There is no one-size-fits-all approach to intermittent fasting (IF). The most effective IF protocol depends on your goals, preferences, and body type. The most common intermittent fasting protocol is called the 16/8 method because it involves fasting for 16 hours and eating during an 8-hour window. This means that you eat your first meal of the day at noon and then don't eat until 8 p.m., at which point you can resume eating until bedtime. The 16/8 method is the simplest form of intermittent fasting because it requires only two meals per day, one in the morning and one at night, both within an eight-hour window.