detox/cleanse/fasting - anything that's not faddy to just help me reset my body?

[anothernewusername1]

i'm currently in a rut and am eating more and more sugar and fat. i'm the heaviest i have ever been, and although not ideal, this isn't the main worry. I am sluggish, my digestion and bowel movements are terrible, bad skin, etc etc. i'm ticking all the boxes of an unhealthy woman at present.

I know the age old adage of eat less, move more etc. And have spent a fair part of my life being healthy and not concerned. However a shitty few years and some comfort eating have got me in a tizz.

moving forward i will eat properly etc, but am wondering if a short, sharp blitz of either fasting, juicing etc etc is worth it and will kick start me into sorting myself out. saw photos of myself today and although i look happy, i don't recognise myself!

any advice gratefully received!

a hopeful bump!

I do 16: fasting and its helped me loads. I suffer badly with IBS and acid reflux and the fasting has helped lots with that. My stomach has been the best it's been in years

I don't think it does any cleansing but my system is moving much better. I try and eat healthy but on a saturday I have a cheat day, i have breakfast at 9 as per my fast days but then eat anything and have a drink on the evening, sunday morning I eat breakfast earlier and it's usually a fry up but then I'm sure to have my dinner at 5pm to get back into fasting routine on the monday

I’ve upped my water intake to 3lites or more a day. I was doing reasonably well with eating (16:8) and exercise, but was only drinking tea and Diet Coke, only a couple of glasses of actual water. I realised I was always a bit dehydrated.
In a week, my skin feels better, I’m less bloated, and I think I’m losing some fat. My appetite is down. We had pizza delivery the other night, and I overate. But drank about 4 l of water the following day, and fasted for 24 hours.
I feel like it’s a kick up the bum.
I’d recommend.

I’m overweight too and got very fed up a few weeks ago. I did a 5- day sugar free challenge and felt great, I’m now mostly sugar free in the week and have some treats at the weekend. It’s the first time I’ve felt in control of my eating for years so would recommend. Good luck! Don’t beat yourself up about it either, clearly comfort food has helped you through a shitty period but you don’t need it now.

thank you @Redraptor @KickingItSince1966 do you both fast for the 16 hours ? are you limited to what you can eat for the 8 hours?

i am going to increase my water intake and then i think i'll do the 24 hour fast as a good boost.

just feel terrible!

@Tiredbutwireless you're right, and thank you. I don't need it now! but it is still crutch and i need to kick it out. how did you do no sugar? did you go no added sugar, or just cut out bread and everything and go back to basics food/cooking wise? how did you deal with the cravings?

i hope you are really proud of yourself, i've always caved in to those sugar cravings. sugar really is terrible.

Keto has worked for me, after the first 6 days of feeling like death- 3 weeks in I have lost a stone and have so much energy. My sugar addiction was pretty bad and I no longer crave it at all. Went to Brighton yesterday and whilst DH and DS had chips and ice cream I had halloumi salad and it was lovely. I have 6 weeks until I go back to the office and I fully expect to go back in a size 10 rather than the 14 I was in March.

I'm on keto and am feeling much better for it. Lovely lovely foods and very little hunger. I couldn't have ma aged something like 16:8 without moving to a higher fat, lower Carb diet.

Top tips are

1. to follow 'Dr Boz' on YouTube who has a beginners guide and a way to ease it. So for a week avoid all calories in water, a week avoid all really starchy foods like bread and potatoes, etc (can't remember them all)

2. Get electrolytes into all your water to avoid keto flu (totally works, I had no problem)

Hi OP I did completely no bread, cereal pasta etc With substitutes of brown rice, sweet potatoes and courgette, and more fat in form or avocados, olive oil, eggs, More protein at all meals that I was very good at forgetting. Back to basics with cooking, it helps I love cooking.
I can send you details of nutritionist who did a 5 day challenge on fb if you DM me.
Although I’m now back on sugar occasionally I feel so much better, more energy and am stepping away from chocolate binges! Miraculous x

I eat in an 8 hour window. Usually 2 meals between12 and 7 it has taken me a couple of weeks to adjust, but I’m definitely eating fewer calories, but it feeling like I’m missing out or going hungry
Keto or high protein will help too

I really recommend a two day detox of only raw foods.

Drink freshly pressed pear and ginger or carrot and apple juices.

Eat lots of salads with a really wide range of veg and fruit e.g.

fennel, mint and orange
tomato, spring onion and thyme or basil
spouted seeds with walnuts and avocado
little gem, rocket, baby spinach with pine nuts or sunflower seeds and a dressing of garlic, olive oil and apple cider vinegar
home made salsa of mixed peppers, tomatoes, avocadoes, fresh chilli, spring onions and lemon etc

fruit salads, bowls of berries, chunks of pineapple and melon

Two days of this and you will be buzzing with energy. You'll also feel instinctively really picky about what you eat afterwards and not want processed foods. I've only ever done it twice in my life but felt so fantastic both times. Need to give it another go.

Not missing out*

I wouldn't. I think meal plan a couple of days of really nutritious food and drink plenty of water and herbal teas.

Definitely try 16:8.

I have been loosely doing it for a week and can honestly say the sugar cravings are gone and it only took a couple of days for me to notice that. I will still eat a biscuit but don't feel the need to eat the whole packet and actually think I'm eating out of habit.

Within a couple of days my appetite and cravings were totally under control. I have only fasted for 15 hours a couple of times but I'm breastfeeding so being kind to myself 😊

Fasting for one day and eating a healthy 500 cal meal in the evening is a good reset. It’s not easy when you do it first, but once you’ve ‘reset’ it becomes easier to do it a day here and there.

Do 16/8 and keep away from the processed carbs and artificial sweetness. Cut out alcohol for a few weeks and up your water intake.

I started making kefir around 2 years ago. I eat it most days and it has made a dramatic improvement to my skin and digestive system.

Thank you all so much. really appreciate it. i'm 16 hours in on my first fast and having wholegrain rice and veggies for lunch.

have thought about kefir before @Belindabelle going to research now.

Prunes with live natural yoghurt and nuts make a good breakfast

Fasting, juicing, cleansing are not necessary! They are just a way to get your $$.

Just start a healthy eating plan and move more.

The Whole 30 has always worked for me when I've lost track.