Has anyone found intermittent fasting really effective?

[MaGueule]

I decided I needed to lose the stone that has crept on since lockdown and thought I’d give IF a go after hearing a podcast about it. To be honest, I thought it would be hopeless for me, as for some reason I reckoned I’d be completely unable to function without three meals a day. My only previous foray into losing a bit of weight was with low carb, which was torture for me.

I fast from 8pm to noon the next day- but still have tea and coffee with a splash of milk. And a couple of days a week have something like a small bowl of yoghurt or berries for breakfast (and I’d never turn down a hotel breakfast!). I never ate much UPF but have tried to be a bit more mindful about avoiding snacks and sweet things. I’m still eating lunch and dinner as normal, drinking a bit of wine and eating meals out.

Two months later, I’m 6kg down. It seems to have worked brilliantly. I know 6kg is hardly record breaking. But I hardly ever feel hungry, have loads of energy. And my perimenopausal barrel belly has all but gone- I seem to have lost most around my middle.

I promise this isn’t some sort of ad for a weight loss programme. I just wondered about other people’s experiences of IF and if it’s worked well for others?

That's brilliant! How long did it take you to lose 3 stone? That's about the amount I'd like to lose ideally.

IF definitely works. I've lost weight on 5-2 and 16-8 but I'm a lazy fucker with zero will power and always slide into old, terrible, habits.

I do resistance training 2-3 mornings a week and can't work out if IF is doable alongside that. Any advice please?

Either have a carbohydrate rich snack beforehand or save your weight-lifting sessions and/or resistance training for periods after you have eaten.

I'm glad I'm not the only one! Even though I'm finding the fasting periods easier and easier I'm also finding that my sugar demons are not at all phased and so when I can eat I cannot resist still inhaling chocolate (some days I can, often not). So I'm not sure I'm really doing much positive in terms of mending my relationship with food / balancing my insulin response, which was half the point.

I've been working out with Caroline Girvan most days for several years. I usually start my workout between 7.30 and 8.30 am and work out for 50-90 minutes, including some cardio/HIIT.

I may have a few nuts or a handful of bran flakes with my early morning cuppa, but I don't have anything else until around 10.30 to 11.30. Usually a couple of eggs/omelet plus salad, or salad with chicken, salmon or tuna.

Then nothing but some fruit, carrots, yoghurt and/or cottage cheese until my main meal in the evening.

Works for me. No weight issues and at 70 years of age I'm extremely fit.

I use it to maintain, and that's worked for over 3 years now. For me the discipline of it works for me (I like rules lol). It has certainly stopped me scoffing between meals and hitting the biscuits with tea after my proper tea if you get me!

Like others I have the odd day off it but only if going out for something to eat, I don't drink so that helps too I suppose. Likewise I don't stick rigidly while away or on hols, but my weight has remained constant nonetheless. I had a hospital check up last week (I'm weighed) and despite having been abroad for 3 weeks in May and enjoying lovely grub and ice cream and, and, and, - I had in fact lost 1kg since the last check up six months ago.

It works for some, but not for everyone. I hope I haven't spoken too soon and gain kilos now....

@PaminaMozart I follow a similar routine to you although I only have black coffee until midday. Late 50’s very fit with strong bone density and good muscle definition. I’ve never felt better.

I realised the other day that I accidentally IF. I don't tend to eat after around 4pm and then eat at 7.30am(ish). If I have a spate of eating later, I invariably put on weight even though I'm not consuming extra calories.

I had a period recently of eating later and put on around half a stone. I've gone back to my normal eating and it's dropped off quite quickly.

Is the training you do online?

I've not heard of her.