short window. If you eat all the calories you need during your eating window, then it qualifies as IF.

According to The Paleo Answer IF will naturally lower your calories by 30%. Really depends on your goals. Do you want to lose fat, lean out or bulk?