Intermittent fasting, please talk to me about it

[Whydoesnothingwork]

Right ok next thing to try.
Seasoned faster please talk to me about fasting, the rules, how it works, what I can eat, thank you.

It is worth listening to the zoe podcast on fasting and the huberman lab one.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/1cYW1uBshjp7dvrbBjObQa?si=vrtGH-DNQaK5RDqRLxORXA

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5YEfEhHllXaFxiEO6WZxMq?si=MyIYV1Z1RY-N0gT_TI7z_g

For those wedded to exactly 16 hours, please note there is no specific evidence for this duration. It is purely becuase the lab technician in charge of the rats wanted to feed them on time so he could get home to his girlfriend!

I've just tried 16:8 this week and, have to say, finding it fairly manageable. (But I always found it easy to skip breakfast...) My window is 11am to 7pm. I only drink water or fruit tea in my fasting period. Clothes feeling a little looser too, so I reckon I've lost a little bit.

I'm definitely interested in giving this a go, have downloaded some podcasts to listen to for more information, the health benefits are really interesting.

Can I ask what kinds of things to people eat when they break their fast? Are you in essence skipping breakfast and eating an early lunch or a brunch?

I'm out and about for work so don't have access to any cooking facilities, would need to take something in a cool bag so any inspiration would be welcome

Oh dear! I've had an upsetting couple of days and I've broken/ended my fast. I had been doing so well. It just shows that I'm still an emotional eater at heart, and the only reason I've been able to fast is because I've had relatively few stressful life events recently. The moment something went wrong it's all gone out of the window! 😔

Get back on it waistvchallenge. I had some bad news today and had a little sugar binge but now having a salad for tea then fasting again. Just get right back on it. Hope you're OK.

Thanks @Whydoesnothingwork , it's been difficult. Sorry you've had bad news, too 😔

Let's try and stay strong in the face of bad news/events.

Can I ask a stupid question?! Do you have to do this every day or can you do it say 4/5 days a week?

Ladies I will be giving this a go also from tomorrow. I mentioned on another thread that I would be going sugar free but I really think the fasting would benefit me alot more! Bought two lovely dresses today & there a little tight on me, I just have a stone to lose so would be over the moon if this worked for me 🤔 I’m a terrible grazer in the evenings especially.. so the fasting would cut this out for me. I will start off with a slightly longer eating window, ie: 9 hrs & see how it goes from there. Good luck to us all 🤞

@Jennifer17 I've just started a five week challenge over on another thread, everyone's welcome to join in:

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight_loss_chat/4835460-5-week-intermittent-fasting-challenge

Thanks waistchallenge will check it out 👍

I've been doing intermittent fasting for twelve days - and I have now lost 13 lb.

We're going on holiday in nine days' time. I do not intend to do IF while we're away but I hope not to gain too much - famous last words - and I shall get back into it when we return.

Nine more days.............

I recently listened to an episode of diary of a ceo - he talked to a dr about her book Fast like a girl.
its a fascinating episode and definitely worth a listen if you are interested in the science behind it all.
She talks about the Term Autophagy it comes after ketonsis and is triggered after 17 hours of fasting. Your body starts repairing cells it was awarded the 2016 novel prize
https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1619876114#:~:text=On%20October%203%2C%202016%2C%20the,in%20a%20simple%20organism—baker's

I’ve done intermittent fasting before about 10 years ago, after watching the Richard Mosley stuff on bbc.
I mainly did the standard 16/8
but after hearing this talk and reading a bit more (I’ve not read her book) I’m going to aim for the 17hr fast.
then once a fortnight do the belly fat busting 36hr fast she recommends.
But first I need to check that is safe to do while I’m breastfeeding I don’t want to affect my supply.

this is the podcast episode

I finished my dinner at 18:30 today so planning to break my fast at 11:30 tomorrow. Been hard not snacking this evening especially since my daughter had only just gone to bed.

Been starving all night again, think I need more protein with my dinner, less carbs.

I managed 17hour fast from 18:30pm to 11:30am today.

More fats and proteins should help.

Thanks had tea going to have some Greek yoghurt in a bit then start fasting again.

Finished eating at 18:50 tonight aiming for another 17hr but I made the mistake of having a glass of lemon Fanta with my dinner and now I’m starving and feel like I’ve had a sugar crash

It's been exactly a fortnight since I started and I've lost a stone.

I am still very overweight but it's a start, I suppose.

That's incredible @TheShellBeach. What exactly have you done differently? Hoping for inspo!

I've tried to eat fewer than 1500 calories as well as fasting.
I find low carb quite difficult so if I eat less carbs and count what I eat, it seems to work.

The IF is the key for me, though. I've tried calorie counting while eating throughout the day and it doesn't have the same effect as the 16 hours without food.

I drink tea with milk whenever I want it, even during the supposed fasting window. I can't drink it without milk and I do love tea.

Could you give some idea of what you’re actually eating, @TheShellBeach ?

Well done!

Breakfast 11.00

Bacon, eggs, toast and butter (4 x bacon and two eggs)
Sometimes I just have porridge but it doesn't keep me full

Dinner 17.00

Whatever I've cooked (fish or meat) with a small portion of potatoes (sometimes chips) and vegetables or salad.
Two pieces of fruit. Sometimes with cream.

About ten cups of tea with milk, throughout the day.

2 litres of water in divided doses

Then an evening of telling myself I don't need anything else. Works most of the time.

I have stopped drinking alcohol (not that I was drinking much, but it was most evenings - a G & T or a glass of sherry)

I have stopped buying crap - if it's in the house, I eat it. So no cakes, biscuits, sweets, crisps, snacks.

I have done this before and stopped eating bread and potatoes but it broke my spirit. If I cut out bread and potatoes I want to eat more crap, so I let myself have them.

And my portion sizes at dinner time are smaller than usual.
I aim for about 500 cals at breakfast and 600 cals at dinner, plus the fruit and milk.