To ask if anyone has done / is doing intermittent fasting? (16:8 etc)

[smallsausagedog]

Evening all. I need to sort myself out diet-wise but have absolutely no willpower Blatantly posting here for traffic, sorry!

I've recently started on a medication that just happens to be an appetite suppressant. This means I'm not too bothered about eating in the daytime. This makes he think that IF could work for me. If my window for eating is between 2-10 or 4-midnight, it wouldn't impact too much on participation in family meals etc.

Can anyone give me some insight on the positives / negatives? Thanks all!

@Witchofzog that's a really interesting question and one which I would say is debatable in answer. Some would say anything you eat will kick start your metabolism: sugar free chewing gum etc/ medication included. Others would say as long as you stick to under 50 cals you stay in fast - I would say watch and see what happens for you. So for me , a couple of tablespoons of skimmed milk in occasional tea doesn't affect my weight.. I would try with the meds and monitor your weight loss but tweak your fast to suit you. There are loads of devices/ monitors on the market but for me I jump on scales and they're going the wrong way I tweak ...

**And IF they're going the wrong way

I’m not an expert @Witchofzog. But i don’t think it’d about having anything in your stomach, its about what happens in your blood stream as a result of your stomach digesting the contents.

Lots of type 2 diabetics do IF, in fact it’s recommended by the NHS, and they take tablets to control their diabetes.

And drinks go into your stomach too and that doesn’t break your fast.

Do not I repeat NOT even think about stopping your meds or changing the time you take them without consulting your doctor or pharmacist. I’m sure you wouldn’t but I thought I’d say it away .

I have switched to taking my meds around dinner time. Not for fasting reasons, but because I can feel a bit nauseous taking them on an empty stomach.

Meds are supposed to be fine, and in case medical needs override getting fasting perfect. I take my thyroid meds when I wake up.

Thank you kind people. I take them in the morning as this works for me. I could take them later if I wanted so but am reluctant to do this

I didnt eat after 6 yesterday and i woke up this morning starving.

Hunger does give you an appetite. I've got a horrible feeling I might be eating more.

I'm managing a 20/4 at the moment and it seems ok.

It takes a while for your hunger to adapt, now I don't even start to feel hungry until it's been 15 or so hours (usually, some days I feel very hungry earlier and I'll sometimes break the fast earlier then)

The only problem can be if you are prone to binge eating, sometimes fasting can make this tendency worse. It is easy to get this feeling of 'yay I fasted now I can eat what i want' and if you crave something this can be difficult.

It’s much easier if you combine it with LCHF, as that makes you feel fuller for longer. And you don't get the swings in your blood sugar after Lots of carbs that make you ravenous.

You see I thought LCHF would stop cravings however I craved the e.g. cheese.

Back on it. Lost 1.5st in summer, put it all back on with stress.

Got back into the 16hr fast quickly this time, and finding it ok.

Am hoping chamomile tea is ok on my fast as I am bored of black tea and don't do coffee 😬

I’ve been doing 16:8 since July last year and have lost a stone and a half. That cake off quite quickly and easily. I’ve plateaued at that since perhaps sept, but not put any on so my new plan is to continue with the timings because it obviously works for me but eat less calories in that time frame

Cheese is amazing !

@GuyFawkesDay YY all herbal teas are ok, without milk and sugar of course.

Today I had rhubarb, which was lovely. Yesterday was peppermint and liquorice, which went straight down the sink as it was foul.

Hi new to this so apologies if this is an obvious question:

Are you allowed black coffee/tea during the fasting period?

Thanks

Yes @Lou0390 you are .

Oh hurrah because I love chamomile, mint and various herby teas. No milk or sweet in them, just straight.

It takes a while for your hunger to adapt, now I don't even start to feel hungry until it's been 15 or so hours (usually, some days I feel very hungry earlier and I'll sometimes break the fast earlier then)

On my fast days, I don't eat anything from about 8 the night before until 7 the day after. I'm always surprised at how not hungry I get. There is the odd urge, but it soon passes.

Today was day 3 for me. I'm doing 930-530 eating window. I'm up at 6 with my kids so I'm finding it tough from 8-930 but I find once I get there I'm aware it's not really long until lunch so I'm not having a huge breakfast. I do think I might need to up my intake a bit though I've been very tired

Hardest bit for me is not accidentally nibbling while I make the kids breakfasts and lunch boxes

I'm still having 1/2 TSP of sugar or xylitol in my tea or coffee however. A massive improvement, I used to have two in coffee and one in tea.

I discovered low carb healthy fat four years ago and tried it out for a month. It becomes easy to intermittent fast because you are not eating the foods that raise blood sugar a lot/stimulate appetite plus you are eating healthy fats freely so that satiates you too, for hours.

It was a revelation to me, a 40-year yoyo low fat high carb serial (cereal) dieter and a total failure: 100lbs overweight and struggling.

For the first time ever I was NOT HUNGRY, ever. Wow! That's why, four years later, I still follow the principles. Sometimes I do OMAD, usually on a Sunday. It's easy. 100lbs excess fat gone and still gone today. Its a blooming miracle.

I read the books "Why we get Fat" by Gary Taubes. Also, look at the marvellous dietdoctor.com website. Loads of free stuff to read, and recipes galore.

I did it myelf, no classes. I tweak when necessary. I do what works for me. Food freedom and freedom from diets IS possible.

My physio recommended that I have a shorter eating window each day, and that I look at 5/2. I don’t think I should start with 5/2, as I’d like to regulate my blood sugar first. I’ve just downloaded the BodyFast app and am doing 16/8 for now. I’ve been doing it anyway for the past 5 days, so I think I’ll manage.

I’ve set my goal at 10 stone; I’m 11 now. I’m hoping to lose 7lbs in the next two weeks, before I have surgery 🤞