To think that fasting and OMAD could be the answer?

[dontholdmeback]

I am a 28 year old female, I have insulin resistance PCOS which has in turn led me to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.

For the past week I have been doing OMAD, eating a normalish dinner (within reason) probably hitting about 1000 calories.

Yesterday and today I have been so full of energy it's unreal, literally jumping out of bed, not needing an extra half hour in bed, not feeling depressed, sluggish and unmotivated. Literally springing from my bed and being so productive, like this morning half the days cleaning was done within a couple of hours of being awake. These are jobs I have put off for weeks and weeks as I have felt so shitty and unmotivated. I always just put it down to laziness.

Also a report for uni that I've been meaning to start the past few weeks, I actually had the motivation today to sit and get a big chunk done.

I never want to speak to anyone, and the past couple of day whenever someone has called I have answered and spoke away quite the thing. I could almost describe myself as manic in comparison to what I'm used to.

Also before I was fasting, I would have to nap about 1 - 4 hours a day after lunch, it was non negotiable, I was EXHAUSTED. Hasn't happened even once since I've started OMAD.

I feel a little hungry during the day but nothing I can't handle. I read about OMAD online and thought it was worth a try. But surely it can't be that easy?

I feel so shocked as I literally for months have sat on my arse doing not a thing, and feeling crap about it and within a week of doing this I am the most full of energy I have been in months.

Am I unreasonable to hope that if I continue this way I will reverse my diabetes and feel so much better?

I accidentally fell into what I now know is OMAD during a hectic period about 20 years ago. Lost 2 stone easily, loads more energy, no more sluggish afternoon naps.

It wasn’t a thing then, I’ve only read about it in recent years.

I’ve fallen off the wagon over lockdown. This thread has given me the kick up the arse I needed, so thanks OP.

Can I ask what time people eat their meal. Always can you drink in the day.

@Belledan1 yeah I drink water/juice/black coffee throughout the day

I do this Monday - Friday and tend to do brunch and dinner at the weekend because I’m cooking for my DH anyway. Plus it’s nice to sit and gab over a coffee and a bacon sandwich at the weekend 🙂

Definitely finding it helpful and like you OP I have PCOS. Feeling much better than I have in a long time

Oh and I tend to have dinner between 6&7pm

@SandSeaBeach that's interesting, thanks.

I've struggled in the past with 16:8 and missing breakfast so the thought of getting to the evening makes me feel quite shaky 🤣.

Thank you Travis.

We are always taught in the western world to eat regularly and that carbs are good.

This has helped fuel our obesity epidemic and the increase of insulin resistance and the resulting (eventually 10 years later) diabetes.

It's such a slow process it goes by virtually unnoticed.

Your OMAD way of eating is very healthy. You'll get some medical professionals possibly disagreeing.

But it's good on so many levels.

It helps the body burn the visceral fat that can cause metabolic syndrome and diabetes.

It helps the body become more sensitive to insulin.

You eat what you need and burn fat the rest of the time.

Because your body has to become fat adapted you become less hungry by far. Your body just uses the fat you have to feed itself (an oversimplification).

This is a type of fasting and gives the beta cells in your pancreas time to start to regenerate. Providing you have enough left to do so.

I do the 18/6 way of eating. It suits me. But occasionally I will do a short period of OMAD as it helps me focus on bad habits that slip in from time to time.

I've reversed my diabetes this way too and have lost 54lbs in the process, effortlessly.

@Cormoran I really agree with you on this one. I do a version of low carb that I find kinder to my body.
I don't eat high carb, no rice, grains, flour, sugar, potatoes but I do eat huge quantities of vegetables. I also eat meat and fish but it's not the main part of my meals.
I test my blood sugar before and after my main meal and this way of eating is safe for me, I don't trigger a high sugar spike so I know I can eat in this way.
I second your comments to @Anne1958. An adapted low carb way Is less inflammatory on the body.

If it’s working for you go for it!

One small note of caution though - a lot of the studies showing the positive results of fasting have been conducted on male bodies only. That doesn’t mean they wouldn’t show the same benefits for women, of course, but it’s also possible that due to different hormones the results wouldn’t be the same. So it sounds like it’s working well for you and that’s great, but don’t pin too much on it being a miracle cure. Weight loss alone usually has a positive benefit on T2 diabetes.

There have been studies that show that how you lose weight makes pretty much no difference. Studies of low carb vs low fat show that both work and that there's barely any difference on the body. What they also have in common is that 95% of people will regain any weight they lost within 5 years.
The best plan for losing weight is one that you find enjoyable and easy. You're looking for something that you can do forever and that suits your lifestyle. If that's OMAD for you then great!

I lost 2stone doing omad a couple of years ago (now put it back on again and then some.....) but had concerns about being able to get the nutrients required and had terrible constipation .

Would like to try again as I found it easy to do and the results were good, purplebaglady your way sounds sensible- loads of veg to pack the nutrients in.

I must add I’m a gym bunny and work out fasted every day. Including 16k walks most weekends and lifting v.heavy weights a few times a week. No problem with OMAD once you’re ‘fat-adapted

If I was doing that level of activity I'd be fine with OMAD. I also always work out fasted for my shorter runs/gym sessions.
But if you're doing high levels of cardio, most people do need more regular fuelling. It's very hard to run 25 miles for example, without fuelling either during or immediately afterwards - whereas 15-odd miles is doable if you're adapted.

I don't know that I could do OMAD.

But Fast800 had changed my life. X

I lost 2stone doing omad a couple of years ago (now put it back on again and then some.

That's a good point - can anyone who has done this over the longer term explain the maintenance approach? I could see myself doing OMAD as I only have a very light lunch as it is, but I'm wondering how you transition to maintenance when you have reached your goal weight.

what is your blood sugar monitor showing you?

I don't believe it's possible to reverse diabetes T2--go back to a 'normal' diet and diabetes is going to come back

@EssentialHummus

Not OMAD specifically but I'm a huge fan of intermittent fasting. Well, I was a huge fan. Now I'm a 60kg fan .

That’s hilarious. I’m going to nick that one!

Im a fan of fasting, i did 5:2 for a few years, till I discovered 16:8. I initially did it for the weight loss, but it also cleared up a whole list of rumbling Middle aged crappiness, headaches, low level IBS, lethargy etc.

Hadn’t heard of OMAD as a thing, but I have a little bit of lockdown weight to lose, so I might give it a go.

@LovelaceBiggWither you are right. It's not possible to reverse diabetes and revert back to normal western ways of eating.

I've reversed my diabetes in that my bloods are stable now, my daily fasting bloods are below 5mmol my preprandial bloods are below 5.3 mmol and my bloods two hours after eating are close to this. I don't sustain any cellular damage at these levels.

My pancreas is working and I'm less insulin resistant which means I can eat much more carbs in the form of vegetables.

But I know if I abuse my body and eat high carbs that are absorbed quickly then I'll be diabetic again in a short time.

It's only reversed with determination and sensible eating.

I don't have diabetes but I have IR PCOS and I did a routine where I ate from 7am-4pm, and I felt amazing. Didn't stick with it lol because it's hard with a 9-5 but I did it for around a year and my energy levels were unreal.

We have not evolved to eat all the time, we perform at our best when we are not using huge parts of our resources digesting food all the time. For most of our time on the planet food has been scarce for humans so we are perform great when we don’t eat. If we needed to eat all the time we would of died out thousands of years ago.

I am doing 5 2 and now I am used to it I often feel more focused and sharp on my 500 calorie days. I don't find them too difficult most of the time and am able to do intense HIIT classes on fast days with no problem.

@SnoogyWoo is right, we don't need a constant stream of food, the idea of three meals and two snacks is relatively new and we are getting fatter and fatter as a species because of it.

I do 16:8 and really find it works for me - I sometimes do OMAD within that too.

Some people think they have to eat every few hours. The body never gets a rest that way and, if I hear, "But, but, but your metabolism stops and shuts dowwwwn", one more time. It's borne out of feeling uneasy when people do things differently to you.

Do what works for you, try it all out and find your balance - what other people do doesn't matter.

@LyingWitchInTheWardrobe oh girl yes! And the number of people who try to say that I’m going to become anorexic eating an average of 1300cals a day 🙄 I’m fucking 20 stone, I think I’m good for a while 🤦🏻‍♀️